What the heck is happening?

[deb4bama]

I was diagnosed with MVP about 10 years ago.  Wasn't bad and did not take meds.  About 5 years ago started having weird pains and beats and was put on a lose dose beta blocker.  Last year the pains and weird beats got worse and my cardiologist decided to do a thallium scan and stress test (prior to that had an ultrasound test that only showed "mild" MVP).  The thallium scan showed a decreased ejection fraction somewhere in the ventricle area (?).  He told me he was concerned and wanted to do an arteriogram.  I had the arteriogram (via the wrist) and was told it was "basically" normal.  I remember the tech in the room leaning over tand telling me that one side of my heart was a little smaller than the other, but otherwise I was normal.  When I asked the doc about it later he blew it off and said all I had was mild MVP and I should stop the beta blocker (Zebeta).  I have tried to stop it 4 times (weaning method) and after about the 3rd day my heart goes bezerk. VERY fast and lots of discomfort, pressure and dizziness. I can't do it.

The weird" beats sometimes happen during the day, but almost always happen at night when I am about to fall asleep.  I get this weird tingle in my chest and then BAM this huge beat that sometimes jerks me upright in the bed it is so intense.  I can feel it all the way to my toes!  It is very painful at times and extremely scary.  If I have a lot of them at night, the next day I have pain in my chest and I feel tired.

Are these PVCs or PACs?  
Could the ventricle be too small and cause them?
How the heck can I stop the beta blocker?

[sid123]

Yeah! Ianna I am. I thought it was the Netherlands I was corrected while visiting there a couple of years ago. A good deal of my episodes happen at night also. Try a modest amount of red wine and xanex. I can't help you with the monopause. I have learned to research before going to the physician. (We men, act like we know what is wrong with the automobile while at the garage.) Resources like this one are a great start!  One thought, however, hormonal changes can trigger some unusual symptoms sometimes. Discussing the matter with an OBGYN may hold some answers, Alot of SSRI seritonin re-uptake inhibitors, are perscribed here as well as Paxil to women going through menopause. Men don't tollerate most of these drugs as well so you may be able to substitute the xanex. The red wine is an absolute must though. Thanks for responding. I laugh everyday and it truely is the best medicine. Good luck, sid

[Ianna]

Hi Sid123,

You are a funny man(you are a man,huh?)
Your posting made me laugh.
Dr's Do-little and Do-nothing!!
What a coincidence: they live here in Holland too!
(Are they related, you think?)
Anxiety: I suffer from it all my life, off and on...
Now: the heart-problems(and menopause!!)
Palpitations-PVC's-quivering etc.
I hate it!
Have been checked and all was ok.
Yeah right...
The nights are the worst(for me)
The moment you lay down to rest 'they' break loose...
Do not know what to do about it...

Let me know how you are - stay well - and...keep smiling!

***Ianna-Ria***

[sid123]

Funny to find all the anxiety stuff in the "what the heck section" especially after checking the anxiety section. SSDD same stuff, I'm 36 had transposition of the great vessels surgery at birth Happy Life, good job, no restrictions until lately! First trip to the ER in high school, second, exc. figured I wasn't going to die so I just lived with it. I have had anxiety attacks throughtout college around finals, crunch times at work, balancing the checkbook, exc. I had been experiencing a greater frequency of svt and ended up in the ER after waking up @ 3am. Dr's Do-little & Do-nothing said "don't worry and here's a bill for $800". This started happening alot with dizziness, fatigue, pain in the arm, the whole deal. Meanwhile, my company is announcing cutbacks, layoffs, and pushing everyone (trying to jack up their stock price post 911) 4 more trips to the Er and to the crazy doctor. The crazy doctor explained there is a high correlation between anxiety and svt. Well anxiety meds, and beta-blockers unfortunately didn't help, but there is an ending to this story---. I broke out the company insurance, resources like this one, and got referred to UAB Devision of Pediatric Cardiology. I'm scheduled for an ep study, ablation procedure, and, if needed, a pace-maker all in the same visit. The appointment took a while because I will have all 3 of these doctors attending. A wise man once said don't get sick in your home town, well, just don't always get treated there. see ya

[Jennie]

What a comfort it's been to read all your comments. Now I know there are fellow suffers out there. I've been on amiodorone for three weeks (for atrial fibrillation) and have had PVC's almost all the time. (Of course it could be amiodorone is giving me adverse effects) They're making me so anxious.  You're right about anxiety making things worse, but how can you not worry? My cardiologis's attitude annoys me no end! He seems to have no empathy and appears annoyed when I tell him how bad I feel, and I ask if there isn't something I can do about the PVC's. With the PVC's I sometimes get short of breath, my heart feels weird, and I  feel I just can't stand it any longer! Can't make plans because I never know how I'm going to feel that day. Thanks to all of you for posting comments. It helps!

[tech65]

Hi, I also get those tremmor feelings in my chest while i am dozing off or relaxing. Then the skipping/extra beats...Went to Dr. Had ekg, and some other sonogram type tests also halter monitor..Nothing to worry about he says..but i still worry. Lately I have pain down the inside of my left leg, a swollen foot feeling and pain in my left arm tingling in fingers not alot tho and a cramping feeling on the left side of my neck..Doc says maybe pinched nerve, but I am freakin..have been told about stress causing the tremors and skipping, but now this? Anyone have similar?

[libitz]

Wow, people I can relate to.  I'm a 32 yo male and am anxious about my heart and its attitude.  When it decides to act up I will feel a fluttering warning and then the big shocker.  I immediately take a deep breath and it is releived.  Feeling scared my pulse increases and panic/anxiety continues.  I was in watching "star wars" the other night with fiance and it was warm inside theater, I felt hot, clammy, and chest heaviness.  We left early.  Also I have been snorting and horking (sorry about description) phlegm that is usually clear but has been yellow and pale green.  I explain this to GP and saw cardiologist who said I was young and have nothing to worry about.  Had ECG, 24hr holter monitor and blood work.  Was on antibiotics.  I get worried and keep hoping things get better.  Must exercise more walking, etc.  All these tests that people mention I am writing down for suggestive ammunition for my next check up.

Hoping for the best,

Brian

[limey]

I get the flip-flop sensation in my chest when I get the 'skips' - also my heart rate escalates when I feel them.  I have numbness in my left arm and left side of my face.  
I also get the sensation of being exhausted, especially after one of these bouts.
Sometimes I even get what feels like a lump in my throat that won't go away.

[lakmak]

This is so interesting as I have been taking Toprol XL for
MVP for a few years now...have had all these symptoms, many
of them for at least 15 years.  The most bothersome one is
the shuttering in my chest that occurs when I doze off especially accidentally while reading etc.  I was told by
my cardiologist to check my pulse when it happens and I would
be relieved to notice that my heart was not racing as much as I felt it was.  This was true when I tested it.  I am still not
certain what causes the jittery shutter, but personally think
it might be nerve related.  He also told me that the esophagus
and the heart share some nerves and those of us who tend to have
GERD (reflux problems) quite commonly have MVP...When I am more
anxious, I have more flutters and yes, I get those instant
urges to cough and couldn't stop it if I tried...while on the
Toprol, I feel 80% better...I still get annual checkups and
EKG's & blood work and get a stress test etc every few years.
Have to have a good cardiologist....his reassurance is worth
the $$$...thanks for listening

[evening]

I do not feel a strong feeling in the throat but I do get the sensation that I am forced to cough due to some sort of 'flipping' in my chest

[babycakes]

Hi! I just want you guys to know how helpful it is to know that when you have a problem, you're not alone.  My heart does crazy flip flops all day sometimes and being the overly anxious person that I am, I just about lose my mind.  I was wondering, has anyone with PVCs ever felt this weird serious of beats in the throat???

[angelapple]

Hi babycakes, I always get a weird feeling in my throat when I feel the extra beats.  It almost feels like I must cough.  Is that what you mean?

[Michmom]

Hi! Reading your postings and it sounds just like me.  My PACs started almost 1yr ago out of the blue and along with the PACs came these anxiety/panic attacks.  did the PACs start because of the anxiety/panic attacks or the other way around?  I never thought of myself as that stressed but looking back last year was busy. I thought I had gotten rid of the PACs Dec.2001 but last week I went to the ER again with PACs I think I over reacted I've already been told that there is nothing they do about them, live with them.! I keep waiting for the next episode I hate that I keep worring about it I feel like I took big steps backwards when they started up again.  I posted my whole story on the hormones and arrythmias forum some people think its hormonal, its hard to believe.  Im so thankful for  this website its sad that we are all going thru this but its nice to know we're not alone. Thanks may all your days & nights be PAC&PVC FREE!

[angelapple]

Thanks for your post.  I haven't had my 2 week monitor yet.  Hopefully this Tuesday.  It's really sad that we worry so.  I have suffered for years with anxiety and panic and you're absolutely right about the "what ifs".  I think i've lived my life with what ifs.  ANXIETY definetly adds to anything that you feel weird in your body, expecially your heart.  I'm the sort of person, if I feel any little sensation that doesn't feel normal, I can totally blow it up in my head, Oh my God, is it a stroke, heart attack or of course something bad.  Never gas or just a little headache, so extra beats in your heart in my mind must be something terrible.  I have been extra anxious the past few weeks and since this started 12 days ago, a lot more.  I feel like I'm just waiting for it to start again.  At least when you go to sleep you would think you have some peace, but last Wed i woke up at 2 a.m with the heart flipping and had it until 8:30 a.m.  Never did get to work that day.  Well hopefully the test will show something, not bad of course, or maybe nothing.  I'm not sure what I'd rather.  You know?  Oh well thanks again for listening.  I'll let you know.. HOpe you're doing OK.

[angelapple]

Hi I can totally relate to your posting.  I was woken up last week at 2 a.m. had them until 8:30 a.m.  I also have MVP.  I have been feeling all of a sudden a skipped beat.  THat's what woke me up, believe it or not.  I think I'm just so tuned in to my body sensations.  I also have much anxiety and I have been taking a low dose of Xanax also.   I tried taking only 10 mg of inderal, really didn't do anything except slow my beat down, but I still felt those horrible "missed or extra beats" all night.  I had that three times in 6 days.  All lasting a few hours.  I will be hooked up to an event monitor next week.  It will be on for 2 weeks. When I went to the Dr.
the EKG was normal.  Of course the palps stopped by the time I got there.  My blood pressure was out of the roof. Just wondering if the feeling you're having is the same.  Please let me know.  THanks

[andrew21w]

Hi,
  Doesn't it sound like us anxious and panic prone people have these skipped heartbeats?Maybe it's just me.I think the anxiety probably makes it alot worse.I hope your tests come out ok.Alot of times this sort of thing isn't serious at all.In fact,doctors rarely prescribe any medication because it's such a common thing.My doctor once told me that everyone heart skips beats sometimes,but some people can feel them and others can't.Being an anxiety person,were always aware of what's going on with our bodies,so of course we'll feel the skipped beat.And because it is the heart it's definately frightning.But the most it can do to you is annoy the hell out of you.Like i said,medicine is rarely needed.
  Hang in there.And if your doctor does think you need medicine-what's the worst possible thing that can happen.You'd have to take a pill everyday,that's all.
   Hope this helps,and good luck.

[angelapple]

Hi guys, I'm floored reading this posting.  You all sound just like me.  I have MVP and I'm 47.  I noticed what I call bloops about 15 years ago, only occasionally.  Well needless to say they've increased with age.  Last week while I was at my desk I had extra-or missed beats for 4 hours.  THe next night same thing woke me up at 2 a.m until 8:30 am.  Went to the Dr. he totally blew me off and told me it was nothing.  Of course when I got there my EKG was normal but the blooping had already stopped.  I had it again today at work.  I hate to admit it but I went to another cardio dr.  He also did EKG - normal again. He will do an event monitor and an echogram in a couple of days.  This is the worst.  It's so true if anything else felt weird with your body you can handle it, but your heart, yuk.  I also get anxiety and panic attacks.  Have had them for years.  Lately they have been so much worse and with this going on this week, I feel like I'm just waiting for it again.  Oh well, i must say it really helps reading about you with almost the same problem.  Hang in there, I hope I can too. THanks.

[tb3063]

I just started getting these weird palpitations within the last few months, and only in the last two weeks has it gotten bad enough to be bothersome. After reading some of the other stories here I feel much better, like there's some hope that this isn't going to kill me immediately one day.

I almost didn't get any sleep at all last night. I'd nod off, and then suddenly wake up in a panic, feeling that familiar quivery feeling and then BAM! a catch-up beat over and over again.  It happens during the day. It happens in the evening. Mostly it happens when I'm trying to relax, or while I'm sitting at my computer trying to get my work done. It's incredibly distracting. I don't want to have to notice my most vital organ doing something abnormal; it should just do its job quietly and calmly. The docs that I've talked to have said people can live with this, long healthy and otherwise normal lives... jeez! is that my fate? And why the heck is it happening in the first place?

I noticed that while I'm walking, running or exercising it doesn't happen. As soon as I sit down or lie down, it starts in.

I'm taking Lotrel and Inderal both because I've been dealing with high blood pressure too, which this last weekend is confirmed to be reduced from my previous test. I wonder if the Inderal is making this worse?

The docs think it's anxiety related. True, I am an overly anxious person, and knowing that my heart is doing strange thing triggers more anxiety, which makes my heart do weird things, etc. etc. So... calming down some would probably help. As will continued exercise and the right diet.

The one thing that bugs me about what the doctors have said is that I keep reading that the problem isn't serious if it's just an occasional thing. Well, mine isn't occasional anymore: it's almost constant. So does that make it serious now? Is this now a portent of worse to come?

Sorry to be so long-winded... but it's nice to know there are others who are experiencing the same exact things. Good luck and good health to you all!

[andrew21w]

Hi,I just read your comment and I think I can relate.I,too,have become an anxious person(that's putting it mildly).I started to notice this wierd feeling in my chest at my most anxious state.It was completely annoying and extremely scary for me because I felt like my heart was just going to stop beating.I finally had to see a doctor,and after several tests my doctor informed me that it wasn't anything to worry about-easy for him to say.He also told me the same thing you were told-alot of people have this and it's not serious.Sometimes I can go through a whole week and have nothing happen,other times I can have several in one day.Some people have ALOT in a 1 min.period,and even that isn't serious(in most cases or as determined by a doctor).I also get hit with it while i'm starting to doze as well.It's like a very wierd feeling that comes over me and it makes me wake up instantly with this scary and panicked feeling.
  So,i'm trying to cope with this too.It hasn't been easy.I also think stress and anxiety make it worse for me too.Us anxious people tend to think the worst and we also tend to run with the feeling and do the,"what if" scenerio.
   Hopefully this helps a little.

[quinhas]

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has these weird palpitations.  I'm a 44 year old woman and have MVP and the palpitations wake me up at night.  Right now I'm taking inderal (80 mg) but it's not curing it totally.  What I haven't heard yet from anyone is that these palpitations (specially at night) triger anxiety attacks and then you can't sleep.  I'm taking a low dose of Xanax for the anxiety.  I'm taking a stress test for the first time next week and then I have a cardiologist apptmt. at the end of the month to see if another medication can help me.  THIS IS VERY SCARY!  I'll keep you posted....

[sanders1502]

Hi Guys,

Read your comments with interest.  I am particularly interested in those who suffer from what I thought was just me.  In fact the phenomenon is so unusual, that most 'normal' people I talk to seem to think I'm fron another planet.  The phenomenon is that very scary event when I am just about to fall asleep and then I get 'hard' palps, resulting in tension in my head and a very conscious thumping heart rythm.  Last night I had an 'episode' which has made me fell exhausted all day today, and at work all I wanted to do was go home.  I couldn't get interested in my work, just wanted to rest.

I can't remember ever being able to 'nod' off to sleep during the day as I ALWAYS have an episode of palps JUST before sliding into sleep.  That is so annoying as I really could do with just a small nap in the afternoon afterwork to charge my batteries up for the evening.  Alas it's never worked yet.

Anyone else suffer from this phenomenon?

Great forum incidentally.  'We're not alone!'

[urrl77]

I am on Zebeta and Amiodarone, which I take only when things get really bad. When my heart begins skipping constantly every 1 or two beats I consider that really bad. Things get bad when I try to sleep. I was up until about three oclock last night waiting for my Amiodarone to work. Since there is never any pain I consider myself fortunate, comparing myself to other posts on this forum. Walking can cause dizzines, although slight. Diet change does not help. but weight loss seems to have an effect. I am learning to live with it, especially when I want a day off from work or some other task. People don't want to mess with the fact that you have a heart condition and will be completely sympathetic and unquestionably cooperative. I don't take my little 1 day vacations very often but I do take them more frequently than when I was not having problems two years ago.  I used to feel concerned and frightened but I know the amiodarone will always work eventually. That stuff is the most effective med I have used for my heart, although I take it only in emergencies.

[e.r.boy]

I have been to the emergency room 3 times in the last two weeks. The latest stint confirmed PVC's. The doctors told me not to worry. Easy for them to say. If they had our bad PVC symptoms perhaps they would fastrack their understanding of them. I hate to sound negative, but it seems every condition I have gotten in my life has the doctors licked. This PVC thing is no different. It looks like they either tell yo to live with it, or give you drugs that seem to work for 20% of the people , 10% of the time. I just reseached Beta Blockers and have taken Metoprolol. They can make you impotent zombies. I am a Mechanical Engineer. It is not a fair comparison, but when we have a problem with a product, we fix it. I guess the human body is more complex and the variables between patients endless.
It is a terrible thing to be made aware of a body part, especially your heart. It makes you yearn for the days you were well. I wish all the sufferers well and pray their symtoms will either disappear as fast as they came, or that a treatment will work for them.

[deb4bama]

Thank you for the reply.  The odd thing is that I am only taking a half of a 5 mg Zebeta anyway.  I know that is a very small dose, but it is enough to keep my BP to an average of about 85/55.  It's like I am extra sensitive to the meds or something.  

Initially they told me to "just stop" since my does was low.  That was a disaster.  Then we tried taking it every other night for a week...every third night, etc.  I did fair until the "every third night" week and the third day I went bonkers.  They put me on a monitor for 24 hours during this time and said my average heart rate was 120 with a few PVCs.  Several time I felt faint.

I havent tried 1/2 pill then 1/4 pill, etc.  They are already so small!!  At first I thought maybe it was just me....a phsychological response to not taking it.  I tried relaxation therapy..averything to keep the rate down.  Nada. Frustrates me because I did NOT have this problem before starting the Zebeta.  I just had occasional PVCs or whatever.

[BrianS]

I'm 31 and 3 weeks ago started having frequent PVCs or PACs just out of the blue.  I don't know how to tell the difference and my Doc hasn't done anything but listen to my heart.  She put me on Toprol XL.  Am I going to have to live with this (medicine and arrhythmia) for the rest of my life or can she 'reset' me and wean me from this medicine eventually?  I've had no heart problems before now.