arrhythmia and palpitations

[belinny]

I have had heart palpitations since I was a teenager so I have had it for about 20 years.I have had two children and I am now 9 weeks pregnant.  About seven years ago I was having the heart palpitions quite bad after I took a prescription drug to try to lose weight.  I was sent for an ekg and I wore a holter monitor for a couple of days.  Both said that nothing was wrong.  The doctor thinks that my heart is "nervous"  I have had to deal with anxiety spells and depression after the birth of my second child.  I am no longer on any antidepressants and I feel that I am not bad enough to take them any longer. For the past couple of weeks I have noticed an increase in the palpitations and skipping.  It is now every day and it occurs alot during the day.  I was just wondering could it be the pregnancy or is something else going on now.  They have increased more over the years and my grandmother has a pacemaker.  My mother also has the palpitations bad and there has been a lot of heart attacks with death in the family.  I would appreciate any input.  Thank you.

[belinny]

I spent an awful Christmas morning by having to get out of bed a couple of times because the palpitations were so bad and frequent that I couldn't sleep.  This is the worse that they have ever been since I started having them.  I keep telling myself that it is all to do with the pregnancy and maybe the hormones.  I just try to get through the day but sometimes it can be very hard to enjoy anything.  I had tried atenolol years ago but I stayed taking it because it dropped my heart rate too low even with half the dosage I was taking.  Maybe after this pregnancy I will be able to try something else again.  I have a lot of anxiety so I consider myself at times my own worst enemy.  I have actually prayed to God to please look after me and I pray that he does.  Thanks again to everyone for their comments.

[gorsal]

And I thought I was the only one... On Christmas morning instead of playing with my two children ages 4 and 7, I was on the internet trying to find any information I could on these horrible heart palpitations.  I truly believe that I am going to die when these occur.  They only last about 3 seconds, but leave me absolutely exhausted and depressed.  Just this morning I began the 30 day heart monitor, but also called a psychiatrist- has anyone felt that these palps might be due to panic or anxiety?  I am 36 years old and have had a couple of stress tests and a stress echo which all came back normal.

[rdf6218]

You asked if anyone knew of a better beta blocker to use.  Both doctors I visited said Toprol is a safe one to use because you can eventually stop taking it.  I guess with many beta blockers, once you are on it, you're stuck. But, I am only going by what I have heard. Anyway, I would ask your doc about the toprol.  It made me dizzy the first couple of days, but that is because my blood pressure is pretty low to begin with and it needed time to adjust.  Good luck.

[BHoss]

Wow, all I can say is thank god I'm not the only one going through all this thinking I'm going to die any minute. I've spent a few thousand dollars at my doctors office just to have my doctor tell me that I will be ok and that nothing that's happening to me is life threatning.
My problems heve been going on for about 6 months and now I see people have been living with this problem for multiple years. I guess the biggest thing it does to me is cause lots of stress, just wondering if your going to fall down dead. Other than that I can deal with the weird feelings pretty well. May GOD be with us all.

[jessegirl]

As others have said, it's good to know your not alone with these issues.  I have one 3 yr. old boy and wonder constantly if he will have these awful feelings we get with these palps., God, I sure hope not, I think it's part of the reason I don't have another child, too afraid to pass on my "illnesses".  
Contratulations to Belinny.  I think what got me through my pregnancy is ignorance.  I didn't have a name for my PAC's then, if I had I'm sure I would be going through the same things your are.  I heard meditation and yoga really do help.  I walk 30 min. a day and notice a difference from when I don't exercise.  I already go light on caffeine, sugar, etc. and all the other 'triggers' people describe and still get them.  I was shocked that my holter monitor test came back with 3,300 APC's under a 24-hour period, especially when I only FEEL about a dozen or so a day.  I, also, feel "is this it" and hope and pray that I'll get to see my son grow-up.  As a note to rdf6218, have you had your Thyroid tested?  I was recently diagnosed with Graves/Hyperthyroidism and you mentioned you just want to sleep,with all my extensive reading on this issue you could very well have Hypothyroidism, that also will produce palpitations.  I have the other problem, I'm exhausted because I'm afraid to go to sleep, which also gives palps.. It's a viscous circle!  Good luck to you all!! Thanks for sharing!

[mom3kids98]

Above comment was to you too rdf. Thanks, Joy