Aa
Palpitations, just had my first echo
I've read through the posts on this board, alot of people described my problem too. It also seems that I have the same syptoms as most others that have posted the same thing - chronic worrying, stress, anxiety, insomnia... there seems to be a pattern here!
I'm 28 yrs old, 5'4, 140 lbs, in good health, dont smoke, no family history of heart disease. I'm training for a triathalon next month. I noticed palps when I was taking the weight loss supplement Xenedrine about 3 months ago. I stopped taking it and I stopped noticing the palps as much, but it would still happen maybe once every few weeks, but in the more recent weeks it started happening again but every night, mostly when I am sitting relaxing, once in awhile during the day. Blood tests, 2 ekg's, and holter monitor were all normal (of course I didnt feel a single palp the 1 day I wore the monitor, but felt it every day before and every day since...maybe it was the comfort of being "watched")
Now I just came from having the echo done, worried all over again that I am going to drop dead from these stupid palps all over again. (dr also reassured me that people dont drop dead from palpitations) I was actually feeling better since my first appointment last week, barely noticing it, having a few nights in a row without having them at all. Then today I go back for the echo and I'm there on the table I'm watching the screen, hearing the beats, and saw some palpitations happen - which was really scary. It wasnt done by the dr, it was a technician, who said the dr will get back to me with the results in a week or less. Is this how its normally done? I was expecting to get results today and hoping to have some peace of mind. Now I'm worried that the technician saw something really bad and couldnt tell me. What kinds of things can be structurally wrong? It says right on the bottle of Xenedrine "may cause irregular hartbeat” Can it cause permanent damage? Would you recommend exercise too?
I'm 28 yrs old, 5'4, 140 lbs, in good health, dont smoke, no family history of heart disease. I'm training for a triathalon next month. I noticed palps when I was taking the weight loss supplement Xenedrine about 3 months ago. I stopped taking it and I stopped noticing the palps as much, but it would still happen maybe once every few weeks, but in the more recent weeks it started happening again but every night, mostly when I am sitting relaxing, once in awhile during the day. Blood tests, 2 ekg's, and holter monitor were all normal (of course I didnt feel a single palp the 1 day I wore the monitor, but felt it every day before and every day since...maybe it was the comfort of being "watched")
Now I just came from having the echo done, worried all over again that I am going to drop dead from these stupid palps all over again. (dr also reassured me that people dont drop dead from palpitations) I was actually feeling better since my first appointment last week, barely noticing it, having a few nights in a row without having them at all. Then today I go back for the echo and I'm there on the table I'm watching the screen, hearing the beats, and saw some palpitations happen - which was really scary. It wasnt done by the dr, it was a technician, who said the dr will get back to me with the results in a week or less. Is this how its normally done? I was expecting to get results today and hoping to have some peace of mind. Now I'm worried that the technician saw something really bad and couldnt tell me. What kinds of things can be structurally wrong? It says right on the bottle of Xenedrine "may cause irregular hartbeat” Can it cause permanent damage? Would you recommend exercise too?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Luke has a good point.
Take this from someone who has spent the majority of his 22 years in and out of hospitals, the longer you have to wait for results the better it usually is. Its when the doc calls at 7PM the same night that you have to worry.
Thank you everyone, all the advice has helped! I feel a little better I'm going to try not to think about it till I find out for sure, and try taking comfort in that I've had the other tests and factors on my side.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Is this how its normally done?
Yes. We usually have a pretty packed clinic schedule. Echos are done all day by the echo tech and we catch up when we have time. The tech's are usually pretty good at recognizing concerning findings and will notify the doctor.
I was expecting to get results today and hoping to have some peace of mind. Now I'm worried that the technician saw something really bad and couldnt tell me. What kinds of things can be structurally wrong?
The odds of you having something wrong are very low -- like you said, you are very healthy and have no significant family history.
In general we look for reduced right or left ventricular function, enlarged atria, or valvular abnormalities. Try not to worry about all the things that can be wrong -- there are too many real things to worry about than to stress about things that aren't there.
It says right on the bottle of Xenedrine "may cause irregular hartbeat” Can it cause permanent damage?
There is no data to suggests that these medications cause permanent structural or arrhythmia changes. If you are really stressed, call your doctors office in the morning. It is also not uncommon to not discuss test results over the phone -- if they ask you to come into the office, that does not mean there is something wrong.
Would you recommend exercise too?
If you have a structurally normal heart, there is no problem exercising.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck.
Yes. We usually have a pretty packed clinic schedule. Echos are done all day by the echo tech and we catch up when we have time. The tech's are usually pretty good at recognizing concerning findings and will notify the doctor.
I was expecting to get results today and hoping to have some peace of mind. Now I'm worried that the technician saw something really bad and couldnt tell me. What kinds of things can be structurally wrong?
The odds of you having something wrong are very low -- like you said, you are very healthy and have no significant family history.
In general we look for reduced right or left ventricular function, enlarged atria, or valvular abnormalities. Try not to worry about all the things that can be wrong -- there are too many real things to worry about than to stress about things that aren't there.
It says right on the bottle of Xenedrine "may cause irregular hartbeat” Can it cause permanent damage?
There is no data to suggests that these medications cause permanent structural or arrhythmia changes. If you are really stressed, call your doctors office in the morning. It is also not uncommon to not discuss test results over the phone -- if they ask you to come into the office, that does not mean there is something wrong.
Would you recommend exercise too?
If you have a structurally normal heart, there is no problem exercising.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck.
My experience was kind of the opposite. I was having a nuclear stress test. I was doing and feeling fine. The technician doing the test was looking at my EKG printout and says, "it looks like you've had a prior heart incident". WHAT??? Needless to say, my stress test no longer was fine. I was scared out of my mind, couldn't breathe and felt like I was going to pass out.
Fortunately I was able to see the doc at the end of my test and she assured me that wasn't the case. It was a normal variant of whatever it was (I never asked because I knew I'd be googling away) and I was fine. I've had many EKG's since that time and a very extensive workup at the Mayo Clinic, not one cardiologist has said a word about any abnormalities.
I think I would not worry about the tech not saying anything, like kitcurious said, they would have gotten the doctor right away and probably not have let you leave.
Best wishes!
Fortunately I was able to see the doc at the end of my test and she assured me that wasn't the case. It was a normal variant of whatever it was (I never asked because I knew I'd be googling away) and I was fine. I've had many EKG's since that time and a very extensive workup at the Mayo Clinic, not one cardiologist has said a word about any abnormalities.
I think I would not worry about the tech not saying anything, like kitcurious said, they would have gotten the doctor right away and probably not have let you leave.
Best wishes!
It is very common for the technician to conduct the test and send you along your way. I've had lots of echos and sometimes I can see pvcs on the monitor. I'm used to them so they no longer worry me. Don't worry, like kitcurious said, if the tech saw something alarming, he/she would be tracking down a doctor. Wait for the radiologist to interpret the test and for your physician to correlate the results with your exam. Best of luck for a great result!
I am not familiar with Xenedrine, but just the sounds of it makes me jumpy (sounds kinda like "adrenalin")...lol. WOW, a triathalon! Good luck with the training and the run!!
I am not familiar with Xenedrine, but just the sounds of it makes me jumpy (sounds kinda like "adrenalin")...lol. WOW, a triathalon! Good luck with the training and the run!!
Sara,
That is not uncommon...Technicians are not qualified to talk to you about what they see..they are just usually trained on doing the acutal sonogram. During one of my MANY echo's..I had several skipped beats and they didn't say a word...The doc called me days later saying everything was fine...I have been in and out of the er and to docs and cardio's....at this point, it becomes a mental thing and is very hard to kick...I wish you all the luck as I need it myself...point being, I wouldn't worry, it is actually a good thing you had them while they were doing the echo, that way the doc can see what is going on. Relax til then...
yoshi74
That is not uncommon...Technicians are not qualified to talk to you about what they see..they are just usually trained on doing the acutal sonogram. During one of my MANY echo's..I had several skipped beats and they didn't say a word...The doc called me days later saying everything was fine...I have been in and out of the er and to docs and cardio's....at this point, it becomes a mental thing and is very hard to kick...I wish you all the luck as I need it myself...point being, I wouldn't worry, it is actually a good thing you had them while they were doing the echo, that way the doc can see what is going on. Relax til then...
yoshi74
If the technician sees something "really bad" they run and get a doctor pronto.
You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Forum
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
