strange palpitations

[car]

Can you please tell me something.  I have palpiations every day.  They feel like a big thump and then my heart seems to stop and and then start again and sometimes it feels like a couple of fast beats and then stop and go again and I kind of feel a rush down to my hands and heat like the blood stops flowing for a second.

This seems to happen approximately 10 times per day.  I really hate the feeling but I have seen an EP doctor and he has said everyone gets palpitations and not to worry about it.  They have caught a 5 beat run of PVC's on a monitor but say it is not conidered v-tach and not to worry because I have no signs of heart disease.

I am a 40 year old female with no other health problems other than this heart skipping thing I have.  I am taking a small dose of Celexa (10mg) every day because of my high anxiety level about my heart skipping.

If everyone gets these things why is it that my husband, my sister and many friends I have talked to do not feel anything strange happening to their hearts?  The doctor says I am no doubt just "really tuned" into these things but I question it who wouldn't be tuned into these things when you heart is stopping all of the time?  

My next question to you is usually once per week I will be sitting quietly doing nothing and my heart will start going irregular or does a couple or three of hard pounds and then stops and I feel like I am going to pass out for a split second.  I always take a deep breath and it seems to go back normal beating.  Once again the EP doctor says don't worry (as this is quite infrequent he says), but I really do when this is happening.  

Do you think it is just a run of PVC's that is making me feel like that?  Is that not a bad thing?  Do other people actually get runs of these horrible things?  Am I making a big deal out of nothing?   I hate it but would really like to know if other people get the same thing as I really let these things control me.

I thank you for any input you can give me about this as I really value your comments.

Thanks!

[nismo]

I too have this wierd beat with my heart, I am now pregnant with my 2nd baby, and this is a more active problem during my pregnancy. I too can't stand the wierd feelings, and am Absolutly terrified every time my heart starts to race. I had been to the doc's a few times for this and even been given an echo. They turned up nothing, because my heart would beat normal for them. This weekend we caught my heart acting up. I woke up with the pounding flutters, after they didn't resolve within 20 minutes I went to the ER. I was given a beta blocker, lopressor, to slow my 160 bpm heart rate. the irregularity took 5 hours to resolve itself! This was the worst episode ever. I have another echo this week. I am so scared! I must agree that is is very hard to relax when it involves the heart. Any one have the irregularity for this long? What could be the cause

[Buzz]

Yes, to last poster,  My heart rate used to stay above 140 for days.  Test all normal.  What the doctor needs to do is put you on an event monitor.  Then he can see how offen and how long it last.  Try sleeping with a 140+ heart rate, you wake up feeling like you ran a race all night.  Then having to put 8 hours in at work was real hell.  I don't know how many times I felt like passing out.  Now I am on a beta-blocker, what a difference.  I sleep much better and actualy can watch a little tv in the evening now.  Before my life was work and sleep.  I still have break outs of fast heart beats from time to time,  but they are short lived and not as fast as used to be.  I no longer have any chest pain either.  A fast heart rate is nothing to worry about as long as you are taking medicence.  If left to over beat for years and years, one could shorten your life span, heart is strong but still can wear out.

Also really watch what you eat.  Eat smaller meals, No caffee, and that means all the easter candy too..ehehhehe  So when it comes down to basics,  You are what you eat.  

Good luck,
Buzz

[marten]

I too have PVC's, 5000-8000, mainly trigeminy for sustained amounts of time, sometimes bigeminy, a day according to holter tests. I'm 21 and have been having them for several years. I understand your frustration, I was flabergasted when my doctor said I noticed it because I was hypersensitive, maybe due to lack of sleep. I said, I can put a 20 pound weight on my chest and you'll see my heart beat, stop, and have a hard beat. anyone would notice ! and none of them take it seriously, my doctor when he got my holter results didn't even read the detail page. just the summary. I was the one who had to bring to his attention the 6500 PVC's it had recorded.

What frustrates me is how (sorry cardiologists) ignorant they seem to be about these problems, and how little heed they seem to pay to people with these problems. Recently my episodes have become painful, besides irritating. And I went to the ER, baffled everyone.

you know what one doctor said ? 'well if it hasn't killed you in the past 4 years, it probably wont kill you now.'

Thanks Doc !

Anyway, take heart in knowing a lot of people share your pain. :)

Take Care.

P.S. Anyone watched themselves have an echo while having PVC's? how scary is that to see your heart go motionless on screen :)

[SoozieQue]

What a relief to find this topic.  I have been to 3 EP's; 3 cardiologists; 2 gastro specialists; wear an Event Reveal Loop Monitor; have recorded many "episodes"; and still cannot convince the heart specialists that my palpitations are related to stomach or intestinal "gas" or stomach upset. I have tried 3 medications that did not help at all with the irregular heartbeats.  The Reveal Monitor has documented my heart rate going from 65 beats per minute to 180 bpm in less than 4 beats. It will slowly go back to normal within 4 - 5 minutes unless I stay anxious about it.  It is a most sickening sensation that makes me feel like I am going to "bite the big one" !!   Does anyone else have this problem with stomach or digestive problems causing irregular heartbeats - and trying to convince a doctor o it?

[JR]

ditto on all that stomach stuff causing skips , thumps, bangs and rapid rates....try taking aciphex....its helped me out A LOT!

[Gaye]

My thoughts are with all of you that are suffering from these annoying feelings.  I am especially interested in the comments from those of you who might be dealing with hormonal changes as well.  I am a 40 year old female who's palpitations began with my second pregnancy 5 years ago and only returned with a vengance recently when I began dealing with perimenopausal symptoms.  Does anyone have information on a website that deals specifically with this issue of hormones and palpitations?  

Also, do any of you have "fleeting" pain with your PVC's?  I haven't had any pain with them until recently and although it's a split second issue, it's very scary!  I'm sorry all of us are dealing with these, but I'm glad you all are out there to make some of us feel like we're not nuts!

Gaye