question about tachycardia and possible v-tach

[annako]

When a person is in v-tach, is the pulse rate high just before or just after the episode.   The reason I ask is that yesterday I felt a fluttering in my chest and I started to feel a major head rush , kind of like a light headed feeling and when I went to take my pulse I could not find it for at least 3 seconds and then it kicked back in and my heart was beating normally but it was not fast.  Heart rate was about 85 and within a few minutes was down to 72.  Could this still have been v-tach or does your pulse have to be a lot faster just before or after the episode?  Hopefully someone knows the answer to this question.  Thank you.

[annako]

Yes I have an appointment with my family doctor on July 3rd and I will be requesting another referral to the cardiologist to get it all checked out again.  However, I must say I don't get any tachycardia..just after the flutter..which lasted 6 seconds or so and where I couldn't feel a pulse,  my heart beat kicked back into normal and my heart rate was in the mid 80's then a few minutes later I took pulse rate again and it was in the 70's so this term ventricular tachycardia scares the beeejeezes out of me but I don't have any tachycardia, yet other members on this forum have commented that they think it could be.  I so appreciate all the comments and help though, during a very anxious time your all so helpful for me!

[kim62]

If you have had this happen before or it happens again, I would highly recommend that you see your physician or cardiologist soon. I thought that since it comes and goes so fast and I felt fine otherwise...that it was no big deal. But after looking back I kick myself in the rear for not finding out sooner  what was happening . As time went by the episodes became more frequent and lasted longer. I finally got to the point where it didn't stop on it's own and exceeded 300 beats per minute. I now have an implanted defibrillator and a lifetime prescription of anti-arrythmia meds. Please talk to your doctor.

[annako]

Thanks for your input.  What is a couplet or run?  Thanks again

[Momto3]

Doesn't sound like VT to me.  As kim62 said, it would be a sustained HR above 100, usually 30 seconds or longer.  Could have been a couplet, or a short run.  Hard to say without a monitor.  

[kim62]

If I am correct, I think it V-tach is defined as having a heartrate greater than 100 beats per minute. Your pulse would be high during V-tach. I would have loved to even have had V-tach at 100. Mine was usually 250-320 per minute.