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Palpatation and high pulse rate
Sometimes around my menstraul cycle I get a lot of palpatation and then my heart will race up to about 140. I am a 27 year old female with one daughter and I have been trying to conceive again until this started happening. When this happens my arms and chest get tingly and I feel like I am going to pass out. Each time this happens my potassium has gotten low. I do not have an eating disorder and I eat an okay diet. I have been trying to eat more potassium. Also, I am tired A Lot, moody, headaches. I have worn a holter monitor, had an echo, and I am now on Inderal. All of the tests come back fine, just a really fast heart rate, do you think maybe this could be hormone related? And how do I make myself feel better about the outcome because now I worry constantly that it is going to happen again because it scares me so much when it does happen. I would be open to any comments and suggestions. Thank you!
YES, I DO HAVE LIKE A PRESSURE POUNDING HEADACHE ALWAYS THE SAME PLACE ON THE LEFT SIDE ABOVE THE EAR. SOMETIMES I THINK IT IS WORSE IF I HAVE NOT CONSUMED A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF WATER. IF I GET BUSY AND FORGET TO DRINK.
Wow! 6-7 hours!! I had no idea that the procedure is that long. I have not gone into a non-benign state of pvc's yet, so I dont know if my doc will do an invasive procedure. I am trying to ignore them the best I can, but the increase as of late is EXTREMELY annoying. I know we are all in the same boat. I am praying for everyone that feels this way. EVery morning I wake up and hope that this is the turning point day, because like many of you, i used to go weeks and up to a month without having any. I am not on 2 months of daily pvc's. I swear they give me headaches.. anyone else feel like when you have them all day you end up with a pounding head?? It is still amazing to think that your heart can skip all day long and it isnt life threatening..
Welcome to your 40's!! You are among friends : )
I had a very similar experience. I was diagnosed at 19 with MVP and a leaky valve, but told it was nothing to worry about...stay off mountains and out of private airplanes...seemed easy enough...lol. I was put on Inderal sometime around 1981 (pvcs) and I took it on/off till 1998. At that time, the palps were acting up (early 30's) and the RX was no longer effective at suppressing them. The constant palps were driving me crazy and I was referred to an EP. After a complete workup, I was told the palps were benign, the valve was fine, but that I should get yearly echos. I could also stop taking the Inderal or try taking it "as needed" (that actually worked great over the next several years).
Long story short - the frequency of the pvcs substantially increased in my early 40's and the Inderal was no longer working. I ended up developing a cardiomyopathy as a result of persistent, consistent pvcs. In my case, the pvcs were no longer benign and I needed ongoing, aggressive treatment. Again, this is rarely documented and extremely unlikely to occur, so do not worry. I was admitted to the hospital and was monitored on flecainide (tambacor) for about 3 days. It worked wonders to suppress the pvcs, but after about 3 months of living with the side effects (digestive problems, vivid dreams and some central nervous system stuff), I discussed my options with my doctor. It was not unbearable, just not comfortable. She switched me to rhythmol. It was effective and I experiended fewer side effects. Took that for about 4 months and that's when I found out I would be on it forever...I guess I didn't realize that earlier. That's when the doctor and I seriously discussed ablation(s). She shared my medical records/tests with many experts around the country as well as with the local team of "ablators." They believed they could pinpoint the problem area and I was scheduled for EPS and possible RFA.
Fast forward to today - doing well, nearly pvc-free and experiencing lesser degrees of anxiety.
Best of luck with your upcoming test results and here's to traveling through your 40's pvc-less : )
Let us know what you decide about the tambacor. Will you be monitored if/when they start it?
Connie
I had a very similar experience. I was diagnosed at 19 with MVP and a leaky valve, but told it was nothing to worry about...stay off mountains and out of private airplanes...seemed easy enough...lol. I was put on Inderal sometime around 1981 (pvcs) and I took it on/off till 1998. At that time, the palps were acting up (early 30's) and the RX was no longer effective at suppressing them. The constant palps were driving me crazy and I was referred to an EP. After a complete workup, I was told the palps were benign, the valve was fine, but that I should get yearly echos. I could also stop taking the Inderal or try taking it "as needed" (that actually worked great over the next several years).
Long story short - the frequency of the pvcs substantially increased in my early 40's and the Inderal was no longer working. I ended up developing a cardiomyopathy as a result of persistent, consistent pvcs. In my case, the pvcs were no longer benign and I needed ongoing, aggressive treatment. Again, this is rarely documented and extremely unlikely to occur, so do not worry. I was admitted to the hospital and was monitored on flecainide (tambacor) for about 3 days. It worked wonders to suppress the pvcs, but after about 3 months of living with the side effects (digestive problems, vivid dreams and some central nervous system stuff), I discussed my options with my doctor. It was not unbearable, just not comfortable. She switched me to rhythmol. It was effective and I experiended fewer side effects. Took that for about 4 months and that's when I found out I would be on it forever...I guess I didn't realize that earlier. That's when the doctor and I seriously discussed ablation(s). She shared my medical records/tests with many experts around the country as well as with the local team of "ablators." They believed they could pinpoint the problem area and I was scheduled for EPS and possible RFA.
Fast forward to today - doing well, nearly pvc-free and experiencing lesser degrees of anxiety.
Best of luck with your upcoming test results and here's to traveling through your 40's pvc-less : )
Let us know what you decide about the tambacor. Will you be monitored if/when they start it?
Connie
Thank-goodness that I have found thisforum! I am used to having an occasional palpitation. I have learned to live with my "palps" for 20 years....UNTIL RECENTLY! They have gone crazy. My history is that at 18, I was diagnosed with slight MVP. Was having palps. I started on low dose Inderal at age 30 when palps increased and they gave me panic. I have had 3 or 4 bouts of Svt over the years that always resolved itself pretty quickly. Well, things have changed! For some unknown reason I have gone from 1 pvc on my Holter last year to 5,000 on my 24hr. holter this week. My cardiologist feels that it is p-menopause. WELCOME TO MY 40's! The inderal that I have been taking for 10 years has seemed to have lost it's worth. It seems like it is making the palps worse. I am now taking nothing. The palps seem better but still having alot.
Basically, All of the pvc's are benign and my Dr. wants to put me on tambacour? (spelling?) So, next week I will be having a Nuc. Stress test just for precaution. My real decision now is should I just try to live with the palpitations without any meds. I worry that the meds will make things worse.
Everyones words have been encouraging. Especially Connie and Charlie S. It helps to know others have gone through this. Thanks-Map11
Basically, All of the pvc's are benign and my Dr. wants to put me on tambacour? (spelling?) So, next week I will be having a Nuc. Stress test just for precaution. My real decision now is should I just try to live with the palpitations without any meds. I worry that the meds will make things worse.
Everyones words have been encouraging. Especially Connie and Charlie S. It helps to know others have gone through this. Thanks-Map11
i am not an MD. Being a pvc sufferer myself i am made to understand that some persons constantly have pvcs.most of the adult population have from a few to several hundred pvcs daily , most are not felt at all.
most pvcs sufferers like myself have episodes in which pvcs wax and wane, sometime months to years without any or very minimal symptoms, then a flare up for weeks to months.
once you had all the necessary the tests and unless others symptoms develop, probably a good physical every 5 years is all that needed, the fact that you had them 12 years without incidence is most reassuring that your pvcs are nothing more than a nuisance and not foreboding of worst things to come.
of course follow your own instincts and what your body is telling you.
Hi Cam4,
The EPS and ablations were not bad. The hardest parts were the IV (not crazy about multiple sticks looking for those veins, but certainly tolerable) and the part where they inserted a "plug" into the femoral artery (after the actual procedure). They have to apply pressure and by that time you are kind of waking up (kind of..lol). Other than that, it was not bad at all. If I had to go back, I would not be afraid or anxious.
Each procedure lasted 6-7 hours and I was given Versed and Fentynl for comfort. The first EPS revealed primarily a RVOT, whereas the second procedure revealed 4 additional morphologies, the predominant problem being LVOT. My cardio was definitely not in favor of an ablation when I asked about it a few years back. When the cardiomyopathy became issue, we began to discuss lifetime meds and/or ablation(s). I tried the antiarrythmics, but didn't like the side effects. So, ultimately I opted to give the EPS and ablation a try. I asked my doctor what she would do if she were in my shoes and she said she would go for the ablation. While I am normally not too good with medical procedures, I was actually kind of relieved when we finally decided to go ahead.
I admit, it is really nice to be nearly pvc-free. It actually took me several months to adjust to my new heartbeat. My EP commented that prior to the 2nd procedure, she had NEVER heard my heart beat regularly. However, it was always termed "benign" until the drop in EF. What I find especially awesome is that after years of anxiety, I do not experience the same level of anxiety. Before, when I would get anxious over something I would have this systemic reaction that would include an increase in heart activity...producing more anxiety....Now, when I am stressed, my heart does not normally get involved...nice!
What is an artery spasm? Sounds like it must feel strange. Here's hoping you sail through peri-M and M : ) I keep wondering if the pvcs will come back like I used to get them, but so far, so good. It has been 18 months since the 2nd procedure!! YEAH!
Connie
The EPS and ablations were not bad. The hardest parts were the IV (not crazy about multiple sticks looking for those veins, but certainly tolerable) and the part where they inserted a "plug" into the femoral artery (after the actual procedure). They have to apply pressure and by that time you are kind of waking up (kind of..lol). Other than that, it was not bad at all. If I had to go back, I would not be afraid or anxious.
Each procedure lasted 6-7 hours and I was given Versed and Fentynl for comfort. The first EPS revealed primarily a RVOT, whereas the second procedure revealed 4 additional morphologies, the predominant problem being LVOT. My cardio was definitely not in favor of an ablation when I asked about it a few years back. When the cardiomyopathy became issue, we began to discuss lifetime meds and/or ablation(s). I tried the antiarrythmics, but didn't like the side effects. So, ultimately I opted to give the EPS and ablation a try. I asked my doctor what she would do if she were in my shoes and she said she would go for the ablation. While I am normally not too good with medical procedures, I was actually kind of relieved when we finally decided to go ahead.
I admit, it is really nice to be nearly pvc-free. It actually took me several months to adjust to my new heartbeat. My EP commented that prior to the 2nd procedure, she had NEVER heard my heart beat regularly. However, it was always termed "benign" until the drop in EF. What I find especially awesome is that after years of anxiety, I do not experience the same level of anxiety. Before, when I would get anxious over something I would have this systemic reaction that would include an increase in heart activity...producing more anxiety....Now, when I am stressed, my heart does not normally get involved...nice!
What is an artery spasm? Sounds like it must feel strange. Here's hoping you sail through peri-M and M : ) I keep wondering if the pvcs will come back like I used to get them, but so far, so good. It has been 18 months since the 2nd procedure!! YEAH!
Connie
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