Holter Results

[blossom88]

I did post to my old post but I realized the posts don't move back up to knew when posted to... Hope that makes sense lol

Anyhow quick history... I had an ablation for wpw 13yrs ago or so. And was fine for years up until a few months ago. I had the holter done and finally got the results yesterday. My Dr did put me on medication (Metoprolol) for Tachycardia, But I really don't think I have Tach. I mean I'm no Dr. but it doesn't feel like that. And I have low BP so he did warn me about taking the medication and I felt pretty much like he feared I would. Anyhow... With him saying and wanting to treat Tach. I'm not really sure what to do. I don't understand the results at all of my holter. Can anyone tell me if there is anything in there to worry about or if going to my general Dr. is ok for this?

Here is the results...

The patient's rhythm throught the study was sinus, ranging from 46 beats per minute to 111 beats per minute. Averaging 66 beats per minute throughout the study. The patient's rhythm included 6 hours and 24 minutes of bradycardia and only 6 minutes of tachycardia.

There was occasional ventricular ectopy, 1289 premature ventricular contractions thought the entire study. There were no ventricular couplets nor triplets. There was no ventricular tachycardia.

There was a rare supraventricular ectopy, 41 premature atrial contractions throughout the entire study with 9 atrail couplets and one four-beat atrial run averaging 122 beats per minute. Reentrant supraventricular tach. was not suggested. Sustained supraventricular tach was not seen. Not atrail fibrillation was suggested.

So significant atrioventricular block, pauses nor bradycardia was evident.

The patient had approximately 12 diary entries complaining of skipping or jumping. All events correlated with sinus rhythm with what appeared to be premature ventricular contractions. Premature atrial contractions with aberrant conduction are less likely.

The patient probably has symptomatic premature ventricular contractions, less likely symptomatic premature atrial contractions with aberrant conduction.

[Lisa33167]

"I have low BP so he did warn me about taking the medication and I felt pretty much like he feared I would"

you're the first one other than me that has said that about Toprol (Metoprolol) can you explain? I put it in a couple of posts, but no one else has had a problem with it and the ER dr acted like I was crazy when my bp dropped to 80/60 within 30-45 min, did it happen that quick for you also?

I took 1 dose of 25 mg

[blossom88]

I took the medication twice. Once a day at 50mg. and I really don't know how to explain how I felt other then very icky. It felt as if my heart rate dropped so low which it was down to 53 bpm. I was tired but not sleepy tired, almost a wore out tired. My breathing was slowed and I had to keep taking deep breaths it felt as if just to keep things going. I wasn't dizzy or had the typical low BP symptoms. So, I really have no idea if what I was feeling was my BP or the medication and if it was the medication forget that!!! My hubby was ready to take me to the ER and my best friend was here and the day after she had said I was as white as a ghost. So, I did stop in at my Dr. yesterday and told them I was NOT taking that... Oh yea, and while just sitting on the pc to try and take my mind off of what I was feeling I'd get this really bad feeling over my entire body as if I was going to lose it. Not shaky, not dizzy but just odd like something just wasn't right. I'd have to go lay down.

I took my first pill on Sat. around 5pm and second one on Sun. around 6pm and Sat. I felt fine considering I always feel icky... Sunday it hit me by 6:30 pm.

[Lisa33167]

Yeah kind the same with me, I only took 1 dose of 25mg at 11am Sunday by 4pm I was headed to the ER.  

The EP that prescribed it called it a "miracle" drug and cured most pvc's!  talk about a shock when I took it - my head felt like bricks were tied to it and being dragged to the bottom of the ocean lol  I dont know how else to describe it.

My heart rate increased and my chest hurt like mad, it felt like I was having a heart attack, I was so out of breath even at 4pm when I talked to the on call cardiologist he told me to go to the ER.  My bp stayed at 70/40 until 11pm even with them giving me something via iv.

Hopefully I have as great success with my ablation as you did.

[blossom88]

Nah my Dr didn't call it a miracle drug by any means lol See, I also suffer from chronic daily migraines. I wake up with a migraine everyday and between the migraines and the whole heart thing going on I guess he figured it might help both, but it didn't help anything. The funny part was and I said to my husband... I wish it would have taken away the jumping and skipping as fast as it made me feel crappy lol

My ablation for my wpw was great, I had a great Dr. It just upsets me thinking that I thought I was done with heart issues years ago... Guess not lol

[ireneo]

Just a question for you: under results it says "The patient's rhythm included 6 hour and 24 minutes of bradycardia... '" and later the report states "no significant AV block, pauses nor bradycardia evident."  

One time they said you had over 6 hours of brady, then go on to say you don't have brady. Maybe 6 hours isn't significant or maybe the rate wasn't slow enough to bother them. But it would be nice to find out.

[Lisa33167]

sorry I am no help :p  I dont know much about WPW but it sounds scary from reading about it

another question also, were you on any meds at the time of the holter?  just wondering since your dr put you on the med for Tachycardia?  holter shows 111 was your highest heart rate?

Maybe I'm misreading that part - I've have VT at 170bpm for 3 sec which I didn't think was that high for VT, but it's the duration for me

what did your doctor say about the holter results? sometimes getting straight answers is worse than having surgery

[blossom88]

Yea, I noticed that as well... Not sure what it all means. Either I do or I don't. What has me a bit more confused is my Dr had me on meds. for Tach. yet this says I only had 6 minutes of tach. out of the whole holter test.

[blossom88]

My Dr. said from the results it was Tach. which as I said he's crazy in my opinion...  The only medication I took while on the holter was Excedrin for Migraines, I do take Imitrex as well but didn't take any at all during the testing. I found the whole Tach. confusing since my heart doesn't ever feel like it's racing... jumping and skipping yes but not racing or going fast. I usually have a low heart rate and low blood pressure. I also have an old (2yrs ago or so) EKG that says Brady. on it.

[Wisconsin2007]

Sounds like the doctor is sticking to the strict definitions of brady and tachy - if you stuck to those definitions for me, if my kids don't wake me up in the middle of the night, I probably have 7-8 hours of brady, and with my job I probably have 4-5 hours of tachy.  But as far as I know, neither is "significant."

[blossom88]

I don't know what he's looking at to be honest, I have my cardiologist appt. Next Friday so maybe I'll get a real answer.