multiple atrial arrhythmias

[bama jane]

I have had arrhythmia problems for the last 5 years which I feel daily. The tests have picked up these things, not always at the same time: sinus arrhythmia, (pac's single, bigeminy trigeminy), wandering pace maker,  junctional rhythm, accelerated junctional, sinus tachycardia,pat,and pvc's.Rate goes to about 160 when racing. (once a short busrt of 197) Racing lasting less than 30 minutes on low dose of atenenol and occuring now about once a month or less, so  racing some what controlled. Normal heart and no coronary heart disease. No reason known for any of this.  Healthy otherwise, age 54, 106 lbs, 5'5". Athletic. Failed ablation attempt 5 years ago. Good blood pressure
Which if any of these rhythm issues should I be concerned with, are any of them normal?
When I feel arrhythmias when exercising at what point should I stop? I walk briskly on the treadmill 50 minutes a day and try to ignore them.
I wake up gasping for breath sometimes at night, can a short burst of an atrial arrhythmia cause that?
Father recently died of copd complicated by afib and congestive heart failure caused by unconverted afib. Are any of the rhythm disturbances above indicative of a future problem with a fib for me.
Have lumbar scolioses,can that contribute to arrhythmia?  Medical person indicated to me that spinal problems can contribute to arrhythmia.
Thank you for taking my questions. If I have asked too many questions for one post feel free to pick and choose, just answer the easy ones!!
Thanks for all you do.  

[lexky]

Hi, I am a runner with Atrial Tachycardia nearly daily.  I have a pacemaker but my AV and SA nodes are in tact.  When you say 100% ablation did they ablate your AV and or SA node.  How are your symptoms now?  I have AVNRT, 2nd degree heart block and possibly sick sinus syndrome.

[bama jane]

Thanks to everyone for your input!

[mmfd]

I have woken up suddenly in the middle of the night many times when my heart rate was really low, feeling like it had stopped.  My doses were changed and it has not happened again.  However, if you wake up  gasping for air, that could be a sign of sleep apnea.  You don't have to be overweight to have it.  If I were you I would consider asking my doctor for a sleep study.  I am not a doctor.  Good luck!

[dquenzer]

I might look into another EP study at a large university or a clinic like Cleveland or Mayo.   Technology changes quite a bit, and in 5 years there may be some important advancements that could get rid of some of the arrythmias. I had an ablation for AFIB and Flutter and it was successful.  Doctor said they have improved techniques considerably.  Yours sounds like a complicated case.  You are doing pretty good though, yet I know it's annoying.

[Konopka1955]

OMG - I had those 'racing' episodes - my heart beat was so fast I couldn't count as fast - it was over 200 a minute.  Mine use to last me 30 minutes too.  They said it was avnrt - and I had a 100% successful ablation.  It was awful - when I had them - I was sooo tired - it felt like I had run a marathon..  I had them for many mos before it was diagnosed and ablated.   I can sympathize with you.  It was not a pleasant experience.  

I also got arrhythmia when I exercised as well.  Mine went into ventricular tachycardia - I would be running and then all of sudden - NO AIR - absolutely NO AIR and I had to stop..  IT felt like the air was 'sucked' right out of my lungs..  Awful feeling - I ended up needing an ICD for non-sustained and sustained ventricular tachys.  My EP doc said that during my EP Study that I stayed in sustained vt for quite some time.  Its very dangerous.  

You mentioned that sometimes you wake up 'gasping' for air - I had the same problem when I was on atenolol as well.  I woke right out of my sleep - and had ABSOLUTELY NO AIR - just ABSOLUTELY NO AIR - and I felt no heart beat.  It was awful.  I haven't had those epsiodes since I'm now paced 100% on my pacemaker.  Things are much better.  

I hope you get some answers and feel better.  

Best Wishes
Marilyn (runner)

[Jenette]

Hello,

I am also curious if there is any connection to scolosis and possible occurance of PVC's

Thank You
Jenette

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Jane,

Sorry to read about your rhythm problems.  Sometimes there is no clear explanation for why they are there.

1. Which if any of these rhythm issues should I be concerned with, are any of them normal?

I wouldn't say they are normal because most people don't have them.  Of the ones you mention, none of them sound dangerous, just annoying.


2. When I feel arrhythmias when exercising at what point should I stop?

It depends on what you are feeling.  If you feel chest pain, pressure, shortness of breath, like you may pass out -- yes you should stop.  I would consider an exercise stress test to evaluate the rhythms that cause the various symptoms.  This would help reassure you as to how safe it is.

3. I wake up gasping for breath sometimes at night, can a short burst of an atrial arrhythmia cause that?

Atrial arrhythmias can cause shortness of breath, often depending on how fast it is. Faster rates are more likely to cause shortness of breath.

4. Have lumbar scolioses,can that contribute to arrhythmia?
I have not read a relationship between scolioses and arrhythmias.

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.  It sounds like a somewhat tricky problem.

Good luck.