Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Hi - thanks for the invite. My name is Sharon. I began having tachycardia in my 20s. My resting heart rate then was 120. Also started having palpitations then. Around the age of 23, I saw a cardiologist -- wore a Holter monitor, and had an echocardiogram done. Basically I was told that structurally and functionally -- my heart was fine but was hyperdynamic. I had the option of starting a beta blocker for symptomatic relief which I did start then. Prior to seeing the cardiologist, for a while there was concern that I could have Marfan\'s simply because of my body habitus but the echo was normal and that was ruled out. I was on the beta blocker for 11 years and decided to go off of it because I felt like it was making me feel sluggish. I was fine for a lot of years with only some palpitations but a generally lower resting heart rate. In 2013, I was at a Christmas sing and after the fifth song, was out of breath and my heart started beating crazily. I was evaluated and revealed some concerning ST-T wave changes on EKG -- was placed on a Holter, echo ordered and stress test. It is crazy to have a stress test when your resting heart rate is already at 115. I remember they said -- \"You tell us when you want to stop. We won\'t stop you.\" But finally (actually only after 6 minutes) -- they said, \"Okay -- I think that is enough\". It showed ischemic ST-T wave changes and I was sent to a cardiologist in Walla Walla. There I had a nuclear stress test which was very normal. The tech even invited me back to look at the pictures. Apparently, fifty percent of the time, with women, a regular stress test is false positive. But after all of this work-up, I still was having palpitations -- lots of PVCs, PACs and even a nonsustained run of ventricular tachycardia. I was placed on the beta blocker metoprolol and am still on that at a very low dose. It does a pretty good job of keeping my rate down. The cardiologist told me I have a \"special\" heart. Gee thanks, doc.

However, in early 2016, my palpitations changed and were more in my throat or felt higher up, sometimes left me winded and I felt fatigued. Due to that change, a Reveal LINQ was placed. Not that I want to have something wrong, but since I\'ve had this monitor inside me -- I have not had those type of palpitations. I\'m hoping that I do-- just so it can be caught on the monitor. I am considering at my annual asking whether I can go off of the metoprolol and see how I do.

I don\'t love the Reveal LINQ because it moves around and isn\'t that comfortable.

Hello
I too get a beating heart at timestoo hard. Always , take theApplecidar vinegar with water.Very quickly, it gets the big burpsOut.What releaf.I highly recommend.Cut back on the acids. And,Things get better. Only, my opinion.But, talking to your doctor.,Is most relevant.
I am. an A fib senior.  And. Being careful, of eating drinkingand more lowkey, works wellFor me.

The first lead was too close to the phrenetic nerve and was causing pain and burping. They left the old lead in and told me because of that I cannot have an mri. The pain is gone but I still get the burping.

Hi Teresa!
I am happy that you seem to have found an answer to help with your tachycardia. If my heartbeat is rapid during a regular exam, I tell them I had my heart checked out and everything is fine. When I have surgery, I always let the surgeon and the anesthesiologist know I always get tachy when I am under.

ronnie

Hi!
I am so sorry for all you have been through. I hope and pray for you that better times are ahead.
ronnie

Hey there. I have lived with PVC's for 40 years. Most times relatively tolerable during work or play. But, some times pretty bad. And, I feel everyone one of them. Skipping, jumping, fluttering, hesitating, floundering around and on and on. Started having AFIB episodes about 4 years ago, and PVC's started getting worse and more frequent. Hundreds to thousands every day. On occasion I have a relatively good day. So, I have a couple of different issues. Still do as much as I can to help me relax. Still smoke, drink coffee and have a few beers on occasion.

So sorry, Amber. My A-fib is nothing compared to your situation. Am praying for you...

Hi!
Am 39 years of age. Last year on May 18 I had at least 2 heart attacks, blood clots, complete rental shutdown and grand mal seizures. I was in a coma for 9 days and it took 75 days for me to get back home to my 5 kids/husband. I now have a irregular heart beat,heart damage, beats to fast tachycardia and my blood doctor thinks i have APLS a blood clot autoimmune disorder also so blood thinners for the rest of my life.. I was supposed to have a EPS ablation tomorrow with the option for a defibrillator but the doc office called now its next month. I had chest pain off and on for a few years but just blew it off as stress/panic attacks. My mother had Afib for a number of years and two ablation later is Afib free now. Happy to start talking to others and learning their stories.
Amber

@kanaazpereira

Thank you for starting this discussion group! I too, had my first experience with tachycardia (fast heart beat) when I had a minor outpatient surgery. After that experience I obtained the anesthesiologist's records from that surgery (that showed when my heart rate increased and what meds they used to bring it down) and any time I have surgery at a different hospital I take that record with me and show it to the anesthesiologist. Most anesthesiologists gladly look at it and assure me that they will keep a watch out for tachycardia.

Since that surgery, I've had other times when my heart rate has increased, once during a stress test, and once when I got very busy and tired. I now take a small amount of a beta blocker at noon and that keeps everything under control.

Once when I had the rapid heart rate during a stress test, the cardiac RN suggested coughing, when that didn't work she suggested "bearing down" like you were trying to have a bowel movement. When that didn't work she gave me an injection which brought everything back to normal, but I certainly was tired when all was said and done.

Someone mentioned staying away from caffeine - I have a friend with A-Fib and she told me that caffeine is often in cosmetic products and they affect her A-Fib as well. So we should all read the labels of skin care/hair products before using.

I'm glad to hear of everyone's experience. I learn so much from hearing the experiences of others.

Teresa

What happened to your lead? Did they leave the old one in place when they replaced it? I am facing the same issue.