PLEASE HELP GOING CRAZY!

[crazythumper]

Hi, well I think if I don't figure this out I am going to loose my mind! I have the following types of arrhythmia diagnosed by an event recorder listed by my Cardio:

Impressive Sinus Tachycardia, Sinus Arrhythmia with PVC, Normal Sinus Rhythm with Ventricular Tachycardia 4 beats Rate 180, Sinus Bradycardia with PVC, Normal Sinus Rythm with Atrial Run, Normal Sinus Rythm with PAC and PVC, Sinus Rhythm with 1st Degree AVB and PVC

Can anyone PPPLLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE...HELP me understand?? I have been told these are bengign and I am on the Beta-Blocker 25mg Metprolol SR 1x a day, which does not seem to be helping? I don't understand why my heart would be doing all these different things. I do not smoke, do not drink, do not drink caffeine, I eat well take a multi-vitamin and am regularly seen at the doctors. I am not over weight and my blood pressure is low normal about 115/65, it just started after Xmas this year and now it happens all the time! I feel every one of the above listed, feels like someones squeezing the base of my throat, or get a feeling of doom (like flight or fight response), dizzy, or tunnel vision, I don't think I can live like this. How can your heart do so many random abnormal electrical things and it be benign or the Cardio's being convinced nothing bad will not happen during one of these multiple episodes??

I am a 30 year old mother with no family other than my husband and kids and I really need some answers or advice PLEASE and THANKS in advance.

crazythumper

[painter207]

I think the Vagus nerve is irritated and that's why the heart rythm is affected. Because it runs from your head to the abdomen, it can effect the esaphogus as well. I have times lately where I have the feeling of something being in the throat. Last night I Had the palps every 4 beats and they are still going on this morning. It's nice to know I won't have my heart coming out of my throat, but I would be comforted to know that they may stop. My heart is going to get pretty tired out at this rate. I had this 5 years ago with nothing and then here they are again. Everyday! UGH!

[matt_s]

do you have any GERD as that might cause swelling or irritation in your throat?  Also some believe GERD also causes palpitations.

[Russ49]

Welcome to our world.  First, there is a HUGE varience in the quality of electrophysiologists out there.  Do your research and see what you think are a couple of the best.  25 mg of metropolol is sqwuat.  I take 200 to 250/day and that along with a small dose of propafenone and asprin.  I had an ablation done two weeks ago and am waitng for it to take effect to see if it helped.  Do not think that because your doctor is a doctor that he is as good as any other.  Find the best heart institute near you and go there.  A 81 mg asprin /day would be good-can't hurt.  Ask your doc.

[smconorm]

I received a very similar report to yours from a 24 hour Holter test last October. This included over 24,600 ectopic beats in 24 hours.   Subsequent testing, such as an Echo Cardiogram and Nuclear Stress Test, showed there were no structural problems with my heart and I was also told not to worry about this. In the last six months I have been to two Electrophysicologists plus I have provided copies of my test reports to my daughter (who is a doctor in her third year of residency) to get advice from the Cardiology department in her hospital.   The conclusion form all of this:  "You are no more at risk of sudden death now than the day before all of this started"    

I am taking a combination of Rythmol and Metoprolol which controls the symptoms.  The first two weeks on this stuff caused some problems for me that felt sort of like jet lag.  Long term (10 years +) I was advised this condition may go into sustained Afib which is associated with a risk of stroke.   Since you are in normal sinus rythum this is not a problem.  

[crazythumper]

I have been wondering for a while if my Yoga started my problems (I know it sounds odd;-) but I began doing Yoga almost daily b/f the ahrrthymias all started. I have read a lot on the forum about position and the vagus nerve and such. I am wondering if the sudden stretching and excercise (had not exercised in probably 8-10 yrs) may have shifted or joggled something b/c almost a week after I started I began experiencing these symptoms and now they won't stop!

I am also wondering if anyone out there ever has any problems swallowing? I notice if I eat something some what dry (french fries, sandwich, bagel) I get a horrible lump in my throat at the base of my neck/colar bone/sternum...I have to drink and swallow repeatedly until it goes down and boy is it painful. I had my Apendix out in February and had both Abdominal/Pelvis CT prior to Operation and also Chest Xray so I do not think it is a tumor or something like that, THANK GOODNESS but it does happen quite frequently and I haven't been able to find much at all in my research regarding Ahrythmia and trouble swallowing.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I also wanted to add that I get my palps, skips, racing, and crazy heart maddness mostly when I am relaxing in a reclining or laying position, I used to not get or not notice them during the day during activities but now I notice them round the clock in all positions and during all different types of daily events.

I am  so glad I found this site as it is very reassuring and hopefully I can relax and not worry so they will just all go away as quickly as they came. It's good to have a dream! Thanks to all who support and reply.
crazythumper  

[Skippi]

sorry to tell you.... i've had the skips for 14 years now, and if you search on this site, you will see there are others who had it for much much longer (30 years plus!). This site is the best thing I've ever discovered, so stick with it, you can learn a lot and most importantly, you will get great comfort in knowing you are not alone and that there are others out there who understand. The best medicine really :)

FACTS: Food, Alcohol, Coffeein, Tiredness, Stress, all triggers, try and avoid :) and yes, I hate the skips too, if there was one wish I was granted in life: take these skips away for good!

[painter207]

Boy do I know your frustration. Mine started in mid Feb. and I'm still waiting for them to disapear. I also have the pressure at the base of throat at times. Not always. For the most part stress and anxiety bring these on. I have stopped caffien, chocolate and all other triggers but can't say that any of it matters.
Does anyone out there know how long these things can hang on? Can they be gone and leave as fast as they came? I've even tried ignoring them......To no avail.

[Barbmag]

I agree with everything that Jerry said. If you don't understand anything pertaining to your results from the monitor, ask questions from your doctor too. I love coming here b/c there are so many kind, knowledgeable people who understand what we are going through. I take Toprol XL 50 mg but my cardio says that the dose may be too small to suppress my palps but if I increase the dosage, I get v,v fatigued and since I do not have high BP, it would prob lower it too much.I wish I could find a way to stop the palps but after many, many years trying a lot of diff things, I still have skips most of the day!! Some days are better than others and I just try to deal with them as best I can. I hate them!!
Good luck!

[Jerry_NJ]

Well a lot of things listed on your monitor, guess I'm lucky all I have is atrial fibrillation, all the time.

Anyway, if your symptoms are troublesome, benign or not, you doctor should work to find some treatment that will give you relief.  Perhaps just a higher dose of Metoprolol.   But, with your low BP that may not be possible.  You have to discuss with your doctor.

Keep up the healthy heart life-style, even try to improve on it.  Even if that doesn't stop the heart rhythm problems, it has to help.  Your young age should also work in your favor.  Just try to relax as much as possible, that will help, and talk with your doctor about getting better symptom relief.