what could this be!!!

[Carol55]

Dear Doctor
I am a healthy 45 yr old female.  non smoking and no drinking.  i have mitral valve prolapse with mild regurge.  no big deal, i just pre medicate before any med procedures.  the only symptom i have is skipped beats from time to time.  maybe once a month.  last spring i had full work up done.  echo, when the prolapse was found, stress test , eck, bloodwork.  all tests and bloodwork were normal.  all cholesteral levels fine.  now, here's the question.  ever since i became pregnant, 15 yrs. ago, about maybe TWICE per year, when i am rushing, (i run very high on anxiety, move fast , work fast, etc) and if i bend down quickly, like to pick something up from floor, i can feel my heart do this little flutter and then it's off.  raciing tachycardia.  we've done holter testing ,  it's never caught.  even that was all normal with maybe 3 PACs.  it's usually 160 bpm, and lasts about 6 - 8 minutes.  i can get it under control with drinking ice water, or putting cold cloth around neck, but it's very alarming.  i admit i have lived with panic attacks most of my adult life, like this low feeling of a constant uneasiness.  I apologize for the length of this post, but what could this be?  does it sound dangerous.  my cardiologist offered the choice of 2 meds.  he thinks zoloft may be helpful or i could try inderal.  i really would appreciate any opinion you could give me.  i thought maybe it was WPW, after all i've read about it, but everyone says no, it would've shown on all the readings and ekgs i had done.  
again, i am sorry this is so long, but this is very important to me.
thankyou
carol p.

[Joy W.]

Thanks for posting all of this information. SOunds like some of what I experience. I for no reason out of the blue a few years ago started getting racing heart and palps. Used to get palps before that every now and then. I am taking 25 mg of Toporal at this time down from what it used to be. I have been hypothyroid for 12 years and 3 months ago when I was checked I was Hyperthyroid and Dr. adjusted my; Medication.  Now just out of the blue I started to have symtoms I have not had in over a year. The Pressure feeling inside my; chest and up into my throat. this also causes a pressure headache in the front of my; head. Has anyone ever had this ??? It just came back like it left. I can feel skipped beats and flutters again and a little racing. I am 43 years old. Any thoughts ANyone please I am so frustrated .
Thanks
Joy

[Carol55]

Great advice barbara.  tomorrow i have the event recorded scheduled.  will see if it catches any of my whacky rhythms!
best of luck to you,
carol

[Barbara Teran]

I have been reading the posts here and you all are sounding like my "echo." I am 53 and have had atrial fibs now for several years along with PVC's, PAC's, etc. I am currently taking Tambacor and seem to have my life back in NSR. Happiness really is a normal sinus rhythm. I have panic attacks, MVP, and am hypothyroid. I believe that most of my troubles started with the "skipping heart syndrome" ( that is my term) when my thyroid meds were overprescribed......my TSH went to .1 (normal is .4-5.0 ). I have never been so miserable in my life. Too much thyroid medication pushes your TSH count down making you then hyperactive. When this was discovered, the meds were corrected and the dosage lowered! Wallah.....the TSH goes up and the heart skips stop. This happened again to me and since then I visited the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. It was told to me that my body reacts to this Synthroid and my TSH should be high....as in 5.0 or so. Things have improved since my TSH is around 5.0 but I "graduated" into atrial fibs. Hence, the Tambacor. Just a thought...whoever told you that your TSH has to be below 2 is not totally correct. My EP doc says that he does not want me to go near that number because I react to the Synthroid too much. This is just "food for thought." I know how you all feel. This is the pits. My life is better on Tambacor but I don't think this medication is doled out unless a person has what I have. Don't forget event recorders. They are great for catching those irregular beats over a period of weeks. The Holtor monitor is only good for 24 hours. I had an event recorder for several months and loved the machine. I felt so safe with it because I could then let my doctors see exactly what was happening. I would go a week or so between skips but when I caught them, they were doozies. Be sure you all are not atrial fibbing. I was and did not know it. Just wanted to throw my 2 cents worth in. Best of luck, Barbara

[Gail]

to Carol - and others with missed beats around PMS time...was having this problem with no history of any heart trouble...also going through menopause...not wanting to try artificial hormones, I did investigation and then tried natural progesterone cream...(in your 40s progesterone falls to near zero and then estrogen is dominant)...straightened out my heart beat, my arthritis symptoms and a slew of other menopausal symptoms...unbalanced hormones can wreak havoc on the body...just a thought

[Carol55]

Hi,
Gail, thank you for the info.  Please tell me more about this cream.  Very interested, but know nothing about this stuff.  Because something else you said surprised me.  I've had arthritis for about 6 yrs, and I'm only in my mid 40's.  If this will help that ,  I'd be so relieved, as this has gotten pretty bad lately.  again, thank you.
Carol

[shelley]

I have been on Calan SR 240 for several years (and been suffering from SVT for 20 yrs off and on).  My cardiologist said that as long as the meds are working for me, I should hold off on the ablation.  It works most of time, but I still had an episode that required a trip to the ER for a shot of adenosine to convert. I hate the "never knowing" when it will hit again.
Steve, what I wanted to know from you is what were your side effects of the Calan?  Are you aware of any long term effects?
I am a little afraid of the ablation, but taking pills forever is just as annoying.  thanks

[stevebu]

street drugs are what caused several very bad episodes....it was just pot though nothing else.  After I finally realized the connection "I was not too smart at 19 years old" i never did it again.

The ablation was pretty simple, mine only lasted 3 1/2 hours.  I felt a little discomfort when the put the caths in but no big deal.  I had little increase in PVC's for couple weeks after the ablation but they went away.  I was running again 72 hours after having it done.  No SVT in 7 months.

I was taking calan 240sr for years before having the ablation.  It just seemed to stop working and caused a lot of side effects even when it was working.  I had to switch to generic brand because of my great insurance company, and the switch seemed to upset my system.  so, i finally said enough is enough and had the ablation.

If the SVT only happened once or twice a year, I probably would not have had the ablation.  But, it was to unpredictable and left me always wondering when it would happen.  I traveled overseas sometimes to developing countries and always feared it might happen then.  Thank God it never did.

Steve  

[Carol55]

HI Steve,
Thanks for all the info.  You sound like you are doing great.  I've thought a little about ablation.  And, like you say, if it doesn't happen too often.  My only fear is like you, you just never know when it'll hit.
Thanx again
carol

[Valerie]

Carol,

Yes, I do notice it much more at PMS time.  I used to have bad anxiety but for the last 5 years it's been very, very mild.  Almost to the point where I could say I don't suffer from it any longer. I don't know if I have Mitral Valve.  I was had an echo done several years ago and everything was fine.  I've worn a monitor and had more EKG's than I can count on one hand...everythings fine.  I went to the same doctor for 10 years who continued to tell me it was stress.  I tried to explain that the only thing stressing me was the flicking & palpitating episodes. I finally got tired of hearing the "stress" excuse and went to another doctor.  She tested my thyroid antibody levels and found out that mine was high.  It should be below 2 and mine was 328.  But even on medicine the flicking and palpitations are still there.  Does it feel like your heart is being pinched when you get a fluttering? Do you feel it in your throat sometimes? Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone :)

[Carol55]

Geesh, it's a small world.  I felt like I was the ONLY one when it came to a racing heart with bending or  sitting and leaning down.  Here is a big factor for me.  It is almost only during pms.  How about you, Valerie, do you notice that, too?  Yes, I hate it too, on Feb 5th, I'll wear an event monitor for a few wks.   Did you do that one yet?  I did all tests but that one.  Do you suffer panic / anxiety at all?  Do you have Mitral Valve.  Don't  let a doctor tell you it's not there simply by listening with a stethescope.  I have mvp with mild regurge, and 3 different doctors could not hear the murmur, but sure enough, it showed up plain as day on the echo.  Please keep me updated and good luck to you.   And yup, I'm like you, I'm getting tired of this ruining my life!
Carol

[Valerie]

Carol,

Oh my God,I am sitting here almost in tears. You described my symptoms exactly.  I have had palpitating episodes, about once every year or two for 10 years.  They last about 20 minutes. My doctors found out that my thyroid antibody level was way off and put me on Synthroid 25 mg.  After 5 months my levels were not going down so they increased it to 50 mg.  It seemed for a while that the flicking in my chest and palpitations were a thing of the past.  Guess what? They're back.  I had a palpitating episode about 3 weeks ago.  This morning I was on my way to work and started to have a bad string of fluttering episodes so I came home.  I too have had every test known to mankind done to my heart...everythings normal.  How can that be?  I too have noticed that the episodes seem to happen when I am sitting or bending.  The thing that upsets me the most about this problem is robs me of enjoying my life.  I am out having a great day and next thing you know I'm either having a flicking in my chest or palpitations. No doctors that I have been to know how to correct it either.  Carol, please let me know if you find out any further information.

[Carol55]

No, you sure  aren't alone.  I can't say that I get the pinched feeling (yet!), and I don't think I get the pressure in the throat.  But, my daughter, who is only 14, complains of having skipped beats from time to time and YES she mentions feeling like it flutters all the way into her throat too! And she has said a few times about a mild pain.   I had all testing done on her, she even wore the 30 day monitor, and thankfully, it showed nothing.  But look at her age!  I bet hormonal, onset of menstruation?  She just mentioned the other nite of feeling some skipped beats.  I try not to worry, but how can I not!

[Carol55]

steve, i forgot to mention.  the reason i asked about any medicines is because i have had no symptoms, tachycardia for a long time .  but, i started the antidepressant, celexa, and that's when i feel the trouble started.  after being on it for just 2 days i noticed i'd have flutters, or skipped beats in the evening.  i have not had that in ages.  but, i stuck with the med, thinking this side effect would go away.  only to find that twice ,  while i was on the med i had the SVT.  i completely quit taking it a week ago, and have noticed that fianlly today, i am starting to feel like my old self. i was on it a total of 4 wks.  it wasn't worth it.    i don't know, it was prescribed for anxiety, but, i think it created more anxiety!

[Carol55]

steve, wow, please tell me more! about your ablation. i've read about it, would love more details.  if you don't mind, is is prescription meds that gave you a hard time, or street drugs?
just curious.  You've really peaked my interest, because i swear, everyone i've mentioned this to about the bending over, look at me like i'm crazy, including the doctors!!!!!
did you ever try inderal, or any script meds for your svt?
write if you can.
thanx
carol

[stevebu]

Carol

Let me say when I read the part about bending over to pick something up and your heart started racing, I thought i was reading something I wrote.  Carol, for 19 years I tried to avoid and sudden movements, especially bending over to pick something up, because that usually set off my SVT.  I am 34 years old now.  Sometimes it would last 5 mintues, sometimes 2 hours....yes, two hours at 180 to 200 beats per minute.  Sometimes I would go one year between episodes, sometimes twice in the same day.  I had to go to the emergency room many times to have it slowed down.  It was like turning on and off a switch, that is how the SVT turns on and off.  If your symptoms become worse, definitley look into rf abalation.  I had it done June of 2000, and now no more SVT.  Good luck to you.  DON"T EVER DO DRUGS OR YOU COULD BE IN FOR A BAD EPISODE.....i found out the hard way.

Steve

[Carol55]

i'm sorry, forgot to add to my question, during this racing event, i experience no lightheadedness, no fainting, no dizziness.  just shaking,  because i'm downright scared!

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

It could be an SVT, a type of arrhythmia. If it only occurs twice a year, it will be difficult to pick it up on a heart monitor test. If this is what you have, inderal may be quite helpful. It could also be a manifestation of panic attacks, in which case medications like Zoloft may be helpful.