For women with hormonally induced SVT/arrhythmias.

[SillyHeart]

I know I'm not the only woman whose SVT and heart symptoms get much worse after ovulation and before menstruation.  My question is, has anyone had success eliminating the arrhythmias with hormonal treatments?  For example, the birth control pill?  Have any of you tried taking the pill, and if so, how did it affect your heart rhythm?

I would never have SVT if I didn't PMS, which is really frustrating.

[Prettykittay]

Omg I can't believe I found this!!! I know post is so old. I get afib seems to be always around the time of the mont but has come more often when I'm pms. Did you ever find anything out??

[MichelleP_3811]

Do you know what type of svt you have?  The type of svt I had was not related to my menstrual cycle but that doesn't mean you don't have a fixable type of svt like I had.  What happens when you get your svt?  Does your heart race super crazy fast?  Have you tracked the rate?   Does the fast heart beat start and stop in what feels like one beat? Or does it feel irregular like it is jumping and skipping around? If it is that the heart is more jumpy that isn't SVT but something called premature beats.  They can be a real bother and hard to treat so there really is no easy answer for how to stop it from happening.  It may be a matter of trying a few things and see if it helps. I would first try drinking more water especially around your period. I would watch anything that upsets the stomach and avoid caffeine.  Personally I would try those things first before resorting to hormone treatments but it is all a matter of what you want.  Best of luck and hope you can find some relief.

[Embracetherace]

Hi, this condition really ***** I have episodes every two weeks. When my period is two days away I get bad palpitations or pvc. I'm 29 this started happening to me around 26. I'm on a beta blocker atenlol it helps alot. I feel almost normal9;m on a beta blocker atenlol it helps alot. I feel almost normal taking meds. I've had every symptom their is ugh I hate it chest pain arm pain everything very scary. Im really young this has affected my life tremendously, but I've learned to work through it. I've had every heart test there is the Dr's found nothing dangerous just tachycardia one Dr said svt that can't be ablated So they prescribed me xanax and sent me along my way. I keep a journal of what I eat and do that makes me have svt episodes and never eat or do that particular thing again. Lol. Well I eat chocolate sometimes not supposed to, but I do sometimes. I have three small children 11 and two 8 they help me out thank God with some choirs when I feel a little weak after having a episode or episodes in one week. It happens sometimes. I do work and when I don't feel well I hide at work in the bathroom until the episode is over and go back to work. I'm looking for a desk job but until then I guess I'll hide every now and then not on purpose of course I have to take care of my children. I walk 5 days a week for 30 minutes if I try and run it sends me into svt so I walk. Im not scared anymore if it happens it happens and if people see me have a episode it w;ll scare the crap out of them. If your reading this it i;s going to be ok we have something that isn;t going to kill us thank God lol even though it feels like and I still think it might, but look were still here. I love you guys I feel your pain and just be strong ok. Find your strength in this.

[Iva_87]

You re so strong!! thanks for this story... im making my way through this too, Im much less scared, but I still have some pity parties over myself here and there :)

[melmulera]

I was just taken to the ER yesterday for a mini SVT. I never had this before. I had been having palpitations and increased heart rate for several weeks and got worse right before my period. Sure enough the next morning after the episode I got my period and my heart rate slowed down and the anxiety went away. I also have Hashimoto Hypothyroidism and was unsure if they played into the scenario as well.

[Crazygrace88]

I have hoshimotos and hypo as well! My period is two days late and I just had a nasty SVT. ***** so bad!!!! Thank you for telling your story so I don't feel so alone.

[Crazygrace88]

I have hoshimotos and hypo as well! My period is two days late and I just had a nasty SVT. ***** so bad!!!! Thank you for telling your story so I don't feel so alone.

[jhb12]

there is 100 percent a link i have svt also arythmias bought on by an antibiotic erythromicin which has a rare effect that can cause arythmias so look into prescriptions given by a gp etc. when i have a menstral cycle i get an increase of svt chest pain or pinching also arythmias now kick in i also am very very worn out just from a menstral cycle which i assume is also the heart knocking me out n making me worn out. all in all makes me feel fantastic lol ! hormone balance fine heart monitor shows also night time svt when im resting so al a bit crazy on asprin an beta blockers but sometimes heart goes to slow so take tabs wen i require now so not to slow heart rate to much ! think heart monitors will have a better clue of whats going on with heart week b4 or part way through menstral cycle im going to request this hope this helps everyone with this

[satma]

I just got out of the ER last night after a second episode of SVT. It was a week ago that I had my period and I have been on Trinessa for a year now. I think my episodes are hormonal related. I just don't know what exactly. A month ago it started acting up the same time but I was able to calm my PVCs.

[cargirl1950]

HI,  I am new to this site and I think its neat that Im not alone. I have a heavy cycle but also a arithmia and it really seems to get worse before my cycle. I was wondering if thier are any specific questions or tests to be done for hormone levels. I have always wondered  because i am 45 and have questioned my doc many times . I get cold at night right after a meal and I fall asleep  quickly  just like you flipped a switch and i also have very fine thin hair and a very hard time loosing weight. My thyroid was supposedly ok.  any ideas????
deb

[SillyHeart]

Leslie, yes it could be hormonal.  It could be the spike in hormones that come just before ovulation, OR it could be some other physiological change that happens as a result of your period coming.  For example, maybe you lose a lot of water weight after your period comes and it disrupts your electrolyte balance.

[acjviolin]

Thanks for the dialogue!  Sillyheart: thanks for the explanation- very helpful.  Take care:)

[Leslie613]

Funny, my palpitations seem to increase in the week AFTER my period....does anyone know if that is related to hormones?

[SillyHeart]

I wish we could find a doctor who would take seriously the connection and help think about how it could be addressed.

[svtmom1213]

I also believe that hormones influence the SVT.  My daughter would have episodes once a month always right before her cycle.  When I mentioned it to her cardiologist (male) he said maybe it was connected, but never went any further then that.  My daughter is now taking medication daily to control her SVT after 2 failed ablations.

[iamfaithful]

Yes, my PVC's act up before and after my cycle.  When it first started happening everyone thought I was going perimenopause (sp?), but they checked  me for that and no such luck :-)  I did have uterine firbroids but had a procedure done last summer to shrink thej; however, I am going to the OBGYN because I don't think the procedure worked as well as it should have.  
It's hard dealing with hormones raging, mood swings AND an increase in PVC's.  Yikes!

[upbeat633]

I'd suggest a good naturopathic doctor for checking hormone levels, especially if the levels need balancing, I think they would be able to treat the most appropriately for this concern.

[SillyHeart]

I can't imagine that a hysterectomy would solve anything since the uterus itself does not produce the hormones responsible for the menstrual cycle.  The ovaries do that, and there are many health risks to having the ovaries removed.

But I would also like to have hormone levels tested before and after ovulation and I don't know who to turn to have this done.  I'm going to try my gyno first.

[acjviolin]

Yes, there is a defined connection with me between pre-menstrual weeks and my heart really acting up.  Has anyone ever considered a hysterectomy?  I'm wondering if that might take care of things...I'm overdue to see my Gynocologist.  I would like to have my hormone levels tested before ovulation and about three days prior to the onset of my period.  Can anyone educate me about this process?  (I live in a fairly rural area- the docs are up for any suggestions they can get!).

[Momto3]

Same problems as Upbeat.....I think it was the beginning of pre-menopause that kicked everything into high gear for me.  I keep hearing the entire process can take up to ten years...I've got to be close!  

BC pill didn't seem to have any effect on my pvcs....

[SillyHeart]

Interesting, artskip.  Thank you.

[artskip]

I used the vivielle patch which is just estrogen. I was suppose to use the patch,  then two weeks later use the prometrium pill (which is progesterone) . After about 2 days with the patch my heart rate went very high, I took the patch off and never tried the prometrium pill. In about 24 hours my heart rate returned to ,well.. normal for me. In my case I found out the it's the estrogen that gives me the racing heart.

[jkfrench]

I think the bcp has helped my pvc's.  I have been taking if for 10 years.  I have some friends that are going through the peri menopause and tried those progesterone/estrogen creams and stopped within a few days because their hearts were flipping out.  I for one, am not going to try any of those creams and hope that my hot flashes and mood swings won't be too bad.  I'm already getting mood swings at 47.  Also, I'm having trouble sleeping now and am told it is hormones.  The compounding pharmacy out here is big on those hormone creams and they tell me if I use them I will sleep like a baby.  I DOUBT IT.  The name of my bc pills is Kariva 28 day tablet.  But that is the generic name and I don't see the non generic name on the box.  Also my ob/gyn told me it is a really low dose because we want to see how close to menapause I am.
Frenchie

[SillyHeart]

finetilthree, do you have any memory of what brand or type of pill you were taking?  it would be interesting to try to figure out if it's the estrogen or the progesterone that increases the arrhythmias.  i know each pill has higher doses of one or the other.

Your mom's story is comforting.  I hope I get relief at menopause too, although sadly I probably have 25 years left before I get there.  :(

[finetilthree]

I am looking forward to menopause also!! My mom's heart flutters tormented her for years until they finally calmed down after menopause!

Silly, I def notice a hormonal connection as well, but I can't figure out how to fix it.  I tried the bc pill and after ONE pill, my heart went insane.  I was having extra beats to the tune of once every ten seconds for hours.  It was horrible and I threw out $70 dollars worth of pills the same day I bought them.  Never to try that again!

[upbeat633]

There is a definite connection, at least for me. But I don't know if I can answer your question based on my own situation.

I used to take a birthcontrol pill in my 20's and 30's. However, I can not honestly say it reduced the frequency of my pvcs, they have always seemed to be high.

However, I did stop taking the pill at some point, I don't remember my age at the time, and it could have increased the pvcs, I'm just not sure.

I have since developed uterine fibroids and with the extra estrogen they produce, it has contributed to more pvcs. I think I'm the only woman who is looking for some relief in menopause!  

[MissPriss47]

Ive had slight arrhythmia for many years but its worse now I am in my mid 40s. I have a sedentary job and started eating fish for better general health, although I am not overweight. A nurse friend suggested I was pre-menopausal as hormones can be responsible for arrhythmia at that time of life. I started eating sardines and herrings about 6 weeks ago (much to my family horror) and co-incidentally noticed my arrhythmia improved. I read online about fish and discovered after the fact that their nutritional benefits apparently regulate hormones.  I am eating a can of them per day and no arrhythmia ....and no pills either.