Tachycardia

[sarafina1977]

I had my first irregular heartbeat 10 years ago.  The first ER doctor diagnosed as heart issues and put me on a beta blocker.  However, I am allergic to all beta blockers and broke out in hives.
2 days later it happened again and the 2nd ER doctor told me it was a panic attack, gave me Xanax, and it stopped.
So, for years, I thought I was only having panic attacks.
3 years ago when I was in my 7th month of pregnancy, it happened again and was far worse than previous episodes.  I was given Adenosine to stop it.  That was a horribly weird feeling.  It was like someone reached in my chest to stop my heart so it would reset itself.  They ran EKGs and did an echocardiogram, and determined it was a benign tachycardia.  Again, even after my warning, they give me beta blockers, and they then had a very pregnant woman covered in hives again...fun!
The day after I delivered my son, it happened AGAIN.  I was kept up on the heart floor (and away from my baby), with another dose of Adenosine, and constant monitoring. They finally decided it was the pregnancy hormones causing it that time.
I've only had it happen twice since then, and both times taking Xanax has stopped it.  So, it appears that in some ways, it is brought on my stress for me.
I have been reading about the Vagal maneuvers and the use of apple cider vinegar, cayenne, etc. which I may keep in my arsenal to treat it in the future.
It has been so comforting reading how many other people live with this.


This discussion is related to I keep stopping tachycardia....

[dolphin8808]

Anything to do with the heart can be sooo uncomfortable! I do understand the fear it can cause but it sounds like yours is a benign condition. My doctor has told me that some of us are easier to fall into tachycardia and other rythym abnormalities, so stress and panic can bring it out in us.

Most arrythmias do not require treatement unless the symptoms themselves cause problems, and usually the symptoms cause anxiety which causes the need to treat. I have heard that being pregnant can make arrythmias really act up.

It is why I hesitate on having another baby.

[ChesterCookie]

yes, adensoide can be brutally uncomfortable.

in terms of your (apparently) benign tachycardia... do you have any other symptoms of it?  Like, are you short of breath, light-headed, have chest pain or become nausous? If not, treatment is NOT needed.  

Were the vagal manouvers helpful for you, like holding your breath and bearing down or coughing?  I had small runs of SVT while pregnant in both pregnancies, and both terminated when I coughed repeatedly.