Holter results

[Alanaccb]

Hello and thanks for reading my question. I recently had a 24 hour Holter Monitor for palpitations. I'm a 41 year old female, 5'2 and 124 pounds. My results were considered fine by my  local PA, but received a call this morning that he'd feel better if I followed up with a cardiologist January 17. My results were: rare PACs, isolated PACs, no pauses, no AV blocks, average 67 beats per minute, with 40 bpm being lowest while asleep and 152 highest bpm while exercising. The PA says the cardiologist who read my report says my heart has a regular pattern of beating irregularly. The only ekg I've had showed possible ectopic p waves. I just am anxious having to wait 2 weeks to see the cardiologist. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[Joseph Sclafani, M.D.]

Hello thank you for your question.

PAC's and PVC's as isolated events are not necessarily something to worry about. The next step is to look for structural heart disease (abnormal squezing function of heart, valve function) with an echocardiogram.

If that is normal, the only real question is if you are having symptoms when these events occur.

If not, would patients are usually told not to worry. If they are, a medication like a beta-block or drugs called antiarrhythmics can be prescribed to decrease the amount these events occur.

Thank you,
Dr. S

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

Yeah so glad for your great news, how has the flutters been since,

I to have more with acid reflux and up set stomach, just seeing that today, was having a few flutters and burps took some tums, they went away oh only if it could be that easy,

Stomach not good from stress of so many pacs last few months, but if I can get my stomach back in tack maybe the flutters will go away

Hope your day was good and flutter free

[Alanaccb]

Good afternoon! Just got home from my cardiologist appointment. I am so thankful that I was told that if something's wrong with me, it's not my heart.  My EKG was normal, and he said my Holter results were about as normal as one could get. Even when I had recorded in my Holter diary that I'd felt a flutter, he says the heart was functioning normally. He says he feels this was connected to my thyroid levels.....with my increased dose of synthroid I'm not having any flutters. He says the thyroid and heart are very closely related, and that I will need to maintain a healthy thyroid level. What a load off of my mind. The $50 copayment was worth it for peace of mind!

[Alanaccb]

Thanks so much for the well wishes! My appointment is at 8:00 tomorrow morning, so I am thankful that the waiting is almost over. I will,definitely post my results! Thanks again!

[marlinspike]

Just wanted to say good luck at the cardiology appointment. I am sure if your dr was concerned he would not let you wait 2 wks. It sounds like he is being thorough. When I have a spell of pvcs my heart is 'regularly irregular' too - every 6th beat or every 9th, say, is a pvc. This can last for hours. As I understand it, it is more the nature of the pac/pvc than the frequency which matters most. However, they are very frightening when frequent so I hope the appointment will put your mind at rest. Best wishes.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

that's great it helps to have someone close by who has them, funny I know no one arounmd me with them, yes plz give us the report after you get done , have a great week

[Alanaccb]

Thank you for your reassuring comments! Found out that I teach with a lady who was born with a regular, irregular heartbeat. Thankful that I can go to her with questions, etc. I will post again after my appointment next week. Thanks again!

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

I to have PAC the most some PVC,  have had for years, as I get older they seem to last longer , more hours sometimes 10 hours straight , don't like that at all, just went to Er 2 months ago they put me on heart monitor and said harmless, every 8 th heart beat, but all PAC go home don't worry, so I did, so scary to feel this going on in your chest and everyone saying harmless, yesterday out of blue started having skips with lots of burps, 2 hours than gone, was told on this site sounds like vagus nerve, just strange what your heart muscle can do and still be normal, hope you feel good and get all your questions answered , come back and let us know what your Dr says

[Alanaccb]

I am thinking at my first cardiologist appointment next Friday, he will probably do an echo. The only other period of palpitations I've ever had was about 18 years ago. They went away, and then reappeared this falll, which was an extremely stressful time...... I started a new teaching position, my father had triple bypass surgery, and my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. I also notice mine more when I deal with reflux and indigestion. I do think I may have a hiatal hernia as well. I am hoping my appointment will answer my questions. Should also note that all of my recent bloodwork was good, although my Synthroid medication was uppes to 50 mcg.

[Heartflutters]

Have you talked to your cardiologist about getting an echocardiogram? Because that would give more information in regards to your heart's overall structure and performance. My situation is a bit confusing, I seem to be feeling my PVC's more around the time of my mentrual cycle....before, during and after especially during ovulation. I'll get them apart from my cycle, but I don't feel them as much. Sometimes I think they can be related to chocolate/caffeine intake as well. My cardiologist gave me a 14 day holter monitor to wear..but unfortunately I switched healthcare providers and my cardiologist went on vacation right before Christmas and wasn't returning until January 6th...and my start date for my new healthcare provider started the 1st of January. So now I have to wait and wonder what my results are...but I can't see my former cardiologist w/out paying out of pocket and Kaiser is expensive!!!! And my first appt. with my new doctor isn't until the 15th....then she has to go over the results and then referr me to a cardiologist. I'm trying to relax and not worry about it. It's just hard when I can feel my heart beating in my neck. Any ideas or experiences from others regarding the connection between PVC's and menstrual cycles?

[Alanaccb]

Sorry, my description should have said rare PVCs and isolated  PACs.