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

Posted by jengeo16 @jengeo16, Apr 18 7:03am

I started feeling flutters about five yrs ago but was told not to worry about them. Over past two -three years they have become chronic and intense, most regularly as soon as I lay down and now they occur in the mornings and sometimes randomly through the day. Heart races up to 160 a few times a week now. I have been through holter monitors, MRIs, CT scans, you name it. Heart is structurally healthy. Resting heart rate rock solid in high 50s, no issues exercising. Have had multiple opinions in Chicago and even went to Mayo to get a full exam on this. Doctors did diagnose a small burden of Afib ( less than 1%) and picked up other irregular heart rhythms ( multiple types) but they seem rather unconcerned and have put me on two different beta blockers which I’m not tolerating ( make me feel faint). My main Electrocardialogist also recommended an ablation which seems extreme to me being an otherwise young and healthy 52 yr old. Odd that advice ranges from “do nothing” or get an ablation. They cannot identify the source and I’m hesitant to do an ablation without confirming that this isn’t due to something else- hormones ( did I mention 52 yr old female?) Central nervous system related? Vegas nerve related? I have even suspected Covid ( or dare I say vaccine) as three of my older siblings have been diagnosed with afib within past three years, which can also mean genetics, but they are ten yrs older than me and we all got diagnosed with afib within short period. At any rate, you can tell I’m at a total loss but desperately need to get more answers and help because it’s causing a lot of fear, anxiety and worry that this is just going to lead to me having a stroke or heart attack. Not knowing why this is happening to me is making it unbearable. Thoughts?

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@lilymarie

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!

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*prognosis (not program!) 🙂

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@psyche

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!

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I am having PACs and PVCs. I had this start about 2 years ago and wore a zip for 2 weeks along with a full cardiac work up. The results were The “pipes are clear but the electrical is off. I cannot take medication to correct them due to my low heart rate. I would need a pace maker to bring heart rate up to 60 and then I could take medication. I do not want either of these interventions and opted out. Now the rhythms are getting much more frequent and I have worn a Zio again for 2 weeks waiting to hear back on results. Have you had any intervention treatment for your arrhythmias? Wondering what to expect and how to live with this heart of mine. I do aerobic exercise every day and want to keep a physically active lifestyle.

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@psyche

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!

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Psche - Well many testimonies and info I have read would disagree. Heart issues have been symptom of the vax. I had a friend who had the vax and died 3 days later of a heart attack. Also, two pastors who had a heart attack after vax but did not die.

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@sport67

I am having PACs and PVCs. I had this start about 2 years ago and wore a zip for 2 weeks along with a full cardiac work up. The results were The “pipes are clear but the electrical is off. I cannot take medication to correct them due to my low heart rate. I would need a pace maker to bring heart rate up to 60 and then I could take medication. I do not want either of these interventions and opted out. Now the rhythms are getting much more frequent and I have worn a Zio again for 2 weeks waiting to hear back on results. Have you had any intervention treatment for your arrhythmias? Wondering what to expect and how to live with this heart of mine. I do aerobic exercise every day and want to keep a physically active lifestyle.

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You could try potassium and magnesium. Eat pumpkin seeds and nuts.

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I've had chronic palpitations but more than that beginning 12 years ago my heart out of the blue would begin to race. It would go over 200 at a certain time in my life within seconds. My Cardiologist who didn't believe me at first confirmed this. I thought I was going to die each time and waited for it. My resting heart rate at the time which was normal started to increase as well. It became a chronic fast heartbeat also known as Tachycardia. I also was put through all the tests like you and they couldn't find anything buy leaky valves and a couple of murmurs probably due to the leaky valves but that since has gotten better. I no longer have them. My Cardiologist said it wouldn't be the cause for my heart racing but that he was worried. I called them my "episodes". That was a heck of a thing to say to a 33-year old girl. I am 48, almost 49 now. I was put on beta blockers that helped me a lot with everything including palpitations. Whenever it started or I felt that weird feeling I would get I would take a beta blocker. I would soon take the other type that gives you medication around the clock due to my fast heart rate. Anyway, it doesn't happen like that anymore, however, I still get random little bits of tachycardia that takes my resting heart rate go to 100 to 110 for about an hour when I am sitting and watching t.v. And after all this time my resting heart rate is rising again also. It is in the mid 80's which isn't a big deal and even what they consider to be normal for some people but for me it is quite uncomfortable. You are not supposed to feel your heartbeat. But I do most of the time. When it goes in the higher 80's I begin to feel every heartbeat hit against my chest and in my throat. I hate that! In the middle of the night when I am sleeping it is around 85. I think that is why I wake up every 30 to 45 minutes. That and I my oxygen decreases whenever I lay down which the doctors are unable to figure out as well. No Sleep Apnea. Besides, it is whenever I lay down but not necessarily asleep. What I am getting at is after all this time and all these issues with my heart and being scared to death over it and having chronic anxiety over it now they still don't know what is wrong with me. So, I know how you feel. I figure if nothing major has happened yet I probably dont have something serious. That probably isn't a good way to look at it.
Also, during all this I have found some things to be true. Some things that either could be the culprit or at least is adding to the problem. And one of those things has to do with blood pressure. blood prtessure getting too low. And I discovered also when I was going through the opposite in my 20's and had a slow heart rate as well as all the times I delt with my Mother and Father's slow heart rates that the body will respond to this by speeding the heart up. And/or raising blood pressure. Both of them had to go off their beta blockers. In addition to that when dealing with the period where I had so much fluttering happening it could have been from my hormones at the time which were in the gutter. I had to take Testosterone, Progesterone, and Estrogen. It wasn't as bad after that. That was also true for my Mother who went through horrible palpitations during her 50's due to hormones. She had to take Estrogen for some time.
A heart rate in the 50's in considered low. You will read that it can be fine and my Dad and Mom who had their heartrate in the 50's as well also got around. But it wasn't without symptoms. When a pulse or blood pressure gets too low it tries to help itself by suddenly raising the heartbeat and/or blood pressure. I've had one begin and the other then begin and vice versa. It didn't matter which began first the heartrate or the blood pressure but one of them got to low and the body reacted by making the other go up really quick. That can also feel like palpitations. Or like you are having a heart attack. We found out that my mother's dizziness was contributed to her low heart rate that was in the 50's. If it goes lower than that you can pass out. One time she did. I am not saying this is happening to you. I just thought I would mention it too since you said your pulse is in the 50's like theirs. Both my mom and dad had to get off their beta blockers they were taking for high blood pressure. Also, for migraines. Now they only take a certain kind of blood pressure medicine that won't lower their pulse. My dad was experiencing being tired all the time and weakness in his body. I remember when it was happening to me at a time in my 20's I remember it felt like my Anemia does. Another thing I had to figure out and separate from the rest. You just never know. I hope you find something that isn't serious but gives you relief. There are so many things that it could be. But you said you were in your 50's and from my experience with hormones decreasing and my mothers experience I would say hormones could be a big possibility. My mother used to tell me that her doctor would tell her it is just hormones it can't hurt you. I don't know. It made me feel better though.

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