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Arrhythmia...what to do?
I am a 29 year old high performance female athlete and i have been experiencing arrhythmia for about a year now. It started out a year ago after i got a really bad flu. I would just get random skipped/extra beats throughout the day. They were very unpredictable and strong enough to stop me in my tracks whether I was washing the dishes or even just lying down watching tv. But although sometimes i would get them a bit worse when i was training or playing hockey they weren't bad enough to stop me.
Unfortunately now they are worse to the point that when i am exercising really hard my heart actually goes so out of rhythm that it sometimes stays in the wrong rhythm for a couple mins! It is extremely scary and i get anxious when it happens and that probably makes it worse.
I had an EKG, an ultra sound, stress test and have worn the halter monitor with a blood pressure monitor as well. All of the tests come out fine because as i said it doesn't happen all the time and unfortunately they haven't caught my arrhythmia on the monitor yet. It definitely happens more often when i am sick, overtired or haven't eaten enough.
The doctor seems sure that everything is fine with my heart and says i am clear to keep playing. I don't understand how he can be so sure because it sure doesn't feel safe when it's happening to me. I can handle a skipped/extra beat here and there but out of rhythm for a few mins is enough to have me considering quitting playing :(
I have just started taking magnesium because the doctor said that even though it doesn't appear low in my blood test, it can help. I have asked around to a lot of other athletes and heard a few stories of others who have had this problem. I heard one story in particular where an athlete friend of mine had done all the same tests as i have and gone to different specialists and they couldn't understand what was happening. Finally one specialist said i think you might have asthma. She did a number of asthma and breathing tests and was prescribed an inhaler. As soon as she started using it her arrhythmia went away! She has never felt a skipped beat again!
Have no idea what to do and just wanted to ask you for any general ideas you may have. Also wondering if you have heard of asthma being linked to arrhythmia and i'd also like to hear your thoughts on taking beta blockers as a solution to arrhythmia.
Thanks for your time and help!
Unfortunately now they are worse to the point that when i am exercising really hard my heart actually goes so out of rhythm that it sometimes stays in the wrong rhythm for a couple mins! It is extremely scary and i get anxious when it happens and that probably makes it worse.
I had an EKG, an ultra sound, stress test and have worn the halter monitor with a blood pressure monitor as well. All of the tests come out fine because as i said it doesn't happen all the time and unfortunately they haven't caught my arrhythmia on the monitor yet. It definitely happens more often when i am sick, overtired or haven't eaten enough.
The doctor seems sure that everything is fine with my heart and says i am clear to keep playing. I don't understand how he can be so sure because it sure doesn't feel safe when it's happening to me. I can handle a skipped/extra beat here and there but out of rhythm for a few mins is enough to have me considering quitting playing :(
I have just started taking magnesium because the doctor said that even though it doesn't appear low in my blood test, it can help. I have asked around to a lot of other athletes and heard a few stories of others who have had this problem. I heard one story in particular where an athlete friend of mine had done all the same tests as i have and gone to different specialists and they couldn't understand what was happening. Finally one specialist said i think you might have asthma. She did a number of asthma and breathing tests and was prescribed an inhaler. As soon as she started using it her arrhythmia went away! She has never felt a skipped beat again!
Have no idea what to do and just wanted to ask you for any general ideas you may have. Also wondering if you have heard of asthma being linked to arrhythmia and i'd also like to hear your thoughts on taking beta blockers as a solution to arrhythmia.
Thanks for your time and help!
I agree with the others in this post - get an event monitor. I found it difficult to play volleyball and surf with the monitor on, so I had the electrodes on my chest and the monitor detached and then I would attach it when I had an event. I actually did not have it on when I had a run of tachycardia and I went and hooked it up - I was able to record 250 bpm which is way above my exercise heart rate of 160 bpm!
So maybe get the event monitor and have the electrodes on while you're playing - if you have an irregular heartbeat, attach the leads and try to get a recording! I know how you feel - it took me almost 6 years of going to a cardiologist before I was able to capture the event.
Good luck!
So maybe get the event monitor and have the electrodes on while you're playing - if you have an irregular heartbeat, attach the leads and try to get a recording! I know how you feel - it took me almost 6 years of going to a cardiologist before I was able to capture the event.
Good luck!
An Event monitor or loop monitor sounds like a a clear step to take - best way to get a handle on what rhythms are taking place (I have found some Drs are v lazy about the longer term monitors and others are proactive - find a proactive one if your Doc gives you a hard time!) It's interesting that your issues began following a bad flu. Did you continue to work out during the flu? Flus/Colds are viruses and can (rarely) do some damage to the heart muscle - most of the time it just makes us weaker during the sickness but occasionally it can do medium or longer term damage (rarely very minor damage and only very rarely signficant damage). In your case it may have affected your electrical conduction system but the good news is that your tests haven't shown any strucutral problems or pathological electrical problems in terms of your moment to moment rhythm. The real gold standard for evaluating cardiac tissue (to see any fibrosis from a virus) would be a cardiac MRI but your Dr. is unlikely to order the test without a rhythm strip to back it up. By any chance, do you have a chest xray from your early-mid 20s prior to the bad cold/flu? You could get a copy of that xray and compare it to a new chest xray to see if there has been any change in cardiac size since your flu? If there is a signigicant change in the appearance of the cardiac silhouette you could make a case to get the cardiac MRI done to rule out any virally induced changes.
Its true that your clean tests thusfar are a great sign but to go another step or two in the process is totally your right and your Drs should help you.
Best of luck!
Its true that your clean tests thusfar are a great sign but to go another step or two in the process is totally your right and your Drs should help you.
Best of luck!
Sportygrl, I am relieved to see someone describe the exact same scenario I have been going through for the last 10 months... my story is very similar to yours. I am 27, have been a dedicated athlete since my youth (although I have cut back considerablly out of fear since my heart episodes began almost a year ago). The main difference between the two of us is that I had a full on episode of Atrial Fibrillation that was only stopped when I was cardioverted in the ER... I had no other symptoms other than a racing, irregular heartbeat. Since then, I get fairly rare episodes of a racing heartbeat that suspend after a few seconds. I dont really have any other sysmptoms, other than a 'rush of blood' to the head when my palpitations occur (which I think is just anxiety)
I have been on numerous supplements through out the years becuase my athletic training, and I am wondering if they contributed to my heart issues... Most notably, I was on and off caffeine pills for the better part of three years...on any given day, my dosage was several hundred milligrams...as of today, I havent touched caffiene in 10 months... I really hope I didnt screw up my body by taking so many different metabolism enhancers for years...
All of my tests have come back normal (including echo), but they have not been able to catch my palpitations on an EKG/Holter Monitor... so frustrating!
I have been on numerous supplements through out the years becuase my athletic training, and I am wondering if they contributed to my heart issues... Most notably, I was on and off caffeine pills for the better part of three years...on any given day, my dosage was several hundred milligrams...as of today, I havent touched caffiene in 10 months... I really hope I didnt screw up my body by taking so many different metabolism enhancers for years...
All of my tests have come back normal (including echo), but they have not been able to catch my palpitations on an EKG/Holter Monitor... so frustrating!
Oh...we get it. But I don't want you to get too upset about what your team massage therapist said. I say that with some confidence...having been through much of what you describe in my experiences as well.
I had PVC's non-stop (still do sometimes) for weeks, then would finally go back to the doctor only to have them "hide out" until after the appointment. I had the holter, and the stress etc. and they didn't "catch" anything at first. Then I had a day when it was flipping all over the place and I went into the Dr. office without an appointment and told them to just listen. The nurse grudgingly pulled out her stethoscope and listened then tried to be calm as she nearly ran out of the room to get the doctor immediately (out of another appointment) to listen. You'd have thought (I did think) I was dying right then and there. When the doctor came in, she had them run an EKG and she did recommend that I see a cardiologist for follow-up, but she clearly regarded the strip as "non-threatening." She chastised the nurse for creating such a panic and explained to me that, while the rhythm was not typical, it was not dangerous...though she agreed that she understood why I found it so uncomfortable and frightening.
I've had this similar situation happen to me on several occasions with doctors. They assume you are overplaying your symptoms and poo poo your descriptions...unless they actually witness what's up. This is a short side story...but it illustrates the point. I was 17 and I was passing out for barely a reason about 3-4 times per year. My doctor, and the ER staff consistently brushed it off as sycope/simple fainting spells. But those who were there swore that it was more than that. Well, one day I went to the doctor to have a mole removed in the office. I warned him that I was going to faint, and he said I wouldn't. Said that I wouldn't feel a thing. Well....he was wrong. I didn't feel a thing, but I did pass out, and my heart rate dropped to nearly nothing. The doctor flipped out and sent me directly to the cardiologist that day for a tilt test and immediate treatment. Now...I had been passing out like this off and on for two years. The doctor knew it...I had described it, but when he witnessed it, suddenly it was a different story. By the way...that issue too is benign and the initial "no big deal" was probably a more realistic approach.
I guess what I'm telling you is that those who do not deal with these arrhythmias regularly may hear or feel them and be frightened by them (as are we). But that does not make them any more dangerous or malignant than they really are. Sometimes these reactions from others can increase our anxiety thereby making the symptoms that much MORE pronounced, but still most of these issues remain benign (at least not life threatening--if life altering).
I second the suggestion for an event monitor. You can remove the device during high contact sports, leaving the tape on. If you begin to experience symptoms, you need only rehook the device and hit "record." Something tells me that your episodes last longer than a few minutes, so there is plenty of time to reattach.
You would be surprised how many prize athletes suffer from PVC's and a-fib. There has been no diagnostic research to connect the two, but very often the increased exercise is not as much the trigger as the subsequent resting phase. Seems that sometimes the heart gets very active and has a bit of a hard time calming down.
There are several posts on this forum where I've explained the mechanism for most benign arrhythmias. I would be happy to dig up a couple of addresses for you to view them if you'd like. The electrical system becomes a bit hyperactive and sometimes could use some help "relaxing."
There are many treatments and behavioral changes that can help alleviate some of your symptoms. Some of these include medication, some are more homeopathic. But before we get into too much of that...you need to get that event monitor so that you can catch these buggers on tape and determine what the arrhythmia actually IS. Until then, it's a shot in the dark as to what to do.
Take care...and keep us informed.
April
I had PVC's non-stop (still do sometimes) for weeks, then would finally go back to the doctor only to have them "hide out" until after the appointment. I had the holter, and the stress etc. and they didn't "catch" anything at first. Then I had a day when it was flipping all over the place and I went into the Dr. office without an appointment and told them to just listen. The nurse grudgingly pulled out her stethoscope and listened then tried to be calm as she nearly ran out of the room to get the doctor immediately (out of another appointment) to listen. You'd have thought (I did think) I was dying right then and there. When the doctor came in, she had them run an EKG and she did recommend that I see a cardiologist for follow-up, but she clearly regarded the strip as "non-threatening." She chastised the nurse for creating such a panic and explained to me that, while the rhythm was not typical, it was not dangerous...though she agreed that she understood why I found it so uncomfortable and frightening.
I've had this similar situation happen to me on several occasions with doctors. They assume you are overplaying your symptoms and poo poo your descriptions...unless they actually witness what's up. This is a short side story...but it illustrates the point. I was 17 and I was passing out for barely a reason about 3-4 times per year. My doctor, and the ER staff consistently brushed it off as sycope/simple fainting spells. But those who were there swore that it was more than that. Well, one day I went to the doctor to have a mole removed in the office. I warned him that I was going to faint, and he said I wouldn't. Said that I wouldn't feel a thing. Well....he was wrong. I didn't feel a thing, but I did pass out, and my heart rate dropped to nearly nothing. The doctor flipped out and sent me directly to the cardiologist that day for a tilt test and immediate treatment. Now...I had been passing out like this off and on for two years. The doctor knew it...I had described it, but when he witnessed it, suddenly it was a different story. By the way...that issue too is benign and the initial "no big deal" was probably a more realistic approach.
I guess what I'm telling you is that those who do not deal with these arrhythmias regularly may hear or feel them and be frightened by them (as are we). But that does not make them any more dangerous or malignant than they really are. Sometimes these reactions from others can increase our anxiety thereby making the symptoms that much MORE pronounced, but still most of these issues remain benign (at least not life threatening--if life altering).
I second the suggestion for an event monitor. You can remove the device during high contact sports, leaving the tape on. If you begin to experience symptoms, you need only rehook the device and hit "record." Something tells me that your episodes last longer than a few minutes, so there is plenty of time to reattach.
You would be surprised how many prize athletes suffer from PVC's and a-fib. There has been no diagnostic research to connect the two, but very often the increased exercise is not as much the trigger as the subsequent resting phase. Seems that sometimes the heart gets very active and has a bit of a hard time calming down.
There are several posts on this forum where I've explained the mechanism for most benign arrhythmias. I would be happy to dig up a couple of addresses for you to view them if you'd like. The electrical system becomes a bit hyperactive and sometimes could use some help "relaxing."
There are many treatments and behavioral changes that can help alleviate some of your symptoms. Some of these include medication, some are more homeopathic. But before we get into too much of that...you need to get that event monitor so that you can catch these buggers on tape and determine what the arrhythmia actually IS. Until then, it's a shot in the dark as to what to do.
Take care...and keep us informed.
April
Thanks you all so much for your comments and advice!
Marie1968 sorrry that you know exactly what i mean (because it's horribly scary and frustrating) but nice to hear that someone can relate! I really hope your echocardiogram comes back ok and there is nothing structurally wrong with your heart! It was a relief for me when i found out mine was ok and then my skipped beats during the day happened less. (cuz stress went down)
I know how frustrating it is to think of losing the muscle you have worked so hard to build. I have worked so hard to be in top shape too...It seems really unfair. You think to yourself, execise is supposed to make my heart strong isn't it?! I just had to sit in the stands this weekend and watch my team play 2 games without me :( I do feel a lot of pressure to get back as soon as possible because this is my profession. I am one of the 4 foreign players on the team here overseas and we are paid to play. There are a lot of people counting on me this season!
Nikgirl28 i'm not sure what that means...how do you know if it's still in normal sinus rhythm? Sorry i'm looking things up on the net to try and understand the terminology but i'm new to all this. So if it is still in normal sinus rhythm is that why they say it's not dangerous?
Brooke_38 thanks for the advice about the event monitor i will ask my dr. about it. He wouldn't let me wear the last monitor on the ice because he was afraid it would get damaged from the contact. I am going to continue with the magnesium. I don't have asthma but the girl who told me about the asthma linked to her arrhythmia didn't know she had it...just thought it took her longer to catch her breath because she was skating hard. I think i will ask for a breathing test just to rule it out cuz i sometimes feel a bit wheezy after games. I want to continue to play because hockey is my love and passion but i have these moments where i think is it worth dying over??? That sounds extreme but that's what it feels like when it happens.
Just an interesting anecdote i thought i'd share with you guys...I had our team massage therapist feel my chest the other day when i tried to play in the game but was having a bad episode after only 2 shifts. They kept asking me if i could go on the ice again. I pressed her hand on my rib cage under my breast and she said, "OH my God...Oh good God! You shouldn't play anymore! It feels like your heart is popping out of your chest! It's all out of rhythm...should i call an ambulance?" I said, thanks for keeping me calm...Now do you get it? People don't understand unless they have felt it...she merely felt it through my chest. Imagine how she would have reacted if it was her own heart inside her body!
Thanks for understanding and trying to help!
xoxo
Marie1968 sorrry that you know exactly what i mean (because it's horribly scary and frustrating) but nice to hear that someone can relate! I really hope your echocardiogram comes back ok and there is nothing structurally wrong with your heart! It was a relief for me when i found out mine was ok and then my skipped beats during the day happened less. (cuz stress went down)
I know how frustrating it is to think of losing the muscle you have worked so hard to build. I have worked so hard to be in top shape too...It seems really unfair. You think to yourself, execise is supposed to make my heart strong isn't it?! I just had to sit in the stands this weekend and watch my team play 2 games without me :( I do feel a lot of pressure to get back as soon as possible because this is my profession. I am one of the 4 foreign players on the team here overseas and we are paid to play. There are a lot of people counting on me this season!
Nikgirl28 i'm not sure what that means...how do you know if it's still in normal sinus rhythm? Sorry i'm looking things up on the net to try and understand the terminology but i'm new to all this. So if it is still in normal sinus rhythm is that why they say it's not dangerous?
Brooke_38 thanks for the advice about the event monitor i will ask my dr. about it. He wouldn't let me wear the last monitor on the ice because he was afraid it would get damaged from the contact. I am going to continue with the magnesium. I don't have asthma but the girl who told me about the asthma linked to her arrhythmia didn't know she had it...just thought it took her longer to catch her breath because she was skating hard. I think i will ask for a breathing test just to rule it out cuz i sometimes feel a bit wheezy after games. I want to continue to play because hockey is my love and passion but i have these moments where i think is it worth dying over??? That sounds extreme but that's what it feels like when it happens.
Just an interesting anecdote i thought i'd share with you guys...I had our team massage therapist feel my chest the other day when i tried to play in the game but was having a bad episode after only 2 shifts. They kept asking me if i could go on the ice again. I pressed her hand on my rib cage under my breast and she said, "OH my God...Oh good God! You shouldn't play anymore! It feels like your heart is popping out of your chest! It's all out of rhythm...should i call an ambulance?" I said, thanks for keeping me calm...Now do you get it? People don't understand unless they have felt it...she merely felt it through my chest. Imagine how she would have reacted if it was her own heart inside her body!
Thanks for understanding and trying to help!
xoxo
Unfortunately if you are not having symptoms during an EKG or Holter monitoring (usually 24 hours), these annoying ectopic beats will go undiagnosed. You would probably benefit by an event monitor.
Event monitors are small devices that are used by patients over a longer period (weeks to months, typically one month). Two sticky patches (electrodes) on the chest connect two wires to the event recorder. The monitor is always on but will only store the patient’s rhythm when the patient or caregiver pushes the button. Most monitors will save the rhythm for several seconds of rhythm before the button is even pushed. The rhythm is also saved for a period after the button is pushed. The intent is for most event monitors to be worn as much as possible every day to increase the chances of recording the rhythm when you experience symptoms.
The good news is that the Echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart) ruled out any valve or chamber defects. The holter and EKG also ruled out any continuous arrhythmia. I know that it is difficult to accept that you are "fine" when you know that your heart's activity doesn't feel normal to you. My advice is to you is to ask your Dr about the event monitor, continue with your Mg supplement and don't quit doing what you love to do:)
I also wanted to mention that if you have asthma, any use of beta blockers will most often exacerbate those symptoms. Depending on how severe it is, many cardiologist will not prescribe BB's. Good luck and keep us posted:)
Event monitors are small devices that are used by patients over a longer period (weeks to months, typically one month). Two sticky patches (electrodes) on the chest connect two wires to the event recorder. The monitor is always on but will only store the patient’s rhythm when the patient or caregiver pushes the button. Most monitors will save the rhythm for several seconds of rhythm before the button is even pushed. The rhythm is also saved for a period after the button is pushed. The intent is for most event monitors to be worn as much as possible every day to increase the chances of recording the rhythm when you experience symptoms.
The good news is that the Echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart) ruled out any valve or chamber defects. The holter and EKG also ruled out any continuous arrhythmia. I know that it is difficult to accept that you are "fine" when you know that your heart's activity doesn't feel normal to you. My advice is to you is to ask your Dr about the event monitor, continue with your Mg supplement and don't quit doing what you love to do:)
I also wanted to mention that if you have asthma, any use of beta blockers will most often exacerbate those symptoms. Depending on how severe it is, many cardiologist will not prescribe BB's. Good luck and keep us posted:)
when your heart goes out of rhythm it is still in normal sinus rhythm...i get that too...and finally the doctors caught it on an ekg....i'm sure that is what it is...
Wow... I can completely relate to what you are saying. I am female 40 years old and a fitness freak. I am a weightlifter and stopped all lifting about one month ago due to palpitations during exercise. I thought I was tired, stressed, trying to lift too heavy, etc. I mentioned it to my dr. who had me do a 24hr holter monitor test and found out that I had 14 pvcs in 24hrs with 2 episodes of bigeminy. so now, next week I have to get an echocardiogram to make sure my heart is structurally ok. I am a little freaked but I need to know if everything is ok. Anyway, the dr. said I could still exercise but there is no way in he** I can continue to exert myself and lift, or do extreme cardio, wondering if my heart is going to go crazy and not stop. This happened to me a couple of times and it completely freaked me out. Now I am having anxiety over this and I know it makes it worse but I can't help it.... so I just want you to know that I totally understand your mindset on this issue.
I wish you well. It seems you have had all the tests and are fine. I am hoping my echocardiogram works out ok this week because I miss my workouts and don't want to lose all that muscle I have worked so hard to get!!!!
be well,
I wish you well. It seems you have had all the tests and are fine. I am hoping my echocardiogram works out ok this week because I miss my workouts and don't want to lose all that muscle I have worked so hard to get!!!!
be well,
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