Pause in heartbeat - please help!

[shadow719]

I recently came off a 48 hr holter monitor for what I would describe as a pause in my heartbeat.  I usually get a run of these when I lie down or upon waking in the morning.  Sometimes they are accompanied by the sensation that my heart is pounding very hard.  My average heart rate is about 77 bpm and does not race during these episodes.  During the holter I had several of these pauses. I was certain they would show-up and I could finally get some resolution but I just got the results and the holter showed NOTHING - no pvc/pacs, no irregularity at all.  How could that be??  What could this be??  I can physically feel these and just to prove I'm not crazy I've had my husband feel them too.  I have had a very comprehensive cardiac work up for a 36 yr old in good physical health (numerous ekgs, echo, stress echo, chest x-rays, CT scan, blood work).  My heart is healthy and structurally normal and I realize I have a low cardiac risk but it's a bit unnerving when I feel these pauses and the cardiologist sees nothing.  How can it be that I feel these and the holter picks up nothing?  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.  I just want to know what it is.

[shadow719]

When I feel the skip I am actually taking my pulse.  I can feel the skip by physically taking my pulse and can also sense it in my body - a pause like everything stops.  I read the posts of what other people describe as PVCs and PACs and the description is so close to what I feel.  The PA said they found no PVCs or PACs at all.  She requested the full transcript so she could look to see if there was anything on the monitor that wasn't reported.  I'm so frustrated because I thought the monitor would provide an answer.  Thank you for your responses - it helps to just talk about it and hear from others.

[shadow719]

I'm in Denver, Colorado.

[shadow719]

I live in Denver.  What is an EP?

[dmil241]

Ireneo is right. Some doctors will tell you when the ectopics show up on a holter and some just say that everything is normal if nothing but a few of those things show up. They are so common.

The chest pressure and burning kind of sounds like acid reflux. Have you tried any meds for that?

Another thing it could be is gallbladder. The only way to truly know if it is gallbladder is with a HIDA test. An ultrasound just won't show the whole picture. I know this from experience. I went through 5 years of trying to find out what my burning/stabbing/stinging left-sided chest pain was from. At one point my cardiologist told me it was some minor coronary artery spasms out of desperation for an explanation. (And yes, I went through the whole anxiety-**** explanation from the doctors.) However the calcium channel blockers did no good! He finally ordered a HIDA test after numerous ultrasounds said I was fine and like magic the answer was discovered. It took 5 YEARS!

Good Luck. Try not to fret too much over it.

[dmil241]

I just saw what you wrote to Ireneo about no PACs or PVCs. When I was having my gallbladder issues, I sometimes thought I was having those beats when I was not. It was a gastro issue from GERDS and my bad gallbladder. However at other times I was having the palps. They have been documented. Check into gastro problems. ??? You might find an answer there.

[bip]

sounds like dmil241 is in the right track call a gastro I agree.