u/AnxiousAnonEh

I've had three episodes while driving and they are horrible. I have to legs up the car while on the side of the highway, which isn't safe. Thankfully had someone with heart issues tell me to pull in their driveway this Thursday and a nurse stop on Friday. Still made my way in to work and taught as if all was normal even though it's not. I have an echo Monday to clear heart while waiting on Holter. I did get deep rest yesterday, but after showering today my HR is back in the 90s/100s (I know it's not the highest, but it's definitely not my normal parasympathetic state that I haven't had for a long time now). I clearly have autonomic dysfunction. Anyone have driving episodes? It's the stress trigger for me. I'm at my wit's end. Have to have 3.5 hrs of road time today not near a hospital and then a day with in-laws so I know my stress and pacing will be terrible by the evening.

32F. For the past month, I've been having tachycardia and spiking episodes especially after meals and sleep (ER found sinus tach twice and my Kardia Mobile also confirmed that). I have a RBBB. Nonspecific ST and T wave abnormality. I also had weird symptoms (debilitating headache one day, felt like the floor dropped and then dizziness, severe vertigo for two weeks, and then zero sleep insomnia) last summer which led to similar episodes, but lower spikes- more like 130 and at night more than these ones that really kick in. Legs up the wall helps lower HR. Not super fun while driving, especially up to 170+ with arm tingling. Since early April I've been struggling and episodes are almost daily now.

I got potassium (3.3 now stable at 4 after a month) and magnesium (1.8) at ER and issued magnesium supplement since doc didn't like it right on the low line. I had 72 oz of water today. My body is just in stress and struggles to come down and get any restful sleep. I also noticed palpitations, average HR around 90s, and RHR is ~78. PCP wondered about dysautonomia, maybe ISTish, but not really above 100 average and probably not POTS although once in a blue moon huge spike from sitting, although mostly high HR even laying down. Therapist said she doesn't think it's anxiety/panic related.

Anyone see anything like this before? Just trying to get some sort of direction.

I have a medical mystery situation right now. 3 ER trips in past year, 7+ doctors, and a range of symptoms. Started with vertigo and a horrible headache last summer, then HR spike and stomach cramping, then insomnia through July. I stopped gluten from Aug-Dec. to manage inflammation per doc rec and only symptom I had was nerve tingling in right hand (I do now know I have low potassium so that makes reasonable sense since no IV at that point). I added gluten back in and in Jan-March I got these smaller episodes of palpitations and HR spikes, mainly at night. Then April hit: 170+ spikes on April 9, Apr 23, May 1, 2, 5 (driving- scary af), and 7th. Small spike Apr 15. Episodes happen at rest after meals, around 2-4am, and when I'm drained (and now at work where I supervise children so that's stressful since other people have to help manage when I have a spike which happen fast and I'm stopping them by vagal legs up which I don't want to test not getting it down by waiting to clear a room ). I did get a potassium IV on Apr 10. Therapist ruled out anxiety/panic attacks. Doing a Holter 5/26 for a week to see if it's SVT, IST, etc. Other symptoms: sympathetic overdrive despite strong therapy- it's physical, exhaustion/drain, deep fatigue, can't feel tired or sleep, rest/low stress only kicks in around 4 am if and when it does, but that's now when my body wakes and I have to drive for work around 6 which is a high stress state for me. RHR 78-100 right now. Sinus infection chronic. Chronic canker sores. Rashes- very random, but not raised. Heat and redness in face (new symptom!).

I'm wondering if gluten sensitivity/celiac might be driving low potassium, which in turn causes the spikes. My guts are a mess as I'm in sympathetic overdrive for the past month. Not in the bathroom more than once a day bad, but definitely frozen digestion and mushy mushy stools (not fluffy or runny). But again, it might be gluten related since I had minimal gut issues, nervous system overdrive, and HR spikes last fall when I didn't have gluten.

I'm waiting on my Holter but having 3-5 noticeable episodes and since Friday had 3 heart rate spikes to 170+. Legs up the wall has stopped them easily at home so far, but I had an episode driving home yesterday, which was more like 7-8 min vs the regular 2-4 I usually can get them under. Apparently pulling off on a side road and laying on gravel makes it tougher 🫠 It was super scary because it wouldn't drop just leaning my seat back and putting legs up or even the first time I tried laying down. Eventually it dropped with legs up the car. The last 25 min of the drive heart was ~130. We are figuring out if IST or SVT or MCAS or other deficiencies but panic attacks are ruled out.

1. Anyone have episodes happen while driving? With or without noticeable tingling in hands?

2. Anyone have it start with severe vertigo and insomnia for about 1-2 months with their first episode?

3. Anyone have about 30 seconds-2 minutes where you can tell an episode will likely trigger or do they just start in like .01 of a second?

4. High stress or chronic sympathetic overdrive? My restful sleep is not existent, triggering more episodes of whatever this is.

Also have noticed rashes chest and arms, RHR is 78ish, but average is closer to upper 90s. Episodes wake me up from sleep, are when I'm relaxing, and when I have zero body battery (but I've had ones when it's higher). I do get low potassium, but we don't know if spikes cause it or are caused by it. Magnesium was fine. Thyroid tested twice and normal but 1.2 was highest marker.

I've been dealing with chronic stress induced tachycardia spikes to 170+ (stopped by laying down and putting legs up), IST, and sympathetic overdrive. My therapist said they aren't panic attacks, but they are just like them without the panic. ECG showed mostly normal results, nothing concerning. Waiting on a Holter. I hope reducing stress can reduce episodes (I've had 2 within 24 hours so not great). But they get triggered at rest, low physical stress, and just during sleep or watching TV. Any advice/similar experiences?

I want to start taking BC and doctor prescribed Slynd. I'm low potassium so she said inadvertently it might help with that. I've been referred by ER to cardiology to do a holter for IST as well and waiting on that appointment. My PCP's nurse also suggested dysautonomia as well. My average HR is upper 90s right now, and I'm actively stuck in sympathetic overdrive (cleared by therapist that it's not panic attacks or anxiety/mental health related).

Any experience with Slynd? I am a teacher, so I'm looking to start it mid/late May so I can have summer to deal with any side effects on top of the rough spring health issues, episodes, and lack of sleep (plus a random intense upper right chest/rib? pain I got earlier this week).

For the past year, I've had a multitude of symptoms.

April-May 2025- dizziness after shower following disc golf; felt like low blood sugar, but tested at home and fine; blurry close up vision (this still exists but tested fine at the eye doctor)

June-July- felt like floor dropped out from under me and severe vertigo like on a boat for 2 weeks, started on vacation and was unable to drive; then transitioned to HR spike to 160/dizziness with tight stomach cramping, onset of early period- first time in my life being irregular (not on birth control ever either) I had been cozy gaming in bed; then switched to severe zero sleep insomnia crashing every 48 hrs; jitteriness at night, HR in the 110s on average, and feeling faint; extreme dystension in stomach; bladder very active constantly- not typical; adrenaline dumps at night

August- went gluten, alcohol, and caffeine free per PCP recommendation; got into therapy as it was labeled possible anxiety; night time wakings ~2am but not as bad straight insomnia; head pressure in front and zaps in back of head

Sept- jitteriness in afternoon at work, brain fog, fatigue, high HR 90-120 on average; sympathetic nervous overdrive

Oct-Dec- noticeable improvement; got Covid end of Dec; got tingles in right hand here and there- correlated to stress

Jan-March 2026- HR still high; adrenaline dumps with HR spikes to 130, not too concerning; added back gluten but not caffeine and alcohol;

April 2026- weekly spikes, 3 episodes of 160+ HR spikes, spikes happening at night (warm upon waking) and at rest (no anxiety, panic, etc. just relaxing per usual spikes the past year); ECG at ER and xrays came back with nothing abnormal; potassium was 3.3; thyroid was normal in July and April 26; magnesium was normal at PCP follow-up; therapist confirmed they are not panic attacks or from anxiety and to call on Holter that ER ordered as this is physical vs mental- suggested dysautonomia but NAD disclaimer; nurse at April PCP also suggested possible dysautonomia or post-covid IST; noticeable jaw tension and head pressure; buzzing

Other- BP consistently 120/80 except leaving ER was 105/55 after IV and potassium, no meds, ER visit was per protocol with nurse line day after spike- troponin was negative (tested ~22 hrs after spike); did have one week in April after spike where nervous system switched to parasympathetic- completely low stress, high HRV, fantastic sleep but no clue what helped; two head hits in June (stack of clipboards- ~10 fell directly on my head and smacked it on the freeze handle standing from fridge); tinnitus and exercise intolerance for past ~3-4 years; Sinus Rhythm; it feels like my ANS gets amped and then HR rises and then there's like a trigger point for spikes and then the following crash/SNS and PNS struggle to switch correctly; waiting for Holter

Anyone see anything like this combo? Anything to ask when I meet with cardiology next? Anything to test (B12? etc.)?