Posted By Sandra on January 27, 1999 at 14:08:17:
I am a 33 year old
womanWomen's way with an irregular
heartbeatHeart palpitations
Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat
Ultrasound, ventricular septal defect - heartbeat. Four years ago I was
treated with
radioactiveRadioactive iodine uptake iodine for hyperthyroidism/graves disease. At that
time I was given a stress test,
EKGAtrioventricular block, ekg tracing
Ecg
Exercise stress test, and wore a
holterHolter monitor (24h) monitor to check my
irregular
heartbeatHeart palpitations
Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat
Ultrasound, ventricular septal defect - heartbeat. The doctors (the best in my area) basically said "oh,
well, your heart beats irregular - nothing serious - try to exercise regularly
and stay away from caffeine." All of which I do (chocolate or a pop occassionally)
and I have been able to deal with the irregular beats ok. Usually I have
a period of a few days a month where the irregular beats bother me (generally
near to my ovulation time.) Anyways, two weeks ago I had the flu for the first
time in 9 years (10 out of 22 people in my family got it) and I did not eat
anything or much for several days -- and now my heart has been more irregular
then normal. Could this be due to change in diet and lack of exercise? Exercise
does seem to really maintain the regulation of the beats. I worked out today
and it was great, but my heart continues to skip a beat here or there and then
add one or two more to "catch up." P.S. my mother has/had a left bundle block
but now wears a pace maker and is just fine. There was no evidence of that
in me 4 years ago. Sorry this is so long - thanks for your help.