History of V-Tach

I really don't know what to do.  I have a history of V-tach In 2001 I experienced my first episode.  At that time I was given a holter monitor.  The monitor showed I was having alot of V-Tach.  I had 4 extra beats.  during my sleep my rate got up to 378 beats a min.  The doctor had me go through a stress test which showed I was having sustained vtach. Im not really sure what all this means.  She also did an echo which showed I had some kind of openning between two of my chambers and mild mitral valve.  she then did a cath which showed I had good blood flow no blockages.  She told me I did have some weakness of the left side of my heart.  She put me on Lopressor.  This did help but I didnt like the way it made me feel.  I quit drinking cafinated drinks completly and I lost a significant amount of weight.  2 years later I had experianced some chest pains.  I went to a cardiologist again and he did a nuclear stress test.  It showed I was having some v tach but not anything serious this time.  Also he said that my blood flow was good but it looked like i had had miocardio infarction but this could just be breast tissue becouse I am a woman.  I have not been seeing a doctor in quite awhile but recently I started noticing some palpitations at night.  I have moved out of state.  I tried to contact my old cariologist but it seems he has moved.  I went to a new cardiologist he wanted my old records but I dont have them.  He put me on a holter but wouldnt you know that night I had no symptoms  he said it only showed some skipped heart beats.  I get the feeling he doesnt beleive me.  Since my visit to him the palpitations have gotten alot worse and they actually hurt.  It feels like something inside is punching out.  sometimes I get an aching feeling in my left arm but I feel this is probably the muscle in my arm.  sometimes my chest feels like I have just ran a sprint.  I have thought about going to the emergency room when I am experiencing the sensation of my heart jumping.  then maybe they can see exactly what is going on.  The doctor said there is no need for that.  I am scheduled for an echo and a stress on the first.  but I feel like the problem is getting worse by the day.  What should I do?

[Momto3]

Would your doctor give you an event monitor?    Then, you would have the monitor when you experience the odd beats.  If you are concerned and want more immediate care, the ER is always an option.

It is so important to see a doctor you feel comfortable and confident with.  I could be wrong, but it appears from your post that you do not have a great rapport with your new doctor.  By the way, you can always get a second opinion.



  

[Artaud]

Hi,

Have you considered asking your Cardiologist or your Family Doctor if he/she would provide you with a Loop Event Monitor? You would wear this monitor for a few weeks, and whenever you have symptoms, you press a button. The Loop Event Monitor then saves in its memory your EKG Pattern that occurred for a minute or so before you pressed the button, and a minute or so after you pressed the button. You would then take the unit to a phone and the information would be sent to a technician that would immediately see what your heart was doing at that time. If the problem is serious, I am sure that they would tell you what to do. Unlike the Holter, you can take the Loop Event Monitor off for showering. They likely will provide you extra attachment pads (the white stick on EKG pads), and show you how to connect the leads and where to place on your chest any replacement pads.

When I wore one, they would tell me that I periodically had short episodes of PSVT, which produces a very fast heart rate but is usually not considered serious. All of the information that you would send in (you phone the data to the Technician every time your symptoms caused you to press the button) would then be provided (at a later time) to your Doctor for further consideration. I would imagine if anything serious was discovered, not only would they give you instructions, but they may also be required to immediately notify your Doctor.

Even if you are having the Echo and Stress Test on the 1st, the information gained by you using the Loop Event Monitor would be of value to your Family Doctor or Cardiologist, as it will gather the information when you feel the problem. Most importantly, it may be a reassurance to you that you are OK. (They will be able to remove the Loop Even Monitor prior to the Stress Test and put it back on after the test.)

To locate your former Cardiologist, try using her name and searching on the Internet. You would be surprised what you can find by random searching. Try being general at first, her last name and the word cardiologist or cardiology. Spelling is very important. Since your former Cardiologist is a woman, her last name may have changed since you last saw her. Try her first name and an initial if one is listed on a business card or other official paperwork you may have from her. Also included the words Cardiologist or Cardiology.

Wishes for great health.

[wmac]

You said you were having lots of vtach runs but you said you had only four extra beats. thats not much. Three beats qualify as having nonsustained vtach. anything lasting longer than 30 seconds is sustained vtach. I had a run of 26 beat nsvt. That was very scarey. I have had lots of 10 beat runs, 4-8 beat runs as well. I sometimes have three - four episodes a month and if im lucky ill only have one episode but that is still too many in my book
Have they tried a ep study on you. I had two with no luck. They also implanted a loop recorder in me which I had for ten months then wanted it out. But the problem with the king of hearts and loop recorder and even the 24 hr holter monitor they actually need the 12 lead ekg to decide where its truely coming from. so the loop did me know good as the king hearts do help either it just said yes she is having vt runs but thats it. it only confirms that your not crazy.. lol
good luck

[ajrenalli]

IMHO.....as long as you don't pass out, what is the big deal?

[wmac]

wow!