Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

My understanding is that the only way to get immediate attention is to go through emergency. So although I wish you stability until your appointment at the end of the month, do not hesitate to go to the emergency department for the smallest symptom or change in your condition. Anything heart related gets triaged and attended to immediately. But the best thing about it is that a cardiologist will visit you and likely order a batter of tests. Even if he or she says that your condition does not warrant immediate attention and that you are stable, you will at least be reassured that you should be alright until your appointment. Another upside to an emergency room visit is that the tests will give more information to your cardiologist at your upcoming appointment. I wish you well!

Yes, if you're struggling and fearful, I'd go to emergency. They will hospitalize you if they think it's necessary. I don't know those conditions.

Dennis, the other postings recommend going to the ER if you feel poorly, which I certainly agree with. The ER's job is to eliminate any life threating issues. If that means admitting you, they will do it. Whether that gets you closer to the right doctor is undetermined. I think a Board Certified Electrophysiologist is the next person I would see after reading your issues. These type of doctors understand the electrical functions of the heart and can offer recommendations as to the next step. Weight gain can sometimes be attributed to erratic heart rhythms unless you can account for an increase in foods. I use a diuretic when I see an increase that can not be related to too much food containing salt. I have a history somewhat relative to yours. It was posted on this media on November 13 by marlynkay. Good luck.

Hi my name is Juan, I’m 31 years old, I have a flutter besides some other issues in my heart

Thanks, my story - I’m 56, I’ve noticed palpitations since early adulthood. They grew more frequent and bothersome by my 30s. There were a few times I literally felt like my heart was stopping and I would often feel light headed when this happened. It was quite scary and I would relay to doctors that I thought I was in serious danger. They would check me out and tell me everyone has palpitations, and perhaps I was just anxious. At age 39 I passed out while swimming in the ocean and woke up underwater. I eventually was monitored and a short run of V Tach was noted. Then during an EP study the doctor was able to induce Vfib. I got an ICD and it went off over the years, but the device also noted other short runs that stopped on their own. To be honest, the ICD shock itself was never much of an issue for me, but the idea that the device was trying to treat a life threatening emergency most certainly was. I also had worsening mitral valve prolapse. I eventually had a mitral valve repair which helped with symptoms, though I still had more events during exercise. The puzzle with me was that exercise (catecholamines) was a trigger, and as my valve got worse, it became easier to observe VT on a treadmill test. I eventually got a sympathetic denervation, and then a second EP study, which included an extensive ventricular ablation. The doctor confirmed tissue / electrical abnormality around the mitral valve, which was giving rise to the malignant arrhythmias. Since this procedure I have not have an event though it is still worrisome and the medications take getting used to (toprol and flecainide). I seem to be one of the few people with bileaflet mitral valve prolapse that coincides with malignant arrhythmias. My guess is more will be learned about this condition (my honest guess is that this condition may result in more unexplained sudden deaths than documented today). I also suspect that more research and more advanced mapping and ablation techniques may offer more treatment options in the future.

I am 60 y/o with 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren. I’m also the 8th of 12 children. I had my first Tachycardia episode in my 20’s. I saw a cardiologist who gave me vagal maneuvers to bring me back to normal rhythm which worked on the rare occasion I needed them until last year. Last year my episodes increased and the vagal maneuvers quit working. Each episode lasted 20-30 minutes and normal rhythm returned on its own. Despite extensive investigation in the past year and having an event monitor for 2 months, I hadn’t been able to record an episode so doctors could evaluate effectively. Last week, I got to ER immediately and now have a better understanding. It’s SVT, which likely will need ablation to correct. I’m looking forward to a solution.

What are "vagal maneuvers"? Have you tried meds to keep the heart in rhythm?

Hi my name is Tom. I’m a seventy year old white male. I have recently been diagnosed with PVCs. They came on like a thief in the night with the principal symptom being inability to draw breath (fluid in left lung). My PCP, refered me to a Pulmonologist who in turn sent me to a Cardiologist. ECG disclosed the PVCs. Echo cardiogram showed really bad efficiency. Cardiac MRI to look for damage (still waiting for interpretation), and ablation scheduled in two weeks. Currently taking metropololol and a diureticbut the condition is barely controlled. I would love to know a couple of things like: what did I do to cause these? I’ve always been a competitive or amateur swimmer and distance runner. Heart never had a problem before.

As I understand it, Vagal stimulus include bearing down, inflicting pain upon yourself, inducing vomiting, and a host of other types of methods to stimulate an epinephrine response to change your rhythm. No meds prescribed yet because they didn’t know exactly what they were dealing with.

Hi Tom,
high end athletic stress on your heart can cause it. many olympic athletes have it.
best wishes,
Larry