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Tachycardia?
Hi,
I'm a 22 year old female who goes to the gym 5 times a week. I've had palpitations on and off for the past 5 years. My resting heart rate is around 65bpm.
Last Wednesday (five days ago) I was at my usual spinning class when I checked my heart rate monitor because my head all of a sudden came over very light. It said 200bpm (where I usually never exceed around 185bpm), before dropping to 120bpm, going back up to 190bpm, dropping back down to 90bpm, and so on. My arms and legs were going numb and I felt like I was going to pass out. I left the class and went home, where the episode carried on – I was shaking, I felt numb all over, was having strong palpitations, lightheadedness, and my heart rate was continuing to fly up and down.
I phoned a paramedic who couldn't get my heart rate to come down past 145bpm, even though I was sat resting for 2 hours or so. He phoned an ambulance and they took me to the hospital where they took multiple ECG's, a chest x-ray and a blood test. I know that my heart was palpitating during one of the ECG's, but when I saw a doctor I'm not sure he was looking at that one in front of him.
My chest x-ray was fine. My blood tests showed no problems, except a slightly underactive thryoid – something I know about and don't need medication for – and a reasonably high white blood cell count. He said that my ECG showed that my heart rate was regular, if a bit fast, but again I'm not sure whether I was experiencing any palpitations during that ECG. He said that it doesn't look like atrial fibrillation, since the beats are regular, and requested a 24 hour ECG and an appointment with a cardiologist the following Wednesday. He also gave me beta blockers to take: 1.25mg of Bisoprolol every day.
I left the hospital and felt totally drained, but I expected that since my heart was racing up and down, well above 140bpm for around 4-5 hours. I wasn't feeling well a couple of days later, but decided to get up and go for a short, slow stroll with my dog. Once I got back, I sat and watched TV and I had another episode – the same symptoms as before. Again, my heart rate was flying up to 170bpm, back down to 80bpm etc, along with the same lightheadedness, shortness of breath, etc. I went back to the hospital, where they basically just monitored me until it calmed down a bit and told me that there were no signs of damage to my heart, so I didn't have a heart attack, and to wait until my appointment with the cardiologist.
Ever since Wednesday I have been feeling really ill. I have no appetite whatsoever, I've lost around 9 pounds in one week, which is quite a lot for a 5ft 8, 126 pound (now 117 pound) girl. I am constantly exhausted. I have other feelings that come and go too: tightness in my chest, numbness in my left leg, pressure on my head and jaw, and still palpitations every day. I also get waves of what feels like adrenaline wash over me.
I'm sorry for the really long post, but my real question is – what is going on with me? The doctor wrote on my discharge form (from Wednesday, the first episode) 'ECG sinus tachycardia' – but could he tell if it were another kind of tachycardia if I wasn't having an episode during the ECG? I appreciate I should probably just wait until Wednesday and see what the cardiologist says, but I feel so ill and I've had what feels like two more episodes about to come on, that I've 'breathed away' – I wasn't measuring my heart rate then but I think it stayed pretty normal, nowhere near as high as the previous two times when I went to hospital.
I'm desperate to know why I'm feeling so poorly with such odd symptoms. People have suggested it could just be anxiety, but I'd love to know whether it's likely to be panic attacks, or a form of tachycardia, or could it possibly be a fever that's causing these episodes?
Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your opinion.
I'm a 22 year old female who goes to the gym 5 times a week. I've had palpitations on and off for the past 5 years. My resting heart rate is around 65bpm.
Last Wednesday (five days ago) I was at my usual spinning class when I checked my heart rate monitor because my head all of a sudden came over very light. It said 200bpm (where I usually never exceed around 185bpm), before dropping to 120bpm, going back up to 190bpm, dropping back down to 90bpm, and so on. My arms and legs were going numb and I felt like I was going to pass out. I left the class and went home, where the episode carried on – I was shaking, I felt numb all over, was having strong palpitations, lightheadedness, and my heart rate was continuing to fly up and down.
I phoned a paramedic who couldn't get my heart rate to come down past 145bpm, even though I was sat resting for 2 hours or so. He phoned an ambulance and they took me to the hospital where they took multiple ECG's, a chest x-ray and a blood test. I know that my heart was palpitating during one of the ECG's, but when I saw a doctor I'm not sure he was looking at that one in front of him.
My chest x-ray was fine. My blood tests showed no problems, except a slightly underactive thryoid – something I know about and don't need medication for – and a reasonably high white blood cell count. He said that my ECG showed that my heart rate was regular, if a bit fast, but again I'm not sure whether I was experiencing any palpitations during that ECG. He said that it doesn't look like atrial fibrillation, since the beats are regular, and requested a 24 hour ECG and an appointment with a cardiologist the following Wednesday. He also gave me beta blockers to take: 1.25mg of Bisoprolol every day.
I left the hospital and felt totally drained, but I expected that since my heart was racing up and down, well above 140bpm for around 4-5 hours. I wasn't feeling well a couple of days later, but decided to get up and go for a short, slow stroll with my dog. Once I got back, I sat and watched TV and I had another episode – the same symptoms as before. Again, my heart rate was flying up to 170bpm, back down to 80bpm etc, along with the same lightheadedness, shortness of breath, etc. I went back to the hospital, where they basically just monitored me until it calmed down a bit and told me that there were no signs of damage to my heart, so I didn't have a heart attack, and to wait until my appointment with the cardiologist.
Ever since Wednesday I have been feeling really ill. I have no appetite whatsoever, I've lost around 9 pounds in one week, which is quite a lot for a 5ft 8, 126 pound (now 117 pound) girl. I am constantly exhausted. I have other feelings that come and go too: tightness in my chest, numbness in my left leg, pressure on my head and jaw, and still palpitations every day. I also get waves of what feels like adrenaline wash over me.
I'm sorry for the really long post, but my real question is – what is going on with me? The doctor wrote on my discharge form (from Wednesday, the first episode) 'ECG sinus tachycardia' – but could he tell if it were another kind of tachycardia if I wasn't having an episode during the ECG? I appreciate I should probably just wait until Wednesday and see what the cardiologist says, but I feel so ill and I've had what feels like two more episodes about to come on, that I've 'breathed away' – I wasn't measuring my heart rate then but I think it stayed pretty normal, nowhere near as high as the previous two times when I went to hospital.
I'm desperate to know why I'm feeling so poorly with such odd symptoms. People have suggested it could just be anxiety, but I'd love to know whether it's likely to be panic attacks, or a form of tachycardia, or could it possibly be a fever that's causing these episodes?
Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your opinion.
You mentioned that you have mild hypothyroid. Thyroid problems can cause tachycardia, but it's usually associated with hypothyroid. ERs usually only check your TSH. I would strongly recommend that you see an endocrinologist, or at the very least get your Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies (TSI, TPO and Tg) checked at your doctor's office ASAP.
Are you on any medications? Certain medications can cause tachycardia (including over the counter medications).
Are you on any medications? Certain medications can cause tachycardia (including over the counter medications).
Hi again Michelle,
I agree, the lack of food is probably making me feel worse. Yesterday I forced some food down me and it did start making me feel more myself.
Out of tachycardia my pulse is definitely completely regular. During palpitations, it tends to feel like a pause before a stronger beat followed by normal beats. I listened to what an irregular beat sounds like online and mine definitely sounds nothing like that. Does that rule out any types of tachycardia?
Okay, sounds like an endocrinologist is probably my next step (after my 24 hour holter monitor). My discharge form says: "TSH 5.46, Free T4 20.1", but from the sounds of it they can do more in-depth tests?
Thank you again so much for replying to me, it's very kind of you.
I agree, the lack of food is probably making me feel worse. Yesterday I forced some food down me and it did start making me feel more myself.
Out of tachycardia my pulse is definitely completely regular. During palpitations, it tends to feel like a pause before a stronger beat followed by normal beats. I listened to what an irregular beat sounds like online and mine definitely sounds nothing like that. Does that rule out any types of tachycardia?
Okay, sounds like an endocrinologist is probably my next step (after my 24 hour holter monitor). My discharge form says: "TSH 5.46, Free T4 20.1", but from the sounds of it they can do more in-depth tests?
Thank you again so much for replying to me, it's very kind of you.
Hi,
Thank you so much for replying. I took a quick look into pheochromocytoma but oddly during my tachycardia my blood pressure isn't high at all (116/75) so I'm not sure if that rules that one out. I'll definitely take a deeper look into it though.
I've really tried to get a handle on how anxious I am about this the past few days. I am quite an up-tight person and a bit of a worrier, so after the first episode it scared the life out of me and I haven't stopped researching and worrying since!
After really focusing on keeping myself calm, I haven't had an episode since. Perhaps I was so anxious that I lost my appetite?
The only thing I can't really explain away with anxiety is the fact that my heart rate was jumping up and down like crazy. I've looked around online and I can't really find anyone who has panic attacks where their heart rate increases suddenly, decreases, increases again, and so on. Plus I have had palpitations (with no tachycardia that I'm aware of) for the past 5 years.
Maybe I do have some kind of SVT. I don't feel like I will have an episode during this 24 hour monitor since I've actively tried staying calm about the situation – I'll definitely have some palpitations though because I have them every day. If they can't pick up anything in the 24 hours, do you suggest I ask for a monitor for a longer period of time?
Thanks again for taking your time to reply to me – it's really helping me so much!
Thank you so much for replying. I took a quick look into pheochromocytoma but oddly during my tachycardia my blood pressure isn't high at all (116/75) so I'm not sure if that rules that one out. I'll definitely take a deeper look into it though.
I've really tried to get a handle on how anxious I am about this the past few days. I am quite an up-tight person and a bit of a worrier, so after the first episode it scared the life out of me and I haven't stopped researching and worrying since!
After really focusing on keeping myself calm, I haven't had an episode since. Perhaps I was so anxious that I lost my appetite?
The only thing I can't really explain away with anxiety is the fact that my heart rate was jumping up and down like crazy. I've looked around online and I can't really find anyone who has panic attacks where their heart rate increases suddenly, decreases, increases again, and so on. Plus I have had palpitations (with no tachycardia that I'm aware of) for the past 5 years.
Maybe I do have some kind of SVT. I don't feel like I will have an episode during this 24 hour monitor since I've actively tried staying calm about the situation – I'll definitely have some palpitations though because I have them every day. If they can't pick up anything in the 24 hours, do you suggest I ask for a monitor for a longer period of time?
Thanks again for taking your time to reply to me – it's really helping me so much!
Hi Jenn,
I just had a look at my discharge form and it says TSH 5.46, Free T4 20.1 – but from what you've said they can look into this more? Lots of people are suggesting I check out my thyroid so I think that ought to be my next move!
I'm only on the contraceptive pill called Rigevidon (I understand this is just another name for Microgynon). I'm from the UK though, I'm not sure if they have the same names in other countries.
The odd thing is that I've been on the pill about the same amount of time that I've had palpitations. Recently I've taken two packs together, without a break, twice in a row because I went away on two holidays. It's a stab in the dark, but I wonder if the built up hormone in my system could make a difference to my heart rate?
Thank you so much for getting back to me!
I just had a look at my discharge form and it says TSH 5.46, Free T4 20.1 – but from what you've said they can look into this more? Lots of people are suggesting I check out my thyroid so I think that ought to be my next move!
I'm only on the contraceptive pill called Rigevidon (I understand this is just another name for Microgynon). I'm from the UK though, I'm not sure if they have the same names in other countries.
The odd thing is that I've been on the pill about the same amount of time that I've had palpitations. Recently I've taken two packs together, without a break, twice in a row because I went away on two holidays. It's a stab in the dark, but I wonder if the built up hormone in my system could make a difference to my heart rate?
Thank you so much for getting back to me!
Hormones will have all sorts of effects on your body. Are you sure your Free T4 reading is correct? From what I see on line the top end is 2.0 and you are saying it is 20? You may want to relook at that as well maybe talk to some people on the thyroid forum here to see what kinds of symptoms they have. I think the Free T4 was the other test I was talking about but now you say you are on birth control that could be part of the problem too. I would discuss your symptoms with the prescribing doctor, tell them how you took the meds and see what they say. If you took more than you should that could possibly have had an effect.
What you describe with the tachycardia sounds like extra beats. The pause and strong beat sounds very much like a pvc and if you are throwing a lot of them your heart can react by beating faster as well the anxiety you feel over all of it may increase the amount of them you have causing you to feel very ill as you say. But I am glad to hear eating helped you feel a bit better. Drink lots of water too. Hopefully the holter will give you a better indication of what is going on but sometimes we need a thirty day to catch the really intense stuff so if you don't sense you caught the worst of it during the monitor wear don't hesitate to ask for a 30 day as well. It is important that it gets recorded for accurate diagnosis and these things tend to come and go so it can take a while before it is finally captured. The doctor mostly needs to see the beginning of the even right before the tachycardia starts to distinguish if it is possibly an accessory pathway svt or something else. Well best of luck with it and keep us posted on how you are doing.
What you describe with the tachycardia sounds like extra beats. The pause and strong beat sounds very much like a pvc and if you are throwing a lot of them your heart can react by beating faster as well the anxiety you feel over all of it may increase the amount of them you have causing you to feel very ill as you say. But I am glad to hear eating helped you feel a bit better. Drink lots of water too. Hopefully the holter will give you a better indication of what is going on but sometimes we need a thirty day to catch the really intense stuff so if you don't sense you caught the worst of it during the monitor wear don't hesitate to ask for a 30 day as well. It is important that it gets recorded for accurate diagnosis and these things tend to come and go so it can take a while before it is finally captured. The doctor mostly needs to see the beginning of the even right before the tachycardia starts to distinguish if it is possibly an accessory pathway svt or something else. Well best of luck with it and keep us posted on how you are doing.
Hey Michelle,
Yep, definitely 20.1 on my Free T4 reading, although I had a look online and it says the 'normal' range is 10-24, so that seems pretty normal. Maybe the UK uses a different measurement to over there? But my TSH levels are definitely a bit high so I will ask them to do a further investigation into my thyroid – they didn't look at Free T3 at all.
Thanks again for all of your help. I am getting my holter monitor fitted today so I'll let you know how I get on!
Take care.
Yep, definitely 20.1 on my Free T4 reading, although I had a look online and it says the 'normal' range is 10-24, so that seems pretty normal. Maybe the UK uses a different measurement to over there? But my TSH levels are definitely a bit high so I will ask them to do a further investigation into my thyroid – they didn't look at Free T3 at all.
Thanks again for all of your help. I am getting my holter monitor fitted today so I'll let you know how I get on!
Take care.
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