Hello,
I have had palpitations for several years. When I lay down they are strong and I'm a little breathless, but it will go away after about a minute. Now I am having trouble laying down at night, because they won't go away. It has also changed from just feeling my heart beat to feeling my heart constantly flutter and some brief, intermittent chest pain. It happens during the day also. I have had an EKG, a chest xray, and some blood drawn.
Also, I have discoid lupus, sjrogen's, and chronic reactive arthritis (20 yrs), and maybe mild AS. I am not taking any medicine except for Black Cohosh for hot flashes after my hysterectomy.
Since the EKG (emergency room visit) came back okay, I don't know if it would help to go to my PCP at the VA. I don't have high blood pressure, but strokes and aneurysms run in my family. I have been having some discomfort in my left shoulder and squeezing pain near my wrist, but I don't know if it's related to the arthritis or what. I am only 46 yrs old.
I've read that an echocardiogram is more specific than an EKG. What is the criteria to request an echocardiogram?
Should I not worry if the EKG' was okay?
Thank you very much!