Irregular heart beat question

[assured]

I am a 45 yo female.  I had a pretty thorough cardiac workup in February 2006.  I was in the hospital for SOB and chest pain for three days and had EKG's, monitoring, Echo, thallium stress test, and a cath.  In the end I was told it was related to anxiety.  The stress test showed exercise intolerance.  I lost 45 pounds after that, but I do not exercise.  

I saw the cardiologist again about 2 months ago for wide fluctuations in my BP.  He said come back in 6 months and that he thought I had either an endocrine or auto-immune disorder.  Anyhow, to my question...

I purchased a home BP monitor so that I can track my bp.  On rare occasions I would get an irregular heart beat reading.  When I would recheck it would not show.  Today I have been doing my spring cleaning and if I stop what I am doing, sit down and immediately take my BP the irregular heartbeat symbol shows up most of the time.  If I then sit still for a bit and take it again it doesn't show.  I know that technically you're supposed to sit quietly for 15 minutes or so before taking it, but I'm concerned that I actually have a problem.  Should I get this checked?  The cardiologist did an EKG when I was there and it was fine other than my heart rate being high (90's).  

Thank you for any advice!

Cindy

[assured]

Thank you so much for the reassurance!  It is so easy to get obsessed over these things.  It's great to have a place like this where people can help one another out.

Cindy

[dolfnlvr]

Also, it is estimated that 90% of the population experiences irregular heart rhythms at various times, even daily, and they are completely unaware.  In this day of advanced monitoring and hypersensitivity it is really much more likely that we become aware of what otherwise would go unnoticed.  In most cases, these abnormal rhythms are really fairly normal and completely benign.  You are already under the care of a cardiologist and have been checked out thoroughly.  There is a very good chance that the "irregular rhythm" that you are describing was noted on your EKG and was passed of as benign.  Often doctors don't even bring up that the rhythms show up on the EKG's unless the patient has asked about them.  Because once you let the cat out of the bag, the patient will often begin to obsess about their rhythm, and the constant monitoring and concern actually makes them more prevalent.  So, if you have them, but don't notice them, your doctor may have felt it best to leave well enough alone.

If you continue to be concerned, feel free to call your cardiologist and report the findings of your home monitor.  There is an excellent chance that you will receive a follow-up phone call that says that if you don't FEEL any differently than you have since beginning treatment then continue to let him know if things change but he'll see you in four months.

Take care,

[MissArcher]

I totally relate to this post! Before I got my IST diagnosis, I drove myself crazy with the home BP monitor! It kept saying I had an irregular heartbeat, so I was semi-convinced I could keel over any second. I mentioned it to my cardiologist and he said that the home monitors are hincky that way. if you don't sit quietly first, chances are you're going to get an irregular beat error. Don't panic and see your doc in 4 months like you are supposed to.