Heart Palpitations

[coltsfan715]

Hey there,

Well I have yet another question for you guys.

I was wondering if any of you have ever had heart palpatations. I had an episode today when I was sitting at the comp. where my heart started racing, I felt it was skipping a beat (but it wasn't), I was having tightness in my throat, discomfort in my chest and a hard time breathing. The whole thing was at its worst for about 10-15 minutes, though I had the increased heart rate and discomfort off and on from about 3 (when it start for the 15 minutes) until about 7pm. I ended up having my dad and Kurt take me to the ER (my first visit - woohoo).

I sat there for about 6 hours. When we got to the ER the ran a tests (EKG, CT Scan, blood cultures, Chest XRays) hooked me up to O2(another first) because my O2 sats were low when I first got there (93) after the palps stopped it went back to (95-96) and had the blood pressure and heart monitors on me from about 3:45 til 8:30 or so. Conclusion ... they know nothing but what is NOT the problem. Everything came back negative which is good - but puzzling to me. I also found out that my xray looks even better than last week when I got taken off IV meds (so that is great).

I just didn't know if anyone else had similar problems at any point and had test results all come back negative. I have to go back to my CF doc this coming week to see him and talk about it though. Who knows what the problem is - I was released and told I was good to go but that if I had a problem again to not hesitate to go back.


Best Wishes,
Lindsey

 

[littledebbie]

Hmm.. I think maybe you were in the hospital when this was a hot topic here. You should read through Emilee's (of lovingbenandcambree)blog. She has a lot of expeience with this. it happens to me sometimes and I do the usual Debbie thing....ignore it. My body and I are on a strict "don't ask don't tell" policy.

 

[Debi]

I, too have gone through the whole heart palpitations thing several times. Had a dozen tests, all of which came back negative. Still get them from time to time. I've just learned to cope. I try to pay attention to make sure they're not different from previous episodes. I'm afraid of getting too complacent about them. Happens about once every 4 to six months. Pursed lip breathing seems to help me through them. I think you were wise to get it checked out. But I think a lot of cfers have this experience. Hope you don't ever have them again, but if you do, at least it might not be as scary next time. Be well!

Debi
54 w/cf

 

[thelizardqueen]

What you just described, I call the beginnings of a panic attack for me. Heart palpitations, trouble breathing, shortness of breath, and sometimes even chest pain. Those are the beginnings of an anxiety attack for me. This could be what you're experiencing, but then again maybe not. Just an idea.

 

[NoExcuses]

I used to suffer from anxiety, and I would get weird heart palpitations all the time. Once I took care of the anxiety, the heart stuff went away.

 

[Seana30]

Lindsey,

I was having the exact same problems. I just had my last appointment with the cardiologist on May 31. Let me tell you what he said to me.................

I had a echo stress test and everything came back fine. The way they found out what was wrong was by hooking me up to a 24 hour monitor, otherwise I am not sure they would have ever figured it out.

When your heart beats it starts at the top of the heart and moves down. Right after this heart beat I have a second beat that starts at the bottom of the heart and moves up. This gives the feeling of a "skipped" heartbeat. Once this would start happening I would freak out and end up having a panic attack which causes rapid heart rate and breathing problems.

This "second" heart beat is not dangerous at all. He said that it is more of a nusiance than anything else. This problem mainly happens in women. It is also very spuratic. You can have the palpatations for months, then they dissapear for years, then suddenly they are back again.

He did give me a medication to take if the palpatations got too bad, but said that it is not nessecary to take it. The med lowers the heart rate and blood pressure. I have not even filled the prescription because I have low blood pressure and would probably end up passing out. I would rather feel the palpatations than pass out!

I hope this help a little!!

Seana

 

[coltsfan715]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Debbie - I must have missed talking about this while I was gone (like you said), so I will definitely scroll through Emilys blog and check it out.

Liz - It is funny that you mention anxiety attacks because when we left the hospital last night and I was talking to my mom (who left to go out of town yesterday with my step dad and bro) She as asking do you think it could have been anxiety. I have had minor attacks before but mainly they just affect my breathing - where I will almost start to hyperventilate, but I am able to catch it fairly early and regulate my breathing. Once I do that it goes away. I will ask about that when I go next week - it is a possibility though I have never had one start out that strong in the past.

Seana - I remember reading your post. I did ask yesterday how they could tell something was wrong if it wasn't happening when they were observing me. Everytime they were in the room, with exception of when I arrived, I was fine. They would leave and I would get the feeling in my chest again. Of course it happened when no one was watching the machines and such. THey reassured me everything was fine and they were able to tell without it happening at that moment. (Who knows)

Everybody else: Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with me. It makes me not feel so crazy. When I left to come home yesterday all I could think was - how silly am I, I totally freaked out and nothing is wrong. Hearing you all's experiences makes me feel a bit "not so crazy" though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">.

Thanks guys,
Lindsey

 

[lovingBenandCambree]

Hey lindsey,
Yes, if you did read I did just go through this a bit ago. Let me know if you want to talk at all. Thanks debi for hte reference. I am glad I am good for something. LOL

I was wondering LIndsey why they put you on O2 if your sats were 93, that isn't low, it is only considered low if you are below 90. Just curious.

 

[anonymous]

Some medications can cause your condition. I had that condition when I used a disket to clear my lungs. The instructions with the med said it could cause the condition plus a swollen tonge.


Glen

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I was wondering LIndsey why they put you on O2 if your sats were 93, that isn't low, it is only considered low if you are below 90. Just curious. </end quote></div>

Emilee,
I have no clue they kept saying they were low, and I kept saying I felt fine. When I first got to the ER I was short of breath from the palpitations so I think that was the problem. When I left and the palpitations had completely stopped (a few hours later) I sat there without O2 on and my sats were at 95-96. They knew I had CF and knew that was about my average, but were adament about keeping me on the O2.
I told my mom afterwards when I talked to her ... I would be a horrible patient if I were on O2 all the time. All I kept saying is can we take this off? Do I have to have this thing in my nose? My nose is cold is that normal? My nose is numb I don't like this lol and so on.

I go on Monday to be hooked up to a 24hr halter monitor so they can determine the frequency and severity of the palpitations. My doc is thinking it is because of my albuterol and he said if the results agree with him he will give me a prescription for a beta blocker or something like that to counteract that effect.

Lindsey