Heart changes

  Dear Dr. CCF
  I realized that you have overlooked my response to your CFF doctor so I decided to post it again. Thank you very much for providing information. I realized that I neglected to clarify Prozac and some gaps in my
  history.
  1. I took various SSRI anti-depressants for four years until 1997, and had to stop each SSRI due to serious side
  effects. My family doctor would not let me go back on Prozac (1994) due to those huge PVC skips and the weight
  gain. Last year, I was on Serozone when the symptoms of hyperthyroidism began. As for Prozac, it was 20 mg a
  day, the lowest dose. Those huge skips occurred whether I was active, sleeping or relaxing. You were right that a
  combination of a stressful day and being on prozac may have caused those gigantic skips at the end of the day.
  No short breaths. Just the sensation of those huge skips.
  I am no longer on any SSRI, and am doing OK, thanks to therapy and stress management. After stopping them,
  my heart no longer experiences huge PVCs. Would SSRI medications cause the heart to beat so slowly or lead to
  huge skips? Something for you cardios to think about researching the link between SSRI and PVCs? For fun, I
  checked my pulse and found it would range from 48 to 60. Now because of hyperthyroidism, it has shot up to 85
  to 90. A bit uncomfortable.
  I rarely experience the usual, single or double small skips once in a while, which do not bother me. It will surely
  go away if I stop HRT medications altogether, but I cannot do that. No tobacco, drugs, spicy food, drugs,
  caffeine in liquid or food (except for a small portion of dark chocolate!), alcohol. I found I must stop that
  occasional chocolate because I found that my heart is sensitive to slight caffience and would experience
  palpitations due to hyperthyroidism. The only vice is eating junk food!
  2. It is really deep breaths. It seems to be happening frequently and lately by itself

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

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Dear Lucy,  I will not answer the endocrine(hypo/hyperthyroid) questions as this is a heart forum.  I can comment that palpitations (PVCs and PACs and arrythmias) can and do occur in in patients who are hypo/hyperthyroid and in patients who take anti-depressent drugs.  In these case the endocrine disorder  should be treated and the anti-depressent stopped .    
A PVC is a premature ventricular contraction, and a PAC is a premature atrial contraction.  The atria and venricles are separate chambers in the heart.  
"The full cardiac work-up" is quite variable and certainly is individualized to the patient, it would be best for you to inquire with one of the local cardiologists as to the initial evaluation fee and then go from there as the type and number of tests you might need can not be determined without a complete history and physical(as is done in any initial evaluation).
In regards to the abnormal chest X-ray findings, if unchanged in all these years surely there is litte if anything to worry about, and certainly I can not comment on a test that you have had regardless of your knowing the results, remember this is an informational site, not a diagnosis web page.
You are absolutely on target with your 'skipped beats' in that you seem to know exactly what triggers them..  Just remember Lucy that
the skipped beats are not bad for you, that is to say they do not do any harm to your heart.  Thus if eating a little chocolate every once in a while is truly your only vice, consider doing this and just expect and tolerate the skipped beats.  As for the funny breaths that you experience, this might be as you say related to your extra weight but given the abnormal CXRs and the other problemas you speak of
I might be inclined to check an echocardiogram to investigate the chambers, the valves, and the pressures in the heart.  
This of course is a test ordered by a physician, and as before the cost ranges from hospital to hospital.  Good Luck.  It might be in your best interest to have an evaluation by a cardiologist or internist prior to starting and exercise program to help increase your energy, lose weight, and keep your heart healthy.
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general informational purposes only.  Actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).