Palpitations/PVC's when I lay down

[Darwingirl]

Hi
I have read that a lot of people get palpitations. I have suffered from them over the past few years as well as suffer from anxiety and panic attacks (which are fairly well controlled now). I have just recently finished having a 24 hour moniter, ECG (EKG), Stress test and Echocardiogram. The only thing that showed up on any of them was the 24 hour halter moniter....it showed that I was having rare PVC's and PAC's.My problem is that over the last two days I now get palpitations when ever I lay down from standing....I have even had a couple when I have sat down quickly. I took myself to ED (ER)this morning as it is freaking me out. I have never had them before when I lay down. Of course they did not catch any and said they are benign but it really has me worried. Why all of a sudden would this develop. I am a 38 year old female. I have my period at the moment but never had these with any other period. Has this happened to anyone?????

[CindySno]

I just started having these at 37. It freaked me the hell out but so far my tests say " benign". Mine coincided with a big stressful period and also taking cold medicines. I still get a few but if I don't get scared of them they aren't that bad. Also have a history of panic disorder.
As long as you get tested for physical problems and are ok if try not to worry too much. It is frightening  and annoying though.
I think being dehydrated and low on magnesium make them worse.

[kcroox]

I too was getting PVC's really bad. I went to a Doctor that practices integrative medicine, she did some very thorough blood tests and discovered that I had really low Vitamin D (very low), and that I had a genetic mutation that did not allow my body to convert typical B vitamins into my system. She also mentioned that I could try taking magnesium for the anxiety and palpitations. So, I started taking Vitamin D, a special form of vitamin B12 and Magnesium and the PVCs have pretty much stopped all together. It is definitely worth looking into if you are like me and can't stand sitting through a PVC episode.

[Timothy1236]

I have the palpitations during the night, during sleep.  I have a CPAP machine, so I should not be having any effects from sleep apnea.  I think I will halt all caffeine consumption, and lose some weight.  It is frightening, especially being a single parent and having children at home with me.  I am afraid they will find me dead, orphaning them.  Should I see a cardiologist?  Should I wait to see what the changes in weight and caffeine do for me?

[dlsmith10usa]

I just woke up from horrible palpitations after laying on my side, for me left or right affects me the same.  My blood pressure tends to be up considerably as well as heart rate, sometimes up and sometimes not, but my heart is clearly racing, or not, but I feel something is up with my pressure and my heart function.  I want to try magnesium and see if this helps, this problem really affects my life so much, but sometimes it actually stops for a few months and then resumes....but it has been a long time since I have had a break from this now.  I am 60 now and my wife is so tired of hearing me complain of this problem since I have been to so many doctors and they all say I am fine. I do not feel fine at all!  Thank you very much.  

[medicineangel]

I can't tell you how much your post has meant to me....I've had these symptoms for over 8 years but have never been able to go to the dr because  I have no health insurance. Recently I went to the ER because I was convinced I was having a heart attack. They ran EKG's and all was well but I can't take the flutter or the serious palpitations...your posting made me cry..

[Apodictic]

"Rare," according to my cardiologist, means a few times a minute -- like 6 or 8.  I said to him, "That doesn't sound rare to me," but he said if they weren't in long clusters to not worry about them.  Over the years they've gone away by themselves, but it's definitely an uncomfortable feeling.  I've never been able to make a connection to diet, medication, activity, or anything else.  When I'm having them, they happen in my sleep and find their way into my dreams.  Supposedly harmless, but now, at 62, I'm beginning to wonder!

[songrose]

Aloha!

I am posting an update about my PVCs.  I posted back in June 2009 when my PVCS were really severe.  I was having hundreds and possibly thousands a day back then.  After doing a lot of research, I started doing three different things and my PVCS are much better.  Now I only experience mild PVCs during my menstrual cycles, and when I am dehydrated and sleep-deprived.  It may be only one or two of these things that really work, but I am sharing all three with the hope all of you will be helped as well.

I drink a glass of red wine at least 2X a week for the resveratrol (you can also eat purple/red grapes, peanuts, and/or dark berries if alcohol increases your PVCs).

I take an omega-3 fish oil supplement (Melaleuca brand) 3-4X a week.

I use acupressure therapy from a holistic site.  Not sure if I can post web links here, so please let me know if you want the link via PM.  

Hope this helps.  Take care and God Bless!

[mio55moon]

So i often more palpitation,skip,miss-filp-flop toooo much damn it! I can't sleep at all ****! F/56.Even i can't breath and it's scare me and not funny. I try to stay clam down but could't. I keep postive always. For worse or for better.

[bonijokrauss]

I realize that's been a while since you posted, so I hope you read this. I am a 59 year old female and have had palpitations since I was in my 20s. They are nerve racking and upsetting, but mostly benign. I have had them while laying down, standing, sitting, swimming, etc. I have had some that were mildly painful. (uncomfortable), and I have even had some that seemed to make my vision get blurry for a few seconds. I have had every test that they can think of to run on me, and more EKGs than I can count. Everything is always  normal and "unchanged".  Hormone levels are major culprits, and even though I have had a hysterectomy, I still have my ovaries and I still get palpitations. Foods to stay away from are things high in sugar and caffeine. Stay away from chocolate, coffee, and I have found that presweetened cereals can really be an offender. All of these do it for me, especially when I should be ovulating and having my period. Hope this all helps. Best wishes.

[Phoenix07]

I know this is an old post, but I am hoping there is still some chance you may respond.  I am new to dealing with all this heart stuff (very similar symptoms to many I'm reading here - like worse when I lay down, etc.)  You mentioned that sometimes your symptoms are related to what you eat.  Can you tell me, what foods tend to make them worse (or better?)
THANKS!
Phoenix07

[csmith100]

My palpitations started when I was 22 and I am now 59.  They were always worse right before my cycle, and during ovulation.  I still have them frequently.  The best remedy I have found is to take Tagamet or Prevacid or one of the acid reducing drugs on a regular basis.  I also used to smoke and drink coffee which made them worse.  For several of my younger years I lived in fear and became a little isolated, other than going to my job. Don't do that.  Also, beta blockers, such as Toprol help as far as the intensity.  My advice is to do your best to ignore them, count them like sheep when going to sleep.  The more they concern you, the more they will happen.  I finally began to do that in my '30s and now they are more like "old friends."  I still score high on stress tests.  I decided maybe my heart was just exercising and the palpitations were making the heart muscle stronger.  I am the only one in my family who has these, so I can't say that it's hereditary.  I think some of us just have more sensitive nervous systems.  Live your life.  Don't let this annoyance ruin it anymore.

[pystal]

ive always had the same problem but lately its worse. im terrified. if i die my kids will go to thier father whose a horrible person. my doctors keep telling me to try to ignor the palpitations but its hard to go to sleep when youre  worried you'll never wake up and your children will be left with a bad father. my uncle has heart problems as well as my mom and her father died of a heart attack. my resting heartrate is 122. normal blood pressure. but palitations that are somtimes painful

[sugar2003]

Wow songrose that is just like me. The palpitations are always worse around my period and ovulation time. I usually ge about 2 weeks out of the month of usually no palpitations. I have had all the test and even ablation surgery. Which the DR said it could come back and it has because the sinus rythem was so deep in the heart muscle. I also have anxiety also because of this. I get so scared that i am going to go into atrial fib. which i have 2 times before surgery. I threw cold water in my face once and it went back to normal, (I was mowing when this happened and i was really hot)  Also if i cough real hard or grunt real hard my heart will go back to beating normal. It sure is scary. I feel for everybody on here i know what you are all going through.

[songrose]

Hi all-
I am a healthy 38-year-old female who was diagnosed with PVCs approximately 10 years ago.  I was diagnosed with panic attacks after my father died in 2007.  Like many of you, I have been to the doctor on numerous occasions, and I have worn the Holter monitor and been on anti-anxiety meds.  As of today, I have my panic attacks under control, but have more PVCs than ever,  However, I am pretty convinced that the PVCs are hormone- and position-related, and I continue to exercise regularly and live my life normally.  I notice an increase a week before my cycle, and they continue during my cycle, although they are not as bad.  When my cycle ends, they increase again, especially through ovulation.  After this, they are minimal and normally related to what I eat or what position I am in.  I feel them when I bend over sometimes, and especially when I lie on my left or right side.  Sometimes they act up when I am lying on my back as well.  They definitely pick up when I am stressed or nervous and when I don't get enough sleep,  The reason why I continue to live my life normally despite these PVCs is because I can tell they are cyclical or what causes them.  And when I have them really bad, I tell myself that even though my heart is wacky right now, my mind is strong and I feel just fine.  If I was really suffering with something more serious, why is it that I can think and speak clearly and still go about my merry way without any serious repercussions?  I have had to work hard to convince myself of this, and believe me, I still struggle from time to time.  Yet I have to make the most of the time God has blessed me with and can't waste time worrying about something that hasn't kept me from being a wife or mother or participating in any activities.  I know how scary they are, but you can train your mind to not let them ruin your day or week if you keep reminding yourself how far you have come and how much more there is to accomplish!  

[81ststreet]

I read somewhere that a few heart palpitations when laying down results from the body regulating blood flow.  I used to experience 2 seconds worth of a "rumble" each nite when I went to bed.  This didn't bother me.  NOW, it happens every time I lay on my side, as others on this site have mentioned.  This new situation happened to me after using Lisinopril (for hypertension) a few weeks.  I didn't recognize the side effects initially. I had coughing and a few other side effects and have quit using.  The heart palpitations remain and it can go on for hours. It's quite scary and I don't believe there's anything normal about it.   My heart hurts afterwards and my blood pressure is a bit up afterwards.  I'm using calcium/magnesium combo, and the magnesium lowers my blood pressure. I am wearing a holter/monitor and am thinking about quiting it and seeing the cardiologist sooner because this is not OK.

[candy2000]

I'm 18 yrs old and I have tachycardia and I get palpations that last for hours and it drives my mom crazy because she hates taking me to the hospital. My palpitations usually last an hour and it scares me cuz I think I'm having a heart attack or something and when I go to the hospital they always put me on oxygen because I was having shortness of breath and they had me hooked up to the EKG's for like 1 hour to try and catch what was going on with my heart. My heart went up to like 200 and I started sweating and getting this really bad burn in my throat and I was like I'm having a heart attack and the doctors came in and listened to my heart and he said that I wasn't having a heart attack and that was definitely a relief he did say that my EKG was not normal he said it showed a fast rythm I faxed my info over to my cardiologist and he said that it wasn't normal but it wasn't anything life threatning and I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with these palpitations or I wake up in the morning and I have them. My cardiologist says that I need to exercise more but when I exerisise I get short of breath and chest pains when I walk up the stairs I get short of breath and chest pains. I sometimes get even these pressure pains sometimes and they only last for like 30 seconds or sometimes longer but I can't breath during the pressure pains in my chest like someone laying on my heart and suffocating me. I'm going to see another cardiologist thought about this because it is driving me insane.

[Proudmamaj]

I am 30 years old and have recently had a holter and an er visit myself. I am also having pvc's . I had a stress test and not one pvc to show the doc. but when i lay down at night i get a million and i cant relax. its a hollow, pause in your throat and your chst then a thump as the beat resumes. so scary, and disturbing, cant relax. Any suggestions. I am also suufering with this nagging cough.

[sunni1]

I'm vegan and hadn't been taking calcium or B12 supplements for a long time, and it used to happen when ever I sat down at the end of the day. As soon as I rested my heart would start jumping like a fish - flip flopin my chest. Very scary. I talked to some one and they said make sure you are getting enough calcium and B12. Sure enough. I started taking calcium fortified soymilk and B12 and calcium supplements periodically. No more flip-flops! It was getting worse and worse so I was afraid to lie down and rest! No more problems now. You could ask your doctor if it would be ok to try. I understand that not just vegans but meat eaters also might not be getting balanced nutrition in this area. Also more greens in the diet for the calcium.

[greymare]

I too get palpitations when I lay down and I've been wondering if anyone else had this same problem.   It's so darn exasperating because I'm usually tired and want to go to sleep and then they start up.  I have a stethoscope and when I listen I can hear a regular beat, but if I place my hand on my heart I can feel a faster shaking motion too.  I worry that it's wearing my heart out, but all my tests have just shown the Pvcs.  I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with this problem!  It's hard not to worry when you can't go to sleep because of them, or they wake you up out of a sleep!

[anacyde]

ihatepvcs: yes, it just means infrequent.

Darwingirl: nothing like having children to make one think about self-preservation to ensure that they are cared for.

There was once an EXCELLENT post here about PACs and PVCs and how they don't turn into fatal rhythms because they need a continuous pathway to be sustained and so forth.  I'll look for that post and link it if I can find it.

[Darwingirl]

Hi
Rare just means occasionally I gather. The doctor said they were nothing to worry about as they were not happening often.

[ihatepvc's]

What are "rare pvc's and pacs"? I get pvc's and pacs but have never heard them referred to as "rare". When I sleep on my left side, I absolutely get more. It's because of the way your heart is situated I believe.

[Darwingirl]

Hi Anacyde

Thanks for your reply. It is a little reassuring. It is so hard not to worry about palpitations. I hate them with a passion. I am always so scared of going into an irregular heart beat or dropping dead from them. The palpitations only starts up about 15-30 secs after I lay down and then stop after 3 or 4. I will try out what you said to do. I have a fear of dying from them....dying in general actually as I have a 9 year old disabled daughter (functions like a three year old) who will always be reliant on me and my husband. I see my doctor tomorrow to see if he wants to do another halter moniter since this is a new development. But I can hear him now...Don't worry about them.

Cheers
Sharon

[anacyde]

After my son was born I suddenly started having MAJOR PAC/SVT episodes with ovulation.  No clue why, but it isn't fun so I can relate.  

It is extremely common for women to have an increase in palpitations during their period or other hormonal shifts.  Why out of the blue?  It usually is.  I've never met anyone who can find rhyme or reason.

Lying down or sitting quickly can bring them on for me too, it means nothing.  Just sit slowly, and sit down before lying down.  Try your right side before your left when lying down too, some people notice the left side makes it worse, or at least more noticable.  You'll find this comes and goes, most likely.  Sometimes it won't happen and sometimes it will (usually right when you've stopped noticing ;)

You sound normal, if anxious, to me.  I also have anxiety issues.  Many of us share that in common as well.  Hang in there.