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"   Question I have suffered from palpitations since I was about 30 \u2013 (I am now 57).  They vary in strength, sometimes I can have them on and off all day, sometimes they make me shaky, weak and I have to lie/sit down. Sometimes I get a hard flip in the chest that hurts and takes my breath away.  I have taken pills for most of the past 20 years to regulate these, having seen various consultants in the past \u2013 I can&amp;#039;t use the Ventolin inhaler for my asthma as that brings them on.  I moved and changed my GP and when I went for my renewed prescription he suggested I saw a fresh consultant in my new area \u2013 which I did and had the usual unpleasant stress tests and exploratory dye investigation.  I used to get an extreme pain in my left side by the side of my breast and when the dye was inserted during the investigation the pain there was unbelievable \u2013 I went straight into an asthma attack and nearly passed out.  Oddly enough the pain has been merely intermittent in my left side now. The point is my new GP has got it into his head that (a) because I live alone (b) possibly because I\u2019m a woman and (c) because I ask lots of questions, that I&amp;#039;m neurotic and over anxious and suffering panic attacks.  I understand he suggested this to the consultant with the result that I have been branded! I know people who have panic attacks and I have been with them when they occur and from the way in which the symptoms are described they are not at all like the palpitations I have.  I am no longer permitted the pills, hence after exercise and when I\u2019m tired, under the weather \u2013 a cold or whatever\u2013 the palpitations start.  They are beginning to affect my life, I hesitate to do anything that might bring them on and in a bad case friends or work colleagues can get freaked out! I have had some minor black outs and dizzy spells.  An American friend told me to check with my doctor whether I had PSVT \u2013 I am not sure what that actually stands for \u2013 but apparently it can often be mistaken for panic attacks.  However I shrink from asking my GP as I&amp;#039;m pretty sure I know what his reaction will be. Is it possible?  Should I change my GP or will that merely result in a fresh GP having my current GP&amp;#039;s thoughts colour his view?   Answer I am sorry to hear this tale of misunderstandings. Your description is indeed of some form of palpitations and yes, these can be misinterpreted as panic attacks.  Even if your GP has labelled you as neurotic it doesn&amp;#039;t seem fair that he influenced the consultant to draw the same conclusion. You don&amp;#039;t say what the tablets were \u2013 a beta-blocker perhaps (although these can sometimes make asthma worse)?  It is reassuring that you had all these investigations, but I wonder if you have had an ambulatory ECG monitor fitted.  These can either run all the time for 24 hours or more, or can be switched on by the patient when they feel they are having a palpitation. This can resolve the issue once and for all.  PSVT stands for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. It is not a specific diagnosis in itself, as there are several causes of this, but the name simply means episodes of rapid heartbeat arising from part of the electrical system that governs heart rate.  So it could well be that this is the cause of your problems. It would certainly show up on an ambulatory ECG monitor.  I think you need to make sure your GP understands your feelings about being branded neurotic \u2013 and one good way might be to write him a letter expressing your thoughts exactly as you did to me \u2013 and then go and see him afterwards to discuss it.  If he is receptive to your concerns, then fine \u2013 especially if this leads to you having an ambulatory ECG monitor, if you&amp;#039;ve not had one.  If you are still not happy, you could arrange to see another doctor in the same practice, if it is a group practice.  This might be better and easier than changing practices, but if that is what you need to do to get a &amp;#039;air hearing&amp;#039; and some help with this problem, then I would advise you to do just that. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As Heart palpitations How are heart palpitations investigated? I am experiencing palpitations \u2013 should I be worried I seem to get palpitations in the evenings Palpitations Palpitations Palpitations in my chest Should I consult my doctor again about my heart palpitations? Strong palpitations  Last updated 10.12.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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