Racing heart and "butterflies"

[1tiredmama]

Dd12 has panic disorder, centered around school. She is only making it for 2-3 hours a day. I am seeing mild anxiety pop up over things like separation, going out with her BFF's family, and now soccer. She has a game tomorrow.

 

After I put her to bed, she came out to tell me that she has butterflies in her stomach and her heart was racing. I asked her if she might be having an anxiety attack. At first, she said that she was not feeling anxious, but as we talked, she did admit to some mild anxiety over the game. Within minutes, her Trazadone set in, her heart slowed, but was still fast. Dd wanted to go to bed, and she did.

 

Usually, when she is very anxious, she feels it in her stomach--crampy, diarrhea. She feels shakey and flushed. Can a child have physical symptoms without the usual emotions attached to anxiety? Other than these physical symptoms, she was not appearing anxious.

 

Thanks!

 

I am editing this to add that dd had a soda 4 hours before this incident. She was definitely experiencing the butterflies even before the soda, but maybe the caffine made things worse??? She has about two or three sodas a week with no problem, but I thought I'd throw that out there.

Edited September 15, 2012 by 1tiredmama

[sosudden]

My 10 year old daughter has postural tachycardia. Diagnosed this summer. I think she may have been experiencing longer though... heart rate up to 170's, 2 ED trips and a cardiology work up. She is now on a medication for it and we are seeing slow improvement. I am at work today so will try to send some links later or you can PM me. I would suggest taking her pulse laying then sitting then standing just to see if that has anything to do with it.

Laura

[kos_mom]

I'd say yes--a child can have symptoms without the emotional part, depending on how one defines it. My DD would sometimes get a pounding heart that came on so suddenly she'd drop straight to her knees on a wood floor (ouch!). There would be a trigger of some kind, usually being late in getting ready to go some place.

[1tiredmama]

Thanks, friends! When dd woke after being asleep for 2 hours (not typical for her,) I asked her how much soda did she actually consume. Well, apparently, when I wasn't paying attention, she had two big sodas. I normally am very careful about soda consumption/portions.

 

Dd was up the rest of the night. BUT, she has definitely learned her lesson!

 

Thank you for responding to this false alarm.

Edited September 15, 2012 by 1tiredmama

[tpotter]

I know it was probably the soda, but it can also be from the lyme. DS16 has had tachycardia, and 2 cardiologists believe it was "infection triggered", and our LLMD said: "lyme".

 

Just wanted to let you know.

[1tiredmama]

Thanks, tpotter. I will keep an eye on things.

[bulldog24]

You can also take her pulse if you need to check the rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply by 4

 

Zith can sometimes cause heart issues.I am glad to hear ot was likely soda