Heart Palpitations since I was 9 years old

[babejoemickey]

Hi--I have been on this site before with my story . My story is 62 years long! Since I was 9 I have had heart palpitations. I have had them checked out many times. The most recent was about a year ago when I had a full work up with a cardiologist and they say my heart is extraordinarily in good shape for my age.. I wont bore everyone with the details. I cant talk to anybody about these any more because even though I have many friends and a large family, they have their own problems. I started taking Prozac and Xanax about 20 years ago and it has somewhat helps short term when I have rapid heart beats that can last any where from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. I have PVC's and rapid heart beats. No other symptoms. No pain, no shortness of breath. They can come and go at anytime. At 71 years of age, I know that I will just have to live with these but it sure would be nice to hear other people's stories with these. I know it is anxiety but maybe if I hear other stories , it will at least help knowing that there are others out there with similar issues. Thank you.

[tykesammy]

Hi, I am not an expert in any shape or form, but I am thinking maybe a beta-blocker might be good for you ?

[babejoemickey in reply to tykesammy]

Thank you.

[b1b1b1]

PVCs can be treated. I have had them in the past. I have been told that they only become dangerous if they exceed about 10-11% of total heart beats, in which case they can weaken the heart. Mine were stopped with some minor medication. You might want to consider a second cardiologist opinion.

[babejoemickey in reply to b1b1b1]

Thank you.

[Ilovedogs12]

Hi,

I'm interested to hear you have had palpitations for such a long time as I have had them for almost forty years. Like you I have no symptoms apart from the pounding of my heart.

I had a distressing forceps delivery of a baby and the palpitations began at the moment she arrived. I am 66 and have had them on and off ever since, and they hadn't shown on ECGs because I wasn't having them at the time to coincide with the tests.

Three years ago was taken to A&E with a suspected heart attack but thankfully everything was ok. A year ago the same thing, again everything was ok. I had more ECGs and the treadmill test - all ok.

Over the last six months I had a couple of heavy colds and Covid. I didn't call the doctor or go to hospital with the Covid but I was in bed for almost a week and only drinking water so quite ill with it. Later the palpitations became constant. My heart has been banging like a drum in my chest day and night. My GP looked at the results from earlier in the year and told me everything was fine, but I told her it wasn't the same, it was constant and she did an ECG there and then, and when she saw the results her attitude changed.

Every ECG now shows the extra heart beat, I have bigeminy and PVCs. My heart rate is constantly between 160 and 200, but my pulse is 40 to 42.I am prescribed Verapamil which is having some effect but we are still tweaking the dose and hoping it will work. I haven't been to cardiology but my GP is consulting them at every step.

I have no obvious triggers - I'm slim, never smoked or done drugs, drink very occasionally, eat a healthy diet, and was healthy taking no medication for anything before this. And it's worrying!

I want to know more but don't like to take up my GPs time, and appointments aren't long enough.