Night Tachycardia - Need 2nd Opinion

[antsypants]

I've experienced 3 episodes of tachycardia while sleeping in the last week.  I feel a fluttery feeling in my chest with a "burst" of tachycardia causing my heart rate to peak at 140 BPM for approx 3-4 minutes.  My doctor placed me on a 48 hr holter monitor (wasn't able to catch any of the episodes, of course) and the results were PVC's and sinus tachycardia which my doctor says are benign.  She's ordered a stress test to cover all bases and told me that if the stress test is normal she wasn't going to worry about.  By the way, I have suffered from panic disorder and lived med free up until Nov 99.  I've been on 20 mgs of Paxil.  I'm worried because when I experienced these 3 episodes I've had no anxiety or panic associated with it.  Please give me a second opinion if possible.



Thank you for your time.  This is a wonderful site that is performing a great service for alot of people.  Keep up the good work.

[CCF CARDIO MD - CRC]

It's an unfortunate but common complaint that the culprit rhythm dosen't show up during the Holter test.  In cases such as these we will commonly order an 'event recorder' or 'loop monitor' that can be worn for longer periods and activated when the rhythm does appear.  This is the only way of making the diagnosis for sure.  It is somewhat more expensive than a Holter and the benefit of the test must be weighed against the cost.  Ask your doctor about the appropriateness of this test for you.

[coco man]

You should not worry.  You have an extra pathway in your heart you need to get an 'EP study and an ablation' done.  Don't worry your chances are 99 percent good.  100 percent cure is possible.



You should go to an 'Electro-physiologist'.



Regards: Coco man :)

[Patrice]

I WOULDN'T GO TO AN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST!!!!!!!



Not now anyway.  I have tachacardia and have had it for a long time.  There are medications that can be taken before you go into testing.  Believe me from experience.  I hope things work out for you but see if you can try medication before testing. ESPECIALLY INVASIVE TESTING!  Medicine works for most people with this problem.



GOOD LUCK!!

[karen from carmel, n.y. 3/1/00]

This is only by second day on AOL and I've already messed

up numerous times.  I think i already transmitted partial

messages, but this is my last effort.



I had tachycardia for several years before finally being

diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia.  I wore a 30

day event monitor.  I did opt for having an ablation, but

after two months the tachycardia was back, only not as

severe.  I was told the ablation worked but that i have

multiple abnormal electrical pathways in my heart.  So now

I take 50 mg. of Toprol XL once a day.  I'm not really under

control but I can go to work everyday and if I really pace

myself and don't do anything too strenuous I'm willing to

live with it for now.  If it progresses to the point were I

was before the first ablation (240 beats per minute) then I

will have another ablation done.  Hope this helps someone

out there.

[cj]

Thanks for the responses.  I actually spent last night in the hospital because I had another episode.  I had a echo/stress test this morning and it was discovered that I have mitral valve prolapse.  The cardioligist was also concerned because after the treadmill was stopped abruptly and the echo was done, my heart rate went from 95 down to 60 then back up into the 90's within seconds.  He is placing me o an event monitor so we could catch the tachycardia events.  



By the way, I'm a 37 years old female in excellent health and very athletic.  

[Caroline]

When a person gets runs of PVC's (4 in a row) is that bad?  My doctors seem to not be worried about it at all and say a lot of people get the same things.  I am horrified!!!!!  I get around 5 - 10 skips per day but these runs of the things scare me to death!  Can anyone out there tell me if they get runs of them?



Thanks!

[shannon]

Hi -- I have periodic runs of PVCs, and I've had holter monitor tests showing up to 4000 PVCs per day.  (I've also had open heart surgery to repair a funky valve and close an ASD.  Didn't have the weird rhythms until after the surgery...)



My doc has told me not to worry about the runs; that they're fairly common and not dangerous.  They make me momentarily breathless and lightheaded. I've fainted twice during episodes, but I'm also on B/P medication to reduce my heart rate, so the fainting may be from the low blood pressure.  Since my surgery, my heart rate has averaged in the low 100s, so I'm staying on medication until the rate drops.  (it's not deconditioning; I figure skate 12 to 15 hours per week and I work myself pretty hard.)



Anyway, just wanted to tell you that though it feels really weird and scary, most of the time -- unless you have a structural heart problem or atherosclerosis -- these extra thumpy beats will only mess up your lifestyle (from the fear).



hope this helps, even a little bit.



shannon

[regan]

i've had problems with tachycardia for years & didn't think anything of it until one night it got so bad that i passed out at home and found myself in the hospital for 1 week. the tachycardia was so bad i started to have seizures--at one point my heart rate was up to 171 bpm. after numerous tests in the hospital, i was diagnosed with a mitral valve prolapse & an atrial septic defect. apparently i've had it since birth, but it was never a problem until recently. the seizures stopped when the heart rate was under control. i am now on tenormin 50-75mg per day and it pretty much keeps everything under control. i also wore a holter monitor which of course showed nothing but a few benign pvc's. don't take chances with your health & your heart; get answers!!!

[Kate Krinakis]

I am soooooooo glad I found this site  I knew these types of arrhythmias existed, but I didn't realize they were so prevalent.  I was diagnosed with episodes of supraventricular tachychardia and also premature ventricular contractions in 1995.  It is frightened even though a doctor tells you that you should be allright and not to worry.  Also for the person that experiences the late night tachychardia, I have them too and I also am a person who has suffered panic attacks.  I am sorry you have this condition, but in a selfish way, it is good to know that someone else has this too.  At the times when I get the late night tachychardia, I am not feeling any anxiety either.  I pray to find an answer to it.  Because it really feel like you are literally going to die while it is happening.  I had the holter monitor and the events recorder and no one really said anything about these episodes that showed up.  I would welcome any correspondance

[Bridie Wong]

I am a 28 yr old girl with a history of palpitations fast heart beats and skipped beats. This all got extremely worse during pregnancy. The skipped beats would start to come all day everyday without stopping. Ive had holters that show 2000 or more pacs and 200 pvcs had ekgs that read non specific st abnormality rightward axis short pr interval. Finally the skipped beats never let up after pregnancy continued night and day. was put on Inderal and finally digoxin. .inderal didnt really work digoxin worked for a couple of months then the beats came back and wont stop They say its not mital valve prolapse and echo dosent show anything really wrong. I have suffered for so long trying to find an answer Its terrible I feel like Im the only one with this problem what do you think this is What can I do?                                                    /den te









                            i

[sylvia]

Hi Caroline, I also have had 4 beat runs show up on holter.  I agree it feels terrible!!  Mine feel like a tickle,long pause, then THUMP!! Is that what yours feel like?  I have been to a few different doctors who have all told me that because my heart is healthy that it is harmless.  Today I looked at the new posting on VT by Brian, sunday, march 5, 2000 and it is frightening me again. Well I wish you the best Caroline if you would like to talk more please e-mail me at ***@****  Take care!  Sylvia.

[Kate Krinakis]

This is to Bridie Wong.  I really feel for you and believe me I can relate to you.  We had an 18th surprise birthday party for my daughter planned last Sunday Feb 27, and I hadn't been feeling too well all morning with PVC's that were very constant.  They subsided and I said I'll just go to the party and then rest when I got home.  On the way, just minutes from the restaurant, I had a severe attack of them and had to go to the ER.  Needless to say, I was upset for ruining my daughters party, but scared to death because of these pvc's.  It is amazing to me the progress they have made with major invasive surgery regarding the heart