what is this

[TINA]

I have had palpitations or rapid heart beat since I was 16,I am 29 now.I've been told I have mild MVP and to not worry about it.My heart rate has gotten up to around 165 or more.The only time it has ever really bothered me is after eating and while lying down.Lately though while lying down I've been getting some weird symptoms.Right when I'm dozing off I'll feel my heart start to race,my nose will become very clear and I can feel a nerve or vein or something start to jump and twitch in the top of my left leg and I get a hot feeling that runs to the top of my head.What is that?I know all those symptoms are related because it always happens in that order every night now for about 2 months or so.Sometimes it also feels like my heart will stop beating and I have a terrible time going to sleep every night.I told my family doctor about this and he just thinks I'm deppressed and gave me anti deppressents.My symptoms are real please help!

[Ann]

it's comforting in a way to know that i'm not all alone in this.  i'm not sure exactly what my "problem" is.  i'm 29 and for the past 10 years i would occassionally have almost like an extra beat thrown in. this has been happening much more frequently lately.  they are hard enough for me to feel in the majority of my body.  right before this happens i feel as if i need to cough and a split second later an irregular boom boom boom!  feels as though there is a bird inside my chest that is fluttering and banging around.  quite often i have times when i just feel as if i'm scared, (possibly what anxiety feels like) and as if my heart is in my throat.  i went to the doctor the other day and told him about this as well as my headaches, which i've inherited from my mother, and he prescribed me a barbituate/acetaminophen mixture (anti-anxiety) "supposedly" for my headaches. i must admit that they did the trick (don't worry, i use them very sparingly). they also took away that "scared/nervous" feeling i've had for the past two months (but only until the drug wares off).  he ended up telling me that the abnormal beat every so often was normal and that it's probably just a reaction to stress.  i found it amazing that he didn't investigate it any further... especially since he treats my mother(who is medicated) for heart palptations...which my brother suffers from also.  i've taken it upon myself to have some lab work done.  at least then maybe i can get someone to listen to me.

[chocolate lover]

Tina,
I understand your problem I have suffered with all of this myself for many years. I really cant stand how  some Drs label this depression and try to throw some anti depression pills at you.It happened to me as well. I sometimes think that if you are a young women they always think it is in your head.It bothers the heck out of me. I suffered with this for years I went to many Drs who all said that it was stress until one day I ended up in Icu for a couple of days with atrial fib! They hadnt had me on enough meds. Then and only then were they scrambling around trying to figure out what was wrong with me.I think everybody knows there body well enough to know when something is wrong with them. I think some Drs are just stumped about this whole pvc pac thing and youd think with all the people who suffer with this that they would do more research. Ive had to put up with Drs that I dont even want to describe. But please hang in there even if it takes 50 Drs find one who is nice to you and who treats you with respect!

                 sorry about all the venting just had that on my chest for a long time now.
                          lm

[C.N.]

Tina,

It is so sad to hear people continually saying that the doctor is labelling them with depression or anxiety, when it is obvious that the symptoms are real.  How could you possibly have the same set of symptoms every night due to depression.  You're supposed to take antidepressants because your doctor can't figure out what's wrong.  Perhaps a 2nd opinion is in order.  I do realize that many people with rhythm problems do have a sense of anxiety, but it is usually caused by the fear of the rhythm.  In cases where it has been proven that your palpations are nothing to worry about, it then becomes important not to worry that something will happen.  It won't.  In that case antianxiety meds, and anti depressants seem warranted.  Your situation seems a bit different than that. Anyway, good luck to you.

[Brenda]

Sometimes I wonder if the meds the doctors prescrip also cause your symptoms to get worse.  Read the drug side effects.  I took meds for depression and the actual meds caused extra heartbeats, and then caused more aniexty.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

I cannot think of anything that would tie together all those symptoms. Some of what you are feeling may be due to the palpitations. The first step would be to find out if you are having arrhythmias as the cause of palpitations. YOu could see a cardiologist and have a Holter monitor record you heart rhythm for 24 hours so the doctor can see what if anything is going on with your heart rate.