cookie, just wondering if you suffer from palps and that is why you are afraid of your heart stopping, or just that you check you pulse all the time. I never checked my pulse untill I started having the palps, now i seem to want to check it all the time. My resting rate is anywhere from 78 to84, and as soon as I get up and do anything it goes up. I would always freak out, but of course when you get up and move around your pulse is going to go up, so i don't worry about it to much anymore,only when i get the papls(the puse in the pulse and then a quick beat)I had a 24 hour monitor, and the doctor told me that it wasn't my heart causing them, but something eles,they did go away for a couple of weeks and came back again,just before my period started so i'm hoping they go away when my period is over. It is a very scary thing even though the doc says your ok and sees no reason that i can't exercise, I still I'am afraid.Most of the time I get them in the evening and start to get axnious, I still have to work on that.I have been trying to get some info on how long others get the palps and how long they last for them. I have had mine now for 8 days and they can be off and on for an 5 mins to an hour, some days are better than others. I have only felt it once so far today but it is only 7 in the evening so we will see later.I think if I didn't feel them (in my throat) I would not be bothered by them.But anyway,I hope you feel better and if you need to talk, I get on here every day. I will be more than happy to talk to you.It does help to talk to someone with the same sytems. kathy