Racing heart, and palps, and panic attacks? OH MY!

[Happy-Mom]

First, Thank you so much for this forum and the many people who give encouragement and insight.  I’ve been visiting this site regularly but this is my first post.

I turned the big 40 this year, a mother of 4 great kids (hoping for one more).  Non-smoker, 25 lbs of left over baby fat – I’m working on it…BP 120/60ish…very mild heart murmur with mild valve regurgitation and EF 45. which has me a little worried.

A few years ago I was taking Metobolite, the ephedra diet-pill, one day it gave me palps, that night I had  a “panic attack?” and in the garbage it went,  but I think it has done something to me - to my nervous system or heart.  My heart now races every night, I also have palps on occasion and “sinus tachycardia and/or paroxysmal supraventicular tachycardia associated with symptoms.”  Via Holter report. Is this PVC?

It seems many people around here suffer from PVC’s and anxiety/panic attacks.  I would consider myself a non-anxious person with mild panic attacks symptoms and a heart that races at night - both appeared at the same time, right after the &*(* Metobolite.

My first doctor that ordered the holter monitor and echo, just told me “You’re out of shape, here take this” – I don’t know what it was, it didn’t make sense to me to take a drug if I was out of shape, I just needed to get some much needed exercise.”.   I asked for a copy of the holter monitor report 6 months later when I was still having symptoms.  I’m a little upset she never mentioned the results mentioned above.  I’m looking for a new doc, and some answers.

If anyone can shed a little light on this, I would very much appreciate it.  Thank you all.. Happy Mom

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Happy Mom,

Without seeing the holter report and strips it is difficult to speculate the significance of the finds.  I do doubt, however, that the ephedra made permanent changes to your heart.  The truth is that paroysmal supraventriular tachycardia is very common.  It would be helpful to see the rhythm strip, paying careful attention to the initiation and termination of the heart rhythm helps suggest whether the cause is from anxiety or something more complicated.

Consider taking you holter report AND rhythm strips (most important) to a cardiologist and/or electrophysiologist.  They should be able to speculate about the significance of the rhythm or suggest appropriate tests to help answer the question.

Foremost, I agree with the diet and exercise--cut back on simple sugars, diet high in fiber (at least 28 grams per day), and with appropriate mono and polyunsaturated fats.  Combine with some exercise and this should help resolve the weight issue.  Keep track of how much fiber you eat in a day....this is an interesting exercise, most Americans eat about 8 grams, the recommended total is 28 grams.

Hope this helps answer your questions.  Good luck.

[mrbh]

>>> it didn’t make sense to me to take a drug if I was out of shape<<<

This is faulty reasoning! There are certainly times when we need a medication of some kind for a particular condition. Being in or out of shape is not always a major factor in that decision. I know it sounds a little tough, but every pill or medication is NOT about your waist line!

I'm just guessing, but your doc might have offered a beta blocker, which can be helpful for the problems you describe.

Anything that is ephedra based has the potential to do things such as you describe. That stuff is so toxic and dangerous...why do you think they pulled it off the market?

Follow your doctor's advice, please! Good Luck.

Standard caveat: I'm not a health care professional of any kind. My opinions are just that...my opinions.

[Happy-Mom]

Thank you for your commment

Just to clarify, I have no problem taking medication. I just think it is wise to know what and why I’m taking it.  I was not told I had any heart condition, ONLY that I was out of shape.  It was only after I asked for copies of the tests that I learned it was more than being out of shape.

When I asked my Dr. if the Metobolite or ephedra could have caused the symptoms I was having she said "No, nothing had been documented."

*Remember, this was a few years ago, before the side effects of ephedra were widely known and made public, before the athlete died. Before it was pulled from the market.  This was when Metobolite was advertised as safe and effective.

[Linda123]

Just to say - PLEASE don't beat yourself up about the diet pills, (have been there and done that), they will have only affected your heart at the time of taking and not permanently, like having an extra strong cup of coffee!
I took diet pills for quite a while back in my teenage years (I'm now 48) and was convinced ( and ashamed .. and mortified .. at the thought)that I caused my heart problem because of them but now I know I didn't.
It was the mixture of two diet pills, phen-fen, that caused the heart damage, and I think you needed to have taken it for 3 months at least.
So rest easy!
Best wishes with the palps, sorry you're having a tough time, my palpitations increased dramatically when I hit perimenopause aged 40 so that could also be contributing to your palpitations.
Best wishes,

[oakroom]

I don't have panic attacks but i'm starting to get a little nervous. I posted a few weeks ago and didn't have any comments (other than dr and the advice was a 2nd opinion which i'm not scheduled for until 2/2) and I keep reading these posts to see if I can get some hint with what's going on with me. Cath,echo, signal-averaged ekg, mri all coming back normal. 2 months ago i had shortness of breath and went to ER and so far the only problem is i had VT while on the treadmill and have now developed palps or maybe had then and they just got worse? I'm on 75mg of atenolol and it felt ok for awhile but i feel like i'm back where i started - short of breath - i guess cause of the palps.EP said he might try and change beta. question is - did anyone get palps out of the blue not associated with panic or heart structure? EP says don't worry since all tests are negative but how can I not worry when i was having VT on the treadmill? Did anyone change types of beta and that help? I'm sorry to piggy back on this post but no one had comments on my post and you all have so much experience. I appreciate your patience with me and any comments. thanks.

[oakroom]

Hi...me again....I couldn't stand these palps anymore so I called the EP and he's going to put me on Cortizan? 30mg twice a day from 75mg of Atenolol. Only been on Atenolol for about 2 months so I doubt I'll have any withdrawl of any type but anybody done this before? Go from Atenolol to Cortizan? what can I expect?

[oakroom]

sorry for the mispelling...it's Cardizem he's putting me on. just looked it up and it's a calcium blocker. I'll try and be optimistic but my cardio had me on Cartia, another calcium blocker, but that didn't work and that's why i was put on atenolol. UGH.

[Momto3]

I was treated with several different beta blockers for pvcs. Of all the BB's, Inderal worked the best for me.  Eventually, I was put on anti-arrythmics (sodium channel blockers I believe).   Anyway, your doctor may want to experiment a bit until he/she finds the right RX for you. What does your doctor say about the VT?  Is is sustainable?  Or, is it NSVT?

Hope you are feeling better.

[oakroom]

Thanks for the feedback. Honestly, I have no idea what VT I had since i've never worn a holter and the only recorded VT was on the treadmill. If I hadn't had the VT on the treadmill, honestly, I'd just accept the palps and go on. But how can 1 cardio say it's a life threatening rhythm and be concerned and the EP consider that nothing? that's why until the 2nd opinion, i'm just so concerned. I'm 45 and the mother of 2 little ones,3&7, (started late)with my father dying at 47 of sudden death and even tho everyone thinks it was CAD, without an autopsy, I can't be convinced 100% that it was. I'll try this channel blocker and see what happens. I doubt anything since I was on it 5 days after the heart cath and still had VT on the treadmill. Thanks again for posting to me.

[Momto3]

You're welcome.  I'm kind of surprised that you have not worn a holter monitor.  Why did your doctor order a stress test? Do you also get pvcs/pacs?  I know how frustrating it is when you get conflicting opinions. I know that the EP's have specialized training and work with rhythm problems routinely.  When is your 2nd opinion?

Your father died suddenly and there was no autopsy? Was there any reason to believe that he had an irregular heartbeat?  As I recall, you have had the standard workup (echo, EKG, bloodwork).  Have the doctors ruled out any structural problems?
Are you near Cleveland for a 2nd opinion?  I have a wonderful EP in Cleveland.  She is incredibly thorough and understanding.  Good luck!!

Hey, awesome on the little ones!!  I'm close to your age and my youngin's are college-age.  They are still great fun, but I sure miss the days when they were little.  

Hang in there and good luck with the RX.

Connie

[oakroom]

EP had me wear the event monitor and all that i recorded evidentally were palps (no idea what pvc/pac??). so when i asked about a holter monitor he said it wasn't necessary, since he just wanted to know if i felt them. all started 2months ago when i was feeling chest pressure/shortness of breath and went to ER. next day when i went for nuclear stress test, is when the VT was observed but frankly all i felt was out of breath. so everything mri/echo/cath/signal-averaged ekg all are ok. only thing i seem to flunk is the treadmill. with medication i still showed extra heartbeats but no VT i think. my father died over 30 years ago and sort of a family courtesy back then not to do an autopsy- no one thought anything about it. i'm in Atlanta so am going to Emory for my 2nd opinion on feb 2. thanks again for your comments. as you can tell i'm sort of new to all this and fairly clueless!

[Momto3]

Great on the event monitor.  That will help the EP determine what's going on.  PVC's are premature ventricular contractions and PAC's are premature atrial contractions. They are generically referred to as "palpitations," "ectopic beats," or an "irregular rhythm." PVC's are irregular beats that originate in the bottom chambers of the heart (ventricles) and PAC's are irregular beats that originate in the upper chambers of the heart (atria).  

Sounds like you got good results on your tests!! YEAH!! It seems really good that you are not having any VT since starting the medication.  

Makes total sense about your father and the autopsy.  I forgot about the age difference...DUH!  

Emory is supposed to have great facilities and doctors.  Sounds like you will be well taken care of.  Plus, it's a whole lot warmer there : )

Good luck on the 2nd.
connie

[birgitky]

I think you need to change DR. and see a heart Dr. He will send you home with a monitor and everytime when you have a attack you will call i in. I really like it they do call you at once and aks you how you feel after you had the attack. I have the same simptons and they call it SVT i also had surgery trying to burn it but tha surgery did not work at that time. Try not to eat chinese, chocolate,caffeinated drinks and if you smoke try to cut down. Take your pills like you should and dont miss. See if this helps you a little. It does me but i will still have some attacks. I have this 2 years now and im trying to get the surgery again because it got worser. I wish you good luck.

[nervous nellie]

Thank you all for sharing your stories with PVCs. I am only 30 years old and have developed PVCs in the last 6 months. I have been evaluating possible causes- I started taking the birth control pill at about the same time. Have any of you heard of the pill causing PVCs? I am also a very nervous person, which makes me think that stress has some impact. I wore a holter monitor and had 11,000 episodes in 24 hours. My family doctor called me two weeks later to give me the results. She told me that she would call in a prescription for a beta blocker if I felt I needed it. She didn't even make a referral to a cardiologist. I have insisted that I see a specialist, yet she clearly thinks I am over reacting.

[Jenn64]

Hi Everyone,
I just turned 40 in November, back in March 2000, all of a sudden I couldnt catch my breath1 It was like someone was choking me or sitting on my chest,! And my heart was pounding so hard it was watchable , I went to walk in clinic after laying in bed crying for 3 days, thought it was something with lungs, bronchitis asthma! My husband and I had drove a hour away to Traverse City Michigan to go out to dinner and shopping, I should never have tried going. any how the doctor listened to my lungs said they were clear, the next thing I was on EKG machine, and he was calling to Petoskey Michigan Hospital to get me appointment, the beginning of the week. My EKG was all over the place.On this day I was 140 pounds 5'7" tall and no heath troubles but on thyroid. I had every kind of test on malter monitors for a week, and the conclusion was I have
Paroxysmal suprraventiculas tachycardia.
Fisrt thing I sasked if it was from me taking diet pills, (metabolift) with effedra in it , faithfully for a year. I was told NO!
I had a young son, born April 98, so he was very small, I was so bad I laid in bed all day, let him play in my room ,sometimes my mom would come over! For 2 years it was untollerable! All I did is lay and cry. from March 200 till November I went up to 210 pounds!
It had gotten better , now it is back,It never has went away, just better! MY QUESTION! does it make you out of breath! Or Gasping for breath! I feel like my chest /lungs don't open up enough to catch a breath! I was on ump teen different beta blockers! Did not like lhow they made me feel! and they didn't seem to due anything good for me! I live in northern Michigan, and wonder if the Dr.'s know what they are talking about! Im just curious, if other people with PVC have feeling that they cant breath deep enough to get a breathe!This has just been sooo miserable! I dont even feel like my self! I used to wear size 4-6 now Im in 14-16! And am miserable! It took over my life March 2000!There have been endless days of laying in bed just gasping for each breath!and allot of light headness! thanks for any comments you may have!Best wishes to everyone!

[Seasheller]

A lot of your problems sounds a lot like anxiety involved. You might ask your doctor about taking Xanax or Valium to help calm you down. If that works, you can rule out threatening heart trouble.
Your nerves sure can do a lot to mimic heart trouble. I used to have panic attacks plus anxiety and I know how horrible it makes you feel. I had a lot of the symptoms you are having back when I was in my 40's. Would you believe I am now 72 yrs. old and still living!!!??? No heart attacks!!!  Good luck to you.