Hello~
Thank you so much for respsonding! I am 40 years old. I have not yet started the atenolol but may start to see how it works. As far as the chest discomfort, it could be all the things you mentioned because I do sleep on my left side (shoulder and all) because I am being treated for sleep apnea, and it does get kind of stiff and muscles are tight. I have struggled for many years with anxiety and was treated with Effexor Xr for several years but came off of it because of "not feeling in tune with my emotions". Everything seemed to be fine until I went through a very traumatic time for about 3 weeks. Got through the 3 weeks then spent the next month afterwards having to move. We needed to be out in 30 days and had not yet found a place. We finally moved in August 2005 and by May 2006, I began having the palpitations (unlike the ones I get when I am anxious); that is when they put me on the holtor monitor. Also, just two observations:
# 1) the pain that I get in my back (started in my back and was only in my back and when I started back on the Effexor right after we moved), I noticed my back pain disappeared. I am no longer on the Effexor and the pain is back and now in the front. I am not sure if all this is related to the heart and the Effexor just happened to help with the pain or if because the Effexor helped, it is all anxiety related. If so, it is not like any anxiety I have ever had.
2) I was diagnosed with sleep apnea back in 2004 and was put on CPAP therapy. I used CPAP for a few weeks or so and discontinued it due to being uncomfortable. I notice dI was not waking up gasping for breath so I thought I did not have sleep apnea anymore, which could be no further from the truth. So I went 2 and 1/2 years with UNTREATED sleep apena and once we moved I started having severe episodes where I woke up several times gasping for breath- not long after that, I began having the rapid heart beats. So you see, for me it could be stemming from a number of things. I am now on CPAP therapy again.
Anyhow, I have one more thing to post but this too long so if you respond, I'll run it by you!
Take care! Blessings
Hi ChrisCar,
You didn't mention your age, but it sounds like your doctors have run enough tests to determine that your heart is healthy. If they were suspicious of CAD, they would have pursued additional tests. Good results on an echocardiogram, nuclear stress test and home monitoring is GREAT! As for the SVT, have you tried the atenolol? Beta blockers work differently for different people. I was able to take propanolol, but could not take atenolol. Don't give up on the meds; it's just a matter of finding the one that works best for you.
Have you ever talked with your doctor about other potential causes for the chest discomfort? Could it be muscular, neurological, anxiety?