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.

healthytoday | @healthytoday | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @dfelix "I'm Dennis and was diagnosed with a fib just before x mas. Was put on metro..." + (show)
@dfelix

I'm Dennis and was diagnosed with a fib just before x mas. Was put on metro at that time by GP. Saw cardiologist 2 jan. Was told my Aortic regurgitation was worse. I might have to have Open heart surgery. Was put on Eliquis and told to come back in 3 months for another eco cardiogram. Right now feel fine. any comments would be appreciated.

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I'm finding this a big topic. My med team has two tools, meds and surgery. Eliquis helps relieve the chance of stroke, and that's a big deal.

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @eileena "espivack, Your PVC problem is much worse than mine ever got . The way to use..." + (show)
@eileena

espivack, Your PVC problem is much worse than mine ever got . The way to use the Kardia devise to note the PVCs is to look at the distance between the beats. If they are really close followed by a longer pause it indicates PVC happened. I always make the star go yellow so I can review the ones with the PVCs with my Cardiologist.

It is bad Kardia does not care about PVCs. They are definitely behind the current knowledge that indicates the PVC induced heart failure. Even Mayo clinic now recognizes how they damage hearts.

I remember the Kettle Drum beats of the return to beating my heart was producing. I used to lay in bed and count them. Now I seldom actually feel them, but sometimes I do.

Dr told me those quick and short beats mean the blood is not a full volume beat and the heart has to struggle to send out the next one and that is why it can feel like a Kettle Drum size boom going off inside the chest.

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Kettle Drum beats, could that be adrenalin from anger. That's what I feel when I'm very angry.

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1 reply
eileena | @eileena | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @healthytoday "Kettle Drum beats, could that be adrenalin from anger. That's what I feel when I'm very..." + (show)
@healthytoday

Kettle Drum beats, could that be adrenalin from anger. That's what I feel when I'm very angry.

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healthytoday, Actually the hard beats happened at times when there was no negative events occurring. the doc told me it was that my heart had to work harder due to the excessive load of blood it needed to pump out of th ventricle chamber.

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will76 | @will76 | Jan 10, 2019

Hi I'm will... 43 yrs old and very concerned about my heart rhythm... it started in early November of 2018.. I'm taking metoprolol and it seems to be working, but every so often it happens. Would love to hear opinions, suggestions or similar stories about it

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3 replies
scardycat | @scardycat | Jan 10, 2019
In reply to @will76 "Hi I'm will... 43 yrs old and very concerned about my heart rhythm... it started in..." + (show)
@will76

Hi I'm will... 43 yrs old and very concerned about my heart rhythm... it started in early November of 2018.. I'm taking metoprolol and it seems to be working, but every so often it happens. Would love to hear opinions, suggestions or similar stories about it

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Hi Will, this happened to me this last fall, I moved, husband had surgery, all the same time, lots of stress. Do you drink a lot of caffeine, alcohol, under a lot of stress recently? My doc also put me on metropolol, and I take .25 mg of Zoloft to help with the anxiety that these cause for me, the meds have helped immensely, but like you I still get the breakthrough ones that scare you, good luck🙏🏻

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Jan 10, 2019
In reply to @will76 "Hi I'm will... 43 yrs old and very concerned about my heart rhythm... it started in..." + (show)
@will76

Hi I'm will... 43 yrs old and very concerned about my heart rhythm... it started in early November of 2018.. I'm taking metoprolol and it seems to be working, but every so often it happens. Would love to hear opinions, suggestions or similar stories about it

Jump to this post

The usual, low salt, low sugar, low stress, some exercise, positive images in music film etc., and some vitamin supplements can be helpful for some. Look up heart health online and see what you can find. Have afib every so often is part of the illness for most.

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Martin Jensen, Volunteer Mentor | @predictable | Jan 10, 2019

I worry that some might believe that, without palpitations, their A-fib is inoperative and they can get careless about taking their medications and getting their exercise and other therapy routines done. Don't be fooled. In nearly 5 years after my A-fib was diagnosed, I don't remember EVER having palpitations, but the irregular heartbeats were drawn clearly on every EKG my primary care physician administered. And here's the clincher:

Last June, I suffered a stroke. Without warning, I lost my ability to walk smoothly and ultimately tripped over my own feet and fell on the lawn. Fortunately, I escaped injury, but some loss of mobility has beset me ever since -- even to the extent of interfering with my ability to articulate words as I once did as a public speaker, actor, and singer. An MRI confirmed a "small stroke" near my hippocampus (so my memory isn't what it used to be either).

My big mistake was waiting several hours before being taken to Urgent Care by my daughter. Never again. If ever again I have even minor stroke symptoms, I am going to immediately call 9-1-1 and have emergency medical personnel take me to the hospital, calling ahead so ER staff are ready for me when I arrive. I hope my experience will be taken seriously by everybody who has heart rhythm problems, because a stroke is a shadow over you, whether you feel it or not. Don't take a chance. Martin

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2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 10, 2019
In reply to @predictable "I worry that some might believe that, without palpitations, their A-fib is inoperative and they can..." + (show)
@predictable

I worry that some might believe that, without palpitations, their A-fib is inoperative and they can get careless about taking their medications and getting their exercise and other therapy routines done. Don't be fooled. In nearly 5 years after my A-fib was diagnosed, I don't remember EVER having palpitations, but the irregular heartbeats were drawn clearly on every EKG my primary care physician administered. And here's the clincher:

Last June, I suffered a stroke. Without warning, I lost my ability to walk smoothly and ultimately tripped over my own feet and fell on the lawn. Fortunately, I escaped injury, but some loss of mobility has beset me ever since -- even to the extent of interfering with my ability to articulate words as I once did as a public speaker, actor, and singer. An MRI confirmed a "small stroke" near my hippocampus (so my memory isn't what it used to be either).

My big mistake was waiting several hours before being taken to Urgent Care by my daughter. Never again. If ever again I have even minor stroke symptoms, I am going to immediately call 9-1-1 and have emergency medical personnel take me to the hospital, calling ahead so ER staff are ready for me when I arrive. I hope my experience will be taken seriously by everybody who has heart rhythm problems, because a stroke is a shadow over you, whether you feel it or not. Don't take a chance. Martin

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@predictable
Thanks, Martin. We do need to take A-Fib and stroke symptoms seriously. It can be debilitating as you have said. I hope that you are recovering well from your experience last year.

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scardycat | @scardycat | Jan 10, 2019
In reply to @predictable "I worry that some might believe that, without palpitations, their A-fib is inoperative and they can..." + (show)
@predictable

I worry that some might believe that, without palpitations, their A-fib is inoperative and they can get careless about taking their medications and getting their exercise and other therapy routines done. Don't be fooled. In nearly 5 years after my A-fib was diagnosed, I don't remember EVER having palpitations, but the irregular heartbeats were drawn clearly on every EKG my primary care physician administered. And here's the clincher:

Last June, I suffered a stroke. Without warning, I lost my ability to walk smoothly and ultimately tripped over my own feet and fell on the lawn. Fortunately, I escaped injury, but some loss of mobility has beset me ever since -- even to the extent of interfering with my ability to articulate words as I once did as a public speaker, actor, and singer. An MRI confirmed a "small stroke" near my hippocampus (so my memory isn't what it used to be either).

My big mistake was waiting several hours before being taken to Urgent Care by my daughter. Never again. If ever again I have even minor stroke symptoms, I am going to immediately call 9-1-1 and have emergency medical personnel take me to the hospital, calling ahead so ER staff are ready for me when I arrive. I hope my experience will be taken seriously by everybody who has heart rhythm problems, because a stroke is a shadow over you, whether you feel it or not. Don't take a chance. Martin

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Thank you Martin for that great advice, God Bless

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lksalter | @lksalter | Jan 10, 2019
In reply to @will76 "Hi I'm will... 43 yrs old and very concerned about my heart rhythm... it started in..." + (show)
@will76

Hi I'm will... 43 yrs old and very concerned about my heart rhythm... it started in early November of 2018.. I'm taking metoprolol and it seems to be working, but every so often it happens. Would love to hear opinions, suggestions or similar stories about it

Jump to this post

Hi Will. I've always had an irregular heart rhythm and was taking Propranolol. In November I started having more and more palpitations. I wound up at the ER with my heart bouncing all over the place. They called my cardiologist and he changed my medication to metoprolol and sent me home. The following Monday for the entire week I had every cardiac test they could do. Bottom line was my heart was in great shape I just have PVC's and they may go away or stay. Great :(. My primary doctor asked how things are going and I had to tell him things weren't easy. My husband was going to Germany for 3 months after traveling 2 weeks every month for the last year and a half, I retired from nursing and my daughter got married. He increased my Zoloft, reassured me that these things were normal and said one day they may just stop. I noticed when I get a little more stressed my palpitations increase, but with the increase in Zoloft my palpitations have decreased immensely.

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