Palpitations and Halter Monitor

[TinCool]

So a bit of background. In early September I was admitted to hospital with a burst appendix. This was treated for a week in hospital with IV antibiotics and then a further week with oral antibiotics at home. About 4 weeks after my initial admission I woke up and I was in AF. I knew exactly what it was as I had a previous episode of it 5 years ago. Again, like previously I was cardioverted back to normal rhythm. Ever since then however I've been getting palpitations daily. I've been taking magnesium citrate supplements which slowly were making a difference and I had a couple of weeks with little to no palpitations. However, for the past couple of weeks I've been getting them daily.

Role on 6+ weeks and I had an appointment at the hospital this morning for a 24 hour halter monitor. Thankfully, I'm experiencing palpitations today. I've had 20+ that I've noticed and am noting down the time of each one. Tomorrow morning I go back to hand it in and then straight after I have an echocardiogram. I doubt they'll find anything physically wrong with me as I reckon it's electrical not physical. I'm quite happy I'm experiencing them today as the halter will have recorded them.

I will then have a follow up with the cardiologist and I will be very interested to see what he has to say. I have the same cardiologist, Dr Foster, that saw me the last time so he should have my history to hand.

I really hate these palpitations, they're getting me down. I especially notice them whilst I'm at work. I'm in IT so spend most of my time at a desk. And again, whilst sitting down in the evening I notice them terribly. Luckily I don't suffer too much in bed so that's somewhat of a blessing.

I hope I'm not waiting too long for the cardiologist follow up appointment. Fingers crossed it's this side of christmas.

[Hidden]

I have paroxysmal AF & I had a lot of palpitations when on a 24 hour monitor, but nothing abnormal was detected. I had dizzy spells too but only NSR recorded - who knows??!!!

Now on Flecainide & Apixaban with much reduced palpitations & dizzy spells and currently have a 7 day monitor in place - it will be interesting to see the outcome. Will write a post when I get results.

Pat

[TinCool in reply to Hidden]

Pat, I've never gotten any dizzy spells but the palpitations are driving me round the bend, as I'm sure they are with you too.

So as I expected, the echocardiogram this morning showed no abnormalities, according to the technician who took it. The 24 hour halter monitor, although I had about 50+ palpitations over the period, showed no abnormalities with my rhythm. Good news I guess from the point of view that physically my hear is okay. I guess therefore that they view palpitations within normal ranges, which is frustrating. So next I need to wait for the appointment with the cardiologist to discuss the results. May be he'll put me on something for the palpitations, who knows.

On a side, I've been taking magnesium citrate daily for a couple of months now. Although initially it pretty much stopped my palpitations a few months back, the current bout of them continue regardless of my taking the citrate or not. I did however purchase some magnesium taurate from Amazon which arrived yesterday, having read a few articles stating that taurate may be more affective than other forms of magnesium. I took one last night and one this morning. Although I'm still getting palpitations, there is a definite reduction in the amount of them. I'm hoping, by taking the taurate, I notice further reductions of them over the next few days. Fingers crossed.

[TinCool]

Just a small update. I've been taking magnesium taurate since Wednesday evening. Two capsules a day, one in the morning with breakfast and one in the evening with my tea. On Thursday I noticed that my palpitations had reduced, further reduced on Friday where I only had a handful. I went out with a friend for a few pints, the first time since August. I didn't experience any palpitations that evening. On Saturday I only had one that I noticed late in the evening and same again on Sunday.

Normally on a weekday, my palpitations would start in and around breakfast and I would have several every hour throughout the day. So far... none. It's making such a difference to my well being and happiness and I can actually enjoy my life again.