Worry and your health

[deputydog530]

Im sure this topic has been covered but I felt I may help me to share it. I have always been a worrier.

I am much better as I mature in the Lord but there is one area that I really battle. That area is health.

Being on disability really isnt the worry though it can be discouraging.

My worry is these heart palpitations I have. I noticed them about 4 years ago when I was 36. I went in and had the works done. EKG, stress test, blood work. Everything was normal with exception to slightly high BP and high trigliserides. The Dr. said there are 100 + palpitations and most are not dangerous, just annoying. He said mine were not dangerous, that my heart was 100%

I have these palpitations every day. The triggers are sugar, caffene, and stress. Also if I eat fatty food.

Anyway, I worry that I will die, leaving my wife and kids behind. Then I get very upset with myself for not trusting in God to care for them, and the fact that If hes not done with me Ill be fine.

Perfect love casteth out fear. WIthout faith it is impossible to please him.... Go through these verses all the time. They bring great comfort but I still havnt got the final victory over it.

Maybe im just rambling, needed to vent.

I used to chase armed bank robbers with complete peace, yet these palpitations scare me.
Thanks for listening.

[Annie]

Deputydog, I'm sorry you've been experiencing some problems that worry you. As you said, stress (a form of worry, really) does affect your physical well being. Don't let yourself get into the vicious cycle in which your health issue breeds worry, which exacerbates the health issue, which breeds more worry, and on and on. I think the phrase "worrying yourself to death" does have some legitimacy.

It seems that the triggers you mentioned can be controlled. Could you slowly wean yourself off the daily caffeine and sugar intake, or at least drastically reduce it? Believe me--I know that's more easily said than done! I just know that I personally feel SO much better--more energetic, less lethargic and "down"--when I'm not eating lots of junk. Awhile back, I was a "junk food junkie," but I hated the way that habit made me feel. My moods and energy level improved drastically after I made the decision to cut back on the stuff. I told myself I would go one week (and then, if I was still alive, maybe two) without any bread, crackers/chips, or sweets. I compensated by drinking diet pop, crunching on veggies and Ranch dip, and allowing myself bacon for breakfast. The first two days were awful, but it got so much better after that. I lost weight and felt so much better physically and mentally. I was so happy that I tried it for another week...and another...and another. Now, I don't have the desire for all that junk food; I feel sick just thinking about what I used to eat. I do eat sweets and bread in moderation, but it's under control now.

Anyway, didn't mean to ramble. I hope your situation improves, deputydog.

[kevinmiller]

Worry can cause a whole host of medical problems in itself. Worry is a form of stress and stress is terribly damaging to your body.

[deputydog530]

Thanks for the encouragement. I got rid of caffene long ago, that was easy. My stress is way lower now that im retired. Sugar and fat food is the hard one. So many times I eat something, THEN realize, oh great here comes the palpitaitons

The worry issue is what I get so upset with myself over. It seems some sins we can just defeat and remove from our lives, turning it over to Christ, yet most of us, (in my case worry of this issue) seem to hang on.

Today is a new day, and im giving it to the Lord right now :pray

Thanks again for listening :smile

[HappyChristian]

deputy - are you on a good, solid vitamin supplement, one that is specifically designed for men? That could help a bit. And water...when my heart palpitates (don't know the cause, I've had the whole work up done...doctors told me the same thing yours did) I drink extra water. Seems to help.

[deputydog530]

Hi Happy, thanks for the info. yes, ive been researching on my own (be nice if the Dr. would help :uuhm: ) I now take B complex 125, Magnesium 800mg, and a mulit vitamin. These have helped a ton. I also try to drink at least 1 gallon + of water a day. Some homeopathic nurses my wife has seen suggested some of this.

I also started taking cyanne pepper pills. They are awsome. DONT take them on an empty stomach though

My wife has had terrible health problems which the Dr.s have just thrown meds at with really no results. She has had two treatments with the Rife freqency manchine and put on the herbal supps and she is doing better than she ever has. She has gone off most all the meds the Dr. gave her. Im gonna make a trip myself.

Im also looking into a supplement called natokanise. It supposidly is showing results of disolving plaque in the blood veins and repairing them to an extent.

Thanks again

[HappyChristian]

Oh, yeah, that cayenne can be hard on an empty stomach! The natokanise sounds interesting!

[Bakershalfdozen]

I started having palpitations after my 3rd child was born and continued until after my 4th child was born - about a year and a half to 2 years total. I had the whole workup done twice - results were negative. The doctors attributed it to hormones and stress. Sugar, caffeine and lack of enough water were definite triggers.

Nowadays, I don't get the palpitations unless I over-carb. I get headaches now if I don't drink enough water.

I have done what Annie suggested and have felt so much better! I just wish I could stick with it. haha

[deputydog530]

Hmmm, carbs. I never though of it that way. I will give that approach a look as well as the sugar. And avoid the evil icecream

[bzmomo7]

Do you guys avoid salt, too? I have to, and I make sure that I get a good amount of potassium and magnesium. We go through a lot of bananas around here. I was getting palps a lot when I was pregnant last year.

[HappyChristian]

Do you guys avoid salt' date=' too? I have to, and I make sure that I get a good amount of potassium and magnesium. We go through a lot of bananas around here. I was getting palps a lot when I was pregnant last year.[/quote']


Some people with palps have to watch potassium intake, though. Too much potassium can damage the heart.

[deputydog530]

I watch my salt but I really dont use that much. The most I get is in processed food. The Dr. told me I could have 2000grams a day. I found it hard to get to that amount. I dont salt my food, I use garlic. Yumm Yumm.

Potassium is important also. I get leg cramps with my potassium is low. A banana usually fixes me right up.

Want to say thanks again. Talking about this here is really helping me keep a better focus on things and in the right place. :tum

[bzmomo7]

I don't supplement, just make sure I eat fruits & veggies with potassium in them....not in excess though. I can't eat much processed stuff anymore....too much salt. If I eat too much salt my body will retain extra water....I can tell because my rings will get tighter, and I will get more palps. I think my palps are somewhat blood pressure related. (my bp is mildly elevated, but not high enough consistently for med) Therefore, stress seems to trigger them too, as well as caffeine. All things that also effect bp. I am trying to lose enough weight to get myself into the proper weight category for my height hoping that will take care of it for the most part, because they say that weight loss and exercise usually effectively reduce bp. I've noticed that after I lost some of the post-baby weight that the palps greatly reduced. The palps sure are annoying and scary feeling. Feels like my heart skips a beat whenever it does it. When I was pregnant it would do it for 30 sec at a time sometimes......it was soooo scary!

[JerryNumbers]

Seems the secret to great heath and long life is to never eat something that tastes good, and just think, most people live to eat good tasting food.

Or maybe I should say this. Most Baptist count eating good tasting food and fellowshipping with fellow believers go hand in hand and that is when we are at our best.

I might add too, one person on this board thinks if you can't work, you should not eat, seems he thinks those who are disabled and on disability are just lazy good for nothing people who feed off of others, he has ragged me about being on disability many times. He might just step in and do it again. I pray an hope it never comes his way.

I thought a similar thought as you once, I thought about it for several days, during a message at church the answer come to me, in fact it add to my message. That is something I'm going to let God handle, I'm not going to worry about it.

Today I made a trip to the cemetery where many family member and friends are buried, its right by the church I grew up in. Walking to the cemetery I came across and elderly lady I use to attend church with who has not died, I never knew her husband, he died in 1945, she died in 1985, never remarried, but lived a fine Christians life.

She was one of my mentors, she did fine for many years, God does provide and take care of His own, she lived it, I feel for us, like Paul said, To die is gain. Let just take care of things properly while we are here and live for God, when we gain, God will do His part. Prayers.

[deputydog530]

Amen Jerry

Dont let those folks bother you. Going on disability was the hardest thing I ever did. My Dr. wanted me to retire a year earlier than I did. Whan I was 22, i was strong as a horse and could go toe to toe with any bad guy and he would lose. I spent my youth on our ranch building fence, throwing rail road ties around like they were nothing. Now because my birth defects have wore my joints out early in life and injuries have taken thier toll, the wrong movement or lifting something to heavy will put me on the couch for days.

Those who have never had debilitating injury or defects do not understand. God has taken great care of me adn provided all I need and more. I guess that defeats that persons line of thought.

Its funny, I have no worry of disability anymore, just these stupid heart palps. Today is a great day by the way as far as feeling good. Amen God will balance the books in the end, so we dont have to worry about it, though that is easier said than done. :smile