how to handle palpitations at home

[Flo2pen]

Hello, I've been having palpitations where i literally feel my heart beating faster than normal all up in my throat as well mostly at night when in bed. It does wear off but its such a scary feeling. Am On propeferone for Afib. Went to EP and he upped the Meds from 250 to 350 mg 3 * daily (not happy with that idea at all). Is this happening to anyone and how do you manage it at home. I cant run to the Docs everytime i get this feeling.

[Finvola]

It’s an unpleasant feeling but some things can lessen its impact, Flo.

I get runs of rapid, regular heartbeat at night too and find that raising my head slightly on a second pillow, lying on my back and taking slow, deep belly breaths calms and slows the heart. Often these short runs are caused by stomach/gut discomfort because I’ve eaten something that disagrees with me.

If you are having longer runs of fast, regular heartbeat, a valsalva manoeuvre can stop it too. There are some good explanations of the valsalva technique online - unfortunately, it doesn’t work with AF, only with a fast regular rhythm.

[Flo2pen in reply to Finvola]

Hello Finvola will look into what valsalva manoeuvre is. With all this rapid heartbeat and AF, do you ever think the heart will get tired and just stop?? I am 46 and convinced that m experiencing some premenopausal symptoms, even tho the Docs are not trying to hear it when I tell them about the hot flashes and night sweats. And closer to my cycle, all hell breaks loose with my body. hot flash, night sweats, palpitations ......

[Finvola in reply to Flo2pen]

The mind can be our worst enemy - especially in the early hours of the morning. I haven’t heard of anyone whose heart just stopped and I’m inclined to remind myself that this has happened before and I was OK and it will stop.

The darned menopause adds to the mix of course - long time back for me but it honestly was the worst years of my life until I found a doc who would listen and not just tell me to put up with the misery. Evorel patches were my salvation from being able to fry eggs on the heat from my skin.

[Flo2pen in reply to Finvola]

Evoral Patches are HRT's right? Whew... will ask my Gyne about them. I have congestive heart failure - tachycardia and DVT in left leg - taking xarelto 20 mg as well. Hopefully I can try patch without it interfering with these other health issues i have going on...

[Finvola in reply to Flo2pen]

Yes, HRT - three letters which scare an awful lot of GP's, especially if there are other health issues to consider. The one I was given was Evorel Conti - apparently a very low dose.

[Finvola in reply to Flo2pen]

Flo - check with your cardiologist that valsalva is OK for you with heart failure. I’m not sure if it would be suitable.

[Flo2pen in reply to Finvola]

Aww good idea indeed. I looked it up and have been trying it out this morning at the office. I dont feel palpitations as much here. Its usually at night. Thank you for the advice...

[S11m in reply to Finvola]

My late wife used to lie in bed at night wondering when (or if) my was going to beat again - but then they kept it going with a pacemaker.

[Flo2pen in reply to S11m]

Hello I do have a pacemaker in. for the last 8 years. I just wonder if it can keep up when the palpitations begin

[S11m in reply to Flo2pen]

Pacemakers only kick-in when the heart is beating too slowly.

I have had palpitations for about 60 years and I did not know that it was not "normal" to be aware that my heart was beating!

[MydogBrandy]

Hi try drinking for glasses of ice cold water, this sometimes helps, has with me in the past, good luck x

[goldey in reply to MydogBrandy]

I saw a TV show about ER procedures here in Canada. They had this lady with serious palpatations. They got 2 plastic containers and filled them with ice water and put her arms into them as she lay in bed. This stopped them very quickly.

[MydogBrandy in reply to goldey]

Hi, yes I think it must shock the body into behaving itself lol.

I was admitted into hospital in Austria with svt and they gave me lots of ice water and told me to drink it quickly. I did and the svt stopped.

Had had svt for years and never told about this here. Have used it many times in the past and always carried a flask with ice water everywhere I went. It was a comfort thing but did use it occasionally .

[Flo2pen in reply to MydogBrandy]

Morning MydogBrandy I am scared of anything that will shock my body lol... its been thru so much over the years and having DVT bloodclots in the legs its all so extra tender. I can only imagine the shock of coldwater against the skin.

[MydogBrandy in reply to Flo2pen]

Perhaps try just sipping some to see if it helps x

[goldey]

I'm someone whose heart just stopped. Four times actually. I am female 71 in Canada, and didn't know I had any heart problems. Last June I was woken up by a sharp pain in the middle of my back, and then I couldn't catch my breath. I had no other heart attack symptoms, but I did have that "feeling of doom" that they talk about. I fortunately called an ambulance right away. Within a half hour or so of getting into the Emergency ICU I had another bout of being unable to catch my breath, and I was gone. I came to with 10 people standing around my bed. I had 3 more of these cardiac arrests in the ER there. I guess they figured that enough was enough, and they put in a pacemaker. When your heart stops you are just gonebabygone. It's not like when you pass out, and are aware of slowly passing out. It's instant, poof you're gone. I was told later that my heart stopped beating like that 4 times before they put in the pacemaker. Unfortunately I did NOT have a near-death experience when I was out -- darn it -- that would have been very cool. It was a slow recovery from all this, but 10 months out I am finally starting to feel better. Fortunately I work at home on the internet, so I have been able to easily work and make good money all along, even tho I was quite weak at first.

[Flo2pen in reply to goldey]

GoodMorning from Houston Texas Goldey. I've experienced this heart stopping thing 9 years ago. My heart stopped 3 times in the ER so I had to be lifeflighted to the Medical Ctr downtown. The ER the ambulance took me to wasnt equipped to handle my issues. and yes I do have in a St Jude Pacemaker. I would hate to think that my heart will get tired after having all these palpitation issues. I'm trying these home remedies like deep breathing and hopefully it helps. Everytime I go to the Doc's for the issue they up the Meds. Which is crazy..............