HELP SCARED VT AFIB???

[bannanon]

Hi -  I have posted before, but am really scared now.  I have had a stress test, several echos, worn the monitors, etc.  My cardiologist says my heart is healthy and structually fine.  I am a 40 yr old female, healthy, bp 110/50 cholesterol 180, 5'3 and 130 lbs.  When I have worn the monitor, all it ever catches are PVC's.  Lately I have been having very scary episodes of I do not know what.  My heart feels like it is not beating but quivering (almost like popcorn popping) I go to feel my pulse, but cannot.  I cough hard and it stops, never lasting more than a couple of seconds.  Could this be afib or vtach?  I am so scared.  I am trying to get in to see my cardiologist asap.  I am afraid of having a fatal rhythm.  Please help.  THANK YOU

[Mom2four85]

Did you get copies of all of your records?  That may be very helpful in determining what's going on and let you see when, what & how many you're actually having.

Sometimes, doctors do leave things out when explaining things to patients; I've had this done a couple of times recently.

When you post about quivering sounds like what I had, where the heart for whatever reason (depends on your case) can't efficiently pump the blood in & out - there's a few reasons for this, but you won't know until you get your results.

Get your results, put them in date order; get a piece of paper and makes notes on test; date of test and note what they say the results are. Then take those notes to your dr and ask to be told what exactly they mean in your case and if it could get worse.

Relax, control your anxiety and try to find triggers - even keep a journal of dates, times etc of what you were doing if you can.  A 30 day event monitor would be very helpful then when you feel the symptoms push the button so they can see what your heart's doing then.

Before I had an ablation in Aug 09; I was told nothing was wrong for years and even told in July 2009 I had a structurally normal heart - but that wasn't the case after surgery.

I know most of us fear having fatal arrythmia's, but in reality I think it's quoted as something like 1% that actually do[still trying to find the site or post here from doctors that state the %]  we can't let pvc's, pac's or whatever we're having, rule our lives - easy to say I know...but I had over 50,000 pvc's daily and didn't let them bother me much.

I'm one of those unlucky 1% who have malignant pvc's that cause my heart to stop - had to have a pacemaker/icd implanted for this reason.  Luckily my ablation took away the vast majority of my pvc's, which I can live with for now :)

[cindy707]

First thing is don't be so scared and i know its hard not to... trust me if you are trying to find your pulse and can't you are just fine or else you wouldn't be able to do that you'd be on the floor....thats number one....if you can't catch your pulse at the edge of your wrist go either side of your wind pipe at the neck and press in with 3 fingers....you'll find it its part of your carotid artery and its a direct hit.....remember if you are taking your pulse watch the second hand of a watch for 30 seconds while you count the beats you feel thru your fingertips for those 30 sec. and then double it and you'll know what your heart rate is but you need to allow for the panc you are feeling because it will be accelerated a little.  When you are coughing and you go back to a normal heart beat that too is normal.  The heart runs/pumps thru electrical activity and when you have a hard cough is basically helps to reset the electrical pattern back to normal.  It doesn't always work but does in most times.  The quivering you are feeling is your own heart trying to compensate in trying to find the right electrical pattern for your body i know it feels weird.  Don't be afraid...alot of us have gone thru this and we're still here to talk about it we are not a minority believe me they say that 25-30% of all humans have either A Fib or a prolapsed mitral valve and as special as we sometimes think we are we are just normal people.  Don't be your worst enemy....see your doc i'm sure you'll be o.k.

[itdood]

Next step is to pick these up on an event monitor.  Ask your cardiologist for it.

[Jerry_NJ]

I hope someone can give specific helpful experience, but in the mean-time I write to say you will be all right.  I have read that a cough can stop some problems, if it works use it. First, try to calm down, that will help too I am sure.  You have had tests that help assure you that you will survive time of trouble.  

It is good to see your doctor given new symptoms have arisen - and try to be near someone who can help, even a telephone you can call 911.   Please use these to help calm you mind that help will come if needed, not to raise you fears.  

I am sure others on this community will come with more helpful information.

My prayers,