1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Posted by Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator @kanaazpereira, Feb 14, 2018

Welcome to the Heart Rhythm Conditions group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Did you know that the average heart beats 100,000 times a day? Millions of people live with heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) which occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats don't work properly. Let's connect with each other; we can share stories and learn about coping with the challenges, and living well with abnormal heart rhythms. I invite you to follow the group. Simply click the +FOLLOW icon on the group landing page.

I'm Kanaaz (@kanaazpereira), and I'm the moderator of this group. When you post to this group, chances are you'll also be greeted by volunteer patient Mentors and fellow members. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 28, 2018

@thankful

Thank you for sharing your great news about your experience at Mayo.

Teresa

REPLY
mommabyrd | @mommabyrd | Apr 29, 2018

Hello, my name is Sonja. I have had ‘episodes’ with my heart for years. Every test I’ve had has been negative, until June, 2016. I don’t want to have anything wrong, just want answers to why my heart would race so hard, skip beats then almost black out. At least I have learned to control the blacking out. At times sound asleep, my heart would have a real hard beat that it would wake me up and shake the bed. After many visits to the ER, in June, 2016 I was hooked up to the monitor and the ER doc said ‘I see what your talking about’. OMGOODNESS!! Here come the answers I have been waiting for! She called the cardiologist and immediately I was scheduled for angioplasty. The cardiologist inserted two stents because of 80% blockage. My family and I were excited. We hoped this would correct the episodes I had. But to no avail it didn’t. Our youngest son has the same symptoms I have. His cardiologist recommended ablation procedure. We were excited that this may be the answer for us. Again, nothing. So here we are living with these episodes, being told every test is normal and nothing life threatening. Praying we don’t have an episode will driving, which could be life threatening to us and other motorists. BTW, the doc said our son didn’t inherit his heart issues from me. I find that hard to believe since my mom and daddy passed away with heart attacks; and my older brother had quadruple bypass at 50.
Thank you for a listening ear. Hoping someday to have real answers!

REPLY
TWPTRUSTREK | @twptrustrek | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @kenny48 "Hi, I'm an almost seventy year old man, who has suffered from PVC's most of his..." + (show)
@kenny48

Hi,
I'm an almost seventy year old man, who has suffered from PVC's most of his life, as well as Atrial Fibrillation for eight years. I'm seeking out people who can share their experiences as well as let me share my own.

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HiAfter 5 cardio versions 2 ablations 1 stent 1 angioplastyAnd a cath explore during the last 9 years I&apos;m doing great no fain for 5 yrs Now have 18 mos of jumpy pvc s and a loop inserted for monitoringStarted magniesium suggested by a er doc and pvc s have diminished to almost nothingCheck it outI&apos;ll be 76 May 3099thRegardsRon

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail

REPLY
anniegk | @anniegk | Apr 29, 2018

I have had irregular heartbeat on and off since i was in my late 20's. Iam now in my 70's and they have become much worse. I have had several 24 hour halter monitors. So far i have been told i have SVT, premature heartbeats etc. My last 24 hour monitor showed 500 events. The doctor just blew it off. I sometimes find that a walk stops the irregularity. I take propanolol for it.

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11 replies
jeannieg7 | @jeannieg7 | Apr 29, 2018

Hi, so glad to join this group. My name is Jean, many call me Jeannie. I have had PVC’s since I’m around 12. Have gotten worse over the years. Now have a fib. Had numerous tests and recently had an echo cardiogram in such I was experiencing msny PVC’s and one showed up on the test. IMy meds were recently changed but the palpitations are still there. I don’t do caffeine, alcohol, but am a high anxiety person. My cardiologist told me to relax, do yoga & meditation. The PVC’s are so darn annoying. Thank you

REPLY
Martin Jensen, Volunteer Mentor | @predictable | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @thankful "@predictable- Martin, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time last February to respond..." + (show)
@thankful

@predictable- Martin, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time last February to respond to my request for possible questions I might ask at my Mayo appt. this past April. We've just returned from AZ. back to our home in OR and wanted to follow up with you and other members on how the appts. went.
It was a very busy day and also the last full day in town and it started with a 12 hr. fast so the next morning at 9:30 was blood work, next at 1:30 an EKG and then at 2 a consult with the cardioloigist assigned to me Dr. J. J. Lynch. Next was the Stress Echo which was amazing! I had a team of 2 techs working with me and Dr. Lynch spent much of the time as well in the room. I never had a stress echo before but after they wire you all up for the stress portion, they have you lay down so the echo tech can shoot a bunch of pictures of my resting heart. Then they have you pop up from the bed on a tread mill and begin very slowing ramping me up about every 3 minutes to the next level. I had just finished the 12th minute at 3.5 speed & a 12% grade when the Dr. asked can you go another level? I told him I would give it my best! The tread mill registered a speed of 4.5 and a 16% grade. It was flying and I started jogging to keep up! The Dr. asked if I could go anoth 90 seconds and I said yes. The tread mill comes to an abrupt stop and they have me drop down immediately onto the bed and the echo tech immediately gets after it. I was somewhat winded, but also very exhilarated. The tech was really great having me breath and commenting how well I did and the great pictures she was getting. The Dr. said to me right then and there that there was no way my EF was still at 30 and said mostly likely at 45-48. I can't express how wonderful those words were to hear! After getting cleaned up I spent another 1/2 hr. with Dr. Lynch going over all the preliminary results from all the tests from the day and talked quite a bit about the echo. I was told a year after my HA after my echo that there was no change and likely there would be none. I was bummed! Dr. Lynch seemed to think that new blood vessels have probably been growing and extending new rich blood back into some of those areas of nearby tissue. I got the chance to ask all your questions you sent me and more, never feeling he was in a rush. I'm so glad I made that appt. with the Scottsdale Mayo! What amazing care I received there! Thank you Martin! @thankful.

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Hey @thankful! I'll steal your moniker to say I'm thankful for your after-exploration report on your visit to Mayo Clinic Scotsdale. I know all our fellow members will be glad to read your report -- not only for its fascinating details, but also for the multiple reasons it feeds our pleasure at seeing how a member commands his own medical voyage over the many miles from Oregon to Arizona.

In a special way, your report documents what an exemplary second-opinion consultation with Mayo Clinic can be all about. The services from Dr. Lynch and his staff assistants -- from a thorough examination to a comprehensive discussion of your questions -- appear to have given you a concrete new baseline of your situation that can pave the way for any further medical care you may need.

Perhaps other Connect members who come upon your contribution here could benefit from our exchange back in February and about your preparation for your visit to Mayo Clinic in Arizona. That can be accessed at https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/on-going-shortness-of-breath/?pg=1#comment-90737.

We'll be watching for more good news on your medical issues and be grateful for your continuing advice for other Connect members who could all benefit from your experience in this adventure. Martin

REPLY
anniegk | @anniegk | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @soloact "I\'m Judith, age 72 with a birthday coming this spring. I have bradycardia (slow heart rate),..." + (show)
@soloact

I\'m Judith, age 72 with a birthday coming this spring. I have bradycardia (slow heart rate), which can get down to 38 bpm, and supraventricular tachycardia, known as SVT. But the SVT is intermittent and occasional, although it used to happen more often. It is most likely to happen with stress or exertion. Also have Grade II diastolic dysfunction, which translates to symptomatic heart failure, but doing relatively OK so far.

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Hi Judith
I am also 72. I have been diagnosed with SVT also. Iam taking 20 mgs of Propanolol for the irregular heart beat. I started having a irregular heartbeat in my late 20 s. It was PVCs. Iam in the process of having it checked out again. I have bad Anxiety that is hard to control. This may be contributing to my increased events with my heart.

REPLY
thankful | @thankful | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @thankful "@predictable- Martin, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time last February to respond..." + (show)
@thankful

@predictable- Martin, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time last February to respond to my request for possible questions I might ask at my Mayo appt. this past April. We've just returned from AZ. back to our home in OR and wanted to follow up with you and other members on how the appts. went.
It was a very busy day and also the last full day in town and it started with a 12 hr. fast so the next morning at 9:30 was blood work, next at 1:30 an EKG and then at 2 a consult with the cardioloigist assigned to me Dr. J. J. Lynch. Next was the Stress Echo which was amazing! I had a team of 2 techs working with me and Dr. Lynch spent much of the time as well in the room. I never had a stress echo before but after they wire you all up for the stress portion, they have you lay down so the echo tech can shoot a bunch of pictures of my resting heart. Then they have you pop up from the bed on a tread mill and begin very slowing ramping me up about every 3 minutes to the next level. I had just finished the 12th minute at 3.5 speed & a 12% grade when the Dr. asked can you go another level? I told him I would give it my best! The tread mill registered a speed of 4.5 and a 16% grade. It was flying and I started jogging to keep up! The Dr. asked if I could go anoth 90 seconds and I said yes. The tread mill comes to an abrupt stop and they have me drop down immediately onto the bed and the echo tech immediately gets after it. I was somewhat winded, but also very exhilarated. The tech was really great having me breath and commenting how well I did and the great pictures she was getting. The Dr. said to me right then and there that there was no way my EF was still at 30 and said mostly likely at 45-48. I can't express how wonderful those words were to hear! After getting cleaned up I spent another 1/2 hr. with Dr. Lynch going over all the preliminary results from all the tests from the day and talked quite a bit about the echo. I was told a year after my HA after my echo that there was no change and likely there would be none. I was bummed! Dr. Lynch seemed to think that new blood vessels have probably been growing and extending new rich blood back into some of those areas of nearby tissue. I got the chance to ask all your questions you sent me and more, never feeling he was in a rush. I'm so glad I made that appt. with the Scottsdale Mayo! What amazing care I received there! Thank you Martin! @thankful.

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@predictable- Martin,you can borrow my moniker anytime! Dr. Lynch was blown away by the questions and I told him that a friend responded on the Mayo Connect Group site when I was at a lost for questions to ask at my appt.. He did answer everyone and others I had put together and some will need further time after analysis. I would welcome any questions that our group members have and look forward to any dialogue we can have on these issues. I will keep you & our other friends filled in once I hear back.
Again, thank you for taking the time to help me formulate questions that were specific as to my condition and to the Dr. as well. @thankful.

REPLY
Jamie Olson | @jamienolson | Apr 29, 2018

Hello @jeannieg7 and @mommabyrd. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Thank you for posting!

Jeannie, has the yoga and meditation helped? And Sonja, how are you controlling the blackouts?

REPLY
3 replies
mommabyrd | @mommabyrd | Apr 29, 2018
In reply to @jamienolson "Hello @jeannieg7 and @mommabyrd. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Thank you for posting! Jeannie, has the..." + (show)
@jamienolson

Hello @jeannieg7 and @mommabyrd. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Thank you for posting!

Jeannie, has the yoga and meditation helped? And Sonja, how are you controlling the blackouts?

Jump to this post

@jamienolson I grab anything in front of me, lean forward, put my head down and close my eyes as everything goes black. Stay there for a minute, then everything gets light again. I am extremely weak after that. Sometimes the weakness last a day or so. 🙁

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