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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Need Advice on diagnosing Arrhythmia.......
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Need Advice on diagnosing Arrhythmia.......
by Kathy, Nov 23, 1999 12:00AM
I'm a 34 yr old female who has had irregular beats for over 10 years. Also Diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse. Taking InderalLA 60 mg. for about 8 years.
Over the past year or two I've had an increase in irregularity. This past March I had a terrible episode with more irregular than regular beats for a period of about 2 hrs. I felt lightheaded also.
Had a wrist monitor put on for a month, but it didn't show anything (Didn't like it since the episodes would be over until I was able to turn on the recording)
Testing done months ago was OK. Holter Monitor only showed PVCs which I didn't even feel. Echocardiogram was OK (just showing the MV prolapse with slight leakage) Blood work was OK. EKG was OK.
My current symptoms are *groups* of irregular beats lasting only a few seconds, but I can tell it's not just a single skipped beat. I've noticed runs where every other beat is a skip, but those don't seem to bother me as much as the groups of skipped beats that come together. This doesn't happen every day, perhaps only once a month or so. Daily I only have the single skips.
My doctor feels there is nothing wrong with me, but since I'm pushing the issue, he is giving me three options:
1. Increase Inderal - which I'm hesitant to do because I already have extremely low BP and ice cold hands and feet.
2. Swith to a different Beta Blocker - Which is best?
3. See and Electrophysiologist who can stick a catheter in and try to get the irregularity to occur - Of course this scares me as I'm sure there are pretty sever complications that could occur.
My question to you is, which one would you recommend? Is there a better beta-blocker than Inderal, or will switching cause MORE problems? And could you please tell me the risks of Electrophysiologist testing and what it entails??
Also, is there a way a common person such as myself, could tell if these groups of irregular beats are something more serious? What are some possibilities of the *type* of irregularity I'm having?
Sorry so many questions. I appreciate your time.
-Kathy
Over the past year or two I've had an increase in irregularity. This past March I had a terrible episode with more irregular than regular beats for a period of about 2 hrs. I felt lightheaded also.
Had a wrist monitor put on for a month, but it didn't show anything (Didn't like it since the episodes would be over until I was able to turn on the recording)
Testing done months ago was OK. Holter Monitor only showed PVCs which I didn't even feel. Echocardiogram was OK (just showing the MV prolapse with slight leakage) Blood work was OK. EKG was OK.
My current symptoms are *groups* of irregular beats lasting only a few seconds, but I can tell it's not just a single skipped beat. I've noticed runs where every other beat is a skip, but those don't seem to bother me as much as the groups of skipped beats that come together. This doesn't happen every day, perhaps only once a month or so. Daily I only have the single skips.
My doctor feels there is nothing wrong with me, but since I'm pushing the issue, he is giving me three options:
1. Increase Inderal - which I'm hesitant to do because I already have extremely low BP and ice cold hands and feet.
2. Swith to a different Beta Blocker - Which is best?
3. See and Electrophysiologist who can stick a catheter in and try to get the irregularity to occur - Of course this scares me as I'm sure there are pretty sever complications that could occur.
My question to you is, which one would you recommend? Is there a better beta-blocker than Inderal, or will switching cause MORE problems? And could you please tell me the risks of Electrophysiologist testing and what it entails??
Also, is there a way a common person such as myself, could tell if these groups of irregular beats are something more serious? What are some possibilities of the *type* of irregularity I'm having?
Sorry so many questions. I appreciate your time.
-Kathy
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Nov 23, 1999 12:00AM
I would recommend exactly what your doctor did. Try increasing the inderal and see if it helps. There is no good reason to think that switching beta blockers will make a difference. An EP study is an option if your symptoms are unbearable, but is a little extreme for PVCs. An EP test is actually pretty safe. The major risks are perforation of the heart, bleeding from the groin, and casuing an arrhythmia during the test itself. There is no reliable way for you to determine exactly what the irregular beats are on your own.
