problems with palpitations?

[mikeyb]

I'm a 45 year old male with a mystery problem.
Chest aches and pains for years, had all tests ecg & exercise stress test, blood test, etc.

But I keep getting these pounding and fluttering sensations, especailly at night. I know it sounds silly but it really feels like my heart is going to stop. It's like "pound, pound, miss". It's very frightening.

When I check own pulse, seems fine, no pounding or fluttering and of course, when I go to doctors they think I am imagining it.
And then I feel really foolish for wasting their time.

They even think it could be some sort of gastric problem which I disagree with.
I don't know what it is but I know it's something heart related.

Any advise off any with similar would be very helpful.

[Cleveland Clinic]

mikey,

You will soon see by the number of responses that this post will generate, that you are not alone.

Palpitations are a common symptom that many people suffer from and is often caused by extra heart beats which in the setting of a normal cardiac workup are rather benign.  To figure out if this is the case or see if a cardiac rhythm abnormality is causing your symptoms, an even monitor would be helpful.

If taht didnt show any problems, and the rest of your cardiac work up was negative, then it would be worthwhile looking into other causes of chest symptoms which can include gastic reflux among others.

good luck

[hankstar]

I know this will sound like a broken record, but your problem is probably PVCs or PACs, most likely PVCs. They occur mostly during rest and at nighttime for alot persons, in fact this is only time some persons are bothered by them. Needless to your anxiety over them could be contributing to your other symptoms , which is probably not "cardiac"  related at all, just my personal opinion. Relax, easier said than done, they are many of us on the forum that continue to advise it , but don't practice what we preach.

Good luck.

[pms_barbie]

Is there a difference in the way a pvc feels than a pac?  Is there a pause after a pac like there is with a pvc.  I have pac too but not as frequent as pvcs everything I have to me is a pvc just wodering if they feel the same or am I actually not feeling the pac and only the pvc's.  Oh by the way thanks for your post on the last thread about pvcs.  Sometimes all the drama gets to you.  I appreciate what you said very much. :)

[hankstar]

Hey, Great to see you back on the forum, anytime, I understand your feelings!

  Good question, but I'll try to explain the best as I understand it. The symptoms of PACs and PVCs are basically the same "skip" and "thump" feelings. usually PVCs are more symptomatic  and tend to feel stronger. With PVCs there is usually a full pause, PACs the pause is not quite as long, but can be vice versa on some occasions.

  Most persons have both PACs and PVCs in a 24 hours, usually one will occur with much more frequency than the other.  Some only have PVCs, with occasional PACs, other have PACs with occasional PVCs. One can show PVCs only and others show PACs only. PVCs are most common of the two. Some tend to be more symptomatic or feels PVCs more, others tend feel PACs more, bottomline  we are all different and perceive them differently . PVCs can feel milder or harder at times , and yet be the exact same PVCs, so can PACs. An ECG or holter is the only true way to detect which is occuring, but a well trained doctor can usually tell the difference especially if the pause is long and knows the patient history.

  One clue a person that has been diagnosed with a specific arrhythmia will (for example PVCs), will have the same arrhythmia over and over again, that is not to say some other rhythm disturbance cannot occur at times with the PVCs, no heart can beat perfectly regular continously all the time that would be most unusual.

  Take care, keep us posted.

P.S. Keep in mind this only my understanding of the question you asked, your doctor can best advise you on this.

[pms_barbie]

I certainly have the ones with long pauses then others I feel a thump but its not noticeable much at all in the pulse.  I dont have the bigeminy like I use to but still plenty of pvcs yuck.  I have my 3 month follow up next friday at cleveland.  I wore a holter that still recorded a 1000 pvc and 500 pac.  I have talked to my dr and he seemed thrilled.  However I am ANYTHING but.  He says my pvc's are due to my mitral valve.   So they know whts causing mine however he isnt willing to use amio.  I really hate these things and they scare me to no end.  He said only having a thousand they probably wouldnt be able to find them in the ep lab.  Right after my ablation I was pretty much pvc free.  Seems like they just keep getting worse.  However I was told that sometimes they just actually stun the tissue and it can regenerate itself and come back.  I have read where people have 10000 of them a day I cant stand what I have and im getting more depressed each and every day

[Abeybaby]

Yeah, I know how you feel let me tell you.  I have had them now constant for over 10 days now and finally wearing a holter monitor this time because they feel different. Longer pauses although my cardio doesn't believe it he says I have become more aware of them now and therefore more fearsome of them.  

Sounds like you have had an ablation for the PVC's? Wow, I asked to cardio's to do them for me and said I was out of my rocker. I guess we need to get used to them. I too at my worst ever recorded got 2008 pvc's in a 24 hr period. I absolutely hated them now I am not getting as much maybe a few hundred but are spread out during the days and nights.  

Yes, I HATE THEM TOO> But what choices do we really have. Are you taking any meds to calm them down such as Atenenol/beta blocker tec ???

Curious because I dont think my beta blocker is doing anything?

Abe

[AnimalCop]

Hello all, brand new to this board, heres my question:

Been having this skip, which I can better describe as my heart feeling like a hose, as if I am using a hose someone steps on the hose, then lets go, so my heart feels like it STOPS, then in a hard release back into pumping, there is no pain, just the odd feeling of the feeling that my heart stops then boom, starts again and thats what I feel the continuing of the beating.
I have been to a cardiologist one 10 years ago when i first started feeling it, but back then I was getting alot of Tachacardia, my heart would just go from a regular beat to about 180, then I would have to cough or bear down to break it. When I went to the Dr, they did a echo, ECG and a Halter, and they said it was nothing and diagnosed me with Re-Entry Atrial Tachacardia.

Recently, I been getting ALOT of these skips as explained above, sometimes I fell none then all of a sudden they will happen for a few hours 6-8 a minute, back about 2 months ago, they were happening alot again, went to Different Cardio, put on Halter and all he said was they didnt see anything.

Countless number of times I felt like going to the ER when these happen, but I know that when I get there and sit and wait 3 hours they will go away before I get an ECG.

Seems like all of your post are talking about PVC's and it sure sounds like this is the annoying things I am feeling. It's hard to ignore these, especially when you have a Anxiety problem, sure doesnt help.
Any insight.

[uptowngirl]

Hi,I just wanted to comment on the aspect of meds.  Sometimes you have to try a couple before you get the right fit to help with the PVC's, PAC's or palps.
I took atenelol for eleven years and it worked just fine.  Then I began to experience a higher than normal heartrate.  We tried upping the med, but it didn't help anymore.  My cardiologist said I had reached the threshhold and he thought I was becoming immune to it.  He suggested we try another.  We tried Toprol and Inderal.  It took care of the arrythmias, but the side effects were too rough.  My cardio (who is a very patient and gracious person) was "determined" he said to find me the right medicine.  A couple months later he suggested that I try Cardizem.  It's an older medicine and from a different class but it works great for me.  All that to say I think meds work great if you can lock into the most effective one for your specific situation.
  Good to see everyone back on the forum!

Uptown

[hankstar]

TO: PMS_ Barbie,

    You are approximately experiencing roughy a total 1.5% ectopic beats , including pvcs and pacs of your total heartbeats, that would not be considered  that much, but then as I understand there is no magic number again, treatment including ablation depends on symptoms. Exactly what is the problem with your mitral vale is it (MVP) with trace, trivial, mild, moderate or severe regurgiation or just a mild to moderate leakage with no prolapse at all. MVP is blamed for alot of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias as it lies almost directly in bewteen the left atrium and left venticle, a prolapse can cause the balooning appearance of leaflets to bulge back into the left atrium . Symptoms are usually way out of proportion and really doesn't seem to be related to the  slight usually insignificant mechanical defect.Anyhow that is the doctors.


To: Animal COP,

      I would say what you are describing are PVCs, PVCs are a responsible trigger for about 30% of all AVNRT( atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardias), They same to go hand in hand, I would bet my bottom dollar that most diagnosed with anxiety and panic, PVCs and racing heart, have some form AVNRT, the most common form of SVT. Yes, it is not life threatening, but hell to live with, everyone just doesn't qualify for an EP study to confirm it, I suspect I have it myself, but my episodes of tachycardia are completely controlled with atenolol and the PVCs are few and far between, thank goodness, I often wonder how long it will last.

    Be assured you are not alone with this problem, some persons have it and are completely asymptomatic , lucky them.

Regards.

[hankstar]

The last line should read, Anyhow that is the doctor's call, not mine.

[pms_barbie]

I have moderate to severe mvp with mild to moderate reg.  The leaflets are thickened.  The ep dr seems to thinbk I had rhuematic feve at one time or another.  Its not bad enough yet to replace and they say it may never need replacing.  Myself I believe to will I have to have 6 month echos to keep track of it.

[pms_barbie]

I have taken atenol didnt work.  Took toprol didnt work.  Tambocor worked for 2 months then it turned on me.  Verapamil didnt do much either.  Tikosyn which was for atrial fib which I never had to begin with so I dont know why I wqas ever on that.

[hankstar]

Thanks for replying, you have more than the mild MVP with only trace to mild leakage. 6 months to yearly echos would be a reasonable to keep an eye on things.

Good luck , hope you never need surgery, but if you do, get it before damage starts. Watch out for left atrial enlargement or any of sign of cardiomyopathy such as an EF below 50%, with either dilation or hypertrophy of the left ventricle.

Even with what you told me, your PVCs are probably still considered "benign" if you have been reassured by your EP and cardiologist, they know best.

Take care of yourself.

[pms_barbie]

Thanks for your comments hun.  So far no enlargement of either the ventricle or atrial enlargement.  Thank God.  Yes I want to catch it before damage occurs for sure.  I know I have had pvcs before I even knew what they were.  I knew something wasnt right but I never dreeamed it was coming from my heart.  Then when my sister died I was determined to find out what was wrong.  My dr almost had me conveinced I was just depressed over her death.  I thought I had a tumor in my head or something.  Because I am assuming the cannon a waves is what I was feeling.  I had  a ct scan done.  It was negative....now the negative meaning no brain or what im not sure....lol  Anyways thanks for your input.  I must say I am totally surprised and thrilled no negative post have been made thus far.  Thats the way the board should be.  Thanks again hun and best wishes to you.

[hankstar]

That is just the way it should be and if there be debate it should be a civilized debate,

Best wishes to you also.

Let us know how your update with doc goes.

Hank.

P.S. If you ever care to contact me my e-mail address is ***@****  if you don't care to I'll understand.

[hankstar]

My sincere condolences to you and your family on the lost of your sister.

Best wishes once again.

[knicks30]

Hey im really sorry to hear about your sister. I can see why your PVC's would worry you so greatly. Im sorry about our little argument that we had a couple of days ago.

Take care.

[pms_barbie]

Thank you a bunch for your comment.  I dont want to argue with any one on this board.  We are all here for a reason.  I honestly think if my sister hadnt died the way she did I could of handled the whole pvc issue a lot better.  I have been seeing a counselor to try and help me get over being so hung up on them.  No hard feelings hun we all get overly excited and bent out of shape sometimes.  That includes me to and I apologize to you also.  Thanks again

[pms_barbie]

Thanks a bunch even tho its been over a year it still seems like yesterday and the holidays are the worst.

[green4sam]

I just don't understand the anxiety over palpitations especially when there is not structural heart problem and clean coronaries.  I have had these sensations for all of my adult life and just ignore all of it.  It will not kill me and the discomfort from it is easy to ignore and cope with.  Maybe, I have a higher threshold for this discomfort. I do think people obsess about these sensations and so then take on a life of their own.  I have a history of cancer and other bad things so this is so minor in comparison and maybe that is my perception os things...but I really don't get it!!!!!

[dquenzer]

When you have anxiety you actually cause your heart to be "irritated" by adrenalin.  This irritation causes parts of your heart to fire off impulses out of rythmn.  The problem is that the longer you have an anxiety problem then the worse the heart gets irritated.

The class of drugs that can "blunt" this from occuring are beta-blockers. Different beta-blockers work better for different people.  They are pretty safe drugs, although there are side effects that can occur.

As someone who has had the same thing I would suggest two things:
1)  Deal with the anxiety.  I would suggest taking bio-feedback and exercise.  Also find out what is making you anxious and deal with it with help of a counselor?  There are numerous drugs that deal with general anxiety that are pretty good as well that have minimal side-effects.

2)  Try a beta-blocker for awhile.  It might help, but it might not.  Beta-blockers won't eliminate PAC's or PVC's, but might reduce them.

But the primary thing you need to deal with is the anxiety.  That's probably the main culprit or cause of them.

[HAMMERHEAD]

DOES ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THAT PVC'S GET WORSE AFTER THEY EAT OR DRINK SOMETHING.I HAVE BAD ACID REFLUX AND HERINAL HRENIA. BUT IF I EAT OR DRINK SOMETINK HERE THET COME

[sniggitydiggity]

I have these EXACT feelings, too.  I'm only 28 years old.  I'm about 100lbs overweight and as a matter of fact, I went to the ER for them tonight and they actually caught one while they were doing the EKG.  And if you've had an EKG, you know how fast they are. Well, they saw that it was a PAC.  I was told there were no other electrical things going wrong in my body and so they sent me packing.  I was cleared.  

I've been getting these things for about 4 years now and for some reason they were REALLY bad today, so I started to worry.  I was told to go home, relax and stop drinking caffiene and all that other good stuff they tell you to do when they know you're not gonna do it.  :^)

These things are the scarest things I've ever dealt with and for the first year or so, I thought I was going to die everytime one hit me. I used to walk around with the phone in my pocket just in case I had one too bad to where I couldn't ge to it. (I just had one typing that, it took my breath). I still think that from time to time, but then I remember that they haven't killed me in 4 years so far, so they proably won't kill me now.

I still think something is wrong with me, it's not normal for your heart to flop around in your chest like it does, I don't care what these doctors say. I think they just don't know what it is and tell everyone they're benign because these PVCs haven't killed anyone yet, or at least it hasn't been documented as a cause of death or heart failure. God knows, sometimes it feels like I'm going to go into heart failure at any moment because my heart "stops" for so long from these PACs.  

Anyways, good luck and I hope they go away for you, they've haven't for me, so I just have to deal with it. It's 6 am and I've had about 20 just typing this up.

[JasJas]

HI all..let me say this to all of you who think you are going to die from PVCs....it's not going to happen!!! They are totally harmless in a healthy heart!! The anxiety you feel is more harmful to you than the PVCs. To all..if you can afford to see a pyschologist I would recommend it. They can be very helpful. Mine has taught me to "accept" the PVCs and to relax into them. It does not always make them go away but I sure feel alot better rather than fighting with them. I know it's hard because anything to do with the heart is scarey. The doctors are not lying when they tell you they are harmless. They really are harmless. People have lived for 20 and 30 years with pvcs. Please look into stress management. Once you no longer fear the pvcs they won't have the same power over you and I'll bet then become less severe and less frequent.

I know this from my own experience and research. Trust me!!

Jas

[whoozit]

I see that many people experience PVC and PAC when they are resting.  What about when your adrenaline is pumping?  I have recently starting have these palpitations and just did the holter monitor this week.  I am waiting for the results.

I notice the symptoms the most when having sex or suddenly being active after resting.  I did not notice them as much when walking the treadmill, as I start out slow and ease my way into it.

Is this common?

(my first post here...)

[Azrael_Se]

Hi

For thE first time in my life i ended up in the ER because of what now I know are PACs. I get them up to twice a minute sometimes, and its happened nons top for the last 48 hours.

I had an ECG that recorded one, x ray, blood tests, urine test and well, all clear! Tomorrow my doctor will comment on the last EGC but it basically said: premature supraventricular beats and nonspecific T wave abnormality. TRhe first one means PACS and as far as I understand, a T wave abnormality can be normal in young adult (I am 25)

I have had panic doisorder for 8 years, althoiugh its is pretty much uinder control and I lead a normal life and well, thsi has been very scary and is still quite scary for me, I have teh feeling that they are going to go away though because since i got reassured and i am a bit more clam, they are not as regular as they were yesterday. In any case, it is really reassuring to read that people have dealt with this for years and that basically they are totally beningn in a healthy heart.

My doctor has recommended to takle it easy, not worry about them and to see him again ina  couple of weeks to see how i am feeling. He thinks theya re stressed realated because i had lots of stuff going oin in my life lately and well, i guess he is right.

In any case thanks for reading and feel free to leave any feedback

Ricard

[VinnyB]

A related discussion, Not Really a question was started.