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.

[heartfull]

Hey everyone. Sorry it took me so long to reply, my puter pooped out for a few days. Thanks to Hankstar and others who are checking up on me. I am still waiting for the "big" one to record. It's just a matter of time. Still having the smaller ones tho. I was driving home with my 5 year old today and had a very brief run of VT. I know what they feel like now so i dont call them in, i just listen to it.Until i get the one i want him to see.
  Right now i am being annoyed with cardio spasyms. I was told that they were micro spasyms about a year ago, the syndrom X thing but now my cardio says cardio spasym. I think because they are getting stronger i can identify them more clearly for him. They are also starting to affect my left leg. If anyone who reads this has cardio spasyms in their leg/s please tell me if it causes swelling in your lower leg and foot.
  About the monitor, i thought it was the heart rate too but it didnt show anything on the readout. My dr. asked what i thought i was recording, it felt jumpy and i was still for the most part but it showed nothing. I wonder if there are some arrythmias it doesnt pick up on. I know it has been feeling very jumpy at times and i record but it doesnt show anything. Not the PVC feeling, a fluttery feeling. Hopefully it will come soon (and be the last one) and i can take this thing off.
  Hope you are all well and i will post again if i can remember my password this time :)
  God bless <><

[LaurieD]

My palps can start or get worse simply by bending also. Lots of times that kicks off my PSVT. I personally think it is something to do with my floppy valve associated with MVP.

[JR]

sounds like vaso/vagal syndrome to me....

[sheryl]

Please help me!  Has anybody heard of this:  when I bend over, my heart goes into an irregular beat - slow, fast, skipping.  It stays in this mode til I straighten up and then it resumes normal beating.  I've had 3 ekg's and an echocardiogram and they were all normal.  This happens EVERY SINGLE TIME I bend over.  Ever hear of this?  Sometimes I think I'm going nuts I worry about it so much; however, I don't get short-winded, lightheaded, dizzy, nor do I have any pain.  What the heck is this?  Any information will be greatly appreciated!

[ikm]

In answer to your questions in the above post, I have been diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (along with PVC's and mild MVP).  When I wore an event monitor for a few weeks, I recorded one very short episode lasting about 10 seconds.  Since then (about 18 months ago), I have had only a few episodes that felt like they may be a-fib that only lasted a few seconds.  My main problem has been thousands of PVC's a day intensifying the week before and during my period.  I have been having bad days lately and my chest and heart kind of ache at the end of the day as if my heart muscle is just tired out from beating so hard every few beats!  It's so frustrating!

Also, as I mentioned, my doctor tested my glucose level and said he was testing for hypoglycemia which he thinks can contribute to more PVC's.  I will get those results one week from today.  It does sound like many of us women experience similar symptoms.  I just wish we could get some answers or some treatment.  In any case, I am thankful for the good days that I do have once in a while and just try to live life to the fullest.  Good luck to you!

[roz]

I'm so glad my search led me to this forum. I've been feeling so much anxiety about these episodes. I was thinking that all of a sudden, out of the blue, at 45 and very healthy, my heart was going crazy! I never would have imagined that it could be related to perimenopause!! As I read your comments, I realized that these episodes correspond to my cycle, lasting for an hour or more several times a day for about 3-4 days right before and during my cycle. I do feel occasional short spells during the month. My question to the women who have dealt with this is: When menopause finally ends, will this go away?? !!!  
I really don't look forward to years of this, let alone the rest of my life. Does anyone know?  And, is there any point at which you really should go in and have all the tests? We have a huge deductible and I just don't feel like plunking down $1000 to be told I'm just fine and it's all harmless!