Strange Heart Beats, Arrhythmia??

[Jean27]

I am hoping to get some help on this problem I have had for about 3 years. I get a strange feeling in my chest like I could feel each heart beat in my chest and it is very bothersome. My heart is not skiping although I do get that palpatations at times also,but this is more like energy jumping around in my chest. This is an all day thing I get for days at a time. Sometimes it gets alot worse after eating a meal. My heart will feel like it is racing but most times if I take my pulse it is 72BPM but it FEELS much faster.  I have been for every heart test(Holter, 30 day monitor, stress test, echo)  and the only thing they found was an elongated mitral valve and trace regurgitation which they tell me both are nothing, is this true?? or could that be causing these feelings?
  Also If I am sitting still watching TV my eyes seem to flicker along with each heart beat. I now this sounds wierd and I am hoping you may have heard of this before but it's like every time my heart beats my eyes pulse. My blood pressure is not high at all so I dont know why that happens. I am 31 female, not overweight, non-smoker. I also have days where I feel out of breath and a rapid pulse just from walking up a flight of stairs and the very next day I feel fine walking up the same stairs. I really need to know whats going on any ideas....thanks so much and have a Happy Thanksgiving   Jean :)

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Jean,

Thanks for your questions and happy thanksgiving to you as well.

If you have had these symptoms ("this is more like energy jumping around in my chest") while you have been on the monitors, then your heart is fine.  The echo findings are normal variants and would not raise an eyebrow by any cardiologist.  The problem is your perception.  For whatever reason, some people notice their heart more than others.  You admit that your heart feels fast, but when actually counted, the pulse is totally normal at 72 bpm.  All you can do is learn to cope with the "noticing".

The eye business is harder to explain, but is again probably due to you noticing things that many of us ignore or don't perceive.  I'm not an ophthalmologist, however.

Hope that helps.

Chris

[black32]

I've found many people to have similar symptoms as you, including myself.  I try not to think about it, and it usually goes away.  Try to think positive, and don't worry about it as worrying only makes it worse.  I've found a significant correlation between worrying and/or thinking about my symptom and its propensity to worsen.  The best explanation is that its related to your nervous system, a mind/body thing, and not something most western doc's have a clue about.  Not a Doc, but i recommend getting a checkup once a year and only pay attention to "significant" changes in symptoms.

[black32]

In follow up to my previous post:
I’ve suffered with PVC’s, or skipped beats, or palpitations….off and on now for a dozen years.  In a good weak, I notice 1 or 2 PVC’s, in a bad week I notice 1 or 2 every hour all day.  I’m recently divorced so the problem has once again reared its ugly head, worse than before, over the last two years.  I don’t know exactly why I get them, but I do know that all the expected agitators make it worse; i.e., caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and most definitely stress.  Whereas most of these we can control, stress has a mind and will of its own and is very difficult at times to manage; and then the PVC’s start and then the stress increases, and so on.  Even without much stress, I have found there is a strong correlation between thinking and/or worrying about the skips, and there frequency.  So, I try not to think about it all too much.  Even when I’m in good spirits and I stop too think, “wow it’s been a good few weeks” I try to immediately think of something else.  Do whatever you can to distract yourself when they occur, call a friend or family before you start to dwell on it, or do some stretching and breathing exercises, watch TV…get your mind off it.  This is also recommended for your overall lifestyle, try to mitigate opportunities to sit idle and dwell on your heart and health.  Keep yourself occupied and busy.  An idle mind is the devils workshop.  If you need to dwell on it, educate yourself on it with some good books or papers on it. Anytime spent idle, should be dedicated to some simple meditation, prayer, chanting…anything that helps but your life back in perspective.  In those moments when you can’t escape, have some mild medications available (I keep some Xanax available, although I’ve had the same bottle for at least a year.)  I feel a majority of my issues with the skips is related to my mental state (thinking about it, worrying, stress…).  I also try to remember, as I’ve read often on this board today and have confirmed with my own medical tests, my heart is physically normal and these episodes are not likely to impact my long-term health; although if I keep worrying about it, my long-term mental health will definitely be negatively impacted.  I don’t think I’ve read I single case where someone who went through all the appropriate tests and was diagnosed as having a benign arrhythmia, suddenly dropped dead after forgetting about it and going on with their life.  It seems for those with an otherwise healthy heart/body, the problems relate to the nervous system, making it a mind/body issue and not something western doctors are very good at dealing with.  Although it can be frustrating.  So with that, I’m going to exit this site and go for a walk.

[MrsLC]

I am a 36 year old female, I have experienced Rapid Heart beats over the past 4 years, that make me take a breath, and sometimes a cough. Sometimes making me dizzy for a short second. I also have a dull ache in my left shoulder area, that is inhanced by eating. (The first time I have ever experienced this shoulder ache was when I was 8 months pregnant, and ate a meal 8 years ago. So I associated it with pregnancy).  But, the ache is now daily. I was on a 24 hour monitor belt about 4 years ago, when I was having the rapid/skip/flutter...with my heart, but of course it didn't occur during those 24 hours.  I have had 2 EKGs the last one was about 6 months ago.
My Fraternal Grandfather died in his 40's, my dad has also had heart related medical conditions. Which he was on med's for, and just had a Cauterization to fix.  Am I at risk, given the symptoms I have had and with the dull ache in my left shoulder area (between my collar bone and shoulder)?
Happy Holidays.....MrsLC

[karie]

Welcome to this great Heart health board.
I too have many symptoms with my Mitral valve prolapse and can appreciate your fears. Many good posts replied.
Visit http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/mitralvalveprolapse2
We offer some support too.
Hopefuly you find comfort in reading the additional posts and continue to share.

[lolitabo]

I have the same symtoms as here....today.....I ate a piece of tomato and some mayonaise and it started.....
I have had all the test too...... but I am still not satisfied that it is nothing .... if so why have I not had it before in my life....nothing has changed.....

[lolitabo]

if this thread is no longer there and I can not comment....then take it out

[psteng19]

Hi,

I am new to this board.
I also seem to be suffering the same symptoms as you.

Lately, my heart has been beating faster than normal.
My resting pulse has gone from 60's to 80's.
Brisk walking will bring me up to anywhere from 100-120.
Lifting a light load up the stairs will also bring me to 120-130.
Afterwards, I become tired, and short of breath.

I've had all kinds of tests, EKG, stress, echo, CT scan, and they all come back normal.

Just yesterday, I started feeling this pulse behind (or in) my right eye.
I can induce this pulse in my eye by blinking or closing and then opening it.

I am a healthy male, 23 yrs old, with no family history of major heart conditions.

Just wanted to share.

[jaz5802]

Funny you should mention your pulse sensation in your eye.  I can feel and see this in both my eyes.

Went to my doctor about it.  Response: you're just aware of it now. His only question to me was if I saw it while "day dreaming" (staring off into space) or if I saw it while I was actually involved in something.  I see it only if I force my eyes out of focus.  But I always feel it!

Thought it had to do with sinus pressure (terrible allergies).

Thanks.

[ShawnLee]

The more i read this forum the more I believe in anxiety causing all these rapid heart beats.  When i was 17 I had a sudden onset of tachy, i was laying in bed watching tv when i noticed my heart pounding hard, it was right after i had just taken a dose of astma medication.  Well I tried to ignore it and keep on watching tv, but once I noticed it i couldn't ignore it anymore.  So then i kept on rising and rising, i got scared and went into the front room and told my mom about it.  She started taking my pulse and said "hmm that is aweful high" and after she said that it skyrocketed to over 180bpm.  She freaked out and called 911 and i got to take a nice ambulance ride.  After I got to the hospital the doctors could find absolutely nothing wrong with me and i was sent home.  Yet i could not sleep or eat out of fear from what had happend.  And that nobody knew why made it all the more scary for me.  So for a solid week i had nothing but attacks, my pulse would raise up and i'd get scared and make it worse..  Until finally I got to doctor and they realized i had Hypertension, and they noticed i had a murmur, of course they had to scare me by saying "that is the loudest murmur I have ever heard"  Then they made a appointment for me to see a cardi and that was over a week away.  So there goes another week of no sleep and constant terror.  When i go to the cardiologist he did tons of test and discovered nothing at all wrong, and the murmur was a simple flow murmur.  So he simply prescribed Toprol XL for me to help manage my heartrate and bp.  After a year of taking toprol i decided i wanted to stop taking it, cause it made me generally tired all the time and just no energy.  So I slowly got off of the toprol and was fine for 6 years, then suddenly all my anxiety is back and worse then before.  I have panick attacks regularly and Have a difficult time exercising cause of the rate at which my heart races to.  The only thing that has really helped the rate go down was Effexor or Paxil, the mind is one powerful thing, never underestimate it.

Shawn

[jaz5802]

I too have bouts of anxiety attacks.  First one was when I was 17 and that's when I was told I had an irregular heart beat and a murmur (trip to the ER).  Like you, just telling me that made my anxiety even worse!

I was prescribed either Xanax or the equivalent then -- don't know if Xanax was around in 1977. Every step I took, I was afraid of increasing my heart rate.  What got me over it then, I don't remember exactly, except I got busy doing other things in my life and before I knew it, they were "gone."

Of course, the anxiety induced ones were gone.  The normal flutters would surface here and there.  During times of extreme stress I didn't have any!  Not sure why.

I do know that relaxation techniques and exercise help.  As afraid as I was to do any exercise (for fear of falling down dead in my tracks), it has helped reduce the adrenaline in my body.  I had to admit to myself that I was doing this to myself -- creating the adrenaline and thus the rapid heart beat.  I would tell myself "you're okay" and work through the exercises. Sometimes I would stop to really calm down, but I never gave up.

Now, I am 44 (so I am still breathing and on this earth) and I dance 2x week with my hubby, weight lift, walk, etc. Of course, I had all the necessary tests done with my cardio to make sure I could start an exercise program. My PVCs were termed benign (like you) and I was given the go ahead to exercise to my "heart's content" which I try to do as often as possible.

You are right: the mind is a powerful being.  It is amazing how quickly we can have ourselves in a tizzy. But then again, we also have the power to calm ourselves down!

Thanks for sharing,
Beth

[naturojj]

Hi,
I am also experiencing some palpitations and pounding of my heart. I notice that it is greatly related to stressors as already mentioned by many above. My concern is this; my mother died suddenly a month ago of a massive heart attach, she was only 46 and it was not expected. This had mad these heart problem so much more appearent and worriesome. My mother had extremely high blood pressure and a very unlucky family history, both parents had quadruple by pass surgeries .... I currently have no other risk factors as I am very aware...I am a medical student. Even though I have no other risk factors, could these palpitaions be an early indicator of risk? I am so worried...
Thank you!
JJ

[jaz5802]

We all pretty much have "something" that runs in the family.  Yours is heart related. Mine is heart, diabetes, alcoholism....

Sorry to hear of your Mom.  That's stressful enough in itself.

If I had your concerns, especially since you have heart issues in your family, I would go get checked out.  If there's nothing there, you have peace of mind.  If there's something there (and I doubt it from what you're saying), you can take care of it.

For me, the not knowing is worse than the knowing.

Keep on reading these posts. There's a lot of information here.

Beth

[doug99collins]

I am getting an irregular heart beat only when I lie down.  My Doctor says that I only notice it then, but that is not true.  I feel a fluttering in my chest that I would notice any time of the day.  They even wake me up (usually at about 4 or 5 am).  If I change positions they go away most of the time.  Sometimes I have to get up and walk around and then they go away.  For me it seems to be related to laying down.  Perhaps I have some kind of partial blockage and when I change positions or increase my blood pressure by getting up enough blood can then start flowing.  All this started after having my second hepatitus (hepatitis) injection.  (4 am in the morning on the day I got the shot).  Saw some posts elsewhere relating the hep shot to these symptoms...  Anyone else have irregular heart beat brought on by laying down?

[Ianna]

Hi,
-
Yes, I suspect 90 percent of the PVC and PAC's sufferers experience these rotten BUMPS while lying down; whether it is in the evening or after a (BIG) meal.
It's got to do with the nervous system.
I know the tissue surrounding the heart gets irritated by something...ie. The stomach, the lungs, the bowels,the esophaegus etc etc.  
...anything down there...
You can find much more info here by looking through the posts on the archives.
-
I'm not a med.person mind you! Go see your MD if you stay concerned.
-
Good luck - *Ianna*

[fields180]

I just love this site.  I have been having attacks of tachycardia for almost 2 years.  It only bothers me at night during deep sleep.  Lately, I have been having missed beats.  I had a cardio workup (monitors, EKG, echo, and treadmill stress test) I was in better shape than I thought.  However, I let everything worry me.  I worry because I'm behind on my worrying.  My doctor listens and sympathesizes but there's not much he can do besides meds.  I love reading everyone's notes because they are me.  I feel a little hope now and want to go on with my life without worrying.  Anyone have any ideas???  I have a wonderful family and home.  I just want to enjoy things more instead of worrying when the next attack will be.  Please lend some reassurance.

[GimmeTheBeach]

Hi everyone; I am new to this forum.  I have had what I call "heart thumps" for the past 13 years....off and on.  I have been to the doctor twice about them...once, when they first started, and then again about a year ago.  The first time I was 33, and was under quite a bit of stress.  My family doc did an EKG and told me that my heart was not skipping beats, like I had said it felt like.  He said what was actually happening was that on one beat the heart was not pumping all the blood out of it, which made it feel like it skipped that beat, when in reality it just did a fainter than normal beat.  The next beat would have to hit harder, to get the blood out, so it would feel like a big THUMP in my chest.  He told me it was a benign condition and that it can be caused by caffeine (which I didn't ingest), smoking (which I didn't do), drinking alcohol (which I didn't care for), and stress....of which I had an abundance!  After finding out that I was not terminal, the heart thumps began to subside.  They have come on me throughout the years, and if I dwell on them, they will get worse.  Last year when I went to the doc with them again, the new guy did an EKG and said it was fine.  He told me I might be having some PVC's or PAC's.  The thing was that I was having them while he listened to my chest.  Do they not present themselves to someone listening with a stethoscope?  Anyway, I fully believe that these heart thumps are made worse by big meals, a vertabrae being slipped out of place in your back, and by obsessing over the idea of having the heart thumps.  Adrenaline is a major culprit, in my opinion.  When your body has too much of it, and you aren't being active....the adrenaline has to do something, right??  Therefore, anxiety might be an underlying problem. Thanks for letting my ramble on!  Peace, Love, and Unity....Gayla

[Veepster]

Dear All:

For remarks regarding my experiences and knowledge I have gained about heart murmurs and PVC's/PAC's, please refer to my comments under the category "PVC's and Murmur".  Thanks.  Veepster

[psteng19]

Well, it's been a few months now and I'd thought I'd like to update my situation.

It's getting better but I still don't feel 100%, possibly 85-95%.  My pulse is back down to around 70-80, and I can breathe easier.  My twitch in my right eye is also gone.  But somehow I still don't feel as well as I should.  It's been a few months since I've felt like a normal human being should.  There's always this pressure inside my chest at certain times, and I always feel gassy inside - when I burp it out, it provides temporary relief until the gas builds up again.

I'm also afraid to do cardio exercise, or any exercise, in fear that I might drive my heart crazy and drop dead.

I also read on another forum about someone seemingly in good health (non smoker, not overweight) who didn't naturally create enough amino acid to clear cholesterol and ended up dying suddenly from a heart attack, and that scares me.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

[kate38]

Hello, this is my first time at this forum,looks like its very difficult to get a queston to the Doctor, so hoping maybe some one out there might be able to help. I have hypertension,Asthma,High cholesterol,and hypothyroidism. my total cholesterol is 308,HDL64,LDL 197,chol/HDL ratio is 5.8 before blood pressure meds my blood pressure was running anywhere from 160's/90's 204/135 very hard to control,some of the medications seemed to raise the blood pressure,others caused problems with my asthma,and some did nothing. I'm currrently taking, Metoprolol 250mg,Diovan 320mg ,minoxidil 5mg,HCTZ 12.5mg, mevocor 20mg for elevated cholesterol, Advair,Singular,albuterol,synthroid,naseral effexor,zyrtec,and prednisone,when needed for asthma I was seen in the ER 3 to 4 times for chest pains and palpatations I was refered by my physician to a cardiologist. I was then sent out for a cardiolite stress test which  was found to be an abnormal adenosine cardiolite study with reduced uptake of cardiolite within the anterior wall on the stress cardiolite images,it involved the anterolateral segment.The rest cardiolite showed presistence of the mid anterior defect but some reversibility within the anterolateral segment, most likely to be in the territory of the diagonal Branch of the LAD. LV ejection fraction was 63%, the echocardiogram was normal and the MRA of the renal arteries was ok. I have a grade II/VI systolic murmur. My questions are,I have tried Labetalol,atenolol which caused severe problems with my asthma. I'm now taking metoprolol which makes me very tired and sluggish and having to take an increase the amount of medication I'm haveing to take to keep my asthma under control. what other options for beta blockers are there? ones that don't affect breathing.I'm really concerned about having an severe asthma attack and the meds I'm taking for my asthma not working.why exactly are beta blockers given? What kind of problems do they cause for people with asthma? what do the above test results mean? could this be the cause of my chest pains and palpations or could it be caused from one of the medications I'm taking?  What other test will the cardiologist likely want to preform? what do each of the blood pressure meds I'm taking do? any help would be greatly appreciated.      kate38

[Mityana]

I hope the following is of some comfort with similar problem.

At the age of 65 I have started suffering missed/skipped heart beats.  All tests, including ECGs (both types) and blood tests have shown no abnormality.   The condition appears to be present mostly all the time - more noticeable when doing nothing or trying to get to sleep.  Some discomfort in the chest.  Doctors have told me not to worry!  I am a verious anxious sort of person! Should I ask for further tests or wait till it gets worse?  Any comments from others with similar problem.

[Momto3]

Hi,

You mentioned that you had two types of ECG's....Did you have an echocardiogram also? If you have had the "standard" tests and the doctor is not concerned, you are probably experiencing pac's or pvc's and fortunately, they are benign.  But, that is not to say that they can't feel awful and make you extremely anxious.  There are many of us here on the board who can relate to your anxiety. You will almost always notice them more when you are quiet (ready to go to sleep, watching T.V., etc).

Echocardiograms and monitors (holter, event, loop) are great tools to assess what is going on. Has your doctor been able to "see" or "hear" the activitiy that you are concerned about? If so, and you are still getting a "benign" report, then you may ask about a beta blocker. Sometimes they help to stop or slow down the frequency of the extra beats.. Good luck
connie

[Barton]

Hi...my name is Mary Ann and I'm 64 years old. My heart has been skipping for several months now...and it drives me crazy. I just wonder if my asthma meds could be causing it,i take advair and singular.

[LynnSB]

ABSOLUTELY many meds for asthma can contribute or cause palpitations but don't stop taking them -- DO TALK TO YOUR DOC!

[parunuweap]

I agree with Barton.  My brother and sister have asthma and certain associated meds cause their hearts to race.  Check with your doctor and perhaps a better med solution exists for you.

[wasser]

I had a severe cough about 4 weeks ago. I cought up mucus (some bloody) from the irritation. Since about 3 days i have chest pain and feel dizzy. I drove to the ER one day and i was close to passing out. The Dr.s did an EKG, X-ray and some blood work. They did find nothing wrong with me. They gave me 800mg Motrin (i took 8so far)..but i still don't feel any improvement. My lungs are clear and i can breath ok. Any idea what to do?

Thx
wasser

[JOLEE]

Hello - I'm a 40 year old female who has had tachycardia, palpitations etc since I was 18 yrs of age.  I've been on propranalol (Inderal) for over 22 years.   At first in 10 mg doses 3 or 4 times a day - and now to 80 mg LA.     The medicine always worked fine - but over the last two years I've noticed a change in frequency and severity of palps and skipped beats.   My palps always lasted a second or two for years - usually just a pop or flutter.   Now about every few months I get pronounced and prolonged irregular beats.  Not just fast - but irregular rythm's. I become absolutely terrified which of course makes it worse.   I've had ekg's, hooked up to 30 day monitors, nuclear stress tests, echocardiogram - and everything comes back normal.   But I know something is different for sure.  Also - I've noticed that when I become fearful - the rythm changes almost to stop i.e. fender bender etc.   I have never had pain or shortness of breath.  When these things happen my instinct is to cough hard to kick it back to a normal rythm.   And because I do have anxiety disorder -the docs always seem to dismiss the episodes as such which I find very frustrating, or I am told that these episodes are harmless. I hardly ever go to the Dr. and am not a hypochondriac.   Has anyone else out there noticed a difference in rythm after many years of successfully being treated?  Also, anyone out there have a similar cardiac reaction to fear?

[JOLEE]

Hello - I'm a 40 year old female who has had tachycardia, palpitations etc since I was 18 yrs of age.  I've been on propranalol (Inderal) for over 22 years.   At first in 10 mg doses 3 or 4 times a day - and now to 80 mg LA.     The medicine always worked fine - but over the last two years I've noticed a change in frequency and severity of palps and skipped beats.   My palps always lasted a second or two for years - usually just a pop or flutter.   Now about every few months I get pronounced and prolonged irregular beats.  Not just fast - but irregular rythm's. I become absolutely terrified which of course makes it worse.   I've had ekg's, hooked up to 30 day monitors, nuclear stress tests, echocardiogram - and everything comes back normal.   But I know something is different for sure.  Also - I've noticed that when I become fearful - the rythm changes almost to stop i.e. fender bender etc. When these things happen my instinct is to cough hard to kick it back to a normal rythm.   And because I do have anxiety the docs always seem to dismiss the episodes as such which I find very frustrating, or I am told that these episodes are harmless. Has anyone else out there noticed a difference in rythm after many years of successfully being treated?  Also, anyone out there have a similar cardiac reaction to fear?

[music101]

dear friends,I am 56years old.I suffer from strange heart beats for years.I had several tests and they me it was benign.When I was eight years old I was told that I had a functional heart mumur.Then I became obsess with my heart.At the age of ten I began to have irregular heart beats.It made me very sick.I went to the doctor and they said I was normal.I get sick at school church,so at one point in my life I stayed in the house.Eventually I went on to play high school basketball and then to the army where they started again.The army doctors said they were benign and after 2years I was discharge with a nervous disorder with 10% disability.I went on to play college basketball but later on the beats came back.I have every test done but still no relief. I been out of work for 2weeks with these beats even in the hospital where they monitor my heart and they still say they are harmless.I am a nervous wreck what can I do.                                                                                                                                                     Silvaris,Hanna

[2monkeys]

HELLO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO THIS FORUM, AND I JUST WANT TO THAT YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORDS ITS NICE TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH I AM 36 LIVED WITH STRESS IT HAS ALMOST BE A COMFORT TO ME, BEEN THROUGH FAMILY DEATHS,LOST OF A JOB,TWINS AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUST FINE. UNTIL 10/13 I HAD BEEN SICK WEEK BEFORE THEN ONE DAY LOST FEELING IN MY LEFT ARM WITH SHOOTING PAIN PAIN IN MY CHEST AND LOWER BACK.  DROVE MYSELF TO ER EVERYTHING CAME BACK FINE BUT MY EKG WAS ABNORMAL, SINCE COULDNT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TO ER ANOTHER TIME EKG'S ABNORMAL HEART BEAT, TRED MILL ALL IS WELL, BOOD TESTS, ECHO FINE  BUT NOW I AM EXPERIENCING HEART MURMURS OR I CANT EVEN EXPLAIN THEM.  ALL THE SUDDEN I CAN FEEL MY HEART RACE OR MORE LIKE JUMP OUT OF CHEST FOR 5TO 10MIN. IT SCARES ME TO DEATH THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR ABOUT 2MONTHS, SO DOC
SAID PERHAPS IT IS STRESS SHE PUT ME ON ZOLOFT AND FOR 2WEEKS NO THUMPS BUT WAM!!! THEY CAME BACK, I JUST WANT TO FEEL LIKE MYSELF AGAIN. YOU KNOW WHEN YOUVE BEEN SUCH AN ACTIVITE PERSON GARDENING, BRICK LANDSCAPING, SPORTS AND BUSY TAKENING CARE OF THE KIDS I JUST FEEL LIKE A STRANGER IN MY OWN BODY, COULD THE TESTS NOT SEE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE CATCHING, SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I AM LOSING MY MIND, ANYONE-PLEASE HELP-THANKYOU

[bizdoc]

I love this website.  I am 63 years old and in pretty good health.  My normal heart rate is @60 BPM.  I have had some form or arrhythmia for as long as I can remember; typically in the form of skipped or off-beat rhythms but sometimes very rapid heartbeats.  I have had many EKG’s and even a sonic-cardiogram to check out my heart.  All came back the same way; there is nothing to worry about.  Beginning last November my arrhythmia became chronic, regularly waking me up at night.  At one time or another I have experienced all of the symptoms described in the commentaries posted on this website.  Early on I was convinced that it was related to some food I ate and so began to try to isolate cause and effect; but to no avail.  Typically about 5 hours after eating the arrhythmia would start.  At night this worked out to be around 2-3 in the morning which was very disconcerting.  But I could find no obvious connection to a particular food.  I gave up all caffeine, all of my vitamins and even tried cutting out alcohol; again all to no avail.  I tried taking magnesium and potassium, recommended by some websites, but these offered no magic cure.  The one thing that did seem to offer some relief was a “stress” pill; a complex B-vitamin supplement with Folic Acid and Biotin.  I get these from the AARP but I think similar formulations are available elsewhere.  They offered relief some times but not always.  After reading all of the commentaries posted here I am now firmly convinced that it is stress related; much like an eye tick.  On many occasions I’d wake up at night and notice my heart was beating perfectly normally.  But then I’d start thinking about it and suddenly the arrhythmia would be back.  It’s difficult not to think about it but the anxiety of waiting for the arrhythmia to return creates a vicious cycle that I am now convinced causes it.  It appears that any of a variety of factors can trigger an onset of arrhythmia.  But once you start focusing on it, it creates its own self-sustaining anxiety.  So, I am now trying stress relief, concentrating on relaxing and trying to simply ignore it.  Hope this helps.

[bizdoc]

I love this website.  I am 63 years old and in pretty good health.  My normal heart rate is @60 BPM.  I have had some form or arrhythmia for as long as I can remember; typically in the form of skipped or off-beat rhythms but sometimes very rapid heartbeats.  I have had many EKG’s and even a sonic-cardiogram to check out my heart.  All came back the same way; there is nothing to worry about.  Beginning last November my arrhythmia became chronic, regularly waking me up at night.  At one time or another I have experienced all of the symptoms described in the commentaries posted on this website.  Early on I was convinced that it was related to some food I ate and so began to try to isolate cause and effect; but to no avail.  Typically about 5 hours after eating the arrhythmia would start.  At night this worked out to be around 2-3 in the morning which was very disconcerting.  But I could find no obvious connection to a particular food.  I gave up all caffeine, all of my vitamins and even tried cutting out alcohol; again all to no avail.  I tried taking magnesium and potassium, recommended by some websites, but these offered no magic cure.  The one thing that did seem to offer some relief, was a “stress” pill; a complex B-vitamin supplement with Folic Acid and Biotin.  I get these from the AARP but I think similar formulations are available elsewhere.  They offered relief some times but not always.  After reading all of the commentaries posted here I am now firmly convinced that it is stress related; much like an eye tick.  On many occasions I’d wake up at night and notice my heart was beating perfectly normally.  But then I’d start thinking about it and suddenly the arrhythmia would be back.  It’s difficult not to think about it but the anxiety of waiting for the arrhythmia to return creates a vicious cycle that I am now convinced causes it.  It appears that any of a variety of factors can trigger an onset of arrhythmia.  But once you start focusing on it, it creates its own self-sustaining anxiety.  So, I am now trying stress relief, concentrating on relaxing and trying to simply ignore it.  Hope this helps.

[BEEP988]

I AM 70 YRS AND HAVE A HEART RATE OF 45. I WAS TOLD I COULD HAVE HEART FAILER AT ANY TIME. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO TELL ME WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON. I KNOW THAT MY HEART IS VERY LARGE. NOT SURE WHAT THIS MEANS ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED
DAVE

[csicoupe]

Hi,
I am new with the Forum.  I have what one EP doctor called 'idiopathic ventricular tachycardia', which started a few days before my 35th B-day (March 20).  I always knew that I have a irregular heart beat, but this one Saturday while were at work, my heart was pounding away in my left ear.  The condition persisted, but was too late to see my doctor.  I waited until the following Monday.  After my doctor saw my EKG, he called the ambulance.  On the way to the ER, the paramedics gave me some Lidocaine, which worked almost immediately.  All sorts of machines were alternately used on me while in ER, including X-Ray, and ultrasound.  Only a minor heart murmur found.  I was admitted into Garden Grove Hospital, while an EP doctor (Kelly Tucker) prepared more paperwork for me to be transferred to St. Joseph Hospital.  I did not remember how viles of blood were drawn, and how many tests were done on me at GG hospital.  All come back excellent.  
I were transferred to St Joseph after 1.5 days at GG hospital.  Dr. Tucker explained to me the EP study procedure, as well as the ablation, which he fully expected to perform following the study.  Another cardiologist was there with Dr. Tucker, and performed the aniogram, which again yieled excellent result.  The EP study went well with my condition being an inducible one.  However, Dr. Tucker could not find the culprit and decided to withdraw without an ablation.
The next morning, Dr. Tucker informed I and my wife about an ICD or perhaps some beta blocker.  He set an appointment for my visit after 2 weeks.  Upon which, my 'idiopathic venticular tachy' was confirmed.  Furthermore, Dr. Tucker prescribed some beta blocker and asked to see me every 6 months (I think out of curiosity).  He informed me that he see thousands of patients every year, and my case is extremely rare, which he encountered less than 1 every 3 to 5 years.
Idiopathic just simply means 'unknown cause'.  I seeked council from another EP doctor from UCI, Dr. Broadski, and a Cardilogist Dr. Vinh-Khiem Nguyen.  Both Doctors did not seem to give much credit to Dr. Tucker EP study.  Both recommended their own EP study.  I requested my medical files to be sent to both Doctors prior to my visit.  However, Dr. Broadski did not care to review any finding from Dr. Tucker, while Dr. Khiem Nguyen did not receive my record.
Since then, these episodes returned around my birthday once in 2000, 2002 and last night (March 18, 2004).  I drove myself to the ER in 2000 and checked myself in.  The ER doctor did not believe me that it is VT and not SVT.  He insisted to try Adeavocard 6 mg, then 12 mg without any affect.  I informed him that Lidocaine worked the first time (1999).  75 mg of Lidocaine did the trick within less than a minute.  The episode in 2002 seemed to be triggered by mild dehydration.  I continue to drink water for 1.5 hours upon confirmation of my tachy, using my heart monitor (ECG).  By the time I got myself outside the ER, my heart rate had converged back to normal.  I hang around the parking lot for 15 minutes, before drove home.
Yesterday was totally new for me.  I exercised during lunch, with 10 minutes on the elliptical machine, 10 minutes on the stationary bike, some light sit ups and weight excersise, followed by 10 minutes jogging.  Everything went well and I felt great.  I got back to my desk at 1:00 and around 2:00 I noticed the onset.  I drove myself to Garden Grove Hospital ER and were confirmed a 200+ tachy condition (3:00).  Dr. Sun took my advice with the Lidocaine and I was administered with 100 mg.  Thing did not work as expected.  I requested for another dose of Lidocaine in less half an hour apart.  The second dose seemed to stay in my system 5 times longer with a much more hard hitting side affect (heavy headed, short breathness).  Adevocard 6 mg then 12 mg were administered shortly there after without any affect.  A cardiologist was contacted and Amerodione 150 mg was given, which brought my HR down to 150.  Sometime in the next 2 hours, ASA 162 mg was given, but my HR steadily climbed back up to 190.  Dr Luc Nguyen, an EP doctor finally showed up, and prepared to shock me.  I signed the consent and all the nurse and doctors standing by for the procedure.  As the last ditch effort, Dr. Luc Nguyen ordered 5 mg of Virapomil, which promtly converged my HR down to 100.  I was spared from the shock treatment with this last drug.
I am in the process to request for my medical record from St. Joseph (my EP study) and hopefully find some recommendation from Dr. Luc Nguyen.  Is there anyone out there with 'Idiopathic VT'?
Thanks for reading my story and look forward to hear some respond.
Thai