Pause in heartbeat - does not show up as PVC or PAC

I'm a 36 yr. old female, active, non-smoker and in good physical shape.  For almost 2 years now I have suffered from what I thought to be PVCs/PACs.  I have had a very extensive cardiac workup (numerous EKGs, echo, stress echo, x-rays, ct scan, blood work, holter & event monitors).  All have come back normal.  I recently finished a 48 hr. holter and while wearing it I did feel several pauses in my heartbeat.  I was certain they would show on the holter.  I recently got the result back from the PA and NOTHING - not even a PVC was found.  What other than a PVC or PAC could cause this?  I can physically catch them by taking my pulse this is not just a "feeling".  They come on about 10 minutes after I lie down and they are the first thing I wake to in the morning.  Once I'm up they seem to go away.  They feel like a pause - like everything goes silent for a few seconds in my body and they can be pretty chaotic and sporadic.  Sometimes I feel a rush and a quivering sensation just below my left breast.  Should I see an EP?  Would they be able to see something that the cardiologist did not?  My heart seems to be in great shape but something is going on here.  The cardiologist cannot give me an explanation and just says not to worry about them - hard to do when they can't tell me what's going on.  Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[Forum-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,

What other than a PVC or PAC could cause this?

From the history you describe, I am not sure what would cause these symptoms.  I do agree with your current cardiologist that with a normal work up, there is nothing to worry about.


Should I see an EP?

If you have a holter during your events that show normal sinus rhythm, I am not sure what an EP could offer.

Would they be able to see something that the cardiologist did not?

Not if the holter was completely normal.  It never hurts to get a second opinion if you have concerns.

Thanks for posting.

[oneil420]

This is a very interesting post,i am curious about the answer here, i Also suffer from skipped beats/palps that are "undiagnosed". I also get them more frequent at night when i am laying down in fact they come on every few minutes for hours or until i fall asleep. I have a EP appointment in 26 days but it feels so far away. I have done testing in the past but my palps where so infrequent i never got them documented but i am hoping this time to get some answers, just a quick questions do your "pauses" occur on inhale?? prior to exhale? i get pauses from sinus arrythmia, as i inhale my Hr speeds up and just as i exhale it pauses then returns to normal.  MY palps are different from that as they are a  dramtic skip, pause, beat. Im pretty sure they are just pacs/pvcs but have never seen it on a ekg so im still alittle anxious. hope you get some answers soon, oneil

[boinmotown]

Hey guys!!! OMG! I get this too...I never heard from anyone about this except me and I thought I was weird but you have it too!  I also get the sensation that my heart will skip and stuff constantly when I take a deep breath in or exhale out from it.  I also was diagnosed with sinus tachycardia on my holter moniter from a year ago. I was recently told that I may have ARVD but that was proven to be false once I had a great MRI.  So I still have tachycardia and take 3 25 mg of Metoprolol a day...somedays  I feels the skips...sometimes I don't.  It's the luck of the draw.  Anyone else get skipped beats when they rub their chest or like...I'm really skinny and get discomfort in my chest sometimes along my ribs and I rub them which seems to cause my heart to skip more.  Anyone else, also, out there feel their skipped beats coming or feel like they're about to come but they don't...sometimes they do...it's like I can feel my heart about to skip...haha!

[Deeky]

I am currently undergoing tests for condition that sounds similiar to yours.  I have so far had a scan and my heart and valves are reported to be in good shape although one of the chambers is enlarged slightly.  Have had an ECG which shows slight changes and have been told I have angina.  I am awaiting an appointment to be fitted with a 24 hours monitor.  Is this what you have had.  My heart lurches and flutters and then misses a beat anything from 2 in a minute up to 6 a minute - all day long and it is worse at night keeping me awake.  Added to this I first was aware of this condition after suffering 2 attacks of vertigo within 6 weeks - have you experienced anything like this - do you think this would be related.  Really anxious at the moment because I am aware of the pain in my chest thru the day as well as at night.  Do you think it is something we just have to live with.  I am female and 60 and have a family history of heart problems, my father died at 53 from thrombosis, my brother has had a heart by-pass operation and my mother suffered small strokes although she did live to be 89.  It is comforting to know I am not the only one suffering.

[Ximp]

I have been dagnosed with supraventricular extrasystole, which is not life threatening but is very scary! I feel my heart skips a beat, or changes foot while walking, and goes on. I take beta blockers which help with the anxiety, but it never really goes away. Could it be what you have? the symptoms are very similar to what you describe, plus sometimes you feel it in your neck too, like a little closing of the throat....