Are my arrhythmias dangerous?

[LaurieD]

I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and paroxymal hypertension in my twenties. I've always felt skipped beats to some degree. About three years ago I had onset of paroxymal atrial fibrillation, this was diagnosed in the emergency room. My heart rate was 153 bpm and irregular. I've had about twelve bouts of this atrial fibrillation since this time. It does seem to be triggered by stress, but no one can figure out the cause. Echos show a mild mitral valve prolapse, that's all. I started having many skipped beats around October last year. I went to the doctor, who put a holter monitor on. It showed approximately 680 skipped beats in the 24 hour period. She diagnosed this as PSVT. I then followed up with my cardiologist who did a thallium stress test, which revealed all was normal. He then put a holter monitor on last week. The computer print out said I had 1,127 narrow beats within the 24 hour period. I believe that, as my diary showed almost constant skipped beats. My cardiologist told me I was imagining them, that I had only truly had 14 skipped beats, and that the computer errored.He feels it's my esophagus causing this. If it was my esophagus, why would I feel skips in my pulse? Does any of this sound dangerous to you? I am currently on tenormin 25mg t.i.d. It doesn't seem to help this PSVT from occuring. The only two things I know is they are worse at period time, and they are worse depending on how I move (bending over can cause them to start) and once they start sometimes they just won't quit for awhile. Is there a cure for all of this? I am also wondering if these "narrow beats" which he also referred to as PAC's are to do with the atrium and maybe my heart is trying to convert into a-fib full time rather than paroxymal? Any info you can give me is much appreciated. Thanks.

[chattytalk]

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[dani369]

A related discussion, what is going on with me and is it life threatening was started.

[dejan]

I am a 30 year old male. I had several episodes of sinus tachycardia since I was 18. But recently my problem got worse.
EVERY morning my heart starts racing with minimal exertion.
Even if I walk for only 20 meters my heart rate is 120-130 per minute. I go to normal phase late in the evening. Then, I can walk, even run without problems. If I get stressed during my "morning" phase I get tachycardia of about 150-160 beats per minute.
Does anyone know why  this is happening only in the morning.
I usually get stressed when I feel a PVC beat (I have them 1-2 per day) or I anticipate tachycardia. Since there is always something to upset you in the morning, I could not function any more. I am scared to go to my work place since last time
I had an episode while driving. This was a week ago and I am at home since then. I started taking ATENOL. It works fine but I do not know how long I can use them without problems. Does anyone know how long should I be on ATENOL? I have heard that beta blockers can have  severe side effects like heart failure and cardiac arrest.

Thanks,

Dejan

[mamma s]

i've been dealing with these symptoms since I was in college, am now 43 and a mother of two teenagers. Thank God they are good kids...because stress, whether good or bad seems to be my biggest enemy.  I have given up my teaching job (7th graders) because I get too involved with them and there goes my heart, My life is not normal, I'm becoming more and more afraid of everything, i'm having strange panic attacks, have a hard time going into stores with bright lights...is this sounding crazy? I was told I have a mild MVP with mild regurgitaion...I have had everything from arteriogram to tilt table test......nothing, just the MVP, but still I have this awful arrhythmia. The last dr. I saw was one at St. Luke's in Houston .  He put me on tambacor, 50 mg twice a day, plus toprol XL twice a day, and ativan 1mg twice a day to try and control the panic episodes...I don't want to die yet, last night I was quite sure I wouldn't make it until this morning.....sometimes I get dizzy and fall with this thing.....I went back for a checkup the Dr. says I'm doing great!  Well, I'm not doing great, I feel like my life is falling apart.....there's got to be someone out there with answers...I am depending solely on God at this point..

[mediumkat]

well I want to tell you that I too have this problem with the heart.I am now on rythmol 150mg three times a day.It helps alot and there are still some days that I dont feel well.
I am now going for a thallium test and I am nervous about that.
I am gladd I found this site and thanks for letting me post  sincerly mediumkat

[Nell]

I am 43 and started having rapid heart beats about 5 years ago.  I was put on HS Covera after a year or so, and continued on that until November of 2000.  I would have the rapid heart beat about every 5 months.  My husband was a fireman and if the pager went off at night, that might trigger the rate.  Or if I was woke up from the phone; have it sometimes right after lunch.  My heart will make 2 "thumps" and then it's racing big time.  Is this the "fluttering" some of you talk about?  Or is this the "skipped beats" you mention?  My fast rate feels normal and nothing irregular shows up on tests.  Normally I could make it stop by (1) blowing on a balloon (2) Holding my breath or (3) breating in and out of a paper bag.  In October, I couldn't get it to stop and I couldn't get the count.  I went to the doctor and after about 2 hours he sent me to the ER.  They gave me something (I forget what it's called) in the IV to stop the heart.  The cardiologist I went to recommended going to a speciaolist and seeing about oblation.  7 months went by and recently I had another spell at 1:00 a.m.  About 2 hours long; I finally got it to slow down by last resort of breathing in the bag.  Cardiologist and general doctor refuse now to refer me to a specialist.  Say it doesn't happen often enough and they need to just change my medicine.  Since Nov. 2000 I've been on Verelen(sp?) PM 300.  This is frustrating.  For years, I've cut out caffeine, chocolate, sugar (I love jelly beans, and may does that bring it on).  One of my cousins had this and she passed out every time it happened.  I only passed out the first time it ever happened.  I feel fine while it's going on.  My cousin had the oblation in January 2001 and she's doing great.