NEWw and weird heart sensation -- what now?

[Carey01]

I have PVC's and PAC's and I also have rare episodes of A Fib.  That said, I know what all of those feel like.  I am taking Atenolol and Cozaar for HBP and the arrythmia.  Last night I was laying in bed with a normal steady heartbate.  I always take my BP before I go to bed and noticed that although my BP was fine I had the irregular heart rhythm symbols pop up.  I felt my ;pulse and noticed that it would beat slow/normal like beat...beat...beat... and then go beat,beat beat, beat,beat ...beat...beat...beat...beat and then maybe start the faster beat for 2o-25 times or so. Ive NEVER had this before.  Does this sound like an issue?  I couldnt get rid of the heart symbols for about 2 hours. SCARED ME TO DEATH! Its like Im always waiting for the next extension of the rhythm problem.  Does anyone knw what that could have been?  Thanks so much!  

[MichelleP_3811]

I really don't think the 2 are necessarily related.  I have had sinus arrhythmia my whole life.  You may have had it as well but never really realized.  If you aren't having disturbing symptoms with the irregularity then I don't think there is anything to worry about but you may want to discuss this with your doctor seeing as they have your heart history.  But in general sinus arrhythmia is pretty much disregarded as nothing.

[Carey01]

OK, I looked up Sinus arrythmia and now Im worried about Sick Sinus syndrome.  Are the 2 related?  Im not young (44) and im not an infant (ha!) so why would I have sinus arrythmia?  Just it just occur?  

[spade22]

Sounds like sinus arrhythmia  to me too, but as Michelle stated it would need to be captured on a monitor to know for sure.  Wiki has a very good explanation of what sinus arrhythmia is but  we can not post links on MH so you will need to navigate there on your own.

[MichelleP_3811]

Yes, that does sound like sinus arrhythmia.  Essentially when we breath in our heart rate rises and when we breath out it slows down.  In general the difference is maybe 10 or so bpm.  When it starts to reach a difference of maybe around 30 is when it is deemed sinus arrhythmia.  I get it myself sometimes.  I don't think it is anything to be concerned about.  I am not even sure they know why it happens.  If the rate starts to really elevate then it might be a concern.  I think sinus arrhythmia is actually fairly common in children but most grow out of it.  I think it is possible maybe some never do.  Mine comes and goes. Don't worry about the typing.  We all would just adore having an edit button after we hit send and realize we made a mistake.  What can you do.  :)

[Carey01]

By the way, what is sinus arrythmia?  And sorry for my bad typing! LOL!

[Carey01]

Hi Michelle --

Thanks -- the rhythm wsa even fast, just faster.  Like ti would be normal at 60 and then in one beat start going 90-100 and then back down to 60.  Just really weird.  But anytime I get the abnormal symbol I get worried.

[MichelleP_3811]

It sounds like you may have had some sort of pattern of bigeminy or a run of pacs or pvcs.  Your monitor was obviously picking up some sort of abnormal pattern.  It could also have been sinus arrhythmia as well.  Without getting it capture you don't really know.  It doesn't sound like you had any really troubling symptoms with the strange rhythm so it is likely nothing you need worry about.  So long as you don't stay in the fast rhythm for any length of time causing symptoms that make it difficult to function you should really just do your best to relax when you feel something like this happen.  The more you stress about it them more likely you will produce more symptoms.  If it makes you feel any better there are people who have irregular ectopic beats all day long so it isn't anything to overly concerned about but if you are concerned then by all means contact your doctor and let them know what you felt and see what they have to say.  Hang in there and stay strong.