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Tachycardia

I started experiencing heart palpitations about 4 months ago in addition to many other perimenopausal symptoms. I have been to see a cardiologist and had a holter and and Echo done. So far all looks normal. More recently I have been experiencing episodes of Tachycardia, which although infrequent are very disturbing. I usually wake up in the middle of the night with this and it lasts several minutes. Is this normal? What can I do to control this? I also get a cold clammy feeling and a feeling of pins and needles on the bottoms of my feet. I am beginning to dread bedtime and can hardly sleep for fear that I will wake up suddenly with this feeling. Help!
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Avatar universal
I'm also 43 and healthy.  I'm having heart issues (tachycardia - high heart rate - for no reason) and constant nausea and have become extremely emotional and short tempered.  That JUST not me!  I am a very calm person with a resting heart rate in the 60's.  Now my heart races into the 90-130 range anytime I am not lying in bed.  My blood pressure has also been elevated.  I guess I'm worried because the tachcardia has been going on for about a week (constantly high unless I'm in bed).  Breathing slowly and yoga help to lower it but it's still in the high range and it still feels like my chest and neck are pounding.  I thought tachycardia brought on by menopause was a periodic symptom - like hot flashes (they come and go).  It almost seems like this might be a real cardiac issue instead.  Or maybe it's just that other nasty menopause symptom (feeling of panic and impending doom).  Oh boy.....
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Avatar universal
I am a 43 year old heathy female, still on birth control.  I began having bouts of tachycardia about a year ago.  My heart rate is usually at about 158 during these and are sometimes accompanied by severe sweating, overwhelming fatigue.  They last anywhere from 2 - 48 hours.  Sometimes I have the fast heart rate and nothing else.  I have been to the cardiologist as well, everything checked out fine.  I think it is hormones.  Any other suggestions or guidance?  

I am soooo tired!  thank you!
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Avatar universal
i recently last 3 or 4 months have experienced higher HR.....and nites sweats with my period.....and my heart rate fluctuates....during nite its fast and morn...during day too but its like bet 80-100 wich is still supposedly normal....but my old HR use to be like 72 lower ...can this be peri menopause?
i hope you find out whats going on id be curiious to know being i am having the same oh i forgot and i get thise little twitches under my rib like flutters....palps....
never got emunless i was exited but recently more .....
my skin has gotten itchy and very dry and mouth dry and body seems to be changing ...

good luck to ya....i think alot of us are going through the same
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your advice. It is so scary because I figure panic is probably quckly following these episodes just making them worse, and I have practiced some deep breathing. Sometimes it takes a while for the breathing to work, which almost starts to make me panic more. My gp did give me a prescription for Ativan and I use it very sparingly, only on days when I really feel jittery.
I am interested in learning more about seeing an Electrophysiologist. What kind of testing do they do? Is it non-invasive?  I have done a holter, had an echo done, and am now on an event monitor. I have made some major changes in my diet and am now feeling few if any palpitations, but the occasional bouts of tachycardia are still there and are quite disturbing. My Dr. wants me to exercise more and all of these symptoms have scared me away from wanting to exercise at all. It is so frustrating, because I know exercise wiil help with many of my symptoms.
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Avatar universal
Oh, I forgot to mention something that someone told me.  Don't be surprised by your fast pace in the morning.  Your heart beat is typically low in the morning so when you first just out of bed your heart will start beating pretty fast to get blood moving throughout your body.  I just had an incident yesterday morning b/c I woke up at 3 in the morning to get out for black friday shopping,  My heart started going nuts and of course I panicked.  I made myself do some deep breathing and started thinking about other things I needed to do throughout that morning to get on my way.  By the time I got into the car, my heart rate was back to normal.  I just panicked but had to realize that I woke up from a dead sleep and my heart rate responded to that panic.  Panic is not pleasant because it causes the rate to speed up then you panic more.  Like I said....try as hard as you can to think of anything else.  

Take Care,
Melody
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Avatar universal
Hi there,

I had runs of VT when I was pregnant.  I did the whole battery of tests as well.  I was told to see an electrophysiologist to make sure all was well.  I can honestly say that once I saw him and he did further testing, I felt much better.  Remember to take all of your results with you so you don't have to wait for the results from another monitor.  I know how awful this feels and remember every day the panic that comes with it.  Always remember the more you panic the more adrenaline you produce the more palpitations you feel.  Your heart will race when you panic because you are in fight or flight mode.  Try as hard as you can to think of something else when it happens.  I know...much easier said then done.  Trust me I still battle every day with panicking over this.  I have been reading a lot lately about magnesium and heart palpitations.  I want to go see someone to obtain more information about it.  Apparently if one has low levels of if, some of these palpitations and VT can result.  The very thought of that sounds crazy but if it can be someone controlled with natural substances, then it's worth a try.  

Hang in there you will have good and bad days.  Try to preoccupy the mind on the bad ones.

Melody
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599170 tn?1300973893
sounds like your a smart lady and doing everything right,  your advocating for yourself good for you .
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599170 tn?1300973893
Idk, would investingate furture uf still happening, Are you under any emotional stress at this time? have you discontinued any cafine? this happened to my husband once lasted on and off for several months heart moniter and many heart tests the best they could come up with is he had to give uo drinking caffinated soda which he loves, they said too much caffine plus it was an emotional time ( a good friend had just died ) he swithed to caffine free learned som deep breathing tech, to calm self and has been better ever since, yours may or may not be so simple but womens heart symptoms should never be taken lightly more women die from their first heart attack than men do and the symptoms are different, not suggesting thats your ptob, just hoping you will keep investingating till u get ans.
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Avatar universal
When I saw my GP she checked my Thyroid and it was normal. Wonder if I should have it checked again? This was about 4 months ago. Also had hormone levels checked which came back "normal" also.
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599170 tn?1300973893
Im right there with Mags, my heart rate was 144, when I went to er for a different reason, it was there that I got the information that my synthroid dose was too high and caused my heart to beat to fast,

You dont mention what your pulse(heartrate was) nor do you say what if any meds you are on this all matters, also is your blood pressure high, are you over weight do you smoke?

The tracycardia is a warning your bodys telling you somethings not right , theres a high chance it could be your thyroid 10 % of middle age women have thyroid problems, it could also be a host of other things dont stop until you get a diagnosis.
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155701 tn?1230047101
I have tachy and palpitations as well; however, mine are from hyperthyroidism.  You should ask your doctor to test your thyroid levels as menopause and thyroid disorders usually go hand-in-hand.  Most women develop thyroid disease in their menopausal years.  Have dr test TSH, free T3 and free T4; its just a blood test, so your PCP or OBGY should be able to order them.

Good luck!
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Avatar universal
Welcome to the world of menopause. I am experiencing hot flashes, cold sweats, verdigo, which I thought I might have to go to the emergency room, forgetfulness, restless nights not sleeping very well, mood swings, etc.  I went to my OBGY and put me on birth control, which does not help.  Talk with you OBGY, but this experience is day and night and the hot flashes are very uncomfortable all day.

Take care...........
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Avatar universal
Thanks Kittycat :)
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