Ventricular Tachycardia

[andie5]

I am a 27 year old female and have had palpitations or feeling of a skipped beat for a while. Recently I asked my primary dr. to send me to a cardiologist, who put me on a 30 day event monitor. Last Friday, I experienced a strong palpitation and transmitted the recording. Another doctor at the practice called (my dr. was on vacation) and said I had a ventricular tachycardia showing 6 beats and prescribed me 25 mg of Metroprolol to start immediately. I asked this week for a referral to an EP doctor and I have an appointment next week with her. The Metoprolol slows my hear to the 60s when I take it at night, but my heart rate is back in the 90s-100 and 80s in the morning and all day. Is that normal? Also, I have been experiencing some occasional pain in the sternum area when I take a breath and in the area right between my collar bones....I called the dr. last night about it and he said it didn't seem like a heart issue, not to worry and to call my dr.'s nurse today (which I have & left a message). I also have some back pains and pain in the right side of my neck. Please advise! I am panicky b/c of being told about the v-tach and the meds make me feel weird and now the pain. Thanks for your help!

[Nbalu]

To Andie5,

Andies case seems very familiar. I think that’s what is happening with my wife for the last 3 months. We went all around the cardiology, neurology, ENT etc. And finally found out the pressure /pain in the neck is caused by “Cervical Spondylosis” primarily caused by long “non-ergonomic” posture at the computer desk. The Tachicardia is associated with cervical spondylosis if the degenerated cervical disc is pressurizng the spinal cord nerves associated with the lung function. Metoprolol definitely helps, but what you need to do is go to a neurologist and ask for a neck MRI. This will clearly show any problems with cervical spine. If you have it you will have to start physiotherapy/surgery to take care of that. Then your SVT issue will slowly go away.

Good luck…

NBalu

[Cleveland Clinic]

Ventricular tachycardia is an ominous sign in patients with decreased ventricular function and others with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). If you have had an echocardiogram showing normal LV and RV function, most likely this is not a life threatening concern and you may only need a beta blocker ( which may be causing all of your symptoms). If not then you may need an echocardiogram and a fat suppresion MRI to assess for the presence of ARVD.
Other questions asked should be have you passed out or felt very lightheaded? If so you may meet criteria for a defibrillator despite other negative tests. Apart from any of these abnormalities medications such as the one's you are taking are sufficient measures to prevent sudden cardiac death.

[andie5]

I am also experiencing extreme flushing of the right side of my face...the same side that my neck/head is hurting or feeling pressure.

[BionicBabe]

I can relate with how you are feeling. I experienced a similar situation as you...except in my case I had only a 24-hour haltor monitor, which showed many runs of VT. I was also put on a beta blocker (a different one, Coreg) and experienced the cold hands and feet. That sensation went away after a few days. I can't say for sure if it's related to the medication or not, but my doc did say it was possible. I didn't have the pain you're describing. It can take a while to get over the many possible side effects of beta blockers. They tend to make many of us tired a lot of the time but they are known to lighten the work load on the heart and possibly reduce arrhythmias. I also understand how you feel about being told you had a run of VT. It is frightening. Be glad they caught it on the event monitor though. No one wants to have VT, but it's better to find out about it now and be treated for it if necessary. Good luck! It sounds like your Cardiologist's clinic is taking this seriously. That is good news! Try not to be afraid. Many of us who have serious arrhythmias (and yours may prove not to be serious) live very normal lives.

[andie5]

I am also having cold hands/feet--is this because of the medicine?