Palpatations

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question.  Your answers to these questions are helping many people. I have had palpatations since I was 18, I am now 25.  I just had a work up with a cardiologist who did an ekg and a echocardiogram.  These test all came back normal.  He said there was only a small leak or murmur on my mitral valve which I was probably born with.  He said that I would just need to take a antibiotic before any major dental work.  My family doctor said that everyone has small leaks and there is no such thing as a perfect heart.  He then went on to say my EF was 60% which is excellent  He couldnt really say what was causing my palpatations.  When I went back to my Family doctor afterwards and had him do another holter(I did one back in 2002 and he said it only picked up ectopic beats and they were normal).  That was a week ago and he hasnt called me back yet.  I did catch alot of the palpatations on the holter.  I will probably hear the same thing again benign palpatations.  What is your opinion on my work ups.  Are these test enough to rest my mind?  I also am curious if the atenelol can ever make palpatations worse.  I am on 25mg in the morning and 25mg at night. I would like to stop taking it.  My doctor thinks it is better to be on it to prevent the palpatations. I want to just ignore these palpatations but it is hard!  I have normal BP at home always. but I do get spikes at the doctors.  I have taken my monitor to the doctor and it is accurate, it just reads a little higher than his actually.

[Cleveland Clinic]

pb,

thanks for the post.

Yes, I think you work up is more than enough.  If all that was seen on the holter was PVCs or PACs, with a normal echo and no other evidence of heart disease you palpitations are benign.  Repeating a holter or rest of the work-up if there is no change in the quality of symptoms will not really add too much. I generally would check another echo in about 3-5 years to monitor the mitral valve.

Some people have more PVCs at lower heart rates and some at higher heart rates.  If you are one that has them at lower heart rates, atenolol can actually increase the frequency of the palpitations.

I do not want to minimize the symptoms you have from your palpitations,  even though they are benign,as you can see by looking in the archives, a lot of people have a hard time dealing with the symptoms.  You might search back to see how some of the other posters have dealt with their symptoms.

good luck

[palpatation boy]

I forgot to mention the Palpatations feel like my heart is skipping beats.  I can actually feel the pause when I check my pulse.

[Rikimaru]

my heart also skips a beat regularly even though my doctors confirmed me that all was fine, and many of the times my heart feels like its beating violently to the point where it will move the whole of my upper body in sync to the beat.
Personally i think palps happen for a reason, probably mental thikning.  I never had a problem until one time i had so many chocolate bars one night, that when i went out driving in my car that same night soon after, my heart was beating too fast(probably because my system was trying to digest the chocs)and at same time the traffic lights were on red and wouldn't turn green on that same night causing traffic one way and I was in front of everybody and started to panic, eventually being the first to go through the light and immediatly pull over to walk around and calm down, abandoning my car whilst on in neutral and forgiving my self for everything cause i was so scared and thought i was gonna see the reaper that night, but anywho........after this incident i started to have more panic attacks and PVCs or angina attacks (never happening prior to the incident)or just plain skipped beats and heart drum rolls lasting like half a sec to 2 secs, and high blood pressure also, so in my own conclusion i came to believe that i brought this on my self due to lack of physical body maintainance, but thats just my opininon, and I also think that if i was a healthy person not being overweight, this incident on traffic lights would not have happened and conciquently i would have carried on a normal life of normal positive mentality.

[Linda123]

Try an anti depressant for your panic attacks - they've worked like a magic charm for me.

[sunnygirl]

What kind of antidepressants? Did they stop your palpitations (assuming you have them). Thanks

[Linda123]

Hi
I'm taking seroxat and it's helped me enormously, the palpitations have calmed down dramatically.  I still have them as I do have a fault with my heart but nothing, NOTHING, like I was having them.  Worry, upset and anxiety must obviously have been big triggers for me.
Apologies to all out there who disagree with taking anti depressants, I worry about it myself but personally I'd take anything to help.
Good luck.
Best wishes

[Linda123]

Just re-read your post.  I'm quite thin and get lots of palpitations and my cardiologist told me he mostly sees thin ladies with this kind of problem (he doesn't know why) - so please don't put this palpitation problem down to your being overweight .. and don't worry too much about not exercising being a cause of your palpitations .. you will find many on these boards exercise like mad and still get palpitations.  Personally I don't exercise, I know I should, but I don't.  I think you're blaming yourself where no blame is necessary.  You had a nasty episode whilst driving and that episode has caused you to lose confidence, don't hate yourself because of it, palpitation episodes are very frightening.  Just do your best to build up your confidence.  It might help you to try and have somebody with you when you are driving.
Best Wishes to you,
Linda

[shaz_mtl]

Hi,

Have you ever tried Magnesium..I ask because a board I read at talks about this being helpful for palpatations. I began having them at the end of last summer and they are very scarey. Also found when I lay on my left side they became worse. I've read somewhere there is either a muscle or something else (cannot recall), that when pressure is applied to it depending on how we lay..ca cause palpitaions. Anyway..Magnesium Oxide supplements..about 252 mg a day or more depending..has done wonders for me. Make sure it's in powder, (water soluble), form or the tablet kind will crumble with a little pressure. Dosage really depends on you..see below. If you find you are getting gas from it then reduce a little or wait a day or two and it will pass. Another product called 'Natural Calm' a water soluble Magnesium..they also have a Magnesium and Calcium mix. I have no casue to reccomment them other than it honestly has helped me and imho is worth a try when suffering from these palpitations. Actually I should say consult your doctor because it is just wise to do so. Wanted to add coffee..tea any caffine.  containing porduct seems to make them come on.

Magnesium recommended daily dose (RDA):
Males: 19-30 years 400 mg per day
Males: 30 years 420 mg
Females: 19-30 years 310 mg
Females: 30 years 320 mg.

As needed for supplementation (only take this dosage if told to do so by doctor only):
In supplementation it is normally taken in dosages of 750 - 1,000 mg per day.

http://www.anyvitamins.com/magnesium-info.htm


Here's the link to a board with helpful info:
http://www.resonancedirect.com/bbs/34.html

Magnesium Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA:
"Many cardiovascular problems are indicated with magnesium in short supply and rapid heartbeats as well as fatigue, irritability, and seizure can occur. Insomnia, poor memory, painful periods, depression, hypertension and confusion may also indicative of magnesium in short supply."

http://www.anyvitamins.com/magnesium-info.htm

Natrual Calm:
http://www.naturalcalm.net/home.shtml
with Calcium and guidelines:
http://www.naturalcalm.net/article-mag-vs-calcium.shtml

Best of luck
Shaz

[sunnygirl]

Hi Shaz

Magnesium did not help me. Took it for a long time, but it is certainly worth a try. I have read in Prevention magazine of people's palps clearing completely. Have read thaht magnesium gluconate 1000 mg or more is best for PVCs and to also take calcium if you are taking mag.

[jennann]

From afib board I read, it's not as simple as just taking magnesium.  It also has to do w/ the balance w/ Potassium - also watching calcium.  Try afibbers.com or LAF Phorum.  Much good info there!

[ailyn]

HI

MY NAME IS AILYN THE FIRTS TIME THAT I FEEL MY PALPITATION I WAS 15 YEARS OLD MY SISTER TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEY DO TO MY A BLOOD EXAM CHEST XRAYS EKG AND THEY ALSO PUT A HOLTER MONITOR AND EVERITHING CAME OUT NORMAL.BUT NOW IM 22 YEAR OLD AN D IM BEEN FEELING THIS PALPITATION SO I CALL MY DOCTOR AND I MAKE A APPOITMENT AND I EXPLAIN TO HER THAT I BEEN FEELING LIKE A FEW EXTRA HEAT BEAT SO SHE DO TO ME A EKG SHE LISTENG TO MY HEART AND EVERITHING SOUNDS GOOD SHE ALSO PUT ME TO DO A STRES TEST AND EVERTHING CAME OUT NORMAL AND SHE ALSO PUT ANOTHER HOLTER MONITOR AT THE TIME THAT I WAS WEARING THE HOLTER I FEEL JUST ONE PALPITATION SHE TOLD ME THAT THE PALPITATION WAS NORMAL.SHE TOLD ME THAT I GOING TO FEEL PALPITATIONS BUT THAT WAS NORMAL AND I HAD TO RELAX AND THINK IN SOMETHING GOOD BUT AT THE TIME THAT I FEEL THIS PALPITATION OR EXTRA HEART BEATS I GET REALLY SCARE MY QUESTION IS  IS NORMAL TO FEEL PALPITATION EVERY DAY BECAUSE SOMETIME I FEEL THIS PALPITATION EVERYDAY. I FEEL MY HEART GOING NORMAL AND SOMENTIMES IFEEL LIKE TWO BEATS AT THE SAME TIME. PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION A SOON IS POSSIBLE .THANK YOU

[ailyn]

I FORGOT TO TELL WHEN IM HAVING THIS PALPITATION I DONT FEEL HEADACHE, NO DIZZY NO CHEST PAIN THE ONLY THINK THAT I FEEL IS LIKE MY BODY IS BURNING INSIDE OF ME. BUT I THINK IS BECAUSE I M NERVOUS  SCARE THAT  SOMENTIME CAN HAPPEND TO ME.

[ailyn]

I FORGOT TO TELL WHEN IM HAVING THIS PALPITATION I DONT FEEL HEADACHE, NO DIZZY NO CHEST PAIN THE ONLY THINK THAT I FEEL IS LIKE MY BODY IS BURNING INSIDE OF ME. BUT I THINK IS BECAUSE I M NERVOUS  SCARE THAT  SOMENTIME CAN HAPPEND TO ME.

[ailyn]

I ALSO FEEL LIKE THREE PALPITATION AT THE SAME TIME. I ALSO FEEL LIKE STOP BEATS THEM MY HEART GO BACK TO NORMAL BUT I GET REALLY SCARE WHEN I GET THIS PALPITACION. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY. BUT IS NOT GOOD TO FEEL THIS .THERE SOME THINK THAT SOMEONE CAN DO FOR MY BECAUSE I ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT MY PALPITATION I WANT TO RELAX MY MIND AND NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.THANK YOU