Aa
heart rythm inquiry
Thanks for taking my question. Originally posted back in Feb after 2 bouts (short) a-fib/palps/sinus tachy due to high BP as diagnosed by cardiologist.Meds got everything under control.240 Cardizem LA and Lisinopril/HCTZ 20/25.36 y/o male w/ no other history.I have 2 questions.
1.Since my regimine of meds has been adjusted to an acceptable level, things have been MUCH better.No a-fib, tachy, or palps to speak of with the exception of the occaisional PAC as best I can tell.Here's the strange thing.I the morning when I first get out of bed, my rythm seems somewhat out of sync.Not erratic such as an a-fib,at least not dramatic, but irregular.It will speed up and slow down,then repeat.This generally only lasts a minute (2 max).I have only experienced this first thing after getting out of bed and oddly usually only when in the restroom to relieve my bladder.Seems strange,but other than that,this is the ONLY time this is experienced.What could be the catalyst to this?Is it simply the Cardizem has worn off and it is my signal I better take my meds?This does not happen every morning, but 2-3x per week.I should also mention the 2 bouts of a-fib both occured in the early a.m. Coincidence?
2.I have read that instances of "lone a-fib" are often "vagally mediated".Can you please explain what this means in laymans terms,and is it possible this is possibly part of my issue?This was not mentioned by my cardiologist.
Briefly,a-fib was confirmed on 30 day monitor,stress test w/ echo (normal),24 hr urine (normal),blood work (normal)and office EKG's (all normal)
Thank you very much!
1.Since my regimine of meds has been adjusted to an acceptable level, things have been MUCH better.No a-fib, tachy, or palps to speak of with the exception of the occaisional PAC as best I can tell.Here's the strange thing.I the morning when I first get out of bed, my rythm seems somewhat out of sync.Not erratic such as an a-fib,at least not dramatic, but irregular.It will speed up and slow down,then repeat.This generally only lasts a minute (2 max).I have only experienced this first thing after getting out of bed and oddly usually only when in the restroom to relieve my bladder.Seems strange,but other than that,this is the ONLY time this is experienced.What could be the catalyst to this?Is it simply the Cardizem has worn off and it is my signal I better take my meds?This does not happen every morning, but 2-3x per week.I should also mention the 2 bouts of a-fib both occured in the early a.m. Coincidence?
2.I have read that instances of "lone a-fib" are often "vagally mediated".Can you please explain what this means in laymans terms,and is it possible this is possibly part of my issue?This was not mentioned by my cardiologist.
Briefly,a-fib was confirmed on 30 day monitor,stress test w/ echo (normal),24 hr urine (normal),blood work (normal)and office EKG's (all normal)
Thank you very much!
I have mitral valve prolapse with very mild regurgitation. For about a year now I have been weight lifting @ the gym. I found while lifting the weights I get somewhat light headed and throw PBV's. Now I have always had PVC's but found them to be more frequent while lifting.
Could someone tell me if lifting can damage my mitral valve even more than it is now. Is this an exercise that I should be avoiding. I have normal BP 110/60 PR of 68 am tall thin and very active with no other health problems.
Please advise.
Sheryl
Could someone tell me if lifting can damage my mitral valve even more than it is now. Is this an exercise that I should be avoiding. I have normal BP 110/60 PR of 68 am tall thin and very active with no other health problems.
Please advise.
Sheryl
Ozzie,
The only thing I can tell you is that there are a million possible causes of it. My cardio told me that some people have 1 (a-fib) then never have another, and others they become chronic. My initial episode was triggered by a reaction to a drug for bronchitis coupled with existing high BP. I also did the stress test, 24 hour urine to check for pheochromocytoma, the 24 hr holter and 30 day event recorder (where they captured the a-fib). In addition I had a good deal of anxiety generated as a result of what all was happening. Also experienced quite a few episodes of sinus tach on the monitor. Long story short, anxiety can cause palps/a-fib/st etc and those things can also cause anxiety (at least my cardiologist has said). There is no clear cut reasoning alot of times. I am overweight, so I know also that contributes to my BP and palpitations but I am working on that. You have to have a Dr you trust and can work with. Be Persistant!
In an odd coincidence of events, since my original post above on 10/13, I did not feel well this morning, a little queazy. Went to the Cardio and they did an EKG to be sure I had not slipped into a-fib but didn't know it. EKG he said was "perfect". The problem was though that my BP was too low (for me).It was 100/68. He said that he thinks this has been the cause of my palp's the last 2 weeks because my BP is dropping, then the heart rate speeds up to compensate and vice versa. Crazy but it makes sense, so he is cutting one of my med's in half to see if that helps. My BP had been declining over the past couple weeks anyway. Just another example of how it can sometimes be difficult to identify. Originally, they had such a hard time getting my BP down that he would have sworn that this was actuall a situation of my slipping back into a-fib rather than what was actually the case!
The only thing I can tell you is that there are a million possible causes of it. My cardio told me that some people have 1 (a-fib) then never have another, and others they become chronic. My initial episode was triggered by a reaction to a drug for bronchitis coupled with existing high BP. I also did the stress test, 24 hour urine to check for pheochromocytoma, the 24 hr holter and 30 day event recorder (where they captured the a-fib). In addition I had a good deal of anxiety generated as a result of what all was happening. Also experienced quite a few episodes of sinus tach on the monitor. Long story short, anxiety can cause palps/a-fib/st etc and those things can also cause anxiety (at least my cardiologist has said). There is no clear cut reasoning alot of times. I am overweight, so I know also that contributes to my BP and palpitations but I am working on that. You have to have a Dr you trust and can work with. Be Persistant!
In an odd coincidence of events, since my original post above on 10/13, I did not feel well this morning, a little queazy. Went to the Cardio and they did an EKG to be sure I had not slipped into a-fib but didn't know it. EKG he said was "perfect". The problem was though that my BP was too low (for me).It was 100/68. He said that he thinks this has been the cause of my palp's the last 2 weeks because my BP is dropping, then the heart rate speeds up to compensate and vice versa. Crazy but it makes sense, so he is cutting one of my med's in half to see if that helps. My BP had been declining over the past couple weeks anyway. Just another example of how it can sometimes be difficult to identify. Originally, they had such a hard time getting my BP down that he would have sworn that this was actuall a situation of my slipping back into a-fib rather than what was actually the case!
I haven't been able to post a question to the doc, so I'm hoping a few of you will have some insight into my situation.
I'm a healthy 27-year-old woman, married, no kids. BP is typically 120/60 or 70. Active lifestyle, healthy diet, no medical problems...until about a year ago. I started having short bursts of hard, rapid heartbeats that would last maybe 2-3 seconds. In fact, they went so fast, I hardly knew they were happening until they were over.
I went to a cardio, had an echo, all normal but a slight mitral valve thickening, no regurgitation. He told me to pre-medicate and that everything else was fine.
When the symptoms persisted, I went to an EP. He gave me a 30-day holter, and none of the symptoms I had felt were anything notable, until I had a huge episode on afternoon. I recorded it, and it was a 12-beat run of VT.
He recommended an ablation, but during the ablation, he could not trigger anything unusual. In fact, my heartrate was between 60-75 when he wasn't causing it to increase. (And I was nervous!) I didn't have one irregular beat in about 7-8 hours of monitoring, even when he stimulated my heartrate.
I have had an MRI on my heart--normal with a slight enlargement of left ventricle, nothing my doc is worried about--and a stress test with echo, which the doc called "beautiful." All my blood work was normal.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed b/c this is terrifying. I've had a few PVCs I can feel, but nothing very frequent. Generally, they go away in a minute or two.
The attempted ablation was in June. I have days when I feel totally normal, and days when I have the same symptoms that sent me to the cardios in the first place. (But nothing like the VT run.)
A few days before the VT episode, I was traveling, got food poisoning, vomited, was very stressed and my hormones seemed to be out of whack. Could that have caused the VT?
I'm on 25 mg of Toporol XL once daily, which seems to help lessen the frequency of these weird sensations. I'm also going to try fish oil and perhaps a bit of magnesium.
Any ideas about where to go next? I'm very impressed with my doc, and he said we could try the ablation again...but I'm wondering if the VT was an isolated incident caused by an electrolyte prob or something...Thoughts?
THANK YOU!
I'm a healthy 27-year-old woman, married, no kids. BP is typically 120/60 or 70. Active lifestyle, healthy diet, no medical problems...until about a year ago. I started having short bursts of hard, rapid heartbeats that would last maybe 2-3 seconds. In fact, they went so fast, I hardly knew they were happening until they were over.
I went to a cardio, had an echo, all normal but a slight mitral valve thickening, no regurgitation. He told me to pre-medicate and that everything else was fine.
When the symptoms persisted, I went to an EP. He gave me a 30-day holter, and none of the symptoms I had felt were anything notable, until I had a huge episode on afternoon. I recorded it, and it was a 12-beat run of VT.
He recommended an ablation, but during the ablation, he could not trigger anything unusual. In fact, my heartrate was between 60-75 when he wasn't causing it to increase. (And I was nervous!) I didn't have one irregular beat in about 7-8 hours of monitoring, even when he stimulated my heartrate.
I have had an MRI on my heart--normal with a slight enlargement of left ventricle, nothing my doc is worried about--and a stress test with echo, which the doc called "beautiful." All my blood work was normal.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed b/c this is terrifying. I've had a few PVCs I can feel, but nothing very frequent. Generally, they go away in a minute or two.
The attempted ablation was in June. I have days when I feel totally normal, and days when I have the same symptoms that sent me to the cardios in the first place. (But nothing like the VT run.)
A few days before the VT episode, I was traveling, got food poisoning, vomited, was very stressed and my hormones seemed to be out of whack. Could that have caused the VT?
I'm on 25 mg of Toporol XL once daily, which seems to help lessen the frequency of these weird sensations. I'm also going to try fish oil and perhaps a bit of magnesium.
Any ideas about where to go next? I'm very impressed with my doc, and he said we could try the ablation again...but I'm wondering if the VT was an isolated incident caused by an electrolyte prob or something...Thoughts?
THANK YOU!
Nurse,
The 2 occasions when I had the a-fib, it was much different than anything I had ever experienced.It was somewhat violent.The best way to describe it was that it felt like there was a bag of rabbits trying to jump out of my chest.Very forceful and extremely erratic.The first one lasted about 45 minutes and the second about 30 minutes.Luckily, both times I converted on my own.I understand from my Cardiologist that people can actually be in a-fib (at some level) and not even know it.One other thing, the first episode was such that my wife could actually hear my heartbeat lying next to me in the bed.It was something else.
Lately, the experience has not been nearly as forceful or erratic.What I am talking about now is the strong sensation of my pulse which very obviously sppeds up and slows down, but seems in rythm, although the rate varies and it lasts in the neighborhood of 30-45 seconds.Very noticeable nonetheless.
Stuart,
I would say the best thing to do would be to talk to your GP.Anytime there is any kind of abnormal feeling it is un-nerving and will create anxiety.My cardio has told me that the normal heart rate is anywhere from 60-100 beats per minute.For peace of mind ask your Dr about it and be persistent.The could give you a monitor to record those occurences to spell any doubt.Actually, I am considering this a second time to confirm these are not a-fib episodes.
I should also mention that since this began last November I hae put on about 35 lbs, and I feel certain this is contributing to my issues. I am working on that as well. Still just trying to asnswer questions which I may never be able to do.
The 2 occasions when I had the a-fib, it was much different than anything I had ever experienced.It was somewhat violent.The best way to describe it was that it felt like there was a bag of rabbits trying to jump out of my chest.Very forceful and extremely erratic.The first one lasted about 45 minutes and the second about 30 minutes.Luckily, both times I converted on my own.I understand from my Cardiologist that people can actually be in a-fib (at some level) and not even know it.One other thing, the first episode was such that my wife could actually hear my heartbeat lying next to me in the bed.It was something else.
Lately, the experience has not been nearly as forceful or erratic.What I am talking about now is the strong sensation of my pulse which very obviously sppeds up and slows down, but seems in rythm, although the rate varies and it lasts in the neighborhood of 30-45 seconds.Very noticeable nonetheless.
Stuart,
I would say the best thing to do would be to talk to your GP.Anytime there is any kind of abnormal feeling it is un-nerving and will create anxiety.My cardio has told me that the normal heart rate is anywhere from 60-100 beats per minute.For peace of mind ask your Dr about it and be persistent.The could give you a monitor to record those occurences to spell any doubt.Actually, I am considering this a second time to confirm these are not a-fib episodes.
I should also mention that since this began last November I hae put on about 35 lbs, and I feel certain this is contributing to my issues. I am working on that as well. Still just trying to asnswer questions which I may never be able to do.
Strange feeling last two mornings.
Strange feeling last two mornings.
The last two mornings I have gotten up around three am, to go to the mens room, and my heart is just pounding away, very strange, yesterday it really scared me, I thought I was having a Heart attack.
I woke up today, Sunday at 2 30 needed to go to the bathroom, and my heart was beating at maybe 90 bpm, just to go to the bathroom, I told my wife what is up with this.
I have never had anxiety in my sleep to make my heart go up before now I am really worried.
I try to drink plenty of water so my blood does not thicken to much.
I have not had any chest pains or the like just a bit of gas.
At this time sitting at the computer my heart is beating 78 bpm, it is 3;19 am.
Is this something I should get upset about.
I tend to really freak out about my heart racing it really scares me.
Stuart Brandt
Strange feeling last two mornings.
The last two mornings I have gotten up around three am, to go to the mens room, and my heart is just pounding away, very strange, yesterday it really scared me, I thought I was having a Heart attack.
I woke up today, Sunday at 2 30 needed to go to the bathroom, and my heart was beating at maybe 90 bpm, just to go to the bathroom, I told my wife what is up with this.
I have never had anxiety in my sleep to make my heart go up before now I am really worried.
I try to drink plenty of water so my blood does not thicken to much.
I have not had any chest pains or the like just a bit of gas.
At this time sitting at the computer my heart is beating 78 bpm, it is 3;19 am.
Is this something I should get upset about.
I tend to really freak out about my heart racing it really scares me.
Stuart Brandt
I get that in the morning sometimes. Like my PACs it comes in spells. Sometimes I'll just move a little in bed and my heart goes really fast, then drops very low when I stand up, gets really fast again when I use the restroom, then drops again when I stand once more. I suspect it has a lot to do with vagal tone, changes in levels of wakefulness and position and so on. I have no clue why it comes and goes, but it can feel quite unpleasant.
I've heard of a connection between afib and urinating...I think sometimes people feel the urge to go after an a-fib episode? Something like that. Don't quote me. Maybe mention it to your doctor, or Google it.
I've heard of a connection between afib and urinating...I think sometimes people feel the urge to go after an a-fib episode? Something like that. Don't quote me. Maybe mention it to your doctor, or Google it.
Hey there,
I have had weird odd spurts of irregularites in the morning. I also had to pee (haha though that is common in the morning :) I haven't ever had a fib that I know of. What does that feel like? You yourself and your pulses? Just curiousity. I hope your feeling better soon!!
I have had weird odd spurts of irregularites in the morning. I also had to pee (haha though that is common in the morning :) I haven't ever had a fib that I know of. What does that feel like? You yourself and your pulses? Just curiousity. I hope your feeling better soon!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
ratatat,
thanks for the post.
1) Its impossible to tell you what is happening without a recording of your rhythm at the time. You postulate several possibilities all of which could be the case. A lot of rhythms in the pody occur cyclically, so recurence with similar situations is not surprising.
2) Vagal tone refers the effects of the autonomic nervous systems effect on the resting heart rate. Just as there are many triggers for fibrillation and arrhythmias, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can both initiate arrthymias. In pure form, these triggers as the sole cause of fibrillation are probably not common and usually represent a constellation of symptoms.
Specifically the vagus nerve inervates the heart and is responsible for controlling the resting heart rate. Increases in vagal tone cause a slowing of the heart rate.
good luck
thanks for the post.
1) Its impossible to tell you what is happening without a recording of your rhythm at the time. You postulate several possibilities all of which could be the case. A lot of rhythms in the pody occur cyclically, so recurence with similar situations is not surprising.
2) Vagal tone refers the effects of the autonomic nervous systems effect on the resting heart rate. Just as there are many triggers for fibrillation and arrhythmias, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can both initiate arrthymias. In pure form, these triggers as the sole cause of fibrillation are probably not common and usually represent a constellation of symptoms.
Specifically the vagus nerve inervates the heart and is responsible for controlling the resting heart rate. Increases in vagal tone cause a slowing of the heart rate.
good luck
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