Palpitations last for hours... or days

[Ally265]

I'm a 26yr old female.  I only recall having palpitations for the last 3 years or so, but my husband says I used to say that my heart felt funny as long as 8 years ago (but it must not have been that bad because I don't remember...).  They will usually only last for a few weeks and then disappear for 2 months or so.  I'm in the middle of what seems to be another episode.  Everytime I start getting them I try to calm myself down, focus on getting proper exercise, eating more vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains... I even turn on calming music!  So, basically, I try everything I can think of (in case it is due to anxiety, which I don't know is the cause).  I've also noticed that if I drink some types of beer or wine, the next day I will have them really bad.  Mom says maybe from sulfites...?  I'm 5 months pregnant now, so obviously not drinking.  I've had them for the past 6 days.  They last ALL day.  It will go from feeling like my heart skips a beat and then is followed by a hard beat, to feeling like it is fluttering, to beating really fast.  But it will literally do it non-stop.  Maybe every 15 seconds... so 4 times a minute, or 240 times an hour.  It's a really scary feeling.  I am aslo short of breath much easier than I should be.  I've noticed that after I eat it seems to get worse.  First thing in the morning, I don't have them at all.  They usually don't start until I've been awake for about an hour.  I've recently (the past few days) also tried cutting out any foods with preservatives.  

I realize this is a long post.  I really just want to know if you can get palpitations this consistently, all day, for several days at a time, from things like preservatives, sulfites, anxiety, etc. ?  I have gone in to the ER 3 times over the past few years for these.  Each time they did an EKG and said I was fine (once they told me I had an arrythmia).  And they send me home.  Your thoughts?

[Mommata4kids]

Hi, I also get palpitations. They were the worst when I was pregnant also. All the advice and comments on here are pretty accurate to my experiences! Make sure you are Hydrated, electrolytes as normal as possible, magnesium helps, and natural potassium, no supplements unless prescribed by doctor.

[Ally265]

Awww, thank you so much for your responses.  I really wasn't sure that anyone would answer!  Donna, it's funny that you should say salt, msg, and dehydration - I've been watching all three to see if they are linked to the palpitations (or at least when they seem to get worse).  It's such a hard thing to deal with when they get bad... It can definitely interrupt normal daily activities.  

I called a cardiologist the other day, but I really need to get insurance first (according to her, there are only 2 in town that will even see a cash patient).  I was on my husband's insurance but with all the lay-offs they switched him from an employee to an independent contractor and we lost the insurance (but thankful that he still has a job at all).  But thank you for the advice - I'll try to get in for a holter monitor and hopefully they can tell me that everything is ok.  I was just reading that PVC's are usually first noticed in your early 20's and nearly 50% of people experience them... that makes me feel a little bit better.  If it's related to something I am eating or drinking, or something I can control, I just wish I could put my finger on it.  Thanks again for all of your input.  It's much appreciated! :)  

[LBBBguy]

Your post isn't long at all. I guess my first question is that since you've gone to the ER three times, have you followed up with a cardiologist? An EKG can catch some things, but for something like this, maybe a Holter monitor (24 hour ekg) is what they would want to do. Possibly some other diagnostic tests as well. Bottom line is that you should get some kind of diagnosis here. It could very well be nothing serious, but it would definitely help you to get some kind of definition to what's going on from a cardiologist.

As for stuff that can aggravate palpitations, alcohol and caffeine are a couple of big ones. Stress, anxiety and poor sleep, too. I could imagine that hormones from pregnancy could be a potential factor as well. Beyond that, there's all kinds of things that trigger it for some people, but not others. Listen to your body in that regard. As for lifestyle, the best thing is to avoid the caffeine and alcohol, get enough rest, and some kind of stress management. Get some exercise, but if you're concerned, keep it pretty mellow (like walking, and as you're pregnant I don't suppose you're cranking it too hard these days) until you get some activity advice from a cardiologist.

So in short, go see a cardiologist for a consultation and get it figured out.

[itdood]

Don't forget a blood test, as your electrolytes might be low, especially calcium.

Some folks report relief by taking magnesium supplements, along with calcium.  They should be taken together.

Could be your baby is causing the shortness of breath by pressing up against your diaphragm?  this would get worse after you eat...  This might be what's causing the PVCs too, as it would be putting pressure in you thoracic region too which would irritate your heart or sympathetic nerves leading to your heart.

[donna80]

Pregnancy can make these worse... (search this site)

For me, dehydration, to much salt, msg (found in take aways) to much choclate, alcohol, excitement and anxiety will set them off... sometimes i dont even know what set it off!!

Best bet is to go to the doctor asap, and have an ecg done whilst your having them so they can diagnose, and they should give you a monitor to wear for atleast 48 hrs....

Pretty harmless though, i know they are scary but you dont have any underlying condition or it would of been found by now... (with the ecg's you have had).. So calm down.. Go to the doctor and get a holtor monitor on....

big hugs x x