abnormal ekg

[jennylou72]

I was admitted to er last week due to abnormal ekg.  My blood pressure was 120/90 and heart rate was 56.  I was admitted overnight for an abnormal ekg and low heart rate.  The doctors were concerned with av node and thought it could be life threating.  I had an echocardiogram and stress done and they were all normal.  The doctor sent me home and said I was fine but wants me to wear a 30 day event recorder to see if anything shows up.  I am very fit, 38 year old female who runs and walks a lot.  My question is that my heart rate is in the 40's-50's.  When I lie down my heart rate is in the 40's.  The day I was admitted into the hospital, I had a quick black out spell.  I haven't had one since then, but do feel dizzy and lightheaded sometimes.  Should I be worried and get more tests or just leave it alone?  The doctors had me scared to death and then I was ok in 24 hours.  

[Bromley]

Sorry to hear you had to spend a night in the hospital for what you thought at the time might be life threatening.  I have done that myself, and it is very nerve wracking. In my case, I had an abnormal holter result that could not be resolved to a safe diagnosis. So I spent the night in the hospital until further testing resulted in a finding of relative safety. To be honest, I think the guy who saw my holter trace was just playing it safe. Which I appreciate.

It sounds like you didn't get all of your questions answered, but don't fret!!  Just call the doctor and ask your questions. I know it is easy to assume that once you leave the office or hospital you can't talk to the doctor anymore.  That really isn't true. Usually, you can leave a message for your doctor and they will call you back. If necessary, you could ask your doctor's RN to assist if you are having to play phone tag.

It is reassuring to know that you are young and fit with a low heart rate and have been discharged from the hospital by a medical doctor who has done a cardiac workup on you. I would not be satisfied if I did not understand the details though. I would follow up with a few questions now, then more as needed, and more after turning in your 30-day monitor. (They wont mind; that's what they are there for).

[cindy707]

I would definately follow the docs advise....having a blackout and feeling dizzy is your body obviously telling you somethng is going on and needs to be addressed.  Thats the great thing about our bodies...we get warnings....the docs probably just wanted to rule out a specific diagnosis when they kept you over nite and wanted to keep you under observation which i think was a great idea.  Sometimes as Bromley said it is harder on us when we don't know the answers and our minds take over our common sense.  Granted you sound like you are in great physical shape which could explain the low pulse rate but you  may be having a little something else going on with you like a pause between the beats that are a little too long, or something that may not even be heart related at all and would surprise you.  The 30 day holter monitor is a great idea in that it would catch anything that may be there or not be there at all.  I know for sure i would want to put this to rest so that i could go back to my life or have them fix it if they do catch something.  Good luck with your tests...i would not panic at all i would just maybe feel a little reassured that your doc is proactive and is trying to get to the bottom of this by ruling out whatever they can....

[jennylou72]

Thank you guys for all the good advice.  I remember my Cardiologist saying that the dizziness, syncope and irregular heartbeat could be due to my Vagus nerve.  It is really weird, never heard of that before.  I am under a lot of stress right now, my dad is very ill and I am very busy with life...so that could be a huge strain.  Glad to know that I am out of danger, but what a roller coast ride last week.  I guess I will just be patient and see what this 30 day monitor has to say.  

[jennylou72]

I am wearing my 30 day event recorder and last night it kept beaping.  I was lieing down ready for bed and the recorder was full in 30 minutes.  Had to call in the transmit again.  I was having a tightness in my chest (my upper back area though) and was uncomforatable to breath.  If I set up it would stop and I could breath easier.  When I called in the results the tech told me there was activity, but not serious.  Is this normal and what could the Doctor be looking for?