Continuing Heart Palpitations w/o Diagnosis

[parakeet]

Hi there, I am a 28 yo female, 5'6", 200 lb, exercise infrequently.  For the last two years I have had numerous episodes where my heart will suddenly race for no apparent reason; these almost always happen at night, or in the middle of the night.  One of them landed me in the er, as I thought I was having some kind of heart condition.  My symptoms are usually like this: I will feel a buzzing or roar in my ears, then my heart will shift, like a car, into super high speed, where I can't even count the beats.  I feel a huge adrenaline rush when this occurs.  This goes on for nearly a minute; it will then slow down again, and I'll feel thoroughly exhausted.  I also have frequent palpitations, where I feel my heart skipping beats, fluttering, or pausing for a moment before continuing on.  I have had several ekg's, bloodwork, a chest x-ray, and a holter monitor, and all have come back normal.  Should I continue to seek a diagnosis for this, or should I just assume I'm ok, as my doc tells me?  Thanks a lot for your help.

[Cleveland Clinic]

parakeet,


thanks for the post.

An event monitor would catch the rhythm during an event. This would be important to document. If that was normal, you have what a lot of people in this forum suffer from which would be palpitations related to PVCs and PACs. I would search some of thier post for continued help.

good luck

[ihatepvc's]

I have a very similar situation and take Propranolol which is a beta blocker. Have been doing much better since being on it.

[Carey01]

That sounds totally unpleasant.  Did the event monitor pick anything up?  HAve you tried a 30 day event monitor?  That sounds like A-Fib, although I am not a Dr.

[tanns]

I think that it sounds alot like anxiety or panic attacks.  I have been going through a year of similar symptoms and am slowly coming to realize that it CAN be all anxiety.  I don't feel anxiety filled, stressed or otherwise but clearly SOMETHING is going on and after a year of intensive tests(the most recent being an angiogram), quite a few different docs and a small fortune --- the only thing that is consistant is an ANXIETY diagnosis.  It makes no sense to me so I still continue on with more docs and more tests but I just wanted to say that it can be anxiety related.  Don't rule that out or scare yourself into thinking it is more serious until you know for sure.  But of course, always do what you have to do set your mind at ease.

[mnjohn]

Ive been having similar problems. I switched from toprol xl, to lopressor sr, from canada for price reasons. I dont know if it has any relevance, but for the last 3 mornings, i wake up, and start having a rapid heartrate right away, and it goes away after a little bit. I of course panic at the same time, and it really freaks me out. I just got toprol xl again tonight, thinking mabey that was the problem. I have doubts though, as they are supposed to be the same. Also during the days the last few days, i get runs of butterflies in my stomache, and i instantly check my pulse, thinking its my heart. Is this all anxiety and panic? Or has someone else switched from toprol to lopressor with similar results?  Thank you all

[fastpace]

Your symptoms sounds very much like the symptoms I had three years ago.  It took approximately one year for me to find out exactly what I had.  I was finally diagnosed with PSVT.  It was difficult to catch because it was intermittent until the episodes became more and more frequent.  My cardiologist was finally able to capture it while I was being monitored on a treadmill.  The problem has been under control since I started on a beta blocker two years ago.

[CollegeGirl143]

it is pretty much impossible to diagnose an ahrrythmia on feeling alone without prior history to go on..It could be anything really.. At this point you should ask your doctor for a looping event moniter.

[PaladinX]

i keep reading that pvcs. or irregular heart rhythms are fine in a structurally normal heart.  If she had all tests that prove her heart is structurally normal, why the need for further tests?  Sometimes everyone here tells people its normal relax.  and other times they recommend more tests.  I mean if you think there is a slight chance that someone 28 yo has something seriously wrong with their heart after all of those tests, you should say so. Say your probably fine, but theres a 2 percent chance it might be serious and just releive your mind.  I think telling someone they need more tests without any other information causes more damage then good with people that have anxiety problems.

[CollegeGirl143]

Wow..um..Well in response to that.. We say these things because treating an illness isnt just about finding out if you're going to die or not..Say you've got a miserable sinus infection,but you dont know what it is.. I either know, or can find out what it is, but i just dont feel like it because you arent in mortal danger.. by what your saying, i should tell you that you wont die, and send u on your way without a diagnosis or medication if needed.. That is NOT what medicine is about. Its about finding a diagnosis, and treating it if need be.  This patient is not sure if she has a sufficient diagnosis, and an event moniter allows the patient to capture what they're feeling and see if its something.. I have to say, it sounds like you're projecting your own feelings of anxiety here.. If she didnt want the doctors opinion and continued treatment, she wouldnt have asked the question.

[PaladinX]

yeah your right im sorry.  Just frustrated that i can never post a question been trying for 2 months lol

[PaladinX]

And I didnt mean it the way it sounded.  I meant that a little reassurance helps some people like myself who are retardedly nervous with things.  I think there are some people who will get 500 tests and not be satisfied.  And its frustrating sometimes that you need 500 tests to get an answer.  I would say sometimes people are better off taking their doctors advice that they are ok, because some people end up getting 500 tests done, and mistakes are made.  and they end up being diagnosed with illnesses they dont even have like my cousin.

[CollegeGirl143]

yep.. ur absolutely right about that, sometimes you can take the testing too far.. As for the posting, it is really hard to get a question in.. Ive been trying over a year myself :\, but then again i dont try all that often, because i know someone else needs it more than me! Good luck and feel better!

[PaladinX]

Thanks, and again i apologize if i sounded snippy,  It wasnt my intention, and its nice that people and doctors on here try and help people for free.

[mmfd]

Try posting a question at exactly the top of the hour, between the hours of 8 and 11 am EST.  That is how I have been able to post in the past.  Good luck!

[angellyte]

I would never assume the Doctor was 100% correct in saying your ok without at least a second opinion. I had the same thing since I was 21 and was told it was anxiety and believed it for many years. I recently had what I thought was gas and all the (anxiety) symptoms you are having but it wouldnt let up. Went to the ER and was having a heart attack. Within 3 days I found that all these years it was not anxiety but Tricuspid Regurg. I am now 45 and really wished I would have listened and gotten that second opinion with a heart specialist.

[kitcurious]

Did they do TTE when you were young?