Chronic heart palpitations and can’t determine source- any ideas?

According to my cardiologist, arrhythmia problems are very common after having Covid infection, NOT post vaccination. I have PACs, PVCs, and PSVT. I have had these for 32 years. I have not had COVID infection but have had vaccines. She said getting infected could definitely create more issues for me!

I want an ablation! I am tired of a racing heart, violent (feeling) heartbeat, fatigue, nausea and foggy brain symptoms. My regular cardiologist suggested it was all in my head. I've always been super active on a farm, handling 50lb. bags of feed, hay bales, picking up limbs and hauling manure! My racing heart issues started just 4 months ago. Now, I can't do my farm work bc I am weak. Now, I have to pace myself for short outings. Now, I have to completely stop and rest while riding my horses. Now, my recliner is my best friend! I am scheduled for an ablation in mid July which can't come soon enough. I have been told it has a 80% success rate. I know of several people it has cured. I will gladly take those odds. Medicines for arythmias made me feel worse, so that's not a viable choice after living such a wonderful farm life. My suggestion to you is go for it!

Some interesting points made in this thread regarding the connection between Covid and Afib, and sleep apnea and Afib. These are my experiences: I am fully vaccinated. In November 2022 I had my first Afib episode, then I caught Covid in May of 2023 and experienced lingering Covid symptoms for the next 16 months, mostly debilitating fatigue and brain fog. I am not overweight and normally very active, doing heavy yard work, bicycling, X country skiing, etc. After a few more episodes of Afib, I finally saw an Electrophysiologist (EP) who asked me about snoring and possible sleep apnea. I told him I don't snore. He said sleep apnea is very under-diagnosed. So at his suggestion, I did a home sleep study which revealed moderate sleep apnea. I was prescribed a CPAP device, and since then my energy level has improved. So what I thought was Long Covid may have been sleep apnea? However even with the CPAP device, I continued to have occasional episodes of Afib. In January 2025, I had a PF ablation procedure and since then no Afib, touch wood...only some palpitations, which seem to be diminishing. I still use the CPAP snorkel, I am sleeping well and feeling more like my old self. I hope it lasts.

Just my 2 cents here but I sure wish I had the ablation early on in my life. I had it done due to the afib. Unfortunately, I had two cardioembolic strokes at 50 (believe me, you do not want to stroke) but did not see a doctor for the strokes for 6 months--I didn't have insurance and was fearful of the expense. But, the afib worsened and I landed in ER with 253 beats per minute and 3 nights trying to get into Sinus rhythm. I am 73 now, ablation was done successfully 2 years ago, I wish I had done it years ago!! Anyway, don't let the heart rate get you into trouble and stroking. Not fun. Strokes happen. I am grateful to no longer be on the terrible but lifesaving drug Amidarone. Saved my life but it is extremely hard on everything in the body...thanks to the ablation, I am free of it and the drug, Multaq. I will be on Eliquis the rest of my life (started this when the afib took a turn and I landed in ER. Heed the doctor's advice...no stroking. I do have supraventricula tachardyia but I am well overall. Take care. Keep us posted.

Good luck with the procedure. I hope it resolves everything! I can’t believe doctors continue to cast doubt about what people are clearly feeling. That makes it so much worse because it creates a sense that the very people who are most educated about it really don’t understand it which makes it really scary! Ugh. Anyway let me know how it goes for you. I hear it can take up to 3 mos to fully take effect.

Thank you for sharing your story. My goodness you have been through a lot, but inspiring that you are 73 and doing so well after all of it! I am likely going to go through with the ablation. I’m due to speak with my cardiologist soon. I’ve been living with this on a nightly basis for almost three years and in a less severe way for five to six years in total. It’s no way to live. Thank you for the advice and best wishes to you.

Oh, this is good news; I found that I had much more faith in my electrophysiologist than my heart doctor and for so many reasons, but, do have the conversation and research the heck out of everything. I have a rare condition MSK (medullary sponge kidney in both kidneys which are the reason for so many stones and UTI's, untreatable) and have survived 24 kidney stones so far and Fridays cat scan shows more stones have grown: "multiple layering of kidney stones" that are causing pain and gross hematuria. The battle continues to chart no more than 40 -50 oxalates a day (they cause the stones and in most foods) and protein intake (50 grams max in one day). I fast 15-18 hours (intermittently), but every day. I know, I kind of went off the subject, but, the point is, the challenges continue.
Getting old is NOT for sissies!!! 🙂 Good luck to you and I do hope your electrophysiologist team is as good as mine was...they are the best and KNOW so much!!! Have fun!! My team was hysterical and I pretty much smiled a lot before they put me out! Take good care!

Please keep us posted re your Watchman. Thx

This is a shot in the dark, but has your urologist checked your parathyroid? If the gland produces too much hormone it can cause too much calcium which results in kidney stones.
A relative suffered for years with stones until she had surgery which stopped the formation of stones completely.

Hmmmm....good question. I will ask him. I am very lucky compared to some accounts I've read or seen on youtube. Younger women have had horrible stories and decades of suffering. My stones started showing themselves in 2018. My thyroid tests all came back in normal order but I will ask urologist too. I can't thank you enough for the suggestion and story about your relative. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, the medullary sponge disease will automatically make stones, according to research, the stones grow no matter what. Even all the diet control I place on myself will only be a slight bandaid, if that. My first experience is when the urologist did a cystoscopy as he was pretty certain the program was to be bladder cancer. His shock (and obviously mine too), was I had 18-20 kidney stones, hence, the months of gross hematuria. Crazy stuff that our bodies are born with! Thank you again!