Pounding Heart At Night

Hi - I am an otherwise healthy 39 year old female.  For the past year I have these episodes of going to sleep at night then waking up a few hours later with a horrible pounding and racing heartbeat.  This goes on for hours!  Nothing I do can make it stop.  I have worn the event monitors, had several ekgs, ecos. eco stress, all have which are normal.  When I do have these episodes and record the event and send it in they say my heart is racing (120bpm) but the rhythm is normal.  I am afraid to go to sleep!  I cannot figure out what triggers it or why it happens and why it lingers for hours.  My cardio doesn't seem concerned, but it is a scary feeling.  Has anyone experienced this and if so, what can you do about it?  Thanks for your help!

[Brooke_38]

Hi Tracey...

I have responded to your questions in the past:) If I recall, you were experiencing PAC's&PVC's along with PSVT? Are you still taking the Betablocker?

Are you currently under more than the usual amount of stress? I say more than usual because we are always, whether we admit to it or not, under some amount of stress...

[bannanon]

Hi -
Thanks for your response.  No, I do not think I am under any additional stress.  The PVC's and PAC's have become very infrequent and now I am left with the racing "normal" rhythm at night.  I have not started the beta blocker because it is not constant and only does happen during the night.  It is so frustrating and goes on for hours.  My cardio wanted me to wait the 30 days while I have the event monitor to see if there is some sort of pattern.  I just want to be able to go to sleep without feeling scared.

Tracy

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

I don't blame you for feeling the way that you do...Do you currently have the event monitor? This will, hopefully, reveal the problem which will in turn help your Dr determine a course of treatment.

I can relate to your frustration....I often find it unsettling to be lying in bed, trying to go to sleep, all the while having my heart behave in ways that make sleeping impossible. I hope that the event monitor works out for you:)