chest vibration

[tanns]

Last night I had a vibration thing happen in my chest off and on for about 2 hours.  I am almost positive that my pulse was normal just fast (100-110).  It was scary but I didn't panic and my breathing stayed normal.  I have had a panic attack before (full on heart attack thinking kind) and this wasn't like that.  I was just wondering if the heart can be spasming and yet not be arrythmic.  Does that make sense?  Is an anxiety attack and a panic attack the same thing?  (I did post on the anxiety forum too, I just feel like it is a heart related issue so I thought I'd try it here too!!)

I have mentioned that I am heading to Mayo and I would like to go up there with only the relevant chest related issues and although I FEEL like last night was one, I really honestly don't know anymore.

Thanks you all and I hope you have a great weekend.

[mrtalent]

Six years ago, I had a mild heart attack and had 2 stents installed. I had restenosis two months later and had an angioplasty at that time. After that (for a month or so), I occasionally would get a vibration in my chest during the day. I had an ECG while it was happening, but it showed nothing unusual. Eventually, the vibrations stopped. I have had a few cardiolite stress tests over the years and all show there is no evidence I ever had a heart attack. Six weeks ago I was drinking a very cold frozen beverage and felt like I froze my esophagus. I went into atrial fibrillation a few minutes later and drove to the emergency room. It converted on its own (heart returned to normal sinus rhythm) before I could be given medication (the episode lasted about 2 hours), so they sent me home. A few days later my chest would vibrate any time I laid on my stomach, or on my left side. I can stop most of the vibration by lying on my back, or getting out of bed. I had another echo and cardiolite stress test and it looks like my heart is fine. At this time, I wake up a couple times a night with my chest vibrating. My heartbeat is fine and I have not had another atrial fibrillation episode, but I too wish I knew what the deal is with this vibration. It certainly appears to be related to events that happened to my heart, yet tests show my heart is fine.

[KarlUp]

I get chest vibration too. It starts when I go to sleep, and it sometimes wakes me back up. I started to fall asleep in a chair one time, and it started just as my head began to nod. I wake up with it constantly. It stops as soon as I become fully awake, and start moving around. During these attacks, my pulse is always normal. I thought it was atrial flutter or fibrillation, but after a sleep study, echocardiogram, nuclear cardio stress test, two Holter monitors, and two event monitors, nothing but a couple of benign PVCs showed up. Evidently my heart is fine, but I would sure like to know what the vibration is.

[gesser]

Hello KarlUp. I get similar symptoms as fall asleep and am wondering if you found out the cause of this.

[LvdByGod]

i would get another cardio opinion and not risk it. if it happens on and off perhaps it wasn't happening when you got it checked with the doc the first time... go to ER next time it happens and try to see what is going on while its happening... thats the only way to make sure you are ok...

my hubby gets these and just had a massive heart attack...

[LvdByGod]

i would get another cardio opinion and not risk it. if it happens on and off perhaps it wasn't happening when you got it checked with the doc the first time... go to ER

[arthur]

You seem to be describing a myoclonus, that is, a vibrating muscle.  The problem is, we don't know where it is.  The ones occurring in the chest, may be coming from the diaphragm.  Their origins are obscure, as they are often due to an insult to the phrenic nerve system.  If your pulse is normal while the vibration occurs, it's likely not your heart.  Check out diaphragmatic myoclonus on the web...horses typically are afflicted after vigorous exercise, so there's lots of references to horses.  That fact that a startle gets it going for a while can be due to an adrenaline surge, which is in keeping with a muscular problem.  Anxiety will make it worse.  Your should be able to track it down with the right kind of MD (specializing in neuromuscular disorders), or it might go away on its own (as the neural insult gets repaired).  Magnesium deficiency has been implicated (at least in horses).

Good luck,

-Arthur

[CollegeGirl143]

you're welcome! I just wish i could make you feel better.. i know how much of a drain the anxiety can be!  

I have an arrhythmia, but ive never had a vibration sensation in my chest before with it, but that doesnt mean its not possible. it is encouraging however that your pulse seems to stay the same, thats a very good sign, its also a good sign you arent really experiencing much tachycardia (110 is nothin to sweat).. I hope you have good luck at mayo ! Anything that you feel is heart related you should mention to them.. Dont hold anything back for fear of sounding anxious or overly concerned! Let us know how things go!