Extra beats & tests

[catspeaks]

I was hospitalized in February of this year with palpitations.  While there I was on a monitor for 3 days, had an echocardiogram, EKG, blood work and nuclear stress tests, none of which showed anything unusual.  Since then, I have had a halter monitor (24 hour) which only showed 3 extra beats, and this was a good day for me.  Last week I had an echo stress test which was also good.  Today I saw another cardio doctor who is ordering a loop monitor for 14 days.  This afternoon and this evening, the extra beats are bad and I'm so concerned there is something wrong that they're missing.  I'm not controlling the palpitations, they are controlling my life and are driving me crazy.  Can anyone help?

[Wisconsin2007]

I think that the longer you live with them the easier it gets to live with them.  I'm sure they won't kill me, but for me they've had 5-6 million opportunities to do so.  If they were gonna kill me they'd have done it already.  Ask me how confident I was when they first started and I'd have to say - not even a little bit.  

At some point you may get so worn down from the worry (and the worry causing more PVCs) that you may decide that you're going to do what you're going to do and if they kill you, they kill you.  And then they don't kill you.  In fact, it's about then that they start fading away.

[catspeaks]

Like my Mom, and my grandmother, I too went through the change early in life, otherwise I'd agree that it could be all hormonal..which is not to say it isn't either.  You should hear some of the conversations I have with myself, trying to tell myself this is okay, I'll be okay..they're nothing that will kill me.  It IS hard to get used to them, I don't think I ever will.  After the 14 day event monitor, and assuming that comes out okay, I will have to learn to deal or drive myself insane with worry.  My one consolation is finding this support group.

[Wisconsin2007]

Do a little Googling about perimenopause and menopause and their effect on hormone levels and how that effects heart rhythms.  This could be stress, but it also could just be "the change" making your heart jump around a bit.  Not to brag, but I've had days where I've had 15,000+ PVCs - what you've experienced in skipped beats I would call Tuesday.  And I'm fine.

You're probably fine, too.  The hardest thing to convince others of with these is that it's OK to get used to them, that they won't kill you.  But both are true.  

[catspeaks]

No, not an implanted monitor, it is the event monitor.  I've never passed out nor been dizzy, just the extra beats, which drive me crazy.  Yes, all my other tests have been perfect.  My doctor thought it could be due to stress but it appears that anything they can't put a finger on, is always stress releated.  This came out of nowhere the end of February.  The only symptom are the extra beats/palpitations.

[SassyLassie]

It sounds like all your tests are good, so, that is a good sign. I understand the worry however, mine rule my life, and the more I get anxious, the worst they get. However, since all your results are so good, I would say it is safe to not worry and let your doctors work on it, if anything was wrong, you can bet they would let you know and would be on the situation right away.

[Wisconsin2007]

That loop monitor - do you mean an implanted loop monitor?  Or do you mean an event monitor?  

There must be something else going on, some more serious symptoms - otherwise it seems like the doctors are kind of worrying you unnecessarily by keeping you in the hospital and ordering loads of tests.  Given that all the tests so far have seemed to show you in perfect health, I'm wondering why they are doing extra monitoring.  Have you passed out?  Lots of dizziness?  

[Stro512]

Hi! My sister suffers from long qt syndrome, it causes her heart to flutter. She is now on a med to help stabilize her beats. Prior to her getting diagnosed and medicated she was making herself sick with worry. While the main issues might be different, the constant worrying can make things all the worse...I know it's easy for me to say but, please try not to worry  yourself too much, Your Dr.s are working on it.