FAST HEART RATE

Question

I have been having so many problems lately, I just had a heart cath about a week ago that was negative for ongoing chest pains but I have been having these heart flutters on and off but today while at work I had been having the chest pains on and off, I went to the copy machine and all of a sudden my heart started to race. It felt like nothing I have ever had before. I was scared by it but I tried to remain calm to see if it would stop but it did not it progressed. It felt like my heart was fast, fluttering, beating hard and in all kinds of different directions. It was so strange, I tried to check my pulse in my wrist to see if it was regular because in my chest and stomach it did not feel like it was and strange I could not feel my pulse. I tried to drive to the ER I got half way down the road but I could not make it so turned around and called 911. While on the phone with the woman after 10 minutes it started to calm down although still fast it was not feeling fluttery anymore, by the time the ambulance got there and hooked me up my heart rate was about 167 and they ran a strip and said sinus tach but it did not feel the same as it did 10 minutes prior. They ran some blood test in the ER and sent me home. Here I am home and scared crazy! I am so freaked out by this, just another of these problems that keep coming. It was scary not being able to feel my pulse. I was pretty calm, I dont think I was lightheaded or maybe I was. If it was a serious problem would I have passed out after 5 or 10 minutes? Any ideas? I have had PVCS that feel like a flutter but not with a constant fast heart rate.. Any help:) 

Thanks

mrsboston3122 · Answer

What did they say your flutters were? The doc said maybe its non sustained VT I am not real sure what that is or means or maybe early beats several in a row. When it flutters for seconds it just does not feel right and I can feel my heart when it starts to get right, it like goes slow and hard then its over. Maybe its going super fast? I dont know. I just know that I get so scared and nothing makes me feel better. It makes me sick and I worry for days. It makes me feel helpless and depressed. I get so afraid that I can not even sleep, I fight myself. I dont understand why I get them during the night and it wakes me up.

heartfluttersflyawayplz · Answer

glad to see no blockages and heart looks great. they are very scarey i have had a few flutters today myself, its not a hard thump and than gone its a long flutter like ok whens it going stop. i will cough to make mine stop. have you tried that. and yes it made me so nerves i was sick at stomack could not eat , barly wanted to move scared i would die if it fluttered again. but i did get passed all of that and now i just keep doing what i was doing when it started. sometimes it still scares me and thats after having them for 28 years, se am still here and have had really bad months with them and than they go away for a year or so or just one now and than. hang in there good thing is when you call it in your dr not call you back thats telling you your ok they are harmless.  so hang in there your going to be fine like the thousands of us out there with them.

mrsboston3122 · Answer

Yeah I dont get any pain either just very scary, I asked him and I pushed the button on the monitor, he said the were early beats. I did not get to catch the ones that flutter for 10 to 15 seconds just the brief flutters so I dont know about those ones. I know its driving me crazy and thumps go on for hours, they dont hurt just hard thumps every few seconds for hours on end but those are not as scary as the flutters, I mean it freaks me out but the flutters make me sick to my tummy and make me panic.

ed34 · Answer

I was lightheaded when the spasms occurred. The only way they would know about artery spasms is if they happened during the angioplasty. I too felt like a thump occasionally with the flutters, like my heart was trying to deal with a problem. There was absolutely no pain associated with the flutters, just scary sensations. Perhaps you should talk to your Doctor and ask if these could be artery spasms, I believe they call is vasospasm in the medical circles. There are medications which can help to stop this.

mrsboston3122 · Answer

I wanted to add that sometimes I am lightheaded even though I do not feel any palpations. Were you?

mrsboston3122 · Answer

Hi Ed:) When I had the cath done my heart was fluttering while they were doing it and the doc said it was because the heart did not like that cath in there. I first had the flutters when I was about 7 months pregnant with my daughter 8 years ago, it happened one time and then about 2 years later it happened again just brief flutters like 2 seconds and I would have this ever now and then and then I started to have at times the flutter for like 10 seconds but have only had this a few times ever that I can recall. A week before the cath my heart fluttered about 3 times a min for several hours. I have not had that again thank goodness cause I can not handle that. The flutters have been frequent for the past month and I also get these really hard thumps in my chest. I have never had these frequent maybe I would have 1 a month if that. There are the flutters that are brief maybe a second or 2 and then there are times where it flutters for about 10 to 15 seconds and it feels like it is not beating properly and is very scary. Would they have found spasms during the cath?

ed34 · Answer

During my last stenting procedure, it was witnessed how my coronary artery was starting to have spasms, it was basically going nuts. At the time I could actually feel this as a kind of fluttering. During recovery my heart rate went over 210 and I was put on oxygen, I then fainted. Six hours later I woke up (thank God) and everything felt fine. I felt no fluttering at all. However, when I was discharged, they seemed to return, but very randomly. Sometimes I would be just sitting watching tv and it would start. Strange rushes of light headedness would go through me with each flutter and it does make you panic. I think these were the spasms again. In some patients even the tickling by the catheter can cause these problems. Anyway, I didn't go to the hospital or speak to my Doctor, but decided to leave them because they were so random. I would estimate around 3 episodes a day which lasted for about 20 mins a time. After around three weeks, these reduced to one a day on average, but only lasted for about 5-10 seconds. After about six weeks they totally stopped and never occurred again. Pains did occur with the spasms, it was like a deep stitch (like you get from running) but on the left side. Since October last year I have had no fluttering. So I wonder if this is maybe what happened with your heart? I was wondering if they are reducing in frequency and how long they last.

kenkeith · Answer

Your vital system will be well monitored during the operation, and there will be reliable and professional backup if there is an arrhythmia...almost eliminates any risk from a heart issue.

Thanks for the update and sharing, hope it goes well for you.

mrsboston3122 · Answer

I got the results, the doctor said they are early beats (flutters). He said if they really bother me to take an extra Toprol. When I took the monitor off I was awaken 2 days later at 630 in the morning with a constant flutter for about 15 seconds, I have had just a couple of times that I can recall over the past 6 years. So they must be early beats a few in a row maybe? Is this still ok? Update I think I may know the cause of the pain I have been having, gallbladder is coming out next week/ Maybe the little pains were that too? I dont know. I am a little freaked out because I just dont like operations. Is it ok for me to do this with the early beats? Does the risk go up since I have these in reference to the medication that makes you sleep? Why do I have early beats? If my heart is normal why do they come and will this cause me any issues, like are they a warning for something?

Sorry so many questions, I am just very afraid!

mrsboston3122 · Answer

Well good news, I had the flutters while wearing the monitor 3 times already! I have not heard from the doctor so I assume its not something to worry about. I will get the results in 30 days I guess. I have not had the fluttery rapid one yet though.

mrsboston3122 · Answer

I get the monitor 2marro, bad news is I almost had a bad panic attack today but I stopped it!!!! Well at least I think it was going to be a panic attack. I very over whelmed so I guess it could have been one. I have again not been feeling myself today, I was very tired all day and dizzy on and offf a little nausiated too. SOrry about the spelling. I just want to know what is wrong with me. Hopefully I will have answers soon and I hope its an easy fix!

ChatterAlly · Answer

Hey there!  Yes, when I had the bouts with the SVTs one of my biggest complaints was the dizziness and feeling that I might pass out. I hope you can get some answers wearing the monitor.  Ally

mrsboston3122 · Answer

I am just worried that it will not happen while I wear the monitor. I mean the flutters have been pretty often now but that thing with the fast heart rate like what I felt the other day, I have never had that one before. I mean I have had a pretty fast heart rate but not like what I felt. It was not the fast that scared me it was the way it was beating but I am going to try and keep a postive out look. I have been getting a little dizzy lately. I wonder how come you can feel some PVCS and not others. One time I was on a monitor and there were a lot of PVCS but I did not feel them all thank goodness but just curious.

heartfluttersflyawayplz · Answer

yes my heart had flutters to and i could not feel my pulse either it ws so fast. than it scared me which threw me into a panic attack which always made it worse.  i have wore the 30 day many times always makes me feel better you call it in over phone after i think 5 pushes and they read it right than, if anything bad they call your dr so when ever i felt something i called it in and they never called me right back so felt safe after week of it i knew it was same feeling and that it was ok so the heart would settle down and than the flutters would go away. i have pacs mopst and at one time i was having over 3000 a day thats what monitor recorded, i have the flutter still now and than , its not the hard thump i use to get its just flutters strange feeling most the time but nothing to worry about am told. glad your wearing the monitor push it when ever you feel strange or feel it they will get it on tape and that can ease your mind

mrsboston3122 · Answer

I also wish it was an all the time monitor not just when I feel something so they could see the diffrenent things it does.

mrsboston3122 · Answer

Did you get the flutters too with the fast rate? My heart was beating all out of wack, it was fluttering beating fast and hard I could feel it not beating right although I tried to take my pulse but it was not there.

My heart rate was 167 when the EMTS got there but I know it was faster then that before they came because I felt it when it came down and while it was 167 it was not fluttering just going fast.

kenkeith · Answer

You can relax as there is very successful treatment available, and I'm sure the monitor will indicate the problem. It is my understanding that a heart rate less than 180 at rest is not causing any heart cell damage.  The increase in medication should stabilize your heart rate.

heartfluttersflyawayplz · Answer

i have had a very fast heart rate myself it would get up to 240 for no reason, they put me on timilol a very old drug and have never had that problem again. i have pacs to but my dr says alls good no problem. so wear the monitor and get on meds you will be fine am sure .

mrsboston3122 · Answer

Yes, I have had my thyroid many times and its always good. I have had blood testing for the other and all the time it is good other then potasim being a little low but not serious. I dont know I am so frustrated with all that is going on. I have 2 small kids to care for and I am afraid of leaving them.

kenkeith · Answer

Has other medical conditions been ruled out such as electrolyte imbalance and hyperthyroidism? Your Toprol medication should help prevent any emotional stress that could trigger and/or exacerbate an event. Keep us informed how the monitor experience goes for you. I wish you well

mrsboston3122 · Answer

I went to the doctor again today and he said I have to wear a monitor for a month but I dont get it until Friday. I dont want that to happen again but I do so they can see what it is. I am on Toprol 25mg once a day but he told me to take it 2 times a day now. I did have an EP study 6 years ago where they could not produce anything but the feeling I felt then and now are not the same. The Doctor brought that up today but because I had one already he said we would do the monitor. I am very very scared after yesterday. I had an angio last Thursday that was negative for chest pains and I asked the doctor is they could have done something but he did not answer.

kenkeith · Answer

A very fast heart rate has a probability to form clots, and can also cause syncope (fainting). Your doctor should prescribe medication (beta blocker, aspirin) to help stabilize the heart rate and help prevent clots.  If medication can't control the arrhythmia, then there may be a the option to implant a pacemaker.  It can be life threatening...worst case scenario.  

Sinus tachycardia indicates the problem orginates with the system's pacemaker and not another source.  Thanks for sharing, and if you have any further questions feel free to ask.  Take care.