palpitations

[colleen813]

I am a 28 yr old female.I have very frequent heart palpitations.Sometimes they last all day, and they come three or four in a row.Or i can go for days without any.I cut out caffeine, dont eat rich foods because it happens a lot after i eat.I have hyperthyroidism but it was just checked and is controlled with medication.I have had several ekgs, an echo, and wore a holter monitor.all they could tell me was slight tachycardia.I was prescribed diltiazem 30mg 2x a day and atenolol 12.5mg 1x a day.It helps some but not much.Although they say there is nothing structurally wrong with my heart, these palpitations are ruining my life.I am always afraid my heart will stop.What should i do?Get more tests?Have my meds adjusted?Do i have to deal with this my whole life?Please help!

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

thats what all my extra beats are pac my cardio dr says they are sooo benign and not a problem. hope you feel better now always great to get a dr who really cares

[colleen813]

Well i went to the ER.again.This time i got a doctor who seemed to care more about me and was genuinely baffled that i am on beta blockers and calcium channel blockers together for what showed on the monitor as pacs.he told me that being on too much medication can actually make it worse.so he said to wean myself off the beta blocker and that if i dont feel like i need it, wean myself off of lexapro as well because that can cause palps too.It was reassuring to have all the blood test come back normal.Hopeflly his advice will help me.thanks to everyone for all the comments and well wishes.

[LindaTX]

Well, I don't think I could take such a lacadasical attitude toward something so distressing. Colleen, I really sympathize with you.  Have you been having these palps PVC's or PAC's for yrs?  Some people say they disappear after being on EPA-DHA fish oil capsules.  The only other thing I can offer is investigating a connection to the Vagus Nerve.  It controls things like swallowing, digestion, heart rate.  It might be worth taking a look at.  Cutting out the caffeine is good, your wt won't be an issue.  Carbonated drinks, including carbonated water may aggravate your Vagus Nerve. Some swear by a less acidic/more alkaline diet. There are just so many possibilities, but until you can get some  help from the Dr.'s it wouldn't hurt to explore some of the suggestions I've written here and above.  Processed carbs can cause me to have PVC's, sometimes peanuts can.  You have to start somewhere.  Good Luck, Colleen, I hope you get some answers.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

hi colleen, wow i have been throught this for 28 years and its been no fun, but i can tell you i have learn to live with them when they come, i take them everywhere with me weather they want to go or not. lol

i had a really hard time with them 3 years ago i got them 10 weeks straight with my let up. i wore a 30 day heart monitor and it said i was having over 3000 a day. it felt like lots more .

they were so close together like every other heart beat and sometimes every 4-5 beat but they felt like flutters and hard to check pluse with them so many. but i wore the monitor where you push the button when you feel them and after so many recordings you call it into the company they take it off your recorder on the phone pretty cool.

so everytime i would call it in they would say ok your good. i knew if they were bad i would get a call from my dr in mins but never got that call so after two weeks of doing that and they always good i just forgot about them, got used to them i guess, than week before i turn my monitor in they just went away as fast as they came.

i have them here and there now, but if you worry about them or wait for it to happen like i did for years they will do it and much worse. my cardio dr retired so i have a new one and she tells me the same thing. they wont kill you , just up-set you .

hard not let them rule your life but try and keep doing what your doing when it happens you will see after awhile they are less and not bother you as much. always around if you want to talk.Barbara

[colleen813]

Im not sure about my type of thyroid issue.I wore the holter for 3 days and it caught numerous palps.I am a server so im very active, may be about 15 lbs overwt but not much.i cut out caffeine completely.I just dont know what to do.As far as getting a second opinion i dont have insurance right now so im trying to just cope until i can see someone. Its hard to concentrate on anything ever.especially when they come like three or four in a row and when i have them hundreds of times a day!

[ChatterAlly]

You will be told over and over again they are an annoying nuisance, but that will not put your mind at ease.  I know from experience.  I wish I had some magical answer for you.  I have had bouts with svts and pvcs myself.  Most recently I was treated for svts with Amiodarone, but chose to stop taking it because of the close monitoring with it and all the side effects.  It worked great, and the svts haven't returned yet.  That was 2 years ago.  But that's me. Take care and hang in there.  There are many out there that feel the same way you do.  Ally

[LindaTX]

I'm not so sure you shouldn't get a 2nd opinion.  How long did you wear your Holter monitor? All your Dr could say was "slight tachycardia" and you say the palpitations are ruining your life?  The hyperthyroidism might need another look.  Did you have TSH, T-3, T-4?  Some of the thyroid hormones have wide-range acceptable levels and maybe for you they are a little out of the norm.  Did you see an endocrinologist?  It sounds like some kind of food or drink could be a trigger for you.  You might try process of elimination.  Some people can't tolerate dairy, or wheat, nitrates, MSG, cillantro, licorice, tea, chocolate, alcohol, Diet drinks, and on and on.  There is also a slight chance your blood sugar levels could be out of whack.  It's worth checking into.  You're only 28...you need to further investigate what's going on with you. Are you exercising regularly?  Wt normal?  How long ago did these start?  Even allergy meds can cause these palpitations.

[Dentalmaniac]

I've been dealing with this for the last 13 years myself. It started when I was pregnant with my daughter and was 26 at that time. have had multiple visits to cardiologists since then, multiple ekgs, holter monitor tests, treadmill tests, echos, two nuclear stress tests and still the same conclusion, it's an annoyance but you live with it. I feel for you