new beats--VT or A-fib?

[Shroom]

Hi, I posted here once before regarding getting a pacemaker/med combo to control my sinus tach episodes that occur weekly. I take diltiazem and proamitine daily with minimal effectivness. I'm 20 yr female.
    Yesterday, I had sudden onset of rapid, irregular heart beats. I had difficulty drawing breath and then lost consciouness (within 20 seconds). When I came-to my rate/rhythmn was normal and I had no SOB. I don't thnk I was out for more than a few minutes. This happened 4 times throughout the day, each time while I walking more than 1 block in distance. The first time I was taken to the ER and as rate and BP were normal, quickly released (no EKG).
  It is not uncomon for me to faint due to rapid heart rate, but it has always been sinus tach and remains fast (150-160) for extended amounts of time (1-3 days). I have never felt beats before I pass-out, only after and then just sinus tach.
   Ive never had heart beats like this before. They felt, for lack of a better description, like an old shaky washing machine.
   I made an appointment to see an EP doc at Mayo in MN. I would welcome your opinion on what this might be. I am mostly concerned that is might be VT and wonder how dangerous it is to wait to see the doctor. I used to have a diagnosis of POTS, but the docs now aren't sure on that.
   If this is A-fib, how likely is a blood clot as I'm not on a blood thinner?
   I also had a picc line placed last Tuesday, could that have caused this?
  

[Cleveland Clinic]

Shroom,

Since most 20 yr old people do not have a PICC line I assume theres more to the story then meets the eye.  Simply, you should seek referral to a large center before considering pacemaker placement.  I think it would be difficult to discern what your rhythm is by your symptoms.  

Anyone with afib should consider coumadin therapy.   I would need definite evidence of the fibrillation to consider it in a 20 yr old patient.

The PICC line is probably not associated with this if it is placed in the right location.

[Emmaj]

Not sure if this helps, but I've had episodic a-fib and, following surgery, extremely rapid afib for 48 hrs. that required I have a cardioversion... but I never passed out or even had presyncope from a-fib. I've felt dizzy and unsteady only. I've read on the subject too, and, as best I can recall, I've just never read of people actually blacking out or fainting from a-fib itself. (Somebody correct me if I'm wrong!!!) Think it would be unusual for you to have a-fib at 20, unless you had a serious valve problem (and you would probably have other symptoms too, such as SOB and fatigue.) I have had presyncope though from sv tachycardia... but that wasn't really irregular. I hope we sometime learn what the problem you had is! Take care and best of luck!!!

[Linda123]

Dear Shroom
I'm really sorry to hear of your ordeal.  My own guess is that you had a-fib, but obviously this needs checking out.  I have had episodes of SVT and then one day I had what I believe was an episode of a-fib - that too was all very rapid and irregular.  The a-fib episode started with stronger than usual pvcs and then wham, a-fib.
I'll be very interested to read with the CCF has to say.
Best wishes to you, Linda

[I'mallheart]

i am no having the exact same but i am on atenolol 25 mg a day for fast heart rat, did all the tests and okay i guess,the echo shows mild mvp...i also have had some fast heart rate episodes here and there like 130 resting..bp okay..it might be anxiety also...i see my pulse in both sides of neck and abdominal pulsation..its wierd...i m 27 male in minnesota..