Changes in position

[cpreg]

Hi,

I have a question relating to heart rhythm and position changes.  I've been diagnosed with benign PACs and have had a few runs of what my doc thinks is SVT (never been caught on holter/ event monitor).  Lately though (in the past year) I've had episodes that are "different".  I feel like my heart is beating irregularly, several times in a row (if that makes sense).  Today it happened when I stood up and walked into the room to check on my kids...my heart felt like it was beating irregularly, then stopped and I held my breath and it went back to normal and then started pounding in my chest (probably from my anxiety).  I felt a bit lightheaded but mostly really scared.  I'm terrified that something is going to happen to me when I'm alone with my kids (they are only 3 and 1).  My cardiologist dismisses my symptoms, saying that if they don't last longer than 15 minutes they are nothing to worry about, but I just can't seem to stop thinking about them.  I find this happens more when I'm run down or fighting something (my kids have colds right now and I feel it coming).  Does anyone know why this happens when you are getting sick?  I also have runs of PACs when I have a fever.  I do have a history of anxiety and know that PACs are caused by this, however the longer/ different irregular beats are concerning me.  
Any advice would be helpful.
thanks in advance.

[jpek]

I would suggest getting scoped.   I had similar symptoms.  Turned out to be a hiatal hernia.  Lifting, laying down after eating, eating spicy foods, tight belt, bowel pressure, sitting forward and crunching the stomach, neck position, coughing, and many other things made the arrhythmia flare up.  It took me a year to get a doctor to scope me.  It took 3 minutes for the procedure.  Note:  I used to have acid indigestion, but have not had it for a long time.  Dont let acid reflux be the only indicator.  Google hiatal hernia for self help techniques.  Good luck.

[tom_h]

Changes in position affect internal pressures.  This definitely can cause rhythm disturbances, especially if you're predisposed.  I've had this happen many times to me.  Sometimes it can be as simple as placing my arms above my head, bending over, crouching, etc.  Remember, your heart sort of sloshes around in it's cavity.  As you move or lean, you heart moves as well.  It can be positioned where it triggers an arrhythmia.  At one time I was tested to see if a lump of food passing down my esophagus could trigger an arrhythmia if I was positioned in a certain manner.

I wouldn't be as generous as your doctor with regards to the amount of time that has to pass before you can become concerned.  It think it is something you should keep a basic log on though.  Presenting written evidence of all your events to your physician holds a lot more weight that saying that you're experiencing arrhythmia occasionally.