A couple questions

[sampants]

I am a 35 year old stay at home mom to three young kids.  I am overweight but have begun exercising.  I don't drink or smoke.

About 2 months ago I started having palpitations.  I have been checked out by a doctor of internal medicine.  All of my bloodwork came back perfect.  I did have a Holter test done and it showed quite a few PVCS and PACS and one 7 beat v-tach.

My doctor put me on 1/2 a 25 mg. tablet of atenolol a day.  I am seeing a cardiologist in a few weeks for an echocardiogram and possibly a stress test.

I was feeling okay before getting the Holter results, but after finding out about the v-tach I started having occasional mini-panic attacks at night.  

I guess this is where my questions start.

1. How concerned should I be about the v-tach?  Can this be benign?

2. When I feel panicky I have trouble distinguishing between what is panic and what could be a heart issue.  The panicked feeling usually only involves a little burning in my chest (which could be heartburn- it was around the holidays and rich food AND I had a flu-like illenss) and some tingling in my arms.  How can I tell if it is something more serious?

3.  On a positive note...I have not been feeling as stressed lately and feel pretty darn good.  The only thing that I have had happen lately is an occasional numb feeling in my tongue or jaw.  What could this be from?  Is this something I should contact my doctor about immediately, or can it wait until my cardio appt?  There is zero pain or discomfort and it occurs at random.

Thanks.  
-Anna

[dodgybeats]

That's interesting but I have to admit - I would take my chances and trade these stinking rotten PVCs for a red flag any day!!!

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Anna,

Thanks for the post.

Q0:"I was feeling okay before getting the Holter results, but after finding out about the v-tach I started having occasional mini-panic attacks at night."

Sorry to read this.

Q1:"1. How concerned should I be about the v-tach? Can this be benign?

If the H&P done by the internist revealed no evidence for heart failure, and the EKG was normal, then I would not be very concerned.  If your echo returns normal, I would be even less concerned. There are a few VT conditions that occur in young people with an otherwise normal heart.  The good news is that they are readily treatable, and only very rarely life-threatening.

Q2:"2. When I feel panicky I have trouble distinguishing between what is panic and what could be a heart issue. The panicked feeling usually only involves a little burning in my chest (which could be heartburn- it was around the holidays and rich food AND I had a flu-like illenss) and some tingling in my arms. How can I tell if it is something more serious?"

You cannot, at least at first.  I would seek therapy now for the panic -- that can be through alternative means such as yoga, tai chi, "visualization", or through more traditional means, such as counseling.  Regardless of whether or not something is actually amiss with your heart, the panic overlay will worsen your quality of life.

Q3:"... an occasional numb feeling in my tongue or jaw. What could this be from?"

This symptoms could be from most anything.  I really need more information about the circumstances in which you experience this symptom to comment.

Hope that helps.