My heart skips alot, never has before

[Greg Danzig]

hard to discuss my problem within 1600 characters, here is my best summary: 28 years old, Male. Had a drinking binge, got very sick next day (usually never get sick from drinking) been to ER 4 times since binge: for chest pain, and closing throat. At first they said I was just dehydrated which was causing me closing dry throat episodes and they said the heart was from the alcohol. They did run several test, to see if I damaged anything internally. To sum up the results of test: everything came back normal (tests included EKG, x-rays, 2 cat scans of organs, hepatitis test). only thing was I had slightly elevated liver enzymes. To bring you up to speed, it has now been over 3 weeks since my binge. been to my normal doctor and received the opinions of several other doctors at ER visits. I still continue to have occasional chest pain, my heart “skips” beats more now than ever, throughout the day. My legs are very fatigued and feel like I have been running (feel like they are on the verge of Charlie horse all the time), My stomach muscles also occasionally lock up to the point where I am miserable (feels like I did sit-ups and pulled a muscle or something). I have had about 5-6 episodes where it felt like throat was closing/ couldn’t breath, I still have bouts of nausea in the early morning (earlier I get up, the worse it is), have thought I was going to die at times. main concern is my heart. waiting on stress test results now, dont feel like dr are helping much. They say i may be having panic attacks, or withdrawl symptoms (never had either one of these prior to binge

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Greg,

Thanks for your story and sorry to read of your ordeal.

For the purpose of this discussion, I am going to assume that you are a "weekend warrior", and drink heavily only sporadically.  I will also assume that you have had the good sense not to drink since your binge.  I will further assume that you use no illicit drugs.

I am not seeing you in person.  Therefore, all we can really talk about are odds and probabilities.  The probability that a 28 yo previously healthy man developed a serious heart condition associated with one episode of binge drinking is exceedingly small -- shark bite small!

Several diagnoses would fit your description, however.  The most likely culprit is an esophageal disorder, namely: esophageal spasm or esophageal tear (called Mallory-Weiss tear or Booerhave's syndrome, depending on the severity).  An esophageal problem could be diagnosed by an internist or GI doctor.  Esophageal disorders are infamous for masquerading as heart problems.  None of these would be diagnosable from ECGs, x-rays, CT scans, or blood tests.  Acute alcoholic hepatitis is a further possibility, but this would be unusual unless you have drank more than what you stated.  

ER doctors are not usually good at diagnosing disease.  They are trained to "rule-out" life-threatening disease, not to "rule-in" anything.  You are unlikely to receive much diagnostic help from them. Return to your internist and let him know how you're doing.

Hope that helps.

[Ianna]

-Oh yes they do!!
-
Esophageal and stomach problems for sure do contribute to heart-skips and Drs know this...
Now please good Dr tell us WHY!??

Thanks!
-
Love - ***Ianna***

[Ianna]

I'm sorry.
I assumed your name is Frank but could very well be Fred or ?....
You'll excuse me??
-
***Ianna***

[Mel22]

Esophageal spasms do seem contribute to PVCs and PACs. So does excess gas and acid reflux. All you have to do is go to a GERD site and read about all the people who are freaked out by their PVCs and PAC. It seems to be connected, but we don't seem to have a good answer to how or why. I think it may have to do with stimulation or pressure on some nerve or another.

The other day I felt many more PVCs than normal. So many that I worried for a bit. I also felt "gassy" and bloated. Then I remembered that I had eaten very spicey Chinese food 2 nights before, and I especially remembered accidentally eating a pepper and taking a minute or two to recover from it. After recalling this I took two Gas-X tablets. Viola! The PVC's stopped!

Just my .01 but I know that I'm not the only one.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

fwilson,

I suggested an esophageal disorder as a possible diagnosis because I thought it best fit the entirety of his complaints: chest pain in a young man after drinking binge, persistent nausea, new "heart" sensations.  Achom's razor is an often cited tenent of medicine; his proposal was that if one diagnosis can explain everything, it's usually the right diagnosis.

Esophageal disorders can both mimic and precipitate abnormal "heart" sensations.  Esophageal spasm can feel just like angina.  Esophageal irritation can lead to premature beats, most likely as a result of altered vagal tone (altered parasympathetic nerve activity).  Therefore, if Greg had esophageal hyper-reactivity secondary to a bad night of vomiting; he very well could be experiencing both chest pain and new palpitations.

Having said that, I have never seen this post-binge sufferer and therefore would not be willing to place a firm diagnosis.  He may have left out important clues that would alter my opinion.

Hope that helps.

[ElaineM]

I had alot of stress, mom with alzeimers, and one day I was over-worked, had alot of anxiety and was just plain rushing around.  I went to a funeral and I was unusually upset and with all of the above feelings I drank a large cup of coffee which I never do.  I came home and about 2 hours later I felt a flutter from the bottom of my stomach up to my throat and my heart beat only one beat loudly, the other beat I could not feel.  That went on for three days then i started the palpitations.  I wa put on Toprol which made me feel good in the beginning then my heart started to loudly skip beats.  After about 5 months of misery I went on 25mg of Tenormin, still had skips and palpitations but they were very few in a day.  The other day I had a sinus infection and took Zithromax pkg of antibiotics and began to have spontaneous diarrhea and skips again.  I felt dehydrated so I took Pedialyte and started to feel better but the skips still continue, not as strong but just as uncomfortable.  I also have Esophagitis with reflux and take Zantac.  What happened to me?   Never had a problem before.  I also have no dizziness or chest pain????

[Greg Danzig]

Yes, weekend warrior, however my wife wanted me not to B.S. you: some weeks I drink more than a weekend warrior, but like I said I never had trouble quitting for a period of time, and never had withdrawal symptoms (no DT’s, sweats, what have you), and I know guys who drink more than I do; and yes, not only have I had the sense not to drink since this ordeal, I have way learned my lesson!! I never dreamed alcohol could affect someone for 3 (going on 4) weeks like this. I don’t think I will be able to look at a beer again without thinking “this may make you sick for 3-4 weeks again”. Havent even had a soda since this. One thing I didn’t get a chance to add last time, is my weight is a factor in this too. I’m pretty heavy, but since this all started I am on a diet now and have lost 22 pounds.
     I am responding back to let you know they called me back this morning and said my stress test came back O.K., even though I did have several palpitations during the test. I even pointed them out the head nurse running the test. Her response was “we cannot do anything for a skip”. She also said what you said: a guy my age having heart problems was unlikely. I have another appointment to see my Dr. this week. Going to discuss the test more, see if they are going to medicate me in anyway for my BP. Other than this, My palpitations come and go still, some days worse than others. Still fighting boughts of nausea in a.m., and my leg fatigue makes it very hard to get through a work day still. One final thing to add: an upper GI was the only test they didn’t run on me, they said they didn’t want to do that one if they didn’t have to (they told me i didnt want to swallow a bunch of barium, or whatever metal it is, if it was neccessary, i agree with this, i dont want to be more sick than i am). They did say I might have esophageal disorder (they compared it to have a bruise on your esophagus and stomach) if this my diagnosis, anyone have an average time of how long it will last? Going on 4 weeks here is making me think I've been punished enough for my stupidity!!

[karie]

Have you read the new book : The Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome/Dysautonomia Survival Guide : It is great.
My cardiologist has mentioned the correlation of the autonomic nervous system and how it to can effect the heart.........