Sudden tachycardia while asleep

[ETex2]

Last night, while asleep, I woke up with my chest literally vibrating. I laid there a minute thinking it was something minor that would go away, and maybe I had dreamed it. But it continued. I got up and got my BP monitor and checked it - my BP was 84/67 and normally it is around 135/85. Pulse rate was 189. I checked this twice.  It lasted about 10 minutes before calming down, and my BP finally returned to a normal range and pulse of around 85 (normal for me). This is the first time this has ever happened. No other pain or symptoms except a little tiredness (could be from lack of sleep for a few days).

I have recently been on meds for high BP but have managed to get off of them by losing some weight and watching the diet. I have type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol but these are under control with meds.  I weigh 235, 6'3", 58 years old. My father died of a heart attack at age 61 after 8 years of angina and heart disease. A few months ago I had a checkup and stress EKG by a cardiologist and the test was normal. Other than moderate high BP, no history of heart problems.

I know I need to go in to see the cardio again, but I'm wondering if anyone has had an experience similar to mine.  Thanks.

[teonana]

Hi, I am suffering with this last 1 month, I don't know if it has common in Lyme disease but after i was diagnosed for Lyme these symptoms start: feeling that heart is going to stop working, sudden tachycardia, High BP 200/100, heart rate 140. When is first Start I was alone with my newborn baby, i was slipping next to her and i woke up with feeling that i was dying. I have checked with my cardiologist and my heart is 100% healthy, he said maybe it is because of nerve system or hormone dis balance. I don't know where else should i go to know the real reason of sudden tachycardia.  

[Iggy500x]

I have this and no doctor I have been to has heard of it. If I did not know better, I would think I wrote that description you wrote. You nailed it. Scary as hell. I have even called the police and given my address, thinking I was dying, and a few seconds into the conversation as the fog lifts, I am like, wait, this is that thing again. I'm okay. Nevermind" It is the most horrible feeling in the world. Have you found an answer yet? I haveve been diagnosed with me/CFS and just assumed it is part of the autonomic nervous system going crazy from the me.

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post and yes...been there done that....and i know it is super scary....the good news is is that your heart converted itself on its own.  You definately need to speak to your doctor and ask them if you are okay to start taking an aspirin a day to hopefully ward off the possiblilty of tossing a clot.  I hated it when it happened to me and my pulse rate the last time hit the mid 200's and i got to the hospital and had to be chemically converted which was no biggie and worked pretty fast.  But yes...i know what you went thru..the thing is that there is no rhyme or reason when it happens to us in our sleep...of course we are more relaxed unless we are having a nitemare so its all the more frustrating because we have no control over it when we sleep and just wake up with it.  My doc gave me a prescription for Multaq so that if it happens again at home i take one of the pills and it should convert me here so i don;t have to run to the E,R,  I know it gets your mind running about our life spans for sure.. i am so hoping that your doc is the one who took you off of the blood pressure meds because they definately CANNOT be stopped suddenly we have to ease and wean off of them or you get something called rebound which may have been exactly what you went thru...your body react to suddenly being without the meds and your heart goes X3 its normal pulse and simply goes haywire....its a very common and dangerous occurance.  Good luck to you and don't be afraid alot of us have gone thru this and are still here to post about it........................

[Elston]

Hey Etex2,

I had this quite a few times at night. Apparently, it happens because your heart gets into a different sinus rhythm slowing down. Personally, I made some dietary changes in my life & wouldn't eat too close to bedtime. I know a few ppl who get it a night after having a few drinks before they sleep or general 'pigging' out.

How long have you been on your meds for your diabetes & high chol?

[Darlingorla]

I have PSVT and this has happened to me, about 6 months ago.  I had been asleep for about half hour and got up to to to bathroom.  Then I got back into bed, lay on my LEFT side and boom, tachy started.  Went on for about 1 1/4 hours despite vagal manoeuvre.  I also had short episode about an month ago, again sleeping on my left side.

I am going for an ablation next month as I have been living with this arrhythmia for about 28 years and I have had enough.  PSVT usually starts with an ectopic beat, always comes out of the blue and stops as quickly as it starts, usually with a vagal manoeuvre.  The cardiologist at Toronto General, which is where I am having my ablation done, said that she hears from many patients that their arrythmia starts with just a simple movement, e.g. raising an arm, bending over to put something down and turning around quickly.  It is bizarre and very unnerving.