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.

[Aussiemom]

Hi dcmom, Sorry

[angelapple]

Hi, just wondered, can you explain exactly what you're feeling with the PVC/PAC.  Mine actually feels like it misses, although dr told me it is actually a premature beat.  It almost feels like a vibration when it does that.  And did you ever have it for hours at a time.  Thanks for any info.

[angelapple]

I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse when I was 33, now I'm 47.  I have noticed an increase in "extra-missed or whatever you call them beats" as I've gotten older.  I will tell you about a week before my period those skips are much worse than usual.  This week I was at work and all of a sudden they started missing like crazy.  I immediately panicked of course.  I took an indural which was prescribed to me last year to take if ever i needed too.  I don't like meds but this time there didn't seem to be much choice.  It slowed my heart rate down but the extra beats kept up for 3 more hours.  The next night I was woken out of my sleep at 2 a.m. No pain, no dizziness, just extra beats.  I had them til 8 a.m.  I went to my cardio dr.  who totally blew me off.  He told me extra beats are nothing to worry about, and to forget it.  I asked if hormones played a part, he said he didn't know and that it was irrelevant.  "They're just nothing don't worry about it". He did an EKG which was normal, but I wasn't having the extra beats at that time.  I was really scared and very anxious in his office.  He took my blood pressure and it was extremely high l80/ll0.  I weight l08, don't drink, smoke, or even drink coffee.  He wanted to do a stress test but obviously wouldn't with that kind of pressure.  He gave me BP med and i was going to take it, but I recently had surgery and was in the hospital for 3 days.  My bp was taken very often, it wasn't high then. I wonder maybe I was just extremely nervous and that;s what raised it?  I got my Period the next day.  Interesting isnt' it/

[GAMom]

Reading your stories has definitely helped me to put my problem into perspective.  I've had an occasional palpitation over the years--always attributed them to "hormones"  A few months ago I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and start on RX Diavan.  Almost immediately I noticed an increase in the palpitations anywhere from five to twenty a day off and on.  The Dr. said that this was not a noted side effect of that drug but happily changed my med to Lotensin.  Its only been a few days, but I'm still having the palpitations.  I am under stress --who isn't but am still puzzled by the connection to the palpitations to the RX for my blood pressure (if any)  I am 49 and still have regular periods but also know perimenopause is upon me.  Still tryint to figure all this out!

[dodgybeats]

I would also like to add that after suffering from almost intolerable amounts of Pvcs/pacs, I seem to have gotten some relief from BC pills.  the beasts are still there but I now often have days when they are absent all together, whereas before I would get hundreds per day, every single day without fail.  My Dr thinks hormone connection is very real and he sees this often in his cardiology practise.  Tachycardias and hormone levels have been researched, but as yet no studies have been done into premature beats hormone profiles. hope someone does one soon!

[dcmom]

Hi, Aussiemom.  You are absolutely right that someone should do a research project on this hormone thing!  I'm sure there are lots more of us out there being told we're just stressed/tired/nearing menopause!  My cardiologist told me that he's never seen the hormonal link written up in any medical book, but he has seen a number of otherwise healthy women come in with PAC's/PVC's right around early 40's, with no previous history of heart problems, so there has to be a link.  The birth control pill therapy may be working - I had to switch from Mircette to Loestrin this week due to breakthrough bleeding and abdominal pain on Mircette.  I feel much better on the Loestrin and the PAC's seem to be much less noticeable on it as well.  Too early to tell, though, as it's only been 2 weeks.  Did you ever get rid of your symptoms, Aussiemom?  And if so, how? And if not, what do you do to cope with them? Thanks for your comments!  Best wishes, dcmom