eratic heartbeat

I am a 64 year old woman in faily good condition.  A little overweight but I have not had any health problems until I had pain in my knee and he said it was bursitis.  I received steroid drugs for the condition about 6 months ago and ever since then I have had eratic heartbeats, especially when I go to bed at night.  It wakes me up sometimes and feels like my heart is jumping around in my chest.   I do not have very good insurance, it will only pay if I go in the hospital.  I am afraid to go to the doctor and they will run all these expensive test and still not know what is wrong.  Am I being wrong to ignore this and just hope it will go away?  

[Forum-M.D.-bkj]

pawk,

thanks for the post.

It's really impossible to tell what you are having based on your description. A lot of people get palpitations which caqn be from extra heart beats (PACs, PVCs) abnormal rhythms, or other processes away from the heart. A simple method to determine what is causing your symptoms would be to use a holter or event monitor which would record your exact cardiac rhythm while you were having your symptoms. Your physiicans could proceed from there.

good luck

[Celeste07]

Though I have a long history of arrhythmia's, mainly PVC's, I've had similiar bouts start up after taking steroids, as has my daughter. One of the listed side effects of steroids is an

[Celeste07]

Though I have a long history of arrhythmia's, mainly PVC's, I've had similiar bouts start up after taking steroids, as has my daughter. One of the listed side effects of steroids is an irregular heartbeat.
I've found that certain things (like prednisone) can trigger my cycles of arrhythmia's and these cycle's can last for weeks to months. If at all possible, I'd get it checked out, just for peace of mind.
Once CAD and structural disorders are ruled out, most arrhythmia's like simple PAC's or PVC's are merely a nuisance and seldom dangerous. I avoid steroids as does my daughter whenever possible.

I look forward to the doctors reply...

Hang in there hon!

[dquenzer]

My advice:  See a doctor.

Irregular beats may be nothing (benign), but they could also be a sign of something more serious.  Don't want to scare you, just don't be penny wise and dollar foolish.  The tests are not that expensive.  I understand the cost, but would you jeoprodize your health for a few hundred dollars?

Besides isn't peace of mind worth something?  Just think about it.  You've been worrying about this for 6 months.  Do you want to worry another 6 months?  If these are benign irregular beats you have wasted a great deal of energy worrying.

See a doctor.

  

[Barbarella]

Don't ignore heart symptoms.  Go to a Clinic or a Teaching Hospital, they will bill you accordingly if you do not have Insurance.