skipped beats only before period

[JHCmouse]

I'm 44 & have MVP, which I'm not on meds for.  Had all the stress, echo, blood tests, etc. done.  Just last month my period was very light & then stopped early.  I usually get anxiety a few days before starting, along with fast heart rate, followed by skipped beats here & there.  I'm due to start in 2 days this month & the last couple days when I got to work I started with a skipped beat here & there, but it did this until an hour before I got off work & then it was ok & it did the same exact thing the next day, but that evening I had the lightheaded dull headache cause of my circulation I guess.  I notice I get the headache after the heart calms down.  My legs also felt very weak from it going on.  It only does it at this time. I was wondering if this might just be getting worse during the peri-menopause stage since my periods are changing up & I have hot flashes & night sweats. I'm also hypoglycemic for the last 14 years & I watch the diet & it worked for years till my hot flashes & hormonal changes & now I have to eat more frequently to keep it up.  I monitor it with a monitor.  Should I be concerned about the weakness in the legs & dull headaches/lightheadedness afer the palps for so long?  Beta blocker make my pressure drop more & it's usually around 100/60.   I am not on any meds at this time.  Because it only happens with my cycle.

[JHCmouse]

Thanks for the info about the pedialyte.  I think I will give it a try.  I know with all the water & my over active bladder, I probably AM depleting alot of minerals I need.  I need to take in more salt also.  I've been having a slow heart rate since this last incident before the period & the periods have been nothing much.  That's why I figure it may be hormone related. Blood pressure is also low.  Very intense anxiety feelings.  Do you ever have your heart go really slow after the skipped beats/pauses?

[JHCmouse]

Thanks for sharing.  I wish I knew a good website with all the answers, but I don't.  I tried birth control pills to balance the hormones because of the hot flashes, heart pausing/skipping beats, blood sugar had gotten worse (even not eating sugar at all), etc.  The birth control pills made me gain 15 lbs. in 3 months, my heart raced up a storm, & I was told I was prone to blood clotting because I had a gene I inherited (heterozygous).  I don't take anything.  I called my internist today to explain that I got the pauses in heart rate the week my period was going to start & after 2 straight days of it doing this every two minutes - I now how my pressure low & my heart rate is slow.  He called this a vagal response.  He's going to check blood counts, for inflamation, & a thyroid test.  I'm now always lightheaded from the slow heart rate & low blood pressure.   I've been through the stress, echo, holter monitor, etc. & nothing showed up.  I do have mitral valve prolapse which I knew.  Good luck  to you & I do feel your pain.

[bloodofthelamb143]

Hello my name is Cheryl age 42.  About 2 years ago my pulpations (heart skipping beats) began, but being mild. Lately they seem to be getting worse, having symptoms usually after I have eaten so I have been limiting my intake of food being that I find my heart stopping discomforting.  I have been to the Cardioligist having done the stress test, echo and wearing the monitor for a complete month recording when symptoms would occur still nothing.  I do want to find the answer unless you are on the other end thinking that eveytime this occurs could be your last minute of life you happened to get real concerned on what might be making this happen. I have heard alot of others stories and still no one can tells us why, and you dont even have to be menopause age all ages seem to be going through this. Can you or anyone out there been treated for these symptoms for unbalanced hormones, that is one of the sterio type opinion out there.  I just need answers so that I can go on and raise my last child and enjoy my grandchildren to become.  Please if you have any web sites or answer that might help please share them

[corakey]

I wanted to let you know that I also suffer from Gastroparesis and because of it have to make sure my electrolytes are in balance because if they are not my heart palpitations get worse. I have a glass or two a day of pedialyte.  I've been doing it for about 6 years.  So the only two things I take are the pedialyte and magnesium.  I do not take a calcium/magnesium supplement because for me supplement calcium makes my heart worse.  I do not know why.  I try to get all my calcium through foods because of this.  I take Solgar chelated magnesium which does have a tiny amount of calcium too but this one doesn't bother me.  I was told by the doctor that chelated is good because it lasts all day long in your system.  Pedialyte is great for balancing electrolytes and has less sugar than sports drinks and both my Cardiologist and Gastroenterologist agree that if it is working to just stick with it. I also eat a banana everyday for the potassium.  Take care

[JHCmouse]

Thanks.  I know one of my Aunts had to have an ablation once she got older.  She lived with the tachy since she was a kid & would just lie down to calm it. I guess with age, the heart muscles weaken & that just was not working, along with other health problems & stress taking care of a hubby with cancer & an older daughter with downs syndrome.  I probably don't get enough magnesium & I had read about heart rhythm problems associated with a deficiency.  I am also hypoglycemic & I watch what I eat & have no sugars or watch the starches, but still have to eat every hour or so because of it dropping so quick & often.  I noticed it doing this more since I hit 39 & I'm now 44.  The only problem with magnesium is if I have even alot of veggies with it, it is known to lower blood sugar.  I didn't want that to get worse.  I guess I'll have to experiment with how much.  I bought a calcium/magnesium supplement & will see how that works.   Thanks for  your post & hope your days get better also!  :)

[corakey]

I am 38 and have had palpitations since age 12.  I had the ablation surgery at 25 after my daughter was born and my tachycardia got worse. Even though I had the ablation to solve the tachycardia I still have had to put up with skipped beats which do come before my period, or before I come down with a cold or flu or when I've eaten too much or are stessed out or haven't slept enough.  The only thing that has helped me is taking chelated magnesium.  I take 400mg to 500mg a day depending on how bad the skipped beats are and I've seen the difference you mit want to look into it.  I've been doing this for several years and it does help.

[JHCmouse]

Thanks for sharing your experience with me.  I do like you & have a 20 oz. bottle of water at my desk & fill it all day long.  I drink only water, so I may need to replenish magnesium & potassium.  Probably depleting them!  I think the MVP & age has something to do with them getting worse around my periods.  I think it's premenopausal.  Last month I barely bled one day.  I'm always heavy & regular.  The hot flashes, etc. come also.  I know there is deffinitely a correlation between hormones & pvs.  I do have a 15 year old son & I felt wonderful during my pregnancy with no problems due to the blood volume & progesterone like you said.  I did notice that my heart gave me less trouble when I tried natural progesterone cream for the headaches & hot flashes.  The palps were less frequent also.  Thanks again for sharing!  I know us women are not alone with all this! :)

[JHCmouse]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my concerns.  I just thought since the weakness goes away once the heart returns to normal rhythm, that it might have been a connection.  Thanks!

[princess_sassypants]

I have definately noticed a correlation between the pvc's/pac's and hormones.  For me, when my period is near, meaning progesterone levels are dropping off, they really start acting up alot, and I feel generally zapped of energy as a result.

I take magnesium, and if I take it regularly, and be sure to drink LARGE amounts of water, the palps aren't near as frequent or intense.  I have a 20 oz water bottle, and I try to fill it 4 times throughout the day, and night.  I hear alot about MVP and low blood volume, which may explaid why MVP'ers often feel GREAT throughout pregnancy.  Higher fluid volume+higher progesterone levels seem to equal much less, or even  no MVP symptoms.  

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Should I be concerned about the weakness in the legs & dull headaches/lightheadedness afer the palps for so long?  

There is no direct relationship between PVCs and weakness in the legs. The only connection that I can think of is one related to anxiety / stress causing this.  I cannot not think of another physiologic explanation to connect them unless they are just part of your premenstrual symptoms.

I hope this helps.  good luck.