I get these palpitations about every third or fourth beat. I had all the heart tests and the doctor tells me there no big deal, forget about them. It's hard to forget something that's on your mind constantly. Anybody else dealing with this problem?
heart palpitations?
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gunlovingirl
Member
I had/still have them. Somewhere around 12 years ago, my Dr. had me on a 24 Holter monitor. It showed the irregularities, but she said it wasn't bad enough to be concerned with. Now it's worse, with additional issues. My current Dr will probably put me on another Holter, and mentioned seeing a cardiologist. My Mom recently had a triple bypass, so it really concerns me. You could always get a 2nd opinion, but from what I was told, a lot of people have irregular heartbeats. But if it's worrisome to you, I would get that 2nd opinion. Worrying about it constantly isn't helping.
LoadedRound
Member
the doctor tells me there no big deal
He's wrong, period. If you have a concern regarding your health and that's his answer, you need a new doctor. If you can feel these palpitations under normal circumstances, somethings wrong. It could be something physical or maybe stress. Always remember, management of your health is your responsiblility. If you're not satified or comfortable, the issue is not resolved.
He's wrong, period. If you have a concern regarding your health and that's his answer, you need a new doctor. If you can feel these palpitations under normal circumstances, somethings wrong. It could be something physical or maybe stress. Always remember, management of your health is your responsiblility. If you're not satified or comfortable, the issue is not resolved.
oldfella
US Veteran
Couple of months ago, out of the blue on a routine check, my primary physician noticed an "irregularity", an extra beat about every four; sent me to see the cardiologist who put me through the works - the result, "normal", go figure.
Pete
Pete
DustyJacket
Member
Are you having PVCs/
If so, I've had them for 20 years. Mostly show up during acid reflux times.
They rate them by how often and how many per occurance. Unless you see a marked increase, it is 'supposed' to be no big deal.
If so, I've had them for 20 years. Mostly show up during acid reflux times.
They rate them by how often and how many per occurance. Unless you see a marked increase, it is 'supposed' to be no big deal.
Dustyjacket, your on to something here. I have pvc and pac beats and have also been diagnosed with Barretts Disease, damage to the esophagus due to stomach acid. I have appointments with my gastro doc and arrythmia doctors in Boston, Ma in a couple weeks. I need some relief from this stuff.
BarbC
Member
I get them - they're stress-related. They're annoying but I've been checked and aside from a bit of a leaky valve, there's nothing wrong.
Just breathe and relax when it happens and if you get dizzy, sit down. Sometimes a little cough will stop it too.
Just breathe and relax when it happens and if you get dizzy, sit down. Sometimes a little cough will stop it too.
DustyJacket
Member
Does it happen when you are compressing your abdomen, like bending over and tying your shoes?
BTW - the vagus nerve (spelling) controls your heart, and is alongside the bottom of the esophogus. Really good heartburn/acid reflux can stimulate the nerve, also causing PVCs......
BTW - the vagus nerve (spelling) controls your heart, and is alongside the bottom of the esophogus. Really good heartburn/acid reflux can stimulate the nerve, also causing PVCs......
deadin
US Veteran
I've had PVC's (Premature Ventricular Contractions) for over 20 years. They were scary at first and then became just irritating. A couple of years ago I also developed tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) that would last for up to several hours. My cardiologist sent me in for a heart ablation where they run a catheter into the heart and "zap" the nodes that were misfiring. (At least that's how it was explained to me.
) The result is the tachycardia is gone and so are the PVC's except for rare occasions that I think are triggered by have too much salty food.
) The result is the tachycardia is gone and so are the PVC's except for rare occasions that I think are triggered by have too much salty food.
Uncle Larry
US Veteran
I had a few palpitations while at my cardiologist for a check up..he had me back for a chemical stress test and nothing showed up on the test and no palp's since..I dunno, go figure....
If it were me, I'd be in favor of a 2nd opinion or a visit to a good cardiologist just to be on the safe side...prolly an EKG would be a good idea just to see what's going on.
JMVHO & YMMV
If it were me, I'd be in favor of a 2nd opinion or a visit to a good cardiologist just to be on the safe side...prolly an EKG would be a good idea just to see what's going on.
JMVHO & YMMV
FrankD45
Absent Comrade
For what it's worth, back in 1982 I was on a particularly tough business trip. I left NYC for home in Cincinnati and experienced a small electrical fire that originated in the galley. I remember the pilot (whose accent suggested he was from somewhere south of Biloxi) saying the airplane was perfectly capable of flying without coffee. The following morning I left Cinci for Baton Rouge via Atlanta. The airplane developed a violent buffeting that was found to be due to the failure of the flaps to fully retract. That resulted in missing my connection which led to an alternate flight to New Orleans and a rental car from NO to Baton Rouge. After a rotten meeting I flew on to Houston that evening. When I got checked in I started to feel like my heart was stopping for a bit before beating again. It was the strangest feeling and it scared the crap out of me. I was on the verge of calling for help when the sensation stopped.
When i got home I visited my doctor and had an EKG. He confirmed I was getting an "extra" heart beat. He was surprised that I could actually feel it. He blamed it on slightly elevated blood pressure and put me on a diuretic control med. I am now 69, still taking meds to control blood pressure.
I would not accept "it's normal" as a diagnosis.
I hope that helps,
Frank
When i got home I visited my doctor and had an EKG. He confirmed I was getting an "extra" heart beat. He was surprised that I could actually feel it. He blamed it on slightly elevated blood pressure and put me on a diuretic control med. I am now 69, still taking meds to control blood pressure.
I would not accept "it's normal" as a diagnosis.
I hope that helps,
Frank
jubela#4
Member
deadin
US Veteran
No caffine, alcohol or salt. No wonder my stress level is up!
G.T. Smith
US Veteran
I started noticing that my heart was skipping beats back in 84 or so. I went to the doctor and wouldn't you know it wouldn't do it for him. It still does it. They pretty much told me I needed to "chill out", so I tried. It does it when I use a lot of salt or stressed out about stuff. a couple of times it seemed to run to fast. sometimes beat beat skip beat beat skip. The busier I stay, the less it does it, or perhaps I just don't notice it. gordon
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Havent had them since high school.
rburg
Member
Because the girls were young and pretty, and you lacked experience at the time!
These days, we'd love to have our hearts skip a beat because a pretty girl walked past. Now if your heart does that, its because your wife smacked you for looking.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
As long as you think it's a problem, it's a problem. Nothing is scarier than heart issues-you think you are having a heart attack and turns out to be panic or stress. I have the irregular heart beats and was told not to worry-I quit worrying and guess what-he was right. Mentioned it to my father and he said that he has it and my grandfather had it. Best thing is to keep stress low & watch your caffine and booze intake. Also goes without saying NO TOBACCO PERIOD! Get another opinion by all means-if he says it's nothing to worry about-then listen to him/her maybe there really isn't anything wrong. Worrying can kill you as sure as anything else-or at least make you so miserable and scared you'd just as soon die. Good luck and remember you ain't alone.
rburg
Member
Why the bias against tobacco? I didn't even die in November, and I'm a dedicated smoker. I have 2 cigars a year, and the first is coming up in 10 days!
(the exact location will be on Dead Horse Point road, about 3:00 in the afternoon)On my hospital forms, they ask if I'm a smoker. I dutifully check the "yes" box. Then they always have a follow up question, "How many per day?" So I answer 1/182.5. My doctor looked at it, laughed, then said "just don't inhale". Then pointed out something else will get me before that kind of usage will.
Everything in moderation. I have a very good friend who is Mormon. He preaches the moderation thing. He said he believes in temperance, but only in moderation. He explained that while sitting on a rock out in the middle of the desert, where no other Mormons could catch him smoking a cigar and drinking a beer.
Frizzman
US Veteran
I started noticing the premature beats when I was in my late 20's. At the time, I was a Patrolman on a city police department. I was constantly sleep deprived and lived on a diet of junk food, coffee and cigarettes. I was a bit stressed at times too. One night I was on duty and started to notice these things getting more and more frequent. I finally drove myself to an ER. I was admitted and had all the tests and was told I had "benign" PVC's and no signs of heart disease.
For the next 30 years, I had episodes of PVC's and PAC's. They were constant at times and really drove me nuts. I had many Holter Monitor and stress tests and etc. Nothing ever showed up and I was told the usual thing about it being no threat and to just ignore them. I always felt irritated at that...easy for the doctor to say.
A couple of years ago I had two episodes of Atrial Fibrillation that required cardioversion(the heart is stopped with electric shock and restarted to hopefully put it back in normal rhythm). It was done under general anesthesia. I didn't smoke or use alcohol or caffeine. The pvc's got to be constant.
Finally, I was desperate and tried losing weight and exercise and a better diet. I have lost over 100 lbs since last May. I walk several miles everyday and ride a bike too. I make sure I get enough sleep and keep my blood pressure under good control. The PVC's/PAC's have stopped and don't bother me anymore. I have had no further episodes of Afib and feel better in general. I had a stroke in 2002 due to a blood clot caused by an episode of Afib. So, any irregular heart rhythm should be checked out but these palpitations are very common and are usually not indicative of some terrible problem. I am 55 now and I am doing pretty well considering what I have been through.
For the next 30 years, I had episodes of PVC's and PAC's. They were constant at times and really drove me nuts. I had many Holter Monitor and stress tests and etc. Nothing ever showed up and I was told the usual thing about it being no threat and to just ignore them. I always felt irritated at that...easy for the doctor to say.
A couple of years ago I had two episodes of Atrial Fibrillation that required cardioversion(the heart is stopped with electric shock and restarted to hopefully put it back in normal rhythm). It was done under general anesthesia. I didn't smoke or use alcohol or caffeine. The pvc's got to be constant.
Finally, I was desperate and tried losing weight and exercise and a better diet. I have lost over 100 lbs since last May. I walk several miles everyday and ride a bike too. I make sure I get enough sleep and keep my blood pressure under good control. The PVC's/PAC's have stopped and don't bother me anymore. I have had no further episodes of Afib and feel better in general. I had a stroke in 2002 due to a blood clot caused by an episode of Afib. So, any irregular heart rhythm should be checked out but these palpitations are very common and are usually not indicative of some terrible problem. I am 55 now and I am doing pretty well considering what I have been through.
Brett248Vista
Member
"Quit worrying" is hard to do when your terrified... I've been to the ER four times over it.. Because I work myself up to the point where I think I am dying...
None of my PCP's would listen and just kept telling me "you are depressed and need to go on depression medication" I finally got a PCP who was willing to run me through the ringer. Last year I had two Contrast CT's (Upper and Lower ab) with IV and Liquid Contrast I also had a Gastroscopy and also had a full Cardiolite Stress Test (2 day event) and aside from being out of shape they said everything checked out fine... They ran my rear, HARD on the tread mill and I thought I was going to die... But I didn't!
I still get palpitations but I am trying hard to ignore them.. I have accepted that I am having gastrointestinal issues GERD and I am trying to live with it...
I am also having some abdominal pain that comes and goes.... I need to have an ass cam done, but everything "comes out" fine... never any issues there..
Oh yeah I'm 33.........
None of my PCP's would listen and just kept telling me "you are depressed and need to go on depression medication" I finally got a PCP who was willing to run me through the ringer. Last year I had two Contrast CT's (Upper and Lower ab) with IV and Liquid Contrast I also had a Gastroscopy and also had a full Cardiolite Stress Test (2 day event) and aside from being out of shape they said everything checked out fine... They ran my rear, HARD on the tread mill and I thought I was going to die... But I didn't!
I still get palpitations but I am trying hard to ignore them.. I have accepted that I am having gastrointestinal issues GERD and I am trying to live with it...
I am also having some abdominal pain that comes and goes.... I need to have an ass cam done, but everything "comes out" fine... never any issues there..
Oh yeah I'm 33.........
