What is it, palps, atrial fib????

[kellebelle]

I am a 43 year old female who is in good health.Since October I have been dealing with palps, they drive me crazy. I have had a holter, echocardiogram and tests came back normal other than pac's, sinus tach.The past couple of weeks have been horrible I will begin my episodes around 4:30 pm and they will last until bedtime. When they hit they will come every 2-3 minutes feels like my heart is jumping out of my chest very distrubing.

I saw my doctor on Monday and he drew blood again and ordered an event monitor. I wore it Friday events started at 5pm and I filled the monitor up by 9pm. I will be able to call it in Monday at 9am. I currently take a beta blocker, and also meds for panic attacks.My dad has atrial fib and that always concerns me that I am heading in that direction.I also have very low blood pressure 80/55.I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis but the endo doc does not feel my numbers are abnormal, so I am not on thyroid medication.
Questions???  
Do you think it is atrial fib??? My heart rate does speed up a bit when these hit, but not much. Just seems to jump every few
minutes or so.

Would my low blood pressure cause the palps, I take 25 to 50 mg of atenlol per day. Only take 50 if they really get bad.

Is it anxiety or my heart?? With my dad's history I just wonder.
This is something new that I have never experienced in my years with panic disorder.

What tests do I need but haven't had????

I appreciate your time! Would love to hear from others who are bothered by these darn things.

Kelly

[Mel22]

Add me to the list of people with heart palps and thyroid disorders (hypothyroid--taking Levoxyl).

[Lamar1]

Kelly, I too have palpitations (sinus tachicardia and PVCs), and I too have Hashimoto's with thyroid values in the normal range! I have the antibodies but normal T3, T4 and TSH. The endocrinologist told me that since my thyroid is still performing well it can't cause the heart problems, but my aunt has Hashimoto's and also arrhythmia, so I just don't know what to make of it. Have you had Hashimoto's for a long time?

Good luck

Fran

[mrbh]

I can relate to what you are going through. Sinus tach and PVC's (in my case) completely rule my life and make things miserable.

Just for comparison, I take Inderal 20mg four times a day and Xanax for the panic. It doesn't help very much and the questions linger about the docs doing the proper tests, or perhaps missing something. That doubt becomes a heavy burden.

I agree with Hank that maybe this was something you were going to get sooner or later anyway. Not sure if one is destined for a-fib through family lines, but the need for follow up with your doctor is clear. Good Luck.

[craigie]

There is a website that deals with inflammatory diseases such as yours...www.rheumatic.org

[Cleveland Clinic]

kellebelle,

thanks for the post.

1)Do you think it is atrial fib???

If it was not seen on the event monintor and holter, most likely not.

2) Would my low blood pressure cause the palps

Most likely not.

3) Is it anxiety or my heart??  

Both.  The symptoms are most likely from the palps which can cause anxiety. I would look into some relaxation and copin techniques to deal with your symptoms and your anxiety. If you look through the forum you can see what some others that have dealt with similar symptoms have used.

4) What tests do I need but haven't had????

I would work with your physician. It seems that most reasonable test have been ordered for palpitations.  

good luck