Heart

[fuddie]

Can the doctor read on the results of a cardiogram when you took your last heart attack?
              

[HEARTPBS]

hello there i am 36 years old i have been experiencing some pretty scarry heart problems well lets see i have been a very nervous person my whole life i have had anxiety attacks since i was 15 but recently i have had something happening much different happening. i woke up at 2 in the morning with my heart racing out of my chest all night it has been doing it ever since now everyday and night i get really light headed and feel weak all over is this happening to anyone else? i have an ecocardiogram tommorow and i am so scared to find out what they see. i feel so much like all of you it it reassuring to see so many other people feel like this but at the same time it is so sad that we all live with this. i also have had palputations and heart flutters for probably 15 years but now the heart racing is much different and scarier. please someone tell me it will get better i am so tired of feeling so scared and weak.

[perryman95]

This was awesome information.  I have been recently (10 weeks ago) diagnosed with Hashimoto's.  I was taking Xanax for about a week to get on with my life.  I was having attacks of heart racing and chest aching.  Dr.  put me on 150 mcg of synthroid.  After 8 weeks, endocrinologist out dose down to 50 mcg.  My thyroid levels are barely off, but the antibodies are out of whack.  I have a prescription here for Atenolol, but am leery of starting it.  Am starting to have trouble sleeping due to fear of attacks.  Any advice or thoughts would really be appreciated.  Thanks!

[hikerunner]

"I haven't taken the atenolol yet because the events are sporadic and when they're not going on, my HR is 60-75 and BP is 100-110/65-70. Do y'all have any words of wisdom for beta blockers in a usually normotensive, normal heart rate situation? Whatdo y'all think the atenolol is going to do to me when I'm NOT have a run of tachycardia?"

I think you are right to have second thoughts about taking atenolol.  I had a friend that is a runner who went on BP meds because their BP was high at the doctors office a couple of times. Problem is when they run and are not anxious (like white coat sydrome in the doctors office) their blood pressure is fine and the BP med has made it too low.  They reported that they actually got dizzy and fell of a tread mill once.

I too now have tachycardia when I never had it before after some type of virus.  I am holding off on the meds.  I am hoping that it is a transient thing that will go away.  From what I have been reading these PVS or spordiac high heart rates don't hurt you...so if your heart tests are normal you may want to go with the flow for a while and see what happens.

Take care

[ljd]

Hi  I just was reading your stories.  I am 39 and have been diagnosed with sinus tachycardia.  I went through all the tests-stress, ecocardiogram, adrenal gland, thyroid, etc.  Finally I was told it must be anxiety.  I have ativan and am on toprol 50 mg.  Like you I feel my heart race and then get anxious.  I don't believe it's anxiety.  I have just realized that it gets worse the week before my period.  I called my gyno but he had no idea as to what would cause this.

[Heartsease]

This thread sounds familiar, and I can totally relate to everyone's concerns here... and I have one of my own that I really need help with. Lately I have been having PVCs or "skipped" beats associated with respiratory problems. Does anyone know, can this be a legitimate cause of these? I am now having my 3rd bad cold of the winter, very fatigued, congested in the throat, and am plagued with the feeling that I am choking -- and when the choking feeling comes on it is often followed by a skipped heartbeat. I know because I monitor my carotid pulse when this happens and can feel the pause and then the "whoosh" afterwards. This is scaring me very badly, because I have had some scattered PVC symptoms in the past but this is now a daily occurrence for the last 4 days. Maybe a half-dozen or more times a day. I don't know if perhaps the cold medicines are causing this, or what. Funny enough it doesn't happen when I am exerting, mostly when I am sitting and/or eating, and particularly if I lean over. Like many on the list I am late-30's, on the pill, and suffer from anxiety as well as asthma. Can anybody help me? This is freaking me out. Thank you.

[Fran71]

Hi all! Funny conversations move from thread to thread because of a lack of room...I just posted in the thread before this one thanking everyone who helped me with my PVC sinus tach question!

I hate it when people dismiss my heart issues saying I'm anxious. OK, I'm the anxious type, but my arrhythmia has nothing to do with it. During my worst period with my hart (mean HR 120 and over 3000 PVCs a day for 2 weeks), I was so desperate I took 30 drops of Lexotan at once. I couldn't even walk straight, I felt like I was drunk...But my arrhythmia was the same.
As soon as I took a Betablocker the symptoms disappeared. All it took was a little tablet, aiming at the right target.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. I have antithyroid antibodies, but my thyroid function is still perfect. My endocrinologist says that since my thyroid still works great it cannot affect my heart rhythm. But my cardiologist thinks otherwise. Does anybody know if Hashimoto's with normal thyroid function may affect the heart in any way?

Thanks everyone for your precious help!

Fran

[Karonnie]

Hi there - I found this thread very interesting. I have recently suffered a recurrance of Rheumatic Fever and began having Tachy - amongst other probs & loads of arrythmias. BUT the one big thing I did notice was that when I was hormonal they were a lot worse. In fact when I was on the pill I could time it to even the hour of the day, I had been taken to the ER so it was documented too. I found this astounding and like you all suggested it to my Cardiologist (hoping I could get something to take just on those days because blacking out is so scary!) who just snuffed at me. Yes I agree I am having them as regular occurances now but they hardly bother me (unless i'm trying to sleep) but when I am hormonal with them (or so it seems) I am either presyncope or syncope. Then when I went off the pill because I also had Sydenham's Chorea (movement disorder) and it can sometimes make it worse, from the RFever and I was having them much more frequently - ie when I ovulated and a few days either side not just before I was menstrating - again an additional couple of days either side with 1 worse day(our family suffers estrogen excess problems and I had been put on a progestrone dominant pill which had worked wonders with the other problems). Needless to say i've gone back onto my pill and no further episodes - fingers crossed. I will report back when this month is complete as this will be another answer to my test theory. And for those of you interested you might not have excess estrogen in your bloods - the problem often is hormone imbalance instead - ie compared to progestrone and often estrogen is stored in the fat within our bodies and doesn't always show in our bloods. Maybe a progestrone cream like wild yam (a natural progestrone cream) or some black cohosh and a really great multi vitamin B will help the last 2 help with the synthesis of the estrogen so it doesn't sit around in the body where it can just cause trouble! There are a lot of "over 30's or 40's supplements out now that have varying levels of these. Just a thought.

[tipsyk]

Momto3, thank you so much for responding and answering my questions w/re to the abbreviations. My dr. wanted me to take a stress test along w/the echo, but since I was having so many events during the course of a day (all I had to do was move and my heartbeat skyrocketed) he decided not to do it. I guess he could see what was going on w/the event monitor i don't know. All i do know is that i feel better (at least i can walk around my apt) but when i do anything the least bit taxing, i feel it & my heart starts w/the rapid heartbeats. Like i said i am worried about it doing some kind of damage to my heart. I still have on the event monitor (suppose to return it on Monday Feb 20, but i haven't been calling in the events b/c i figure he's already seen what's going on. My dr. keeps insisting that i take ativan (.5 mg), but i really don't think it's anxiety that is causing these things. I am 48, turning 49 in March, do you think it could be related to menopause? Have always had miserable periods (headaches, terrible cramps) & in the last couple of years have developed bouts of cluster headaches & now this. what do you think?  PS: thanks again for responding--can't tell you how much i appreciate it...Karin

[Momto3]

Hope you see this since there wasn't any room left on the other post.

Did your cardio recommend a Beta Blocker to help with the symptoms? Some people find them very helpful with the symptoms. You may want to phone his/her office and let them know that the sinus tachy is very uncomfortable.  What about a stress test so they could see your heart when you are exercising?  May provide more information and offer some treatment options.  

PAC - premature atrial (upper chamger) contractions
PVC - premature ventricular (lower chamber) contractions
Bigeminy - ectopic beat every other beat
Trigeminy - ectopic beat every third beat
Quadrigeminy - ectopic beat every fourth beat

Hope that helps and hope that you are able to find a good resolution to your symptoms. Have a great day!

[Momto3]

The BB's might actually help.  Keep in mind, sometimes there is a trial and error period to finding the "right" BB.  I had the most success with Inderal, but others have had great success with Toporol or Atenolol.  I tried a few BB's and Atenolol was definitely not for me, but that's just me.  You may want to talk to your doctor about trying the lowest dose and titrating it up until you have the best outcome with the least medicine.  Could be worth giving the RX a try.

Connie

[llmaor]

Thank you all so much for your comments and suggestions! I'm so feeling the sisterhood here and am relieved that I'm not losing my grip! Like you say texiss, I've lived in this body 39 years, and I know when something's wrong in here. Physicians keep doing thyroid tests on me and they're always negative, but that is a great suggestion, as the symptoms are so similiar. And I keep telling them, "I'm not depressed and I'm not usually anxious--try walking around with a HR of 200 and let me know how you feel". :)

Tipsyk I did read somewhere that as we become older and estrogen levels begin to drop off, arrhythmias either first show up or if they've been there, they become more debilitating, but I didn't see an explanation why. My mother and my grandmother both started having problems when they were my age, so maybe there is a genetic component as well? (I'm happy to say my mom's now 66 and my grandmother is 91 and both going strong...on medication for control) Connie, I'm going to give the BB a try--maybe just scrape a little off the side and take to start maybe just when I have the problem? Thanks so much for your suggestion.

I would caution one thing about taking estrogen/black cohosh, etc. Even the plant derived estrogens can cause the same troubles as Premarin, etc. as far as increased cancer risks...I'm not sure about the alternative progestrones, though...just a thought.

Again, thank you all so much. I can be reached by e-mail as well at ***@****.

[dmil241]

Karin-just to let you know I am a 42 year old female and I always have more pac/pvc's around my monthly period. So many doctors say it isn't that or they don't know but my experience is that is definately comes into play. Good Luck.

[Momto3]

"I am 48, turning 49 in March, do you think it could be related to menopause? Have always had miserable periods (headaches, terrible cramps) & in the last couple of years have developed bouts of cluster headaches & now this. what do you think? PS: thanks again for responding--can't tell you how much i appreciate it..."

You're welcome!!

We are the same age and I definitely think M can stir up cariac activity!! Any chance the doctor can give you something other than anti-anxiety meds to calm the tachy?  I know a lot of people have arrythmias and cardiac flutters as a result of anxiety, but.....I'm one of those who was treated for "anxiety" and those meds didn't really help the palps, etc.  Sure, I didn't care, but that wasn't effective treatment for me.  The BB's worked for me, most of the time.  I can hear the concern in your voice and think it warrants a follow up, if for nothing for peace of mind.  It is amazing what an open dialogue with your cardio can do.  He/she may have altertives to offer.  Personally, (I'm not a doctor) I would want a bit more to go on than "anxiety."

There are others who'll probably join in this converation.  There are a number of us who've been treated for anxiety, only to find it doesn't quite get the job done.  Oh, I do have anxiety issues, but that goes with or without pvcs,etc.

Feel free to email me at ***@**** if you want to talk further.  Hope today is a good day : 0

Connie

[llmaor]

Hi all.

I hope that you guys see this, since it's sort of in a different place, but I can't ever seem to get a post in...

My story is so like yours tipsky. Racing (180-200 bpm) heart rate brought on by exercise, eating, etc. Mine also seem to be related to my menstrual cycle in severity (I'm a 39 yo female) My cardiologist didn't really do any tests, just put a 30 day monitor on me and recommended digoxin (which I resisted) and then prescribed atenolol for sinus tachycardia (with some PACs). There is a stress component to my episodes--when my heart starts pounding I tend to get panicky which makes it worse of course, but I don't think that I'm having panic attacks and so have also resisted Xanax, Lexapro, etc. (If my heart didn't race, I wouldn't panic!)

I haven't taken the atenolol yet because the events are sporadic and when they're not going on, my HR is 60-75 and BP is 100-110/65-70. Do y'all have any words of wisdom for beta blockers in a usually normotensive, normal heart rate situation? Whatdo y'all think the atenolol is going to do to me when I'm NOT have a run of tachycardia?

THANKS!

[tipsyk]

Connie, dmil241 & llamor: Again, thank you all for your responses, it really makes me feel better knowing someone else out there understands what i'm going through. Connie, because of you I have called my Dr. and have arranged to have a stress-test so that he can see what is going on while i'm exercising & I have also asked that some blood work be done to determine my hormone levels. I am convienced that going through menopause has something to do with what i'm experiencing--even though my cardio doesn't agree. However, I live inside my body and i feel that i know better than he what is going on. And it's NOT stress. Like you llamor, i think that it's a catch 22 situation; 1st the tachy & then the fear, & the more fearful i become, the more my heart races & out of breath i get. Connie, my Dr. did mention BBs but i'm very hesitant about starting on any life-long meds. On the other hand, if this keeps up, i really won't have much of a choice. By the way, before i forget, does anyone know what makes this happen out of the clear blue sky? One day i was fine, and the next day i suddenly have sinus tachycardia!?

I also called my gyno & told her what was happening & she basically said that meno could be affecting my heart rate to some degree. She said a lot of women experience palp's & rates of up to 130-140 bpm, but not as fast as mine (180-200bpm). However, i would like someone to explain to me why not? If meno can cause 140 bpm then why not faster? Sometimes i wonder if any of these people (drs) even know what they are talking about. Especially when it's a male dr treating a female patient. For example in my situation, when I told my cardio a few days ago that i was feeling a bit better, he said "how much of that ativan are you taking, .5 mg or are you breaking it in half the way i told you to do?" He was a bit taken aback when i told him i didn't have the perscription filled yet. Anyway, enuf of my blabbering, thank you guys so so so much for talking w/me & for your help. If anyone wants to email me, please feel free to do so at ***@****.  Thanks again you guy, and please keep in touch.

[Texiss]

I have a similar problem...I notice a rapid heartbeat, the fear kicks in, and at that point there's no stoppin' things!  My husband whispering, "Just calm down" doesn't help much...bless his heart! I had an ablation about 4 years ago, but this rapid heart beat is different than the "tachy attacks" I used to have. Seems the doctors are pretty quick to diagnose anxiety...I'm convinced that isn't always the case.  We know our bodies better than they do, afterall.  After many doctor's visits and a lot of research, I think I have narrowed my recent problem down to an overmedication of my thyroid medication. If you haven't checked your blood levels lately, or ever, that might be a good place to start if your doc does not think your troubles are heart-related.  Alot of the symptoms of anxiety, tachycardia and thyroid troubles are very similar!  One simple blood test and it will provide you with either something you can check off your list, or a reason to start treatment.  I have lowered my dose of thyroid meds and am feeling a little better each day.  The anxiety has loosened its grip and I'm able to leave the house more and more, the shaking and quaking have calmed, and I'm feeling a wee bit more energetic and hopeful.  So...next time you're in, ask about a thyroid check.  Can't hurt...and it may help!  

Best of luck, Chris

[Cleveland Clinic]

fuddie,

An electrocardiogram is an map of the electrical currents that occur in the heart during the cardiac cycle.  During a heart attack or when blood supply is jeopardized to the heart there are specific changes on the electrocardiogram that can be seen. After a heart attack, sometimes there are changes that can remain permanenet on the ECG. Unless the ECG is taken at the time of damage, the remaining changes are not really able to be dated too easily. Most Heart attacks on an ecg are usually classified as either actue (meaning now) or age indeterminate (meaning changes are there, unable to be dated) because of the above limitations.

good luck