Fluttering Heartbeat

[humanpuck]

Hi there,

Last week I started to experience what I can only describe as a flutter in my heartbeat.  It feels like my heart beat pauses and then theres a strong beat, and I have to take a deep breath.  The sensation lasts a few seconds then goes away.  I have high BP, and I'm taking a combo of Lisinopril and Toprol for it.  After the sensation I have a few secs of chest ache, but it goes away.  I went to my doctor yesterday and she did an EchoCardiogram, which said looked normal, she then sent on to a collegue(cardiologist) who said the same thing.  She said the cardiologists office would call and make an appointment with me but I haven't received a call, so I'm assuming they don't think its serious.

I had a bout with atrial fibrilation about a year ago, but nothing since.  I'm male 27 years old, 5'10" and I weighed about 365 lbs at the time, now I'm down to 280 lbs and counting.  I'm very active, at the gym 6 days a week and I ridiculously healthy now, so this setback is really discouraging for me.  I want to go back to the gym, but I'm afraid of putting too much stress on my heart.  Any ideas on what I might be experiencing and whether or not its ok to go back to the gym?

Thanks so much,

Discouraged

[humanpuck]

Thanks for the reassurance...I have an appointment with a cardiologist tomorrow.  It will be nice to know for sure whats going on and whether or not I can start hitting the gym again, I've been kind of lost without it.

[jcatron]

You probably have nothing to worry about.  What you are describing sounds like Premature Ventricular Contractions or Premature Atrial Contractions.  As you can see from this forum many of us suffer from them and have been told in a normally structured heart, it is nothing to worry about.  You may need to wear a 24 hour holter monitor and or have a stess echo done to ensure everything is fine.  I myself have 3100 PVC's daily and was told nothing to worry about.  It is just a major nuisance to us sufferers that feel many of these when they happen.  Hang in there.