5 second episodes of palpitations

[jmbutrfly]

Hi all,
I am a 28 year old female with type 1 diabetes and a history of anxiety. When I was younger, I had occasional pvc's (caught on an ekg at a doctors office once after I mentioned them). Doc said I was fine, so I didn't worry about them.

Recently though (past year and a half) I've been getting episodes that last about 5 seconds where it feels like my heart is beating really erratically and I get dizzy. No shortness of breath, but definitely light-headed. I'm not sure how to characterize the palpitations, really - there's no defined beat, it's like a couple fast ones, a pause, some more fast ones, some slow ones, whatever, all thrown together. These episodes happen 1-2 times per month, and more frequently leading up to my period. I haven't noticed any other symptoms - it happens at random times of the day, sometimes sitting sometimes standing, with or without caffeine.

I see a cardiologist, and so far I've had EKG's, an echocardiogram, a stress test, and a tilt table test. They were all fine except the tilt table test, where the doc said I just had neurally mediated syncope. My cardiologist doesn't seem concerned; but agreed to put me on a beta blocker at my request.

So my question is this - first, does anyone have any thoughts on what this could be? My doc hasn't given me a name (probably can't, since it's never been caught on an ekg) but I'd like to have some idea. Second, should I continue to pursue testing/freak out about this? Like try to get an event monitor or something? Or is the normal ekg/echo/stress test enough that I can assure myself I'm not going to drop dead? Also, any other advice? Thanks!!

[SnowHlp]

I think you're Ventricular Tachycardia Not Sustained, which is nothing less than Pvs in settings, watch your diet and cut foods carbroidratos, soda, bread, sugar, chocolate, coffee, since it can be focal stimulation. Apparently if the tests were correct, do not think it's anything serious, try changing your lifestyle and diet. Lengths.

[itdood]

It has to be caught on an EKG to know what it is.  Based on sensation alone it could be a dozen or more different types of palps either originating in the atrium on the ventricles.  

Just my humble opinion, I wouldn't recommend the beta blocker for it if it's that rare and doesn't have any symptoms and you don't know what it is you're treating.    Some types of arrhythmia occur more often when the heart is beating slower, which a beta blocker will make your heart beat slower.  Then again it may be that your ectopics get worse from adrenaline which is what a beta blocker does, it blocks adrenaline.  THe other side of that, your body will quickly develop tolerance to the BB and you'll have to up the dose.

anyways. I bring it up because I tried BBs for my PVCs and it made them worse and it was tough to get off them.  pain in the butt.  everyone is different and you have to keep working on it.

I would recommend an event monitor to catch it.  That's what I did.  I used a cardionet 30 day event.

[SnowHlp]

I think you're Ventricular Tachycardia Not Sustained, which is nothing less than Pvs in settings, watch your diet and cut foods carbroidratos, soda, bread, sugar, chocolate, coffee, since it can be focal stimulation. Apparently if the tests were correct, do not think it's anything serious, try changing your lifestyle and diet. Lengths.