1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Heart Palpitations

Posted by mikeyp @mikeyp, Nov 25, 2016

Hi Everyone, whew, where do I start ? I've been to 6 cardiologists, ( 2 were electrophysiologists ) over the last 11 months and basically I have them all scratching their heads on why I get REALLY bad heart palps, and I mean BAD ones to where it feels like someone punched you in the chest an hour ago, that's how it feels if you can imagine having that happen to you and then I get light-headed and disorientated to where I just want to sit and not talk or move for an hour or more until I get back to normal, usually this takes a few hours. Yes I get them THAT bad. I'm hoping that this group can help me because I'm at the end of my rope. One electrophysiologist said what I described to him was " impossible " to be happening, I'm really starting to wonder if I was born on another planet, I can't be the only person in the world with the heart palps that I have.

Mine basically come in two stages, I feel a pressure on the left side of my heart and then a strong thump in the heart itself, this happens within 2 seconds and then it's gone until the next time, no it doesn't happen all day, mine come as fast as they go but when them come it's like a Mike Tyson punch. I usually get these about once or twice a day. I've done every test imaginable, Nuclear Stress Test, Treadmill Stress Test, 2 heart & neck angiograms, 2 twenty four hour Holter Monitors, Echocardiogram, and numerous EKG's and blood tests and every single test comes back absolutely normal, so ( as one cardiologist put it ) " If we can't diagnose what's wrong we can't treat it " That makes sense but I'm still going through this with no new info, no meds, no nothing, I have the same knowledge that I have of whats wrong with me that I did when this all started 11 months ago and that is NOTHING at all, no more knowledge, no meds, nothing.

Here's more info on me, I " had " CLL, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, (13q14 deletion ) they caught it fast and treated it with FCR chemo and within 3 months ( not 6 months which is standard ) I was in full remission, if you don't understand what this means I'll just put it this way, if you HAD to get leukemia then this is the one you want to get, it's the most common and most treatable out of all the leukemia's and as much as oncologists " can't " say that I'm cured from this they pretty much say ( in your ear ) that you're cured. Now with that said, every Dr, Oncologist and Cardioligist all agree that this is not the cause of my palps, could it be from the chemo ? Yes possibly but I was diagnosed with CLL in April 2016, the palps started in December 2015 and I did the chemo in May 2016 so you see it doesn't match up.

The ONLY relief I get from the palps is when I take Magnesium Citrate, I tried Magnesium Taurate ( which they say is more for the heart ) but I've noticed that the Citrate works a lot better. Ok so you're saying why are you on here then, just take the Mag.Citrate right ? Well there's a problem, when you take Mag.Citrate on a regular basis you literally have to run to the restroom like 10 to 15 times a day, and when I say run I mean RUN !!!!! From what my last cardiologist said " They give Mag Citrate to people who are about to have a colonoscopy to clean them out " and trust me I believe him. So my question is does anyone know what else I can do to alleviate these palps without running to the restroom all day long ? My quality of life has sunk, I either have palps so bad that I can't enjoy life or I'm running to the restroom every half hour, I don't know which one is worse. I've also tried taking potassium and CoQ10, neither works or am I not taking the right dosage ?

Lastly, does anyone have any knowledge of the " Vagus Nerve " ? It's a nerve that pretty much connects your heart to other parts of the body and I'm thinking when the bad palps hit me it's " short circuiting " the Vagus Nerve and that's what makes me light headed. Any help would be greatly appreciated folks. I'm thinking that with the right supplements I can live with this, but what are the right ones and the right dosage ?

Thanks

Mikey P

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 25, 2016

Welcome to Connect, MikeyP.
How frustrating not to find a cause or diagnosis and therefore no relief for your severe palpitations. I'm tagging fellow members @cynaburst @predictable @martishka @jigglejaws94 @mikefox909 @2880 and @debdeb on the discussion to see if they have some thoughts to add.

Mikey, Have you discussed supplements with your cardiologist?

REPLY
1 reply
mikeyp | @mikeyp | Nov 25, 2016
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome to Connect, MikeyP. How frustrating not to find a cause or diagnosis and therefore no..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, MikeyP.
How frustrating not to find a cause or diagnosis and therefore no relief for your severe palpitations. I'm tagging fellow members @cynaburst @predictable @martishka @jigglejaws94 @mikefox909 @2880 and @debdeb on the discussion to see if they have some thoughts to add.

Mikey, Have you discussed supplements with your cardiologist?

Jump to this post

Hi Colleen,

Thanks for responding, yes I have talked to my cardiologist about supplements, Magnesium Citrate to be more accurate actually and he said " Well if it helps you take it, but I would stick to the Magnesium Taurate " He also said ( which is VERY true ) that Magnesium Citrate ( that's the one that really works for me ) will make you run to the bathroom all day, so I don't know what's worse, having these really bad palps or literally running to the bathroom 15 times a day, it's like you took a laxative. The Mag. Taurate really doesn't do much if anything at all. Any and I mean ANY help would be greatly appreciated, I'm at my wits end with this, my quality of life has sunk lower than when I thought I was going to die from the Leukemia ( which I beat ) I can't believe that it's almost 2017 and these Dr.'s can't figure out why we get palps, they can cure my cancer but can't figure out how a guy with a normal heart gets severe palpitations. It's astonishing to me, really it is.

REPLY
jigglejaws94 | @jigglejaws94 | Nov 25, 2016

Oh, I hate it when the doctors can't figure out what is wrong. Story of my life. So I'm assuming that these episodes did not occur while you were on the Holter monitor? or did they occur and just not show anything significant?

REPLY
3 replies
martishka | @martishka | Nov 25, 2016

Hi Mikeyp,
You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had several tests. I have a question about the two
24 hour Holter monitors that you had. I am assuming that when you were wearing the monitors you did not experience an "episode"
and that your heart was in normal sinus rhythm. I am wondering why you don't try a two week monitor or month long monitor. I have had both
since my electrophysiologist could not "see" the problem I was describing since I didn't experience it in the 24 hour period that I was
wearing the Holter Monitor. I had SVT all my life and in my 50's I developed AF. I am now free of any rate or rhythm problems after a successful PVA (pulmonary vein ablation). I also had a standing order for an EKG so I could walk into a lab or hospital and have an EKG when I was experiencing symptoms. It sounds like your EKG showed no rhythm or rate disturbances. If you get these episodes once or twice a day, I am assuming that when you wore the monitor you could hit the "episode button" and then record your symptoms. Did this happen the two times you wore the monitor? If you were symptom free during those two times, it would seem to make sense to ask for a monitor that you can wear for a week or two to ensure that you can document the problem. What do you think?
Martishka

REPLY
14 replies
mikeyp | @mikeyp | Nov 25, 2016
In reply to @jigglejaws94 "Oh, I hate it when the doctors can't figure out what is wrong. Story of my..." + (show)
@jigglejaws94

Oh, I hate it when the doctors can't figure out what is wrong. Story of my life. So I'm assuming that these episodes did not occur while you were on the Holter monitor? or did they occur and just not show anything significant?

Jump to this post

Hi Jiggle,

Yes they did, I had 6 palps while wearing the monitor when I was awake and documented them on the form that they give you. Who knows how many I had while sleeping, that is unknown. I thought ok now they're going to tell me something because there's the palps in black & white on my sheet. When they reviewed them that said " Your heart is working within normal limits " I said what about the 6 palps, they said " that was normal " so I'm stumped.

REPLY
mikeyp | @mikeyp | Nov 25, 2016
In reply to @martishka "Hi Mikeyp, You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had..." + (show)
@martishka

Hi Mikeyp,
You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had several tests. I have a question about the two
24 hour Holter monitors that you had. I am assuming that when you were wearing the monitors you did not experience an "episode"
and that your heart was in normal sinus rhythm. I am wondering why you don't try a two week monitor or month long monitor. I have had both
since my electrophysiologist could not "see" the problem I was describing since I didn't experience it in the 24 hour period that I was
wearing the Holter Monitor. I had SVT all my life and in my 50's I developed AF. I am now free of any rate or rhythm problems after a successful PVA (pulmonary vein ablation). I also had a standing order for an EKG so I could walk into a lab or hospital and have an EKG when I was experiencing symptoms. It sounds like your EKG showed no rhythm or rate disturbances. If you get these episodes once or twice a day, I am assuming that when you wore the monitor you could hit the "episode button" and then record your symptoms. Did this happen the two times you wore the monitor? If you were symptom free during those two times, it would seem to make sense to ask for a monitor that you can wear for a week or two to ensure that you can document the problem. What do you think?
Martishka

Jump to this post

Hi Martishka,

Yes I had the palps both times I was wearing the 24 hour monitors, the palps showed up on the readout and they said " Your heart is within the normal limits " I said what about all these palps, they said " your heart never went out of rhythm when you were having them so all is normal " and so this is why I'm so stumped by this, not one Dr. can pinpoint why I get these and get these so severely. There are no meds to give me because I can't be diagnosed so I'll take any suggestions that you guys can give me to try.

Thanks

REPLY
martishka | @martishka | Nov 25, 2016
In reply to @martishka "Hi Mikeyp, You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had..." + (show)
@martishka

Hi Mikeyp,
You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had several tests. I have a question about the two
24 hour Holter monitors that you had. I am assuming that when you were wearing the monitors you did not experience an "episode"
and that your heart was in normal sinus rhythm. I am wondering why you don't try a two week monitor or month long monitor. I have had both
since my electrophysiologist could not "see" the problem I was describing since I didn't experience it in the 24 hour period that I was
wearing the Holter Monitor. I had SVT all my life and in my 50's I developed AF. I am now free of any rate or rhythm problems after a successful PVA (pulmonary vein ablation). I also had a standing order for an EKG so I could walk into a lab or hospital and have an EKG when I was experiencing symptoms. It sounds like your EKG showed no rhythm or rate disturbances. If you get these episodes once or twice a day, I am assuming that when you wore the monitor you could hit the "episode button" and then record your symptoms. Did this happen the two times you wore the monitor? If you were symptom free during those two times, it would seem to make sense to ask for a monitor that you can wear for a week or two to ensure that you can document the problem. What do you think?
Martishka

Jump to this post

I guess my next questions would be, "What is within normal limits" and "What is your heart rate when you have a palpitation? Is it a regular or irregular rhythm?" When I had SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) I had an even rate of up to 220 or 230 BPM. I wasn't treated for it for many years- until my mid 20's. I went on various meds because the symptoms were interfering with my ability to carry on a normal life. I guess its important to define the palpitations in terms of rate and rhythm. The 'onset' of a tachycardia can be very disturbing- I understand your anxiety and also found your description very familiar.

You asked about the Vagus nerve. I was told about 3 techniques that you could use to stop a tachycardia .
1. fill a sink with cold water and ice cubes and put your face into it, a few times
2. Bear down, clinch your stomach muscles, as if going to the bathroom
3. Hold your nose, close your mouth and attempt to breath out with some force (Valsalva maneuver )

I hope that helps and that you find an answer.
Best,
Martishka

REPLY
mikeyp | @mikeyp | Nov 25, 2016
In reply to @martishka "Hi Mikeyp, You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had..." + (show)
@martishka

Hi Mikeyp,
You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had several tests. I have a question about the two
24 hour Holter monitors that you had. I am assuming that when you were wearing the monitors you did not experience an "episode"
and that your heart was in normal sinus rhythm. I am wondering why you don't try a two week monitor or month long monitor. I have had both
since my electrophysiologist could not "see" the problem I was describing since I didn't experience it in the 24 hour period that I was
wearing the Holter Monitor. I had SVT all my life and in my 50's I developed AF. I am now free of any rate or rhythm problems after a successful PVA (pulmonary vein ablation). I also had a standing order for an EKG so I could walk into a lab or hospital and have an EKG when I was experiencing symptoms. It sounds like your EKG showed no rhythm or rate disturbances. If you get these episodes once or twice a day, I am assuming that when you wore the monitor you could hit the "episode button" and then record your symptoms. Did this happen the two times you wore the monitor? If you were symptom free during those two times, it would seem to make sense to ask for a monitor that you can wear for a week or two to ensure that you can document the problem. What do you think?
Martishka

Jump to this post

From what I understand everything about my heart is normal, every single test was normal but as you know your heart has electrical parts and plumbing parts to it, all of my plumbing is fantastic, a palpitation is an electrical issue and the Holters showed no abnormal rhythms but how can multiple palps showing up on a readout be " normal " ? I totally stumped by this. It looks like my only salvation is to find the happy medium with the Magnesium Citrate to where I don't have " severe " palps while also not using the bathroom 15 times a day. Is there any other supplements that you know of that I can try ?

REPLY
mikeyp | @mikeyp | Nov 25, 2016
In reply to @martishka "Hi Mikeyp, You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had..." + (show)
@martishka

Hi Mikeyp,
You say that the doctors cannot find anything wrong even though you have had several tests. I have a question about the two
24 hour Holter monitors that you had. I am assuming that when you were wearing the monitors you did not experience an "episode"
and that your heart was in normal sinus rhythm. I am wondering why you don't try a two week monitor or month long monitor. I have had both
since my electrophysiologist could not "see" the problem I was describing since I didn't experience it in the 24 hour period that I was
wearing the Holter Monitor. I had SVT all my life and in my 50's I developed AF. I am now free of any rate or rhythm problems after a successful PVA (pulmonary vein ablation). I also had a standing order for an EKG so I could walk into a lab or hospital and have an EKG when I was experiencing symptoms. It sounds like your EKG showed no rhythm or rate disturbances. If you get these episodes once or twice a day, I am assuming that when you wore the monitor you could hit the "episode button" and then record your symptoms. Did this happen the two times you wore the monitor? If you were symptom free during those two times, it would seem to make sense to ask for a monitor that you can wear for a week or two to ensure that you can document the problem. What do you think?
Martishka

Jump to this post

Sorry, I didn't answer your question, my palps happen in 2 seconds and my heart is back to normal so there's no increase or decrease in heart rate. Every time they take my blood pressure and heart rate it's always normal. BUT what happens in that 2 seconds of the palpitation is like someone punching you in the chest, that's my problem, and no one knows what this is or how to treat it.

REPLY
elizamail | @elizamail | Nov 25, 2016

<br><br><br><br>HI<br> <br>My heart palpitations were not as bad as your by the sound, and I guess you<br>have been told about caffeine.<br> <br>Once I gave up caffeine my heart palpitations stopped.<br> <br>Caffeine is in a lot of products, not only in coffee, tea but also soda<br>drinks.<br> <br>Hope this help a little<br> <br>Cheers

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