Ongoing Palpitations

[Dracee322]

I have a few questions about ongoing palpitations and trying to understand the etiology of them. In particular, PAC's. I delevoped these PAC's this past fall. They come and go and can get quite frequent at times. I have seen a cardiologist (an EP doc) and had an event monitor, bloodwork, and an echo stress test. The PAC's were determined basically benign. But I feel anything but "benign" when they pop up. I'll admit that there is  some anxiety involved when they do occur but otherwise I do not have any issues with anxiety.
Could the palpitations be at all related to Epstein Barr virus?
I tested positive with "recent primary infection" after looking into a possible case of Mono and ongoing fatigue last May.
How and why are PAC's hormonally related to women? The EP doc indicated that he sees a lot of menopausal women with PAC's. I am not menopausal but I am 34 and just recently completely stopped breastfeeding. The PAC's seem to be related to my monthly cycle. But I have never experienced anything like this in the 20 years of having menstrual cycles so why now?
Also, I am told over and over that people have these all the time and I probably have too and I am just more aware of them now. There is NO WAY that I just "became aware" of these PAC's. I am not doubting that I ever have had them but I guarentee that I have never had them like now.
When I get the flare ups of PAC's, it is not just the "skipped beat" feeling that concerns me. I also feel very fatigued, dizzy, and discomfort in my chest area. I get sort of an "aura" and can tell they're coming. What is this?

[KarenSA]

Just to let you know that my PVC's and AVNRT started a few months after birth of first child 9 years ago.  I was afraid of falling pregnant with my second child because I did not think my heart would cope.  Once pregnant, I had a smooth 9 months completely 100% arrythmia free.  Must have been something to do with the hormone levels.  Even during the actual delivery (natural) with an epidural, I was totally symptom free.  Symptoms came back a few months later after I stopped breastfeeding.  Also, had an EP Study to get confirmed diagnosis of arrythmias as the uncertainty which the Doctors had - 'it could be this or it could be that' also frightened me.  I refused to consent to an ablation and had only the EP Study.  Told the Dr that once I have a confirmed diagnosis then I would consider my treatment options and would go back for an ablation later if needs be.  Have not had the ablation now one year later almost and symptoms are much better due to the drop in anxiety from worrying about what might be wrong and learning that it is nothing serious and totally benign.  
Good luck with your stress test and ablation procedure.  99% of the time these things seem to be a serious disturbance to quality of life but not dangerous.
Karen

[Dracee322]

Obviously you are not alone. I initially thought it was weird when I first described the aura but when so many agreed and experienced the same thing it was at least reassuring that I wasn't crazy! Unfortunately, you can feel that way at times and even question yourself. I went through that and realized that what I was experiencing was very real. A lot of us seem to have at least a few of the same symptoms. If anything, you will find support on this board. Especially if you don't get it at home!

[PamS]

I would also like to ask if anyone experiences sensations in their left arm?  At times, my arm/hand feels cold and wet (on the inside - if that makes sense) and sort of numb, but again, on the inside.  

Thanks,
Pam

[PamS]

Oh my gosh...these are my symptoms exactly!  For the last year, I thought I was just crazy.  I'd lie in bed on my left side and could feel my heart pounding against the bed.  I usually can tell before it is going to start, also (the 'aura' that has been described).  I have pain and discomfort on my left side, also.  I had an EKG about a year ago, but my dr. did nothing further.  It was not as extreme then as it is now, so I am going back to see her tomorrow.  

Until I found this forum, I thought for sure I was going to die from a heart attack soon.  

Do many of you experience pain/discomfort?

I have been drinking nutrasweet more often the past 6 months...has anyone noticed a correlation between artificial sweeteners and occurances?

Also, how often do many of you experience these symptoms?  I find that my heart is beating out of my chest about 1/2 the time.  I know that my pulse is not high, as I have had my husband check it (he's a paramedic/firefighter).  In fact, he said it was kind of low (not in a bad way).  But, when I was pregnant the last time (and I do mean LAST!) (over 5 years ago) my pulse was always on the high side, even when I was resting.  My blood pressure has gone up a touch in the past year (was ALWAYS 110/70 and the last time it was 112/72 or something like that).

I would love to hear more reassuring comments that many other people feel the same as I do and they're still alive!

Thanks,
Pam

[Ling]

Do not be apologetic to anyone for what you feel inside your body, or the fear it causes.  Being on the forums that I have been on, I see so many people with so many different symptoms and things going on.  So it is different for everyone.  The one thing that seems to be consistent is the anxiety and fear.  No matter what their conditions are.  The one thing I want to point out to you is that everyone, EVERYONE, has had that fear.  I don't care how many people have come on or off of these forums they have all, at some point, felt the intensity of adreniline when your heart does something it shouldn't.  Granite over time we learn to manage and deal with what is happening, but the fear will come back if the syptoms return or get worse.  I have the fear daily.  I will be the first to admit, I do not like it, or wan't to deal with it.  I have PVC's and cannot comment on some of the conditions you listed, but I can tell you, you need to get regular sleep.  Mine act up terribly when I am tired.  You need to relax.  I know it is a double edged sword with anxiety problems and PVC's, but if I get fired up with anxiety, "they" get fired up.  

You seem to have a lot of questions about what is going on with you and your ablation.  Pick up the phone and call your cardio. and get some answers.  You know I don't care how much I annoy my dr. or his staff,  I still pay an arm and leg for him to answer those questions.

Good Luck, Relax!!!!!!!

[MSharp]

Ok guys, it is 1 a.m. & I can't sleep due to "skipped beats/palps" (they've been ongoing for 6 hrs now).  I was dx w/SVT in 1999 (had since very young), i'm 29 yr old female.  Growing up I had SVT, not realizing what it was, would lay down for a while & pray & it would stop, 15 mins tops.  After 10 yrs of this they got worse, over the last 10 yrs. I have had a number of serious eposides where I would have to go to ER & have injection to stop.  I had an echo that is normal.  SVT picked up on  EKG & was told i'll be fine but need to take meds to prevent. So 1/04 I started taking 50 mg of Toprol XL.  I am very sensative to meds.  I got horible side effects, headaches, swelling, cramping.  Doc said take 1/2 of 50 mg., as soon as I switched I started having SVT's everyday.  Went back to 50 mg., still having SVT. NOW having PVC (self diagnosis) or "skipped beats", make me feel like i'm going to die, I would almost rather have an SVT.  skipped beat comes on initially as a flutter, then a rush through my arms & then chest pain/tightness.  I literally feel like i'm going to die.  Right this min. I can feel it in my rib cage on the right side, it feels like my heart stops & I lose my breath.  I went to ER when this first happened & they said i'm fine (nothing showed up on EKG), chest x-ray & enzyme levels normal.  I go to my cardio. who says again "have the cath. ablation & you'll be perfect", he keeps saying why live your life w/out having caffine, alcohol etc..have the ablation & you can do all these things.  He even said I could get pregnant the day after the ablation (maybe this was a metaphor, I am afraid to have a child because of heart) he discarded my complaints of the new symptoms of palps other than to say it is normal to have some chest pain w/skipped beats.  Now i'm seeing in this forum that even after ablation the palps wont go away.  But, if I have the ablation then I wont have to take meds to prevent the SVT.  It seems the meds brought on the palps, so does that mean these horrible palps will go away?  Also, I accidentally skipped a Toprol pill one morning (I was trying to switch to take them @ night since my symptoms of palps only come on in the evening) & missing the pill threw me into horrible SVT (220 beats per min. for 1 hr) w/chest pain, fainting feeling.  I feel like if I stop the meds (which I was terrified to take to begin with) i'll die.  I have a stress test on 3/30 & ablation set for 4/7, but i'm terrified i'm making the wrong decision.  I just feel like noone understands what i'm going through.  My husband had the nerve to tell me he thought that I had a mental problem (I do have axiety but it is because of this ****), he actually thought I was trying to "get attention".  I try really hard not to complain when i'm having problems, lately I just go into my office & read the forum.  I feel like i'm obsessed but this condition is taking over my life.