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]

Thank you - I'll give that a try.

[bip]

I know where you are coming from cardologist always think anxiety. Im getting a test done in june I have abnormalties on my ekg and they are saying they don't know if it is brugada syndrome it's a rare disaese  It's  life threating arrthymias and it's scary I already have a anxiety disorder but this doesn't help. You always want to know what is wrong. I seen a few cardologist and now Im dealing with a EP doctor in brighams woman hostipal in boston they are the best so ordered the test to see if I have this. I can't wait Do you live near boston?

[ireneo]

The PA may have said your results were "normal" even if a few PVC's were recorded. I don't know the percentage but so many people have occasional PVC's that the doctors consider it nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps the heartbeat was still there but you just didn't feel it. My husband doesn't feel his heart beat at all. I can't imagine that. I feel mine almost all the time (not while driving or active); sometimes I even hear it thumping in  my ear, like now.

[shadow719]

The first cardiologist dismissed my concerns and said I probably had some underlying anxiety issue.  I agree there is some anxiety but I believe it is caused by whatever is going on.  I'm the kind of person that needs a reason.  I find it hard to believe there's no explanation for what I'm feeling.

The second cardiologist who set-up the 48 hr monitor was called to an emergency the day the results came back and I saw the PA.  She told me that everything came back normal and not to worry - no real explanation.

I have had chest pain/pressure and a burning sensation on my left side.  It was quite severe for a while but has subsided.  I get an occasional pang here and there but does not seem to be heart related (had a stress echo for it).

I'm a 36 yr old female, fit and in good health.  This all started a year and a half ago with what I would call palpitations (strong heartbeat).  It progressed to the pauses or maybe the palpitations just made them more noticeable.  In the first year they came and went every few months - now I have them on a daily basis.

[bip]

do you get pain in the cheat or shortness of breath? how old are you?

[bip]

I  understand why you are nervous I would call him and tell him you are feeling them alot. What did your cardologist say what he thinks these are?