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Palpitations

Female - 41 years old - good health except suffer from palpitations.  I take celexa because I have anxiety issues that my doctor seems to think contribute to my palpitations.  I can sometimes go 2 - 3 days without any palpitations and then wammo I get them every 5 minutes every day!  You just never know when to expect them.  

My question is I have been for an EP study because when I had a holter it picked up a short run of v-tach and I insisted that I get an EP study.  They study showed up nothing but I continue to get these skips and flutters.  Could they have possibly missed something do you think?

My other question is that when I am excited, stressed or whatever my heart quite often starts going into these really fast beats and I get quite dizzy.  It is really hard to explain, it is not like when you have been running it just all of a sudden starts going fast and I seem to be able to stop it when I take a deep breath and hold it or it just does one really hard bang at the end of the run and goes back to normal.  Do you think that sounds like a short run of SVT or do you think that sounds like v-tach?  It still scares the daylights out of me thinking that this could be v-tach.  My doctor says know big deal even it is because I have a normal heart.  Do you agree?  These fast beats don't happen a lot.  I can go months without the fast beats and then when I am stressed or anxious it seems to happen more.  Could it just my heart reacting to adrelin do you think?  I know the PVC's feel like a surge sensation and and then a big wammo and the fast beats don't feel like.

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Avatar universal
Dear Kama,

  First, I read your story and I also had a heart palpitation since when i was 20 years old. I'm so scared and i dont know what to do. My husband always rush me in the hospital but the doctors had a negative findings although they find that i have a arrythmia but my doctor told me at its normal.  Right now my first aid is oxygen, i put it in the side of my bed.  I also had a problem with my reproductive  because i have a ovarian cyst, Im 3 years married but still right now I don't have a baby. It's really hard for me to accept this kind of trial, that's why sometimes I'm very emotional, depressed and nervious and my doctor told me to find another person with the same problem like mine so i can exchange or lean on my situation.        

  I really appreciate for your immediate response,and for those who want to share there experience with me with regards to heart palpitation please don't hesitate to email me at ***@****.  Thank you and God Bless.


Mel
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Avatar universal
Here is my story. I am 19 years old, I have always been in good health. I have also been a daily marijuana user for the past 2 years. I was having back spasms so my doctor prescribed me flexeril. I took it one day while smoking and it reacted by my heart racing. I went to the doctor 2 times they said it was nothing. After going to the er I found that I have sinus tachycardia. I had an ekg, blood drawn, x-rays, they said the holter monitor was not necessary. Now I am taking atenolol for my heartrate. It was about 102 sitting, and about 145 standing. My questions are is it curable or able to overcome, is it fatal, I do not want to have to take a pill to regulate myself. Also, since I have stopped marijuana usage for good, I want to be my active self again, is this possible with my condition??? Please anyone reply, I do not want to live in fear the rest of my life. Thank you.  Another thing, is there any chance if I just keep taking the mediciation if it will just regulate my heartbeat itself and is there any chance I have a different diagnosis that the doctors and the er just didnt see??  Thank you!
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Avatar universal
Hi Kathy,
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Thank you for your lenghty answer!
And for the time and effort looking things up.
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Love -    ***Ianna***
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your comments. Holter results proved OK - no mention of PVCs or PACs or anything else abnormal -- "It's not cardiac," my NP said. OK, I'm relieved, but still obsessing and jittery. When she examined me a few weeks ago, my BP was something like 145/90 (I was extremely nervous) but she didn't seem concerned. (Scheduled a retake in 3 mo.) Today I tried a free BP machine in a store - this was after being hyped up and palpitating all week about my test (must have had about 5 flipflops while talking to the NP) - and it showed something like 190/90!! Yikes!! How reliable are these store machines? I've also felt pounding in my head and am still very aware of my heart beating. She told me to stop taking my pulse, which I have (only twice today)- other than the machine - but I can't help feeling it almost constantly. She recommends that I focus on stress management - which I agree with.
Like someone else commented, I've also talked to my heart to tell it calm down. Talk about weird ...

Signed, The Beat Goes On

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Avatar universal
Ianna, thanks for your interest & well wishes!  You know, your question motivated me to do some research to clarify what I already knew so that I could better explain it.  Let me quote a posting by a doctor (though from 1996):

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Avatar universal
Hello Kama,
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Could you tell me what is Prolonged QT Wave Syndrome?
And what does it feel like: a 4-10 or 11 QT Wave?
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Thank you,  -   stay well    -   ***Ianna***   -
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Avatar universal
There
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Avatar universal
Hello, just thought to provide some support... the use of use Flovent and Albuterol has shown to cause PVC's/PAC's in some people.  Don't worry for now unitl you have recieved your medical reports, most likely nothing seriouse, see about stopping the use of your inhalers for a period of 2-3 months makes any difference.

Take care, Alex.
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Avatar universal
I have had palpitations since mid-December -- they feel like a flip-flop - more like butterflies in the chest than in the stomach. I get them at least once, maybe several times a day, and have become quite obsessed with my heartbeat. I feel my pulse often to try to "capture" the skipped or extra beats. I'm experiencing them even as I write this. I am nervously awaiting the results of a Holter monitor Although my doctor has tried to reassure me, I am still anxious. My husband lost his job in Dec. and I have two high-maintenance kids. I tend to obsess about things, but with my family history (all 4 grandparents died of heart failure and my mother has had heart surgery and related problems)I am worried. It's a relief to see that other people go through this and it's usually normal, but I'm still kind of scared. When I feel my pulse or heartbeat, normal rate is about 70 bpm. It;s hard for me to tell if I can feel the skips in my pulse.
I'm 46 and female with no prior heart issues, but I do have asthma and use Flovent and Albuterol and Singulair.
Any input welcome.
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Avatar universal
I live on the west coast and no matter what time I try to submit a question here, it just never ever gets in.  So I'm hoping that you will consider reading this, even though it's being added to someone else's post.

I was told that adrenalin (whether it's excitement, medications, caffeine, physical exertion, stress, etc.) is often a precursor to SVTs.  I, too, was told by my GP that it's probably "just" some type of SVT and therefore, not dangerous.  Well I've gotta say that I, myself, am not terribly convinced that it is "not dangerous".  Perhaps oftentimes it isn't, but not always.  

I had an episode last month where my pulse just took off (for no apparent reason), so I headed to emerg.  They immediately hooked me up to an ECG and after 40 very long, stressful minutes, I converted without having to get any medications added to my IV.  My blood pressure (which is normally 120/80) only went up to 149/89, but my bpm at one point reached 295.  (I have subsequently been diagnosed with AVNRT and was recommended for RFAblation.)

Anyhow, at the top of one of the EKG printouts, there was a notation (made by the machine) "Sinus tachycardia.....Marked ST abnormality, possible inferior subendocardial injury......abnormal ECG."  However, on the next ECG taken a bit later that evening, even though it was still an "Abnormal ECG", there was a handwritten notation (made by ER staff) "Normalizing ST segments".  Wow - All I can say to that is PHEW!  They also did blood work and cardiac enzymes were okay.  

So I guess I just don't understand why so many doctors seems to say they're not a big deal.   Obviously they can be a big deal!  

If they were perfectly safe, then why would doctors/ERs ever administer adenosine?  And also, why would anyone with SVTs ever be recommended for ablation?  Also, it appears that I was in danger at one point.  

Also, I read that for some types of arrhythmias, they are now doing ultrasound ablation.  Is UA recommended for AVNRT?  I assume it is somehow safer than RF ablation?  

Thanks. :)
BTW, I am female, in my 40s.
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Avatar universal
I had chest pain 3 time I end up to emergency room .they did EKG
all three look ok . They drawed blood for cardiac enzymes evrey think look ok . Now my bloo was high 148/ 100 . they give a hypertension pile, which I am tacking for the past 2 weeks .the systolic come down to 132 but the diastolyc remain hundred.what you think might be the problem for the high diastolyc. do i need to change medecine. But also I am very gasy always burping .
It's that related to a heart problem also.

thanks in advance
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Avatar universal
Hello M,
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Yes, stomach problems are often related to PVC's, flutters and palpitations. The pain you feel might be stomach- or esophagus related. I feel you have to have the Dr. take a look at THAT problem first. Watch what you eat and drink. Not too much coffee and alcohol, or caffeine in soft drinks, no smoking, no BIG meals, less sugar etc etc.
You are not alone with this, there are a lot of us suffering the same symptoms.
Surf through this site (the archives for example) to look for questions and answers from people with the same problems, there are many!!!
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Good luck --------     ***Ianna***
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Avatar universal
Dear Mumof2,

You have been experiencing palpitations which seem to consist of documented short runs of ventricular tachycardia. It is also possible that you may be experiencing runs of SVT, PACs and PVCs. It is reassuring that you have a structurally normal heart. PACs and PVCs are not very worrisome in the setting of a structurally normal heart. SVT includes many different arrhythmias, most of which are more of a nuisance than a long term threat. However, there are some unusual conditions which may cause short runs of ventricular tachycardia. I would ask your electrophysiologist about the possibility of ARVD and idiopathic ventricular tachycardia. These are rare conditions that your doctor may have already considered, and discussing them may be helpful. If your doctor is convinced that you do not have a rare condition causing these symptoms,  avoiding activities that trigger your symptoms and possibly medical therapy would be a reasonable option. Also, the anxiety you are experiencing could be playing a major role in your symptoms. Getting help for your anxiety may dramatically improve your symptoms as well.

Stressful situations can bring on episodes of palpitations as well as caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and stimulants such as those found in decongestants. Avoiding these substances may reduce your symptoms. Also, ask your doctor if your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level has been checked.

Beta blockers are the first line of therapy recommended for treating conditions such as the one you have described. They are very effective at suppressing PVCs and short runs of ventricular tachycardia. Discuss your concerns with your doctor and mention the issues brought up in this forum.

Thanks for your question,


CCF-MD-KE
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Avatar universal
Sounds VERY simular to my happenings! Dont feel alone because there are many of us who suffer from these scarey yet benign, so the doctor says, miserable arrhythmias... Want to talk more to me about our shared problem just email me at ***@****  (LNI.net) "l" looks like a "one" but is a "L"  Gary M
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Avatar universal
I have had situations similar to this too which have been happening more recently.  I have had an echo, stress, holter and things are normal yet I have PVCs.  I too get very anxious and alarmed when I feel a PVC as anxiety runs in my family, but from what I have read, PVC's are nothing to worry about when there is no underlying heart disease.  Your mind controls your body function which is why I think you notice more frequent palpitations when you're anxious and thinking about them.  When I get them I just try to shut it out of my mind because palpitations due to anxiety never seem to occur when you are busy and not thinking about them.  The mind is a powerful thing, I believe you can create more frequent palpitations by dwelling on them, or you can beat them by trying to shut them out of your mind which is easier said than done.  I think that if it's just PVC's you don't have anything to worry about in my opinion, although I'm not a Dr.  Hope this helps.
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