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What causes a flip-flop of heart?

Hello Doctor, I have been dx in the past a having a heart murmur as a child and was not a worry!  Now, 40years later, after several symptoms placed as anxiety?!?, and an echo in 1989, I have a redundant mitral valve disorder with effusion.  Not much happened since the past dx except periodic chest pain, breathlessness,palpatations. Now in 1999, I  have experienced flip-flopping of my heart, beat stopping, overbeats, and admitted to the er for a possible heart attack..Not! However, their were inverted beats noticed and told me that I probably had a prior heart attack or mild stroke.  However, the flip-flops can last a month with nothing in between and now again, flip-flops..I  know I should be evaluated by a cardiologist but my primary feels he can monitor my problems...Do you think I should follow-up with a cardiologist?  What are flip-flops? E
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, High diastolic pressure 92 and heart flip flops was started.
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PVC's may take a long time to dissipate.  I recommend reductions in caffeine and if possible, reduction in stress.

this should be discussed with your cardiologist.
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I am 44 year old male - no history of heart problems, but told by cardiologist in recent physical EKG abnormal, but stress test normal - he said abnormal EKG due to benign valve situation -   Have occasionally over the years had a flutter feeling in chest, like butterflies, which goes away quickly and may return months later - never gave it much thought - on November 27 helped wife for four hours in morning use an acrylic glaze on bedroom walls - took no effort to ventilate - began experiencing successive flutter feelings during afternoon and while taking pulse notice heart skipped a beat when flutter was felt - frequency was at least once a minute - lasted all afternoon and through night, although I did sleep, but not well - decreasing in frequency today, Nov. 28, but still there occasionally - no dizziness or lightheadedness or anything like that  - What do you think?  Should I go back to the cardiologist and check it out?

Thanks for your comment!
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Avatar universal
Dear doc,
     I have symtoms similiar to elizabeth jane`s. I started getting pvc`s shortly after a series of panis attacks. How can fluid build up arround the heart? I noticed in my instance that I had a mild congestion like cough just prior to getting them.Can panic attacks with hyperventilation cause an enlarged heart or fluid to build up around the heart.Could the vagus nerve get chaffed from hyperventilation.Just asking , this stuff is new to me, I`ve only had pvc`s for a month.Cardio gave me propranolol, but they are disappating very slowly, not over night.How long does it take for them to go away.
                Any help is greatly apppreciated Thanks Lou.F.
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Avatar universal
Dear Elizabeth Jane,
I would suggest a complete evaluation by a cardiologist including a repeat echocardiogram to determine if your valve disease has progressed.  These flip flops may be atrial or ventricular extra beats that are caused as your heart enlarges or in response to the development of fluid around your heart in view of your prior history.
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