years of palpitations/irregular beats

[Shannon6295]

Hi,

I'm new here. I didn't know exactly where to post this since mine was not really a question.

I have suffered from heart palpitations/irregular heart beats since the age of ten. (I'm 33) When they first started they were kind of frequent and scary. My mother also has them. Over the years I just learned to live with them and doctors never worried about them. So I never really had tests done. Then in 1994 I rushed to the ER because they were causing panic attacks and we weren't sure how serious they were. The doctor did EKG-said I was okay- "Didn't have a heart problem". Said I needed help for anxiety and panic. (I also have depression) The palpitations continued and they still upset me but I was prescribed an anti-anxiety drug and it helped me some. The palpitations got a little better. So I was able to deal with them. As I got into my late 20s and early 30s they became even more frequent and I could have them for hours or even days. Then it would settle down for awhile. This past year has been worse than ever so I finally went back to the ER once again in December. They did an EKG, chest x-ray, blood test and it looked good. I did have a noticable elevated heart rate. They said see a specialist.

It has taken me weeks to get the tests going. I will finally get started by having a holter monitor attached for 24 hours to see what happens.

These palpitations have made my life a living hell. I cannot have a normal life. Any little stress sets off the palps. Sometimes they are mild and sometimes very strong. Sometimes they make me feel a little sick to my stomach and my back hurts.
I have yet to speak with a specialist face to face and really want to tell exactly what is happening during these "episodes". They can disrupt my sleep making it hard for me the next day-I'm mentally drained.
Exercise helps a little but sometimes I just have to lay down until they subside. PMS aggravates it too. Eating can also bring them on.

I was reading old posts where people said that they can tell by how they feel when they are going to have these palps. I feel it too. I just know when it is going to be a hard day. Sometimes having a headache makes it happen.

My goal is to get the tests I need and if they don't see anything and rule out problems then maybe I have a hormone problem. I was also told that I have low potassium which could be a factor so maybe after the process of elimination I might need to take more. I don't know a safe daily dosage so I won't attempt to "medicate" myself.

I have to fight hard to keep busy and not give in. it just makes it worse, so I try to keep myself busy yet I do not over exert myself for fear it will start up again.

It helps to know I am not alone. Some of the reasons the palps. start up seem so crazy but now I know I am not a rare case.

Thanks for reading. I am going to get to the bottom of this. Hopefully a good medication will do the trick.


This discussion is related to Heart Palpitations.

[sick and tired 47]

I agree with Skippi. I take Fish oil ( 2 a day) doubled dose, magnesium citrate helps greatly and I too eat a banana every day to keep potassium up. All these do help with symptoms.
Good luck!

[Skippi]

oh, this site has helped me so much with my pvc's! Welcome, you have found a great community and very helpful advice about your problem(s). I joined end of last year and have learnt heaps. In particular, dolfnlvr has great advice, read her posts (664 at present!), I'm sure you will very helpful stuff there. I've been having pvc's for the past 14 years and are still trying to cope. Potassium and magnesium, and Vitamin B6 have helped me. Get advice on how many you will need (I was on 1 potassium tablet, 2 magnesium, and 1 Vit B6 a day). Now I eat bananas instead of the potassium pill. And my great discovery: reflux-coated Fishoil (2 x day for me, they recommend 4x day)!! Wohooo, I can report, I've had great success so far. Still have the pvc's, but far less. Even under stress, it's not that bad now. I am very happy!!! Good luck, and again, welcome.

[sick and tired 47]

Hi All!
Just wanted to say hang in there. I had similar experience for 2 years... was on antidepressants for "anxiety". It did not help.... after many, many tests I was finally diagnosed with PSVT, a benign but very scarey feeling heart arrythmia.This was found by a electrophysicist cardiologist ( regular cardio did complete workup and said I was fine).
It took many different meds to find one and get control over it. I feel so much better, but still have the fear my heart will "take off" ( go into tachycardia)... but it is getting better as I have finally found a med that works ( low dose of atenolol).
Good luck and see a EP cardio....
  

[malan]

Just came across your post and wish to convey that I entirely agree with you that while anxiety is one of the causes of irregular beats, it is not the only one. I have been having benign( according to the doctors) NSVT for the past 5 years, and have noticed that sometimes the episodes come even without any anxiety, though anxiety tends to bring it on too.I hope the holter  test went ok.
Malan

[SassyLassie]

I can certainly relate to all of the above posts, most of them sound like something written by me. All of us are in this anxiety/flip flop boat together, but, it is still scary. I don't care how many test are done or how many doc say you are OK, a person is STILL going to worry, especially if they are as nervous and high strung as I am. I notice every little blip I get, or anything else going on in my body and it is the pits.

I have been reading a book for folks that suffer from anxiety, one is called "Hope and Help for Your Nerves" and the other is "Help for Nervous Sufferers" Both are written by Clarie Weekes and very helpful and easy to understand. I should have them tied to my forehead so I can read them all the time. It is like she is sitting with you talking to you about your problems, she even covers heart issues like the "Skipped beats" and tachycardia, etc. I recommend it to all who suffer like we do. You can get it on Amazon or Borders Books on line.

I pray we all have a good day today and will feel the peace we are so desperately searching for.

Hugs
Susie

[Brian77]

New here as well. Trying to get as much advice and information as I can. My story: 34, 6'2 190lbs. Exercise alot. Non-smoker, rare drinker. Eat healthy. In 2007 I started having unexplained chest pains. Ran through all the tests for cardiac, nothing. Clean. Put on effexor and as need xanax. Pains still happened. Went for GI testing. Hiatal Hernia. Put on Nexium. Pains went away. Act 1 complete.

Act 2. In January I played in a rigorous basketball game. After, as I was eating, I started noticing skipped beats. Waited a few days, they continued. Went to ER. EKG, blood tests, heart monitor for 7 hours. They saw some blips, or skips, said I was fine, see your doc. Did so, got a holter monitor and stress test, both fine. Skips stopped for a few weeks, Then four days ago the skips came back with a vengeance. Played another basketball game, did okay in the game other than being tired due to lack of going to the gym lately, but after I felt sick all over and the skips were there, front and center. Went to the ER again. Got diagnosed with PVCs. Told they were probably benign. Lots of people have them. Most don't feel them. Im one of the lucky sensitive ones. Going to see doc again next week and get him to send me to Cardiologist for exam and echo. Until then, started taking magnesium and a few other supplements. Hoping for the best.

Act 3: waiting to be written.

[stormee]

I'll say a prayer for you that all goes well with the Holter monitor. Please keep me posted.

[Shannon6295]

Thanks for sharing your story. Today I had a few strong palpitations. I also was in the process of getting my haired dyed and maybe subconciously I was nervous about my new look. I really do believe stress and anxiety aggravates them but is NOT always the only cause. Any stress or anxiety could affect a heart problem. I'm glad that do not suffer alone although I don't want others to suffer. I'll be glad when I get the Holter monitor thing over with. I go in next week to get them to put it on.

[stormee]

Hello Shannon. I have been experiencing pvc's for 35 years. You would think I would be used to them by now, but guess what..NOT. I have found that caffeine, stress, drinking a cold glass of water, bending over, having a tight waist band, and worrying about them can bring on a bout of pvc's. I recently started having more of them, but chalk it up to a family crisis that happened a month ago. Of course I have regressed back to feeling my pulse while I'm watching tv, or even standing in line at the grocery store. It's amazing how this can be done discretely. People around me are thinking what they forgot to buy, and I am feeling my pulse. I also have white coat syndrome, but now while monitoring my blood pressure at home I have at home syndrome too. As soon as I put the cuff on I can literally feel my pressure go up. The other day I was foolish enough to take my blood pressure while my heart was jumping around and I was almost into a panic attack. Then I freaked because my pressue was high. I sympathize with anyone who can feel their pvc's because I know how they can control your life. Especially someone with a high strung personality like me. I am on no medications, and hopefully will not have to be. I'm trying to exercise more, although while exercising I'm waiting for my heart to jump, and of course it does. I just want you to know that I know what you're going through, and from what I have been reading a lot of people do. Maybe we should start pvc meetings. Might not be a bad idea.  God Bless

[bobbiel]

You should go to a cardiac specialist to make sure it's only anxiety. Chest pains are nothing to full around with. Panic attacks cause all kinds of symptoms and fear of it all is unbelievable. I had those feeling you're experiencing and mine were panic attacks that I brought on because of fear of what was happening to me. I thought this time I'm going to die. I hate panic attacks and fight not to have them and succeed. YOu have to believe that you're not going to die and nothing will happen and try and get through them by focusing. but most important is to get to a specialist this way you'll know that you're ok and can rationalize and concur this. I know this is easier said then done but I was at a point where I wanted to die instead of going through these horrible event that would set my heart beating so hard and fast that I past out a couple of times and now I'm over them and won't let them overtake me.      Hope this is a little help.
bobbiel

[Spunky420]

I no exactlly how you feel the same thing is happening to me! I only started getting chest pains bout 4 mths ago and last year I was told I have anxiety and thats what my chest pains are related too. I cant help but worry that something is being overlooked. I dont feel like myself anymore and I cant help  but constantly worry that something is going to happen!!