IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A VERY IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT.  IT FEELS AS IF MY HEART IS GOING TO JUMP OUT OF MY THROAT.  THEN I GET A WAVE OF DIZZINESS AND HAVE TO REALLY, REALLY CONCENTRATE TO KEEP FROM PASSING OUT.  I WENT TO A CARDIOLOGIST AND AM WAITING FOR A HOLTER MONITOR TO BE AVAILABLE.  IT WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE I RECEIVE ONE.  HE SAID IT IS PROBABLY NOTHING AND NOT TO WORRY WE WILL FIND OUT WHEN HE READS THE MONITOR AND WHEN I TAKE THE ECHO STRESS TEST.  IT IS JUST SO UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNNERVING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING.  I AM OTHERWISE HEALTHY BUT THIS IS REALLY GETTING TO ME.  SHOULD I BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE OR JUST WAIT.

[Donna-lee]

Try to relax and wait for the monitor the more stressed you get about it can make your symptoms worse. Take care.

[bonnytiz]

I am exactly the same as you, I find the dizziness/strange head sensations worse than the irregular beat, its very unnerving, I have been like it for 2 years now and havnt passed out yet, but it certainly makes you feel as though you could, I have had all the tests and they are ok, so I am trying to live with it but its so hard, try a magnesium supplement, the consultant said lots of people are h elped by it.I know its hard but try not to get too stressed!! let us know how you get on, take care.

[Artaud]

Hi,

Can you tell us a little more about yourself? Age, history with irregular heartbeats, etc. I’m 50 and I have had them since 15. They usually come in bouts, with several months or more without any significant activity and then wham, my heart is all over the place for weeks or months at a time. (Anymore I don’t get the breaks in between, I am experiencing an arrhythmia fairly often now, usually worse as the day progresses).

If possible, you should consider minimizing driving until you get the OK. Passing out due to an arrhythmia is not that uncommon, but the consequences of doing it while driving are obvious. I trust that they have already done an in the office EKGs and not found anything of significance, and I trust that they have listened to your heart as well?

If you don't symptoms every day, the Holter Monitor may not show what is occurring. Ask your Doctor about a Loop Event Monitor, this is something that you would wear for up to a month. Unlike the Holter, you can take the Monitor off to shower, and they should provide you with extra electrodes (the white pads you place on your chest) and show you where the leads go. Every time you feel the symptom, you press a button, and it electronically records a little of your heart activity before you pushed the button, as well as some after. You then go to a phone and transfer the information to a Monitor Technician who can instantly see what happened with your heart. If it is serious, I am sure they would tell you what to do. If it is not serious, they may be able to describe to you on the phone what happened, and the information will later be sent to your Doctor.

As Donne-lee says, if you worry too much about them (I do), it tends to make your symptoms worse.

Best of Health.

[bonnytiz]

Hi, I wondered if you had any theories as to why these abnormal beats affect my head so much, I know this doesnt happen to everyone, but I find it a real problem, if I only miss a few beats in a minute its ok but sometimes its very few seconds,is it because they affect the circulation, but if thats the case why doesnt it affect everyones head (not that I would want it to) the consultant said this was normal but didnt say why it happened, sometimes yoy begin to wonder if you have something seriously wrong with you head!!
I am also diabetic so that doesnt help. Thanks.