Questions about palpitations, fast heart rate

Posted by brdwybaby @brdwybaby, Mar 21, 2019

My heart does the oh-so-fun flutter every once in a while, sending me into fits of terror and anxiety. But typically both pass fairly quickly and life moves on. But today... not so much. I’ve been having that fluttery heart-is-skipping-beats feeling for probably 8 or so hours. It’s driving my anxiety up a wall. I have no other symptoms. I do have a weird, dull pain in my upper left thigh that I have no explanation for. It feels like the pain you’d experience when touching a bruise. But I looked and there’s nothing there. So I don’t know what that’s about, but I don’t think it’s related. I’ve had two 16oz cans of caffinated soda today, but my body is used to 3 or 4 a day. However, I will note I may have not been consuming as much caffeine as usual this past week, as I’ve been suffering from a virus and pushing water. I have Mucinex, Tylenol, and Flonase in my system. Also a Nystatin cream. Nothing I’m not used to (except maybe the Flonase, but this isn’t listed as a side effect). This virus has caused me a lot of stress and anxiety for days, but I feel pretty calm right now... or I did before this started. Anyway, besides all those possible contributing factors I don’t have any other symptoms. I’m not dizzy or light-headed or anything. Can anyone tell me it’s okay for me to stop worrying? How long can episodes of fluttering last? Because I’ve always had them for a couple moments, not hours.

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@lolly906

Can anyone Please tell me why There would be "Pulsating" veins or arteries in the left side of neck? I asked before but this is getting worrisome, my heart monitor so far is not showing anything I was told, but I can actually see it thumping or pulsating! I actually took a video of it today. Im hoping its just spasms or something but i have no idea what to think, ive only talked to cardiologist nurse over phone since all this. im going to try sending video to dr. tomorrow, i need answers its been almost 2 weeks of symptoms

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@suscros68 it is

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@lolly906

Can anyone Please tell me why There would be "Pulsating" veins or arteries in the left side of neck? I asked before but this is getting worrisome, my heart monitor so far is not showing anything I was told, but I can actually see it thumping or pulsating! I actually took a video of it today. Im hoping its just spasms or something but i have no idea what to think, ive only talked to cardiologist nurse over phone since all this. im going to try sending video to dr. tomorrow, i need answers its been almost 2 weeks of symptoms

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You're doing the right thing, going to Dr. Sounds like it's really frustrating and anxiety producing

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@soliloquized

Alrighty then, we all learn something new everyday. I figured I'd Google your symptoms, and entering words on Google, they are making suggestions for what you might be asking. I got as far as "palpitations felt in" and I noticed "Neck" was a search suggestion. That's a good sign, that means that there are sufficient numbers of others searching for "palpitations felt in Neck" to warrant them making the suggestion.

So, they also gave a percentage of the article and it was from an article at the National Institutes of Health.

Here is the quoted section:

""Palpitations are feelings that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering, pounding, or beating too hard or too fast. You may feel palpitations in your chest, throat, or neck during activity or when you are sitting still or lying down.""

So, they define your symptoms as being commonly encountered. The preview of the article also mentioned the need to see a doctor for anyone experiencing palpitations, if I understand your comment correctly, you are already doing this and are, or will be, wearing a monitor. So you're doing the proper thing there too.

There are also fasciculations, spasms of muscle groups unrelated to the heart. They can give the impression they are palpitations, I'm sure your doctor will be able to sort things out.

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@soliloquized thank you so much for all this information! I was beginning to wonder if anyone else knew what I was talking about! Thank you for taking the time to research it. Yes I have on the 30 day monitor, and funny that you mention it but I saw an E.n
T. Today and the suggestion was maybe some kind of spasm if it wasn't related to heart, which when I looked up facimilios sounded the same, although it seems unlike the twitching spasms at times, but I just don't know I really don't like the unknown part of it I am having an MRI done and still have awhile to go for monitor yet

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@lolly906

I was diagnosed with pac a few months ago, while on 48 hr heart monitor, was told it was no big deal, I recently ( about 2 weeks ago) started having "palpitations" in left side of my neck, (I had this happen only once in early summer.) after a week of putting up with this I called cardiologist that diagnosed me with pac. was told to start mortoprpol 12.5 2 x daily, also just got 30 day heart monitor on yesterday. My question is how long does it take this medicine to work? I started my 1st dose on last Friday evening and im still having palpitations on a frequent basis. Im nervous and worried. Ive never had anything like this before. Im hoping someone can give me some help and understanding on this subject. I am 58 yrs old, female. I do have high cholesterol and am on lovastatin as well, also was diagnosed with high calcium score this past year of over 200 ( I have heard others are much higher) Please someone give me some insight and tell me why would someone have palpitations in neck? thank you

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Thanks for the commiseration. As for the acid redux, they did suggest over the counter products so I tried one and it made my stomach hurt so I stopped. I think what's even worse than the health conditions we have is the lack of information and solutions from the medical professionals. I always feel like a "nut" when I go to the doctor for my concerns so I just stopped going unless it's an emergency. Most of my health information is obtained via internet and that's not good either. I guess we just learn to cope with it and move on.

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@kennyd99

I don't know anything about the neck palpitations...sorry. Things like that are very scary and can be alarming and nobody seems to have the answers you're looking for. I suffer from heart palpitations and have so for a few years. I've been through the standard tests of EKG, 24 hour heart monitor, ultrasound, stress test and nothing could be found. I also suffer from chest pressure most of the time so my doctor had me do an upper GI, which revealed mild acid reflux and a small hiatal hernia. No treatment was done nor suggested so of course I feel like a nut. I exercise quite frequently and a very high intensity and don't seem to have any problems but still feel periodic heart palpitations (5-10 times a day on average). I just want a medical professional to tell me I'm not crazy and to actually diagnose me with something.....this can't be normal!!! I also suffer from hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia as a result. Once again, no doctors have explained much about these disorders. What I have learned has been mostly from the internet (scary!!) Can someone please help!!

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I'm so sorry you've been through all of that! The neck palpitations I'm having I was told was heart and it does say ( on the internet) that they can occur in neck and throat as well, I'm just not getting any answers from anyone and its so frustrating I even wish one of the moderator would suggest something but so far nothing. I'm surprised they did not put you on medication for the acid reflux that's no fun I have it as well thanks for your reply

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@lolly906

I was diagnosed with pac a few months ago, while on 48 hr heart monitor, was told it was no big deal, I recently ( about 2 weeks ago) started having "palpitations" in left side of my neck, (I had this happen only once in early summer.) after a week of putting up with this I called cardiologist that diagnosed me with pac. was told to start mortoprpol 12.5 2 x daily, also just got 30 day heart monitor on yesterday. My question is how long does it take this medicine to work? I started my 1st dose on last Friday evening and im still having palpitations on a frequent basis. Im nervous and worried. Ive never had anything like this before. Im hoping someone can give me some help and understanding on this subject. I am 58 yrs old, female. I do have high cholesterol and am on lovastatin as well, also was diagnosed with high calcium score this past year of over 200 ( I have heard others are much higher) Please someone give me some insight and tell me why would someone have palpitations in neck? thank you

Jump to this post

I don't know anything about the neck palpitations...sorry. Things like that are very scary and can be alarming and nobody seems to have the answers you're looking for. I suffer from heart palpitations and have so for a few years. I've been through the standard tests of EKG, 24 hour heart monitor, ultrasound, stress test and nothing could be found. I also suffer from chest pressure most of the time so my doctor had me do an upper GI, which revealed mild acid reflux and a small hiatal hernia. No treatment was done nor suggested so of course I feel like a nut. I exercise quite frequently and a very high intensity and don't seem to have any problems but still feel periodic heart palpitations (5-10 times a day on average). I just want a medical professional to tell me I'm not crazy and to actually diagnose me with something.....this can't be normal!!! I also suffer from hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia as a result. Once again, no doctors have explained much about these disorders. What I have learned has been mostly from the internet (scary!!) Can someone please help!!

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@warpedtrekker

I'm 47yo, 220lbs, 6'1" male. I have sleep apnea and AFIB which are both controlled for now. I use a BIPAP and take Multaq for AFIB. I also wear a chin strap, and a neck brace at night, due to my apnea and palpitation issues. Some nights, when I lay on my left side, or on my back, I will wake up in the middle of the night with very bad heart palpitations. I believe I may be pinching a nerve or it's something to do with the "vagus nerve". So what type of doctor would i see about this condition?

I have been to local sleep doctor, cardiologist, and electrophysiologist. Also a neurologist and spine doctor. They have no solution for me. The issue I have is, that before I was on Multaq, the palpitations were much worse, and I had an AFIB incident in 2017. But last year, also had issues with Bigeminy.

The issue also can happen, if I'm reclining back on my recliner for a period of time. I will feel this "anxious" feeling, then if I get up, it causes major palpitations and sometimes a racing heart. My doctors have claimed it all due to anxiety, and I'm taking medicine for anxiety again now. But the issue in my sleep keep occurring with palpitations.

I'm not sure what to do about it anymore. I dont want to live this way anymore! The neck brace has seemed to help, because I would have a lot of obstructions at night before that. But I'm tired of these palpitations occurring.

I've had EKG's, stress tests, and recent echocardiogram and holter monitor for two weeks. Nothing was found concerning.

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During the Holter Monitor for 2 Weeks, did you have the symptoms, logged the time, and asked for the doctor to specifically look at that time. I'd keep the log book, as required, when I was wearing a Holter Monitor, but used my watch to record times, I'm not sure that's a good idea if the Holter clock isn't in perfect sync with the watch, I remember the doctor saying I have no activity for a few recorded events, but I'm not convinced it wasn't due to the differences in my Watch and the Holter's time keeping. I synched my watch before I started, but by the end of 24 hours, it was off due to the Holter Clock, not my watch.

I'm in afib now, I was going to have an electro conversion and be placed, in the hospital for a few days to start Sotalol, but after reading an abundance of medical literature, they advise only highly symptomatic patients to do that, and I'm not highly symptomatic but for one thing, namely when I ate my heart would go nuts in afib. But that settled down, mostly. But on days when I feel the afib, eating too much, or drinking too much, I still get a lot of symptoms.

Avoid excess sugar, avoid all alcohol, drink only decaf coffee, preferably only once early in the morning (even decaf has caffeine, and you really can't be assured as to the % of caffeine, regardless of the label), avoid carbonated drinks. At dinner, avoid big meals, very light snack in the evening, I have a couple of pretzels that have practically no salt on them, only have a small non-alcoholic non-caffeine non-carbonated drink, preferably not acidic excessively. Do not drink a lot of water at bedtime.

My esophagus must actually be touching my heart, if I sit a certain way, I can hear coming out an opened mouth, a pop, pop, pop, with each heartbeat, I mentioned it to the doctor. I read a story of a man that had his esophagus slightly repositioned, he was undergoing ablations due to an arrhythmia and apparently the irritation of his esophagus rubbing on his heart was the culprit.

Your heart and lungs are separated from the stomach, liver, intestines, etc. by the diaphragm, an opening in the diaphragm allows the esophagus to pass through, but under certain circumstances, part of the stomach can buldge up through the diaphragm, and I'd imagine it can add to certain arrhythmias, such as the one caused by the esophagus. Medication is not necessarily the solution, sometimes lifestyle changes can help.

I believe my afib is worsened by Vagus Nerve issues, before I was in afib I had a period of time where every time I swallowed, towards evening, a PVC occurred, even saw a doctor for it. Even today, I'll get PVCs and seconds later a violent upheaval (I'm exaggerating a little) in the intestines, and this happens again, and again.

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I'm 47yo, 220lbs, 6'1" male. I have sleep apnea and AFIB which are both controlled for now. I use a BIPAP and take Multaq for AFIB. I also wear a chin strap, and a neck brace at night, due to my apnea and palpitation issues. Some nights, when I lay on my left side, or on my back, I will wake up in the middle of the night with very bad heart palpitations. I believe I may be pinching a nerve or it's something to do with the "vagus nerve". So what type of doctor would i see about this condition?

I have been to local sleep doctor, cardiologist, and electrophysiologist. Also a neurologist and spine doctor. They have no solution for me. The issue I have is, that before I was on Multaq, the palpitations were much worse, and I had an AFIB incident in 2017. But last year, also had issues with Bigeminy.

The issue also can happen, if I'm reclining back on my recliner for a period of time. I will feel this "anxious" feeling, then if I get up, it causes major palpitations and sometimes a racing heart. My doctors have claimed it all due to anxiety, and I'm taking medicine for anxiety again now. But the issue in my sleep keep occurring with palpitations.

I'm not sure what to do about it anymore. I dont want to live this way anymore! The neck brace has seemed to help, because I would have a lot of obstructions at night before that. But I'm tired of these palpitations occurring.

I've had EKG's, stress tests, and recent echocardiogram and holter monitor for two weeks. Nothing was found concerning.

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