Hormones Causing Arrythmia?

[dcmom]

I have been having PAC's since 12/01.  They began while I was taking Allegra-D, but did not stop when the medication was stopped after only about 8 pills.  I have seen my PCP and a Cardiologist who did blood tests for anemia,electrolytes and thyroid - all were normal.  A 24 hr. Holter monitor and an echocardiogram documented the PAC's at 1100+ per 24 hrs, plus a few PVC's, but showed no other abnormality.  I do not smoke or drink alcohol, and have cut out caffeine with no effect.  I also have some chest discomfort akin to muscle soreness that the drs. do not feel is heart related (it is not affected by exertion/rest).  Absent any other cause, the drs. attribute the PAC's to hormonal changes of pre-menopause.  My OB/GYN put me on birth control pills (Mircette) to regulate hormone levels, also with no effect so far.  Can hormones really cause PAC's?  How about lack of sleep?  I fall asleep fine, but have been unable to stay asleep through the night for several years, and this is the only other cause I can think of.  I am an otherwise healthy 40 year old woman with no family history of heart problems of any kind.  What else can I do to determine the cause and fix my PAC's?  Thank you for your help.

[njmom]

All of the comments that I've read have been quite interesting.  I don't know if my palpitations are PAC's or PVC's or anything else for that matter.  I just had an episode and was quite concerned.  My question is do any of your palpitations feel like your heart is beating very quickly?  I am 33 and I take Norvasc and Toprol for high BP (hereditary) and was a little late in taking it this morning and this was the worse episode I've ever had.  Of course, these palpitations all started when I lost 15 pounds and have been going to the gym religiously for a year.  Now that I am the fittest and smallest I've been as an adult pre and post-pregnancy, why wouldn't they start?  Thanks in advance for any information you can provide about your experience.

[dcmom]

To answer your question, I believe that palpitation is the general term for abnormal rhythm of the heart, so a PVC or a PAC is a palpitation.  My doctor explained that with PVC's or PAC's, it is not actually the early beat you feel, but the one after.  Since there is a longer interval between the early beat and the next one, the heart fills with more blood than usual, making the next contraction more forceful, and that is what you feel.  Does that make sense?  It helped me to hear that explanation and understand exactly what was going on.

That said, you asked what it feels like.  I have mostly PAC's, and I describe it like a "flipping" feeling in my chest.  It is almost like my heart is bumping up against the front wall of my chest.  Hope that helps.  Good luck to you!

[dcmom]

Hi, Michmom.  Have you seen your OB/GYN specifically about your PAC's, or have you been seeing the cardiologist/ER docs?  My experience with the cardiologist was that once he determined there was nothing wrong with my heart, he sent me on my way to "just live with it".  So I went to the OB/GYN, who was much more interested in finding the cause and eliminating the symptoms.  He also was very accepting of the hormone connection theory.  Did you have your ovaries removed as well when you had your hysterectomy?  I don't know how it all works, but I'm guessing that if you still have your ovaries, you would still ovulate, and maybe that is causing or contributing to your problem?  With me, ovulation made the PAC's become MUCH worse.  I have found a fair amount of relief from taking birth control pills.  This is the first month, so hopefully it will be even better next month.  I'd suggest seeing your OB/GYN and maybe he can determine if yours could also be hormone related and prescribe something to help.  Aussiemom also has some good suggestions in her 5/15 comment.

I had the same question you did about whether I could exercise, because I was afraid I would drop over if I did!  But I've started doing Nordic Track 3x per week, and it does help.  It is scary to start exercising when your heart is going nuts in your chest, but once you see that you reall don't have a heart attack from it, it feels good.

Good luck Michmom!  Please post again and let me know how you're doing!

[dcmom]

Hi, Aussiemom.  I enjoyed your comments.  It sounds like you have a great attitude, which surely helps you cope with these miserable PVC's!  The vits& mins are a good idea.  I tried drinking Dasani water, which contains magnesium, potassium, etc. and thought I noticed a slight improvement.  Unfortunately I prefer Diet Coke!  Maybe I should try the pill form mins. for more of an effect.

I hope your pvc's have quieted down again.  I wonder what pregnancy hormones will do to them?  Hopefully kick your heart back into normal rhythm!  I also was hoping to be pregnant again, but since I've just hit 40 and am now on BC pills, I guess we'll be getting a dog instead of a little brother/sister!  I've been on the BC pills now for almost a full month, and I did notice quite an improvement on them.  At ovulation when the PAC's are usually the worst for days on end, I only had two days where they were really bad this month.  Sleep is the other interesting thing - I also have a snoring husband.  He's not a shift worker, but a night owl who falls asleep in front of the TV, then wakes me up by noisily coming to bed at 2 am!  Plus, my son has taken a liking to coming into our bed in the middle of the night (to protect us from dragons, he says), a habit which we are trying to break.  Coincidentally (?) I do seem to be sleeping better on the BC pills.  Perhaps hormones also contribute to insomnia?

You are right that if you can just learn to accept the PAC/PVC's, it does make it easier.  I'm finally trusting the doctor's reassurance that I'm not going to drop over dead from them, but it does take a while to get there.  And knowing that there are apparently lots of other women out there just like us helps a lot too.  

Please do keep me posted on how you're doing both with PVC's and pregnancy!  Good luck, and thanks again for your support!

[angelapple]

Hi All,  Can someone please be more explicit about PVC/PAC and palps.  I'm wondering, is a palpitation when you feel your heartbeat in your chest and also feel it missing?  I'm not sure if that is a palp or PVC or PAC.  I had them 3 times this week, all lasting for hours.  Any help I would really appreciate.  THanks.

[Michmom]

I am a 38yr young woman with PAC's. I just got home from the hospital a few hours ago where the Dr's told me again that I have PAC's and that Im just going to have to live with it!  Thats not the answer that I wanted so I decided to get online to find some answers, its terrible that we suffer from this but it was great to hear stories of others and to know that Im not alone!  My PAC's just started summer of 2001 after numerous trips to the Dr.s office (they never seemed to happen when I was in his office) 1st trip to the hospital they didnt find anything but sent me home with a Holter monitor which I had to return after 24hrs it showed nothing then more time went by I had a Hystorectomy 10-2001 and in Nov. the PACs were back now my Dr. ordered an event monitor which I wore 24/7.  Finally the week before Christmas I went back to the hospital the Dr. on duty called the monitoring company and got all my recordings for that day (all 20 of them) He came back to me and said these are PAC's very normal everyone has them your fine go home.  I asked if I could walk or workout he said that was the best thing I could do. OK I started walking everyday I was feeling wonderful that was the best Christmas present my PAC's pretty much went away until tonight 5/16/02  THERE BACK in full force! I have to find a way to cope with this any suggestions?  Thanks for listening sorry this is so long it just felt good to tell someone else that knows what it feels like.