Aa
I don't know what's wrong with me.
My name is Kristen. I'm a nineteen year old female. About 5'6", 115 or so lbs. Technically I am underweight, but I'm not sure how because I eat a great deal and I don't exercise a lot. I have many other health problems that are somewhat undiagnosed - I have been told that I have hypermobility in my joints and/or an unnamed connective tissue disorder. All of my joints pop and I am very flexible in my ligaments. Unfortunately, this makes my joints chronically hurt. I also have chronic back pain.
For as long as I can recall, I have had problems with my heart beating faster than normal. It wasn't that bad for a long time, and I didn't even realize that it wasn't natural. It mostly happened in the shower so I figured that it was just the hot water.
Recently, the problems have gotten worse. It has started happening in other places, even when I'm not doing anything athletic. Sometimes I will just be lying on the couch and it will start beating really fast for no reason. It also skips periodically. I went to the doctor for it two weeks ago, and they did an EKG, a blood test for a Thyroid condition, and put me on a heart monitor for a day. I had no "episodes" so everything turned out fine. My blood pressure was a little high though, just barely prehypertensive.
Last Saturday, I went to a concert with my friend. We walked in and were just standing by the stage, and I got really really hot very fast. She said the room was cold to her. Then my heart started beating fast, more so than it has before. I had her count for thirty seconds while I took my pulse, and it was at least 200 BPM. It was going so fast I couldn't keep up with the counting. I started feeling like I was going to throw up and maybe pass out, and my fingers started tingling. It took me over 45 minutes for my heart rate to finally go back to "normal."
Since then, I've had more episodes more frequently and it's been skipping even more. I have been laying on my back for an hour and my heart rate right now is 108 bpm. I am really afraid that whatever happened on Saturday damaged it. I also have no idea what caused the rapid heart rate in the first place. I have another doctor's appointment to do a stress test, but I am really quite scared about what could be happening to me.
Please let me know if any of this sounds familiar, or if you have any recommendations. Thank you so much.
For as long as I can recall, I have had problems with my heart beating faster than normal. It wasn't that bad for a long time, and I didn't even realize that it wasn't natural. It mostly happened in the shower so I figured that it was just the hot water.
Recently, the problems have gotten worse. It has started happening in other places, even when I'm not doing anything athletic. Sometimes I will just be lying on the couch and it will start beating really fast for no reason. It also skips periodically. I went to the doctor for it two weeks ago, and they did an EKG, a blood test for a Thyroid condition, and put me on a heart monitor for a day. I had no "episodes" so everything turned out fine. My blood pressure was a little high though, just barely prehypertensive.
Last Saturday, I went to a concert with my friend. We walked in and were just standing by the stage, and I got really really hot very fast. She said the room was cold to her. Then my heart started beating fast, more so than it has before. I had her count for thirty seconds while I took my pulse, and it was at least 200 BPM. It was going so fast I couldn't keep up with the counting. I started feeling like I was going to throw up and maybe pass out, and my fingers started tingling. It took me over 45 minutes for my heart rate to finally go back to "normal."
Since then, I've had more episodes more frequently and it's been skipping even more. I have been laying on my back for an hour and my heart rate right now is 108 bpm. I am really afraid that whatever happened on Saturday damaged it. I also have no idea what caused the rapid heart rate in the first place. I have another doctor's appointment to do a stress test, but I am really quite scared about what could be happening to me.
Please let me know if any of this sounds familiar, or if you have any recommendations. Thank you so much.
Glad to hear you've already seen a Rheum. If you're Cardio doesn't give you any answers you might consider going to see another Rheum at the biggest research hospital in your area. Given your symptoms and that you have some blood work that points in the general direction, it seems likely that a good rheumatologist will be able to help you even if you don't fall "perfectly" into one of the standard diangostic boxes. Often it takes several years to get a rheumatological diagnosis and sometimes the "name" they give it changes over the years as your symptoms develop - frustrating I know. Best of luck!
madjilp - Thanks. I have already been to a rheumatologist once. I had a positive ANA and a raised RH level so they thought I might have had RA or Lupus, but the rheumatologist said he didn't think I had either.
zachs - Thank you, I will look into it.
zachs - Thank you, I will look into it.
Hi. Totally agree with others on the board about an event monitor. You mention that you're going in for a stress test as well which should let the Drs know if your heart is sound structurally - shape, wall motion, valves etc etc. - in your case a regular echocardiogram would probably be fine too but your Dr knows best I suppose.
MOSTLY - I'm writing to encourage you to see a rheumatologist in addition to the cardiac check up you have scheduled. The field of rheumatology covers joints and connective tissue disorders among other things. Sometimes people with hyperflexible joints have other symptoms including heart rhythm symptoms, palpitations etc that may or may not all be related to a single underlying disorder. Most often these disorders are very manageable but you have to have a diagnosis in order to do the managing! If you google "connective tissue disorders" you'll easily find stories from people who have connective tissue disorders, what they're symptoms are like etc and you'll be able to decide for yourself if its worth your time. Rheumatology is a really specialized field so its important that if you decide to pursue this line if inquiry that you see an actual rheumatologist and not a regular internist.
Best of luck!
MOSTLY - I'm writing to encourage you to see a rheumatologist in addition to the cardiac check up you have scheduled. The field of rheumatology covers joints and connective tissue disorders among other things. Sometimes people with hyperflexible joints have other symptoms including heart rhythm symptoms, palpitations etc that may or may not all be related to a single underlying disorder. Most often these disorders are very manageable but you have to have a diagnosis in order to do the managing! If you google "connective tissue disorders" you'll easily find stories from people who have connective tissue disorders, what they're symptoms are like etc and you'll be able to decide for yourself if its worth your time. Rheumatology is a really specialized field so its important that if you decide to pursue this line if inquiry that you see an actual rheumatologist and not a regular internist.
Best of luck!
There are a few online reads that you may want to consider. I cannot mention them here because of conflict of interest. It seems that you are just suffering from anxiety/panic. The symptoms you describe hit the bullseye and are typical of someone experiencing fright. And trust me, anxiety/panic is the last diagnosis you want to hear. I listened to it for years. Our bodies are very well tuned machines, and our thoughts have a lot more to do with hemostatis than experts want to admit. Try meditation in the evenings before bed, or a breathing exercise.
Zach.
Zach.
blueberry703 - I already had one EKG and it turned up fine.
Carey01 - Thanks. I will definitely look into getting the event monitor. My parents do know, and they have been coming with me to the appointments. My college is about two hours away from them though, so it's not all that easy. I'm actually having to wait almost a month before I can have my next appointment because I don't have time to go home because of school.
Carey01 - Thanks. I will definitely look into getting the event monitor. My parents do know, and they have been coming with me to the appointments. My college is about two hours away from them though, so it's not all that easy. I'm actually having to wait almost a month before I can have my next appointment because I don't have time to go home because of school.
Definetely get an event monitor -- it soundls like that will help your Dr diagnose you. Its MUCH smaller that the holter monitor -about the size of a small cell phone. Have you talked to your parents about his? Are they going to the Dr with you? Sometimes it helps to have some support with you. I think you are smart to figure it our early so you dont worry.
The doctor didn't give me any medication for it. I already have some prescription medication, but it's for my joints.
The monitor was a Holter. I wasn't aware that the event monitor existed, but I will ask about that at my next appointment.
Thank you for your reply.
The monitor was a Holter. I wasn't aware that the event monitor existed, but I will ask about that at my next appointment.
Thank you for your reply.
Hello...
Sorry to hear how scared you are. I am assuming that the 24 hr monitor you had was a Holter. These are not usually the best device for people who have sporadic episodes. I am surprised that your Dr didn't suggest an event monitor. These are given for a period of about 30 days. They are great for people who have infrequent episodes. You should mention this to your Dr at your next appt.
I cannot say for certain what is going on with you. The symptoms that you describe do resemble those of SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) This type of arrhythmia, while scary, will not cause any type of life threatening event. For this to cause damage to the heart, it really would be considered a rare event.
Were you given any type of medication when you saw your Dr.?
Sorry to hear how scared you are. I am assuming that the 24 hr monitor you had was a Holter. These are not usually the best device for people who have sporadic episodes. I am surprised that your Dr didn't suggest an event monitor. These are given for a period of about 30 days. They are great for people who have infrequent episodes. You should mention this to your Dr at your next appt.
I cannot say for certain what is going on with you. The symptoms that you describe do resemble those of SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) This type of arrhythmia, while scary, will not cause any type of life threatening event. For this to cause damage to the heart, it really would be considered a rare event.
Were you given any type of medication when you saw your Dr.?
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