skipped beats

For the past two or three months I have had skipped heartbeats sometimes occuring every day sometimes it goes for a week without having one.  I had a cardiograph and everything was normal ..it often occurs even if I am resting in the evening. I am  a little overweight..20 lbs or so work on the computer all day and do not take much excercise. It is bad enough that it will last sometimes for an hour or more......I am on inderal for migraines and have been taking these for 2o years.Also HRT thereapy.
Should I take a further inderal during an attack to bring the beats regular again or will this not make any difference.? It does bother me very much my age is 56.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Taking it during an episode probably won't help but taking it on a regular basis will.  A Holter monitor test is another possible way to diagnosis what is going on with your heart beats.

[Annya]

Thank you so much...do you think it could be caused by stress..I was also diagnosed with anxiety a few years back..as I feel perfectly well otherwise do you think I should worry..I cant have a holter test as I am not on any medical plan and can not afford it..my doctor tells me it will be over $400. I take Inderal 40mg once a day in the morning and then half at lunchtime. At night I take one bayers asprin. I have noticed it also happens after a hot or very warm shower I have a slow pulse anyway due to the Inderal. Still worried as I cant afford the test.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Stress certainly does not help the situation.  As long as your doctor does not think you need the test that's OK.  IF however he is recommending it it may be worth the money to check things out.

[Annya]

Thank you again..sorry to write yet again..I have decided to go to the doctors in England and have the test as the dr.here thinks I should have it ..another question..I have a long flight 11 hours  followed by a six hour coach trip with several waits in between..whatif any prcautions/medicine can I take to prevent/stop it if it should occur en route?
Thank you for your time.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Where do you live?  I can't think of any precautions in particular except to take a supply of any medications and drink plenty of fluids on the flight.

[Annya]

Thank you..I live in Texas....yesterday was bad I had three episodes two were long...as this only started a while ago could they be due to  taking bee pollen with the inderal..could I be allergic to an ingrediant?
Are these "episodes" what is known as PVC's?
many thanks Annya

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Why do you have to go to England?  What test are you talking about?

[Annya]

The holter monitor test..as its so expensive here I will have it done over there..today has been good nothing so far..are they PVC's I am having.could it be the bee pollen I was taking mixed with the Inderal and what of asprin and Inderal is that combination ok...i wondered about this as you can not take over the counter cold medicines with it.
Thank you again for helping so many people here in this forum.

[Annya]

Well I spent the night in the emergency room last night as I went to bed having an attack of skipped beats ..then woke up with strange shaking which was uncontrlable..i had a cardiogram and X ray and bllod tests but of course by then all had calmed down again...he suggests a monitor for a few days and said it is also caused by panic attacks..Will no one believe me when I say it is very frightening and very real..help what next?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

I think you need to proceed with the heart tests.  If they are all normal perhaps further investigations including psychological testing are indicated but not until then.

[Annya]

Thank you I will proceed but I can  say there is nothing psycological about what I have been experiencing..perhaps I have not made the symptoms clear ..by physcolgical are you then inferring I am making it all up..I wish I was then it would not be so stressful.

[Annya]

When I went to the hospital my doctor also recommended holter monitor and an echocardiogrm and possibly antilipemic what is this? yes I will follow up the tests but they are not pyscological.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

You missed the point of my reply.  I am not suggesting you are "making this up" but IF the heart tests are normal other things such as panic attacks can cause these sort of symptoms.

[Annya]

Thank you for clarifying...I am not consciously having any panic or stress in my life right now other than the worry of another attack. It seems to be rather odd though that it usually happens not when moving around but when I am resting..ie this afternoon I had a nap on the couch and upon waking up it happened again and usually in the evening when watching TV..could it be because I am not very active? I do have very high cholesterol it is 237.

[Annya]

I have taken careful note  for the past week of when it happens..always it is within an hour of eating a biggish meal and can last from minutes up to two hours..it beats normally for several beats then there is a big pause and it goes normal again..I have a hiatus hernia could this in any way be pushing up against my heart thus causing the heart to skip?
sounds strange I know but I am open to all options right now as it is very distressing.
Thank you

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Probably not due to your inactivity, although exercise would help you feel better.

[Annya]

Thank you again you are doing a good job here..do you think it could be the hiatus pushing up against the heart when I have eaten? its usually always after or during eating..never as yet when I am active. My cholesteral is 207 would this contribute to it?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

I suppose hiatal hernia could be causing some chest discomfort but I doubt it is causing palpitations.