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.  i was really interested to read your (and others) input.  i was diagnosed with frequent PVC (11,ooo+ in 24hrs)in Oct.2000, (i was then 34 yrs old) after a long search (about 20 months!)to find a Doctor who would take me seriously that something was strange and different with my heart beat (my original Dr tried to tell me that my palps, dizzyness, SOB was just parent-fatigue/"toddler-itis" - i no longer go to him!!). I have wondered for ages if there is a hormonal link with some people's PVCs, as no specialists that i have seen, or info i have read seem to be able to list known reasons why these wretched things start in otherwise normal healthy hearts.  i reckon that i can pinpoint fairly accurately, that my PVCs started towards the end of 18 months of pretty full-on breastfeeding (when my oestrogen levels would have been quite low).  From reading other info, i have been wondering if low calcium and magnesium levels could have contributed, but oestrogen is very interesting, as on other posting sites i have read of a few other women experiencing their first bouts of PVC etc. after pregnancy, and NOW, ...i read of other women with differing oestogen levels experiencing differing PAC/PVC- I WONDER WHY THERE IS SEEMINGLY NO RESEARCH ON THIS STUFF??!! Also alot of males have reported experiencing their first bouts (or worsening bouts) of PAC/PVC after a big weight loss (which i think could also mean that their relative eostogen ratio would drop). Does anyone out there wanna do a research paper?!!
BTW, how are you going these days DCMOM?

[itsa4847]

i too have the pac/pvc's i have had them now about 3 to 4 years where in the last 2 year's they had gotten to the point where sitting in the chair the whole chair would shake with a pvc so...my cardiologist put me on toperal about a year ago.  then in jan i had an eposide that i had to get a ambulance i had chest pain (angina) and was admitted and had a heart cath.  i have coronary artery spasms in one artery (which also has a slight blockage, not enough to stent).  so i was put on imdur, norvasc and keep the toporal.  in the mean time things were going slow i was still getting the spasms but nitro would take them away.  i also was suffering with bouts of blood in urine (which has nothing to do with heart) but getting ready for a cystoscope. But wed had another attack at work and nitro didn't work so had to go in ambulance and i just got out sat.  now they changed my meds kept me on the imdur and changed the norvasc to cardiezm (spell) and addded another drug for sensitivity to spasms and cut torperal in half.  so i don't know what is going on now....i go back to the card. may 17th keeping notes till then. but my gut tells me there is someting else going on with the heart. i wonder if the blockage could have gotten worse?  anyone have these problems i sure would like to hear from you. new jersey girl i hope things are well with your mom (do you mind me asking what was her symptoms)  that is what i was having cystoscope for but at the hospital they checked my urine and no blood.  i had a bad infection at the time when haveing the blood so iam hoping that is the end of that.  well have it rechecked in a month. if anyone has cornary artery spasms i would like to hear from you too. iam going crazy i can't keep this up this way. And the dr. says just a matter of getting the right meds.

[dcmom]

Thanks for your comments.  The timing is the same for me - the palpitations either start or get much worse at ovulation through the end of the next period.  No one tells you all this stuff happens at 40!  Good luck to you.

[JerseyGirl]

It's been two years since I've began experiencing what I call heart palpations or flutters.  I've seen a cardiologist on the recommendation from my Ob/Gyn.  I had and EKG and an Echo Stress test which all came back fine.  At first I wasn't sure why I was having the flutters/palpations.  At the time, my Mother was just diagnosed with Bladder Cancer and I thought it could be stress related.  But I did notice the palpations only became present from the time I ovulated until the end of my next period.  Now at 42 years old, my periods are irregular at times and it's at those times I can experience the palpations for weeks on end.  I'm not one for taking medication if it's not necessary, but it is a scary feeling not knowing if this could be a severe problem or not.  We've just discovered that my Father has had a silent heart attack in the past and also has an aortic anyerism (sp?).  It makes me wonder if something of the same could happen to me.  But the bottom line in my opinion is it is definetly hormone related.  My next step is to see the cariologist again to do further heart studies.  

[dcmom]

Hi, Linda.  It helps to know that I'm not alone!  I'm hoping the BC pills will have the same effect as your HRT.  Too early to tell as it's only been a week.  I'm glad you found some relief.  That feeling in your chest from the arrhythmia is awful.  Thanks for your support, and best wishes.  dcmom

[Linda123]

Hi there
I've had pvcs on & off since being a teenager and but when I hit 40 I started getting them at an unbearable level, I felt alive in my chest all the time even when pvcs were not occurring.  To cut a long story short just recently I had a hysterectomy and was put on HRT.  My pvcs have reduced dramatically and I once again feel normal in my chest.  My cardiologist did tell me that I had a focus in the heart but when I told this to my gynaecologist she said something like  "we all have focuses in our hearts and that a muscle in our stomach supresses them from being active whilst we are producing estrogen.  I always know when I am presented with a lady who is experiencing emotional problems and palpitations that her estrogen levels are diminishing and that she is beginning or in menopause - palpitations are a major sign of menopause".  This was quite a revelation to me and I suspect must be true as I can only speak of my own experience where my palpitations whilst still occurring and troubling are NOTHING LIKE what they were before I was put on HRT.  I worry of course about being on HRT because of the breast cancer connection - but all I can say is that life is worth living again for me and therefore I try not to dwell on that connection.
Hope this is of help.
Best Wishes
Linda