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Fluttering heart
I have been having these fluttering sensations; right where my heart is; under the left breast. I have had them off and on for sometime now, and it is worrying me to death. I had a holter monitor on; the doctor said they were PVC's, and everyone has them. They may, but I have been having them like everyday now; sometimes 6 or 7 times a day. No shortness of breath or anything, just the weird sensation. Any ideas??
I also feel flutters, usually in my throat. I've felt them occasionally for about 8 years. Recently, I've felt them several times a week, usually at night. Then I'll have a couple of weeks when I have none at all. I mentioned to my doctor last summer that I had them more frequently now, but she assured me they were probably nothing to worry about. They usually last only a second, but a few times when they lasted longer I felt it took my breath away for just a second.
Last night I felt the PVC's (I assume that's what they are from what I've read) too many times to count. (I've never felt them more than 2 times in one day before.) In addition, from time to time I had a catch in my breath. (While my breathing is normally very even, on some breathes I suddenly sucked in more air than usual. You know how after a good cry you're trying to breathe normal and sometimes your body jerks in more air? It's like that.) Anyway, do you know if the two are related? I've been having this wierd "catch" in my breath on occasion for the last month, too.
I also had rheumatic fever when I was 3 with no heart damage other than thickening of the mitral valve. I'm in perimenopause and am on medicine for reflux which could contribute to the problem from what I've read. I also had too much sugar after supper last night... After reading other posts I think this could all be related. The reason I'm posting is just to find out if this is all normal. I haven't had an echocardiogram for 10 years and have had no other heart tests. I jog 3-7 miles several times a week with no problem, so I really doubt this is something serious, but I'd like to get some other opinions. Also, I need my sleep. I don't deal with things well when I lose a night's sleep like I did last night. I'm not typically an anxious person, and I've read enough about PVC's to know they're probably benign, but they wake me up and not getting my sleep makes me anxious. (It's difficult to deal with a room full of energetic first graders on very little sleep.)
Last night I felt the PVC's (I assume that's what they are from what I've read) too many times to count. (I've never felt them more than 2 times in one day before.) In addition, from time to time I had a catch in my breath. (While my breathing is normally very even, on some breathes I suddenly sucked in more air than usual. You know how after a good cry you're trying to breathe normal and sometimes your body jerks in more air? It's like that.) Anyway, do you know if the two are related? I've been having this wierd "catch" in my breath on occasion for the last month, too.
I also had rheumatic fever when I was 3 with no heart damage other than thickening of the mitral valve. I'm in perimenopause and am on medicine for reflux which could contribute to the problem from what I've read. I also had too much sugar after supper last night... After reading other posts I think this could all be related. The reason I'm posting is just to find out if this is all normal. I haven't had an echocardiogram for 10 years and have had no other heart tests. I jog 3-7 miles several times a week with no problem, so I really doubt this is something serious, but I'd like to get some other opinions. Also, I need my sleep. I don't deal with things well when I lose a night's sleep like I did last night. I'm not typically an anxious person, and I've read enough about PVC's to know they're probably benign, but they wake me up and not getting my sleep makes me anxious. (It's difficult to deal with a room full of energetic first graders on very little sleep.)
thanks for sharing your history. Can I ask when you developed Cardiomyopathy how many Pvc's were you having a day? Like one every few beats?? I am just concerned because some days I feel so many.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Welll, that's kinda the weird part. Here's what I remember....
Age 19 - I was to the doctor because I was not feeling well. His comment upon exam, "You have the heartbeat of a 70 year old man." WHAT!! He said not to worry; it was just the way it was beating, but not dangerous. He said I had mitral valve prolapse.
Early 20's - OB/GYN mentioned that my heartbeat was skipping. I didn't feel it, or at least I didn't have a name for the "anxious feeling." OB suggested I consider seeing a cardio. For whatever reason, I did not. I heard a lot about "anxiety" and just figured that was something I had to deal with. I was not really aware of "pvcs" but I do remember feeling "anxious" and panicky (stomach flip-flopping, sweaty palms, etc)
Mid 20's - OB/GYN insisted on an EKG right then, and there. I was referred to a cardio who diagnosed mitral valve prolapse and pvcs. I saw him for several years and was on beta blockers for a good part of the time. During that time, I became more aware of the odd beats and sought medical treatment on/off because they could NOT be normal!!
My 30's - New internist also picked up on the beats and the mitral valve prolapse. He followed me for 6-8 years. Benign PVC's. This was the decade for trying anti-anxiety medications, including Xanax. I found out VERY quickly that it could be addictive. Since that time, I have used it only on rare occasions. I went back on Inderal which helped with pvcs and also with the anxiety.
My 40's - PVC's were present a good part of the time. I developed pvc-induced cardiomyopathy, and had two ablaitons. Now, I only have occasional pvcs. Still have checkups to watch for any new/old arrythmias. So far, so good.
My EP did not want me on the Xanax. She said, it would only make it so I would "not care" about the PVC's. She was right, so I choose to use it very carefully. For 10-12 years, I took beta blockers, daily. At one point, I asked about taking them as needed and it has been effective for me. But, that could be because I am kind of used to the PVC's.
Hope that helps to answer your question....If not, let me know and I'll give it another shot. : )
Age 19 - I was to the doctor because I was not feeling well. His comment upon exam, "You have the heartbeat of a 70 year old man." WHAT!! He said not to worry; it was just the way it was beating, but not dangerous. He said I had mitral valve prolapse.
Early 20's - OB/GYN mentioned that my heartbeat was skipping. I didn't feel it, or at least I didn't have a name for the "anxious feeling." OB suggested I consider seeing a cardio. For whatever reason, I did not. I heard a lot about "anxiety" and just figured that was something I had to deal with. I was not really aware of "pvcs" but I do remember feeling "anxious" and panicky (stomach flip-flopping, sweaty palms, etc)
Mid 20's - OB/GYN insisted on an EKG right then, and there. I was referred to a cardio who diagnosed mitral valve prolapse and pvcs. I saw him for several years and was on beta blockers for a good part of the time. During that time, I became more aware of the odd beats and sought medical treatment on/off because they could NOT be normal!!
My 30's - New internist also picked up on the beats and the mitral valve prolapse. He followed me for 6-8 years. Benign PVC's. This was the decade for trying anti-anxiety medications, including Xanax. I found out VERY quickly that it could be addictive. Since that time, I have used it only on rare occasions. I went back on Inderal which helped with pvcs and also with the anxiety.
My 40's - PVC's were present a good part of the time. I developed pvc-induced cardiomyopathy, and had two ablaitons. Now, I only have occasional pvcs. Still have checkups to watch for any new/old arrythmias. So far, so good.
My EP did not want me on the Xanax. She said, it would only make it so I would "not care" about the PVC's. She was right, so I choose to use it very carefully. For 10-12 years, I took beta blockers, daily. At one point, I asked about taking them as needed and it has been effective for me. But, that could be because I am kind of used to the PVC's.
Hope that helps to answer your question....If not, let me know and I'll give it another shot. : )
I have noticed that some people take the beta blockers "as needed" I didn't realize that would help. I thought they had to be in your system for a while before they would work. It took me a month or so before I really noticed a true difference; but I was VERY anxious at that time.
Curious, when you first started having these-30 years ago, what diagnosis did they have? One ER doctor told me they are still trying to figure them out-lol.
I don't want to make my MD sound like he's uncaring, he just seems to be a little aloof about it. He tries to explain to me they won't harm me, but he also gets on me because he says I'm not taking my meds like I should (the Xanax). I want to be med free and I don't know that the Xanax will work w/my skipped beats. They work fine for the fast heart rate however.
I really appreciate all of the info. you are giving me!!!!
Curious, when you first started having these-30 years ago, what diagnosis did they have? One ER doctor told me they are still trying to figure them out-lol.
I don't want to make my MD sound like he's uncaring, he just seems to be a little aloof about it. He tries to explain to me they won't harm me, but he also gets on me because he says I'm not taking my meds like I should (the Xanax). I want to be med free and I don't know that the Xanax will work w/my skipped beats. They work fine for the fast heart rate however.
I really appreciate all of the info. you are giving me!!!!
Yep, 30 years for me. When I first was back in normal sinus rhythm, it felt VERY strange to me. I was so accustomed to being out of sync that normal actually felt abnormal. Hope that makes sense...lol
Oh man! When I was in my late 30's, my pvcs were coming out of the woodwork!! I talked to a few doctors and I just could not believe that could be NORMAL!! After a few years away from beta blockers, I went back on Inderal and they settled down some. In my earlier 40's they were back with a vengeance! I am definitely an anxious person, but the pvcs were not caused by anxiety. Anxiety just made them worse. I would get them, regardless.
A lot of us are drama queens : 0
I can turn a teeny problem into a mountain within minutes. I think many of us who visit here share those tendencies. It probably has to do with being heart-aware and a bit on the anxious side. What you do (obsess, etc) is very, very common. Something about the pvcs sets our parasympathetic nervous system on edge and the cycle fcan be debilitating. It is also common to refrain from eating out, entertaining, leaving the house, traveling, etc...anything that might put us in a position where the pvcs could get out of control and make us vulnerable to the "attack." I'm here to tell ya -- forget about the "attack," you'll miss out on way too much of the good stuff in life. It's not easy, but just take baby steps and you'll soon find yourself in the acceptance mode.
Sorry to hear your MD is not all that caring. That makes it tough. I realize he has seen you often, but that should tell him how bothered you are. I think seeing someone about the anxiety will be very helpful in getting you past the fear. Nice for your cardio that the pvcs don't bother him....But, they bother YOU! You may want to talk to your internist about a referral to a different cardio - not for a different diagnose, just for a different patient approach.
I have been to a numbr of cardios and you are right, I am blessed to have found one who really tries to understand the anxiety, etc.
I take lisinopril daily, and a beta blocker on the very rare occasion the pvcs kick up. I keep them with me more as an insurance policy.
I'm happy to hear you have been feeling better. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Oh man! When I was in my late 30's, my pvcs were coming out of the woodwork!! I talked to a few doctors and I just could not believe that could be NORMAL!! After a few years away from beta blockers, I went back on Inderal and they settled down some. In my earlier 40's they were back with a vengeance! I am definitely an anxious person, but the pvcs were not caused by anxiety. Anxiety just made them worse. I would get them, regardless.
A lot of us are drama queens : 0
I can turn a teeny problem into a mountain within minutes. I think many of us who visit here share those tendencies. It probably has to do with being heart-aware and a bit on the anxious side. What you do (obsess, etc) is very, very common. Something about the pvcs sets our parasympathetic nervous system on edge and the cycle fcan be debilitating. It is also common to refrain from eating out, entertaining, leaving the house, traveling, etc...anything that might put us in a position where the pvcs could get out of control and make us vulnerable to the "attack." I'm here to tell ya -- forget about the "attack," you'll miss out on way too much of the good stuff in life. It's not easy, but just take baby steps and you'll soon find yourself in the acceptance mode.
Sorry to hear your MD is not all that caring. That makes it tough. I realize he has seen you often, but that should tell him how bothered you are. I think seeing someone about the anxiety will be very helpful in getting you past the fear. Nice for your cardio that the pvcs don't bother him....But, they bother YOU! You may want to talk to your internist about a referral to a different cardio - not for a different diagnose, just for a different patient approach.
I have been to a numbr of cardios and you are right, I am blessed to have found one who really tries to understand the anxiety, etc.
I take lisinopril daily, and a beta blocker on the very rare occasion the pvcs kick up. I keep them with me more as an insurance policy.
I'm happy to hear you have been feeling better. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Yep, that's exactly what I'm doing. I was in good spirits last week, but of course no bad PVC's. This week is a totally different story. I am trying SO hard not to let them run my life, but I am really having a hard time with it. I just keep plugging along wi/Gods help, day by day :-) This sure is a tough road-I wouldn't wish it on anyone!
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