Re: Skipped heartbeat and murmur

Posted By Marilyn M on June 19, 1999 at 15:08:30
I have been seeing my GP regularly for the past few months due to having Epstein Barr Virus. Since I was diagonosed with this virus, I have suffered palpitations and missed heart beats. I've researched this on the net but can't find anywhere where someone says that along with the missed heartbeat, they feel a flushing sensation and pressure in the trachea area. As soon as I feel the flushing sensation, I put my finger on my neck and feel nothing, like it IS skipping a beat. Then a heartbeat follows like normal. I just need to know if this flushing sensation and the instant feeling of panic that accompanies it is normal. I carried around the Holter monitor for 24 hours last weekend and it verified that my heart skipped two beats in that period. I can tolerate this if I know it's not serious. It's the unknown that terrifies me and others. I have had panic/anxiety disorder for the past 9 years and was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a couple of days ago by a nuerologist. I don't ingest caffiene in any shape or form, I quit smoking a year ago, I don't take any drugs outside of synthroid for my hypothyroidism  and I do take some vitamins/minerals, but in normal doses. I am just now starting to get back to a normal lifestyle after almost 4 months on the couch with EBV, so am very much out of shape. My GP tells me not to worry about this skipped heartbeat as it's not serious, but it scares me so I need to hear from a heart doctor. I should have asked her more questions about it, but at the time didn't think of it. In the past couple of months, I've had a complete physical with numerous blood tests and everything is fine. My GP says my cholesteral is next to spectacular and my blood pressure is excellent. I had to quit my job in February when I started becoming sick and haven't worked since.....now I spend all my free time on the computer designing websites, so am not very active. Should I concern myself with this "skipped" heartbeat that is accompanied with the feeling of flushing, pressure and panic? Thanks in advance!!

[CF-CARDIO-MD-JMF]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD JMF on June 20, 1999 at 16:05:43
Dear Marilyn M,
You are not alone in your concerns regarding PVC's and the anxiety associated with them.  As you will see, this is the most common area of concern at the Heart forum.  I can reassure you that PVC's to varying degrees are completely normal.  Unfortunately, they cause various response in different people.  Try not to dwell on this very normal skipped beats and do try to avoid caffeine, alchol in excess and stress.  
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.











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