Sudden onset of Palpitations

[James Kilton]

Hello,

I'm a healthy 25 year old male, non-smoker, non-drinker. On Saturday I noticed heart palpitations during lunch. They occured a handful of times for 5-10 seconds at a time over the period of about a half hour. Along with them were a few occurances of mild dizziness.  I also had a noticeable numbness in my upper back (left side).

The same thing happened Sunday during dinner, and Monday after drinking chocolate milk with some crackers (?) so now I'm a bit concerned. I've never had any heart problems whatsoever. The possible causes seem to be all over the map, so I'm wondering where to start.

The cause that seemed most likely off the cuff was caffeine. I drink iced tea pretty much like water during the day, so I imagine I get a good amount of caffeine in me that way.  After Saturday, however, I stopped drinking it to see if the symptoms would go away.  But then it happened again yesterday and Monday.

Next on my list is MSG, though not for any particular reason.  I don't know how often MSG causes problems. Some think it's a big problem while the government claims it's safe. I did go through what I was eating the first two times that I've had these palpitations and there seems to have been MSG in both meals. But it's all coincidental at this point.

What would be an advisable next step here? Should I see a general physician, cardiologist, etc?  Or someone else?

The weird thing to me is that this came out of nowhere. I had never felt anything like it until Saturday's episode. So it didn't slowly ramp up -- it just happened.

Thanks a bunch,
James

[jessmariah]

A related discussion, sudden onset of palpitations was started.

[flipflop]

After being a viewer of this forum for quite sometime I think you said  you were a physician. Did you suffer from PVCs?
Just curious in your opinion are PVCs are harmless as most doctors claim they are, just asking because I think you stated you were a physician in an earlier post.

Couldn't help but notice that you same to have gained some valuble tips as hankstar posted to you under PVCs by Medking, even if it was by common posters , who looked for clues as  to their PVCs and helped themselves, even though you agreed 110% with the person that seemed to attack him for his own medical research and voicing his own personal opinions.


Wonder what happened to hankstar, I see some of his comments still, but not his name under any post on the board. Just couldn't help but notice his comment to you and reading all your post , how valid his comment really was, just my honest opinion.


flip.

[RNJ]

Reading the archives of this forum have been very informative but,as with most people, my case has some uniquness to address. My husband is 50 years old, has always been thin, has normal cholesterol and blodd pressure. He was diagnosed with microvalve prolapse as a child but it has never caused him any particular problems until recently. About 6 months ago he called me at work thinking he was having a heart attack. We went to the hopsital--his doctor was away-but the attending physician gave him an EKG. He said he had an arrythmia, and that his heart appeared to actually skip a beat during the brief EKG. The blood test indicated that he had not had a heart attack. A stress test was rec.but as he has no ins. he elected against it and went on about his daily routine. We are fish-eating vegetarians. His one bad habit is coffee. 3 or 4 cups a day, but he cannot be convince to give it up. Today after he got out of the shower he came into the living room and sat down saying he was experiencing the same racing of his heart as the day he had called me at work. He also felt dizzy. He has also been complaining about a constant pain in the upper left quadrant of his abdomen. He says he wakes up tired and feels like he hasn't been breathing at night. Sorry this is so long, but more info is beter, right? RNJ

[trrtrix]

I am an occasional visitor to this site, and have posted once that I can make my PAC's/PVC's go away with ingesting 1-2 liters of fluid. I have been convinced for 6 months that they are dietary related. Since reading your post, Mark, I was blown-away by the amount of hidden MSG in my diet. Within about 72 hours of completely eliminating MSG (my beloved Balance bars are history)I am blissfully completely palp-free! I am so grateful to you for your suggestion, and have learned alot about what I've considered to be a healthy diet. I encourage others to do the same. Thanks again!

Terry

[junglebar]

Wow, I'll tell you, this is my first time at this forum and I already feel a little
relieved about what I've been dealing with.  I'm 29, non-smoker, and have been dealing with on and off palpitations for the last couple of years.  Had an EKG, ECHO, and Holter done, and my cardioligist
told me they all came back normal except that I have a slightly "weak" heart but he doesn't know why, says it was probably from a virus or
something of that nature.  The last few months I've been getting the palps about 300-400 times a day (that I can remember) for pretty
much every single day.  It definitely gets worse if I drank the night before.
Is it possible for your heart to stop for that second, and then just not
pick back up?  I'm sure that is everyone who is fairly unfamiliar with
these things main concern...It definitely stresses me out and puts me
in a panic attack mode which I'm sure makes it worse.  Is this something
that I am just going to have to get used to for the rest of my life?

It was interesting to read the comments about acid reflux because that
is something I have been dealing with for years but my cardioligist never mentioned a possible connection.  I also have light asthma, is that
an added danger with the arrythmia?

Thanks in advance.

[AnonAmalie]

Good Day all. It is places this this web site that makes me truley appreciate the internet. Thank you all for writing in and creating this conversation.
I recently started having palpatations. It is very frightening. I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. I am on some meds for this.
I figured these palps were a new symptom of anxiety. I went to the hostpital, and am currently wearimg a 'king of hearts' monitor. At this point they have only 4 attacks recorded, and I haven't spoken to my doctor about it. So my questions may seem simple.

What do these words mean?
arrhythmias. What are the different types?
PVCs
V-tach
VT
IST

Does anyone know where online I can figure this out? Its all very frightening and sometimes I fear the worst. But just reading this page somehow makes me feel better.

[LynnSB]

>>Sinus tachycardia has been reported after radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia. Frequently, these patients require beta-blocking agents for symptomatic control. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the incidence of IST and heart rate variability after ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and accessory pathways. IST may be initiated by both radiofrequency ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and radiofrequency ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways. Specific damage to the posteroseptal region is responsible for these changes, which usually recover spontaneously after 3 months or sometimes longer.<<

Thanks for the info! Glad you are doing so much better.

Best,
Lynn

PS WOULD YOU PLEASE POST A LINK TO THIS INFO????

[cbak]

Have you ever heard of Brugard Syndrome?  i think it is a relatively new discovery and determined to be genetic.

[cbak]

I too have been bothered with skipped beats since an early age.  Has anyone ever been treated with Flecainide for these?  5 years ago, my cardio tried me on it and I ended up in the hospital with what they thought was V-tach though my the time the ambulance came I was back in sinus.  Now I am afraid that the fact that I had a structurally normal heart but had a proarrhythmia with a sodium channel drug might mean that I have Brugards Syndrome.  Has anyone ever heard of this?

[cbak]

This was ten yeats ago and the thinking was that as long as someone had a structurally normal heart than those drugs were safe, but it turned out otherwise.  What were your side effects from it?  Did it make the PVC's worse?  I just wonder what it means if it makes it worse, does it mean there is something more wrong than the docs thought?

[glassheart46]

I woke up one morning to find my sinus tachycardia had completely disappeared.  At first I just couldn't believe it but it has been like that now for almost 6 weeks.  My heart beat remains in rhythm at 65 bpm.  I am now down to 25mg toprol daily and plan to continue reducing.  I was so symptomatic after my albation so am just tickled that it has recovered this well.  I remain hopeful as I now go on to my cervical disc fusion surgery next week.  Thanks for posting!

[Momto3]

I have taken flecainide for frequent pvcs. However, because of the incrased risk for developing dangerous new rhythms, I was admitted to the hospital to begin the medicine.  I began on a very low dose and was monitored very carefully. I had some difficulty with side effects, so I was switched to rhythmol, and eventually decided on an ablation. I'm curious, were you in the hospital to begin the RX?

[Momto3]

I took flecainide last year, but because my rhythm was so erratic and I had non-sustained runs of VT, they wanted me in the hospital to start the meds. I do have mitral valve regurgitation, but that did not appear to play a role in the reason to hospitalize. It was because of the risk of VT. My side effects were dizziness, tremors, weird dreams, shakiness (central nervous system stuff). It definitely HELPED with the pvcs, but when I told the doctor about the side effects, she said I gave it a good try and switched me to rythmol. I stayed on that for 4 months, and had digestive trouble (UGH). So, when I was told I would have to remain on meds for life, I opted for the ablation(s). No regrets!

[glassheart46]

Thought this might be of interest to some of you.  It comes from the Arrhythmia Unit in Madrid, Spain.

Sinus tachycardia has been reported after radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia.  Frequently, these patients require beta-blocking agents for symptomatic control.  The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the incidence of IST and heart rate variability after ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and accessory pathways.  IST may be initiated by both radiofrequency ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and radiofrequency ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways.  Specific damage to the posteroseptal region is responsible for these changes, which usually recover spontaneously after 3 months or sometimes longer.
I did a lot of research on the internet during my post ablation period as I had developed IST so found it interesting.  I found other similar studies as well.  My IST has completely gone away and it has been a little over 3 months since my ablation for AV node reentry.  Hope this info helps!

[nikl]

I TRIED INCREASING MY DOSE OF MAGNESIUM AND IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE WITH PALPS. I ALSO EAT LESS INSTEAD OF EATING UNTIL I WAS COMPLETELY FULL. HOPE THEY DECREASE OR GO AWAY, I HATE THE FEELING ALSO.

[pandora9048]

hi,
i have woken up with that same feeling more than once......not sure what it is though,
Pan

[LynnSB]

>>Why are so much people on this forum suffering from IST after SVT ablations and increased ectopic beats(PVCs and PACs?
These are some questions I would have and demand answers. It is starting to look like alot of person are worse off after ablation than before!!
<

I hear you, Hank. I am not a happy camper. I have now heard three cardiologists say "your EKG is REALLY different than before". I have had a ton of EKGs and now, after the ablation, it looks way different. ( My EKG 4 weeks post ablation was normal). I do wonder if my ablation was a bit " heavy handed". The EP doc simply would never talk to me except once for 5 minutes over the phone. the new EP doc is very attentive and kind and believe you me, I am going to ask a ton of questions before I agree to anything else. I am basically just as symptomatic as I ever was , if not more so, and beyond disappointed in the whole experience.

Lynn

[kate38]

Hank,

Hope you and your family are doing well?
I know this is off the subject,I apologize.
I'm hoping you could maybe help me out by answering a few question,if you don't mind?  

K

[michi]

i just switched the cardio doc. and i am more happy in many ways.
i had given him everything from when they found stuff with my heart and the doc said that a tissue in my sv node is a little different that is causing my svts which i had since they found it. i was 14. i never had any problems with palps etc. untill 15 but i remember when my parents gave me coffee to try. my heart tumbled for a while and i was then even younger. well i strongly believe certain food and caffine can trigger palps or make them stronger. I only can thank you all in this forum for your comments and help. it helps me out a lot and i think i got calmer about my own situation. thank you thank you thank you.

one more thing from me today. my so called lower normal end of EF changend. here are my numbers i had since May 03 from different echos and doctors: 62%, 40%, 50-55%, 55-60%. so i decided to settle in the mid to higher 50s which is perfectly normal.
but coming back to the palps. even i feel better about it i still get scared when i have a weird run.

[Momto3]

Hi Kimma,

I agree with Hank, that the number of pvcs seems inconsequential. As Hank said, if they are coming in sustained runs, then that might explain why the doctor is being more aggressive with treatment.  I am not a doctor, but I must admit I am surprised at the suggestion of an ablation at this point. Did the doctor mention VT? It might be worth a call to his/her office to find out what type of arrythmia you are having...I can't imagine he/she is suggesting amiodorone and/or ablation for pvcs.  

I have found that the best time to post on the east coast is about 8:30-9:00 (~8:45) in the morning.  I hope it works! Give it a try tomorrow.  You may even want to try earlier because I think they may have changed the "window" of opportunity.  Also, you could address your question to the CCF doctors within another post.  If they see it, and have time, sometimes they will respond.  Good luck!!  connie

[Dr. Erik]

A sleep study is a simple test to see if you stop breathing while you're asleep. They attach electrodes on your chest, head and a device to check for respirations. Your oxygen is also monitored. They can tell you how long you spend in each stage of sleep and if your sleep is interrupted. Your heart would not cause the symptoms you describe but the sleep apnea could cause heart problems if left untreated. Once you've been diagnosed as having sleep apnea they have you come back for one more sleep study and you wear a mask that sends positive air pressure through your nose to keep your airway open. When they find the amount of pressure needed to accomplish this, they then calibrate the CPAP (breathing machine) and you take it home and wear it when you sleep. You will feel better than you have in years, although you never would have known you were having trouble to begin with.

[pazifij]

Kimma, I have a defibrillator that also records my PVCs, and I had 99,000 over the last 4 month period, which is about 800 a day.  I don't take any medication for them and I was told they are not an indicator of anything bad.  You should ask your doctor why your PVCs concern him, and he would want to put you, at only 18 years old, on amiodarone, which can have many, many side effects.

[Kimma]

i have 752 pvc's in a 24hr period, is this going to damage my heart? im so scared, the docs want to put me on ameradone or have another ablation and i dont want to do either! if i do have a second ablation im definitly going to figure out how to have it done at the cleveland clinic. i was hoping the docs would tell me my pvc's are benign and just live with them but there not, they seemed very concerned. my old doctor in cali always said i was fine. im only 18 i dont want to risk getting a pacemaker with the ablation. i would really like to post another question for the doc, does anyone know what time i should try to post in New York time?

[dee gee]

Has anyone done a study to see if patients who have GERD or acid reflux are usually suffers of PVCs?  There does seem to be a correlation of food and PVC activity.  For me, the PVCs are more intense with any acid type food.  But, after reading all these comments, I will monitor my carbs to see if it helps. There has got to be an answer somewhere for this existing problem.