Palpitations/fast beats - all the women in my family

[becmus]

Hi everyone. I have no diagnosis. It's driving me mad. I'm 45. Since I was 25 I have had very sporadic periods of intense palpitations and abnormally fast heart beats. It was particularly bad during pregnancy. I have had stacks of ecgs but never caught it as by the time it was fitted they'd gone. Every bloody time. My mother ha stand both my older sisters. It can make me dizzy but generally it's palpitations and commonly fast heart beat noticeable when trying to sleep. I can go 3 months or so without a problem (occasional palpitation) but then it's back with a passion and docs can't tell me what is causing it. Anyone else out there got further than me?

[isobelhannah18]

I am not medically trained but over the years have had some episodes of palpitations which always eased by cutting out all caffeine. I'm sure you've probably already tried this but if not it's worth a go.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! As already mentioned cutting down on caffeine can help as can minimising alcohol and chocolate intake. There are also suggestions that rich and/or spicy foods should be avoided.

If you go and have a resting ECG it is unlikely anything will be seen. If exercise triggers palpitations then something might show with a stress/exercise ECG. I think it would be useful to ask your GP for a 7 day monitor.

[Camelliared in reply to MichaelJH]

I agree a 24 hour heart monitor is definitely the best. In my case a resting ecg didn’t show anything and my blood tests were normal but had heart attack a few days later, one day before I was to have a chest

X ray and while waiting for the 24 hour test. Do not give up. All the very best for a better outcome.

[daisy2311]

I have SVT and this sounds similar....particularly if the beats are regular but fast. My events are further apart than yours but was diagnosed through A & E, as I usually have to be given drugs to revert it back to normal rhythm. In my non clinical opinion, I would suggest doing back to the doctor and ask to be fitted with a monitor for a week. This will then pick up all the times you experience it, like when you go to sleep. You do have to keep pushing with the doctors I'm afraid. Caffeine can have an impact as can stress but this is probably likely to be genetic as you mention your family history. Good Luck.

[ILowe]

Over at the sister forum for Atrial Fibrillation, you will probably find some posts. Look for "PIP" ie Pill In the Pocket.

The best way to catch something that is erratic is DIY. Most people use Kardia Alivecor, an attachment for a smartphone (NOT the watches). You turn it on and hold it in your hands when you feel something, and show the ECGs to your doctor. I have Healforce Prince I80-D which is better than model B. But frankly the computer bit is fiddly. i used to go for months, then feel something and get it recorded.

Once you and your doctors know what is happening, you will know if it is mere palpitations, or is a form of tachycardia (high speed), or is Atrial Fibrillation (fast and irregular) or something else.

Those who are authorised to use PIP usually play with a small dose of betablocker such as bisoprolol, and a medium dose of an antiarrhythmic such as flecainide. Note, flecainide cannot be initiated by a GP -- it needs hospital level doctor initiation.

I hope you are keeping a good diary. For many years my cardiologist left me un-treated. He told me to shout when I had tachycardia more than three times a week.

The other thing to do is to watch the youtube videos of Dr Sanjay Gupta of York Cardiology. Look for what he advises on palpitations, and Magnesium. I hope this helps.

[dcbinky2019]

Iv had palpitations for over a year, advised was caffeine, chocolate etc. ECG. 5day event and 24 hr BP monitor did not show my diagnosis of mitral valve regurgitation that the Echocardiogram did! Ask for one. Best wishes.

[LesleyJ59]

My granny had palpitations all her adult life, had no other heart symptoms and lived into her nineties. I have them, and they will be bad for a couple of weeks then disappear for months. I can't attribute any cause. I had them before a mild heart attack and have them still, but they are no better or worse. I will be 60 this year and am otherwise fine on medication.

I think a lot of the time it's just the way things are, but don't be afraid to go to your doctor to discuss them.

[41Trish]

Have had them for forty years off and on. Mitral valve prolapse. Told to live with it. Cutting, cheese, tea,coffee,chocolate,sugar can help. On bisoprolol, and recently given diazapam-short term- then a low dose of citalapram, for mild depression. Tiredness and low iron can also bring it on. You need a 7day monitor or echocardiogram. A real nuisance, hope you get answers.

[Hidden in reply to 41Trish]

I have mitral valve prolapse and ectopics for over 40 years, I,m 72. I now have Svt, I was on citalopram for depression but came off it, I take low dose of Bisoprolol. Your symptoms sound very much like mine. Due to stress I am feeling depressed and would like to go back on citalopram 10 mg but can remember the bad side effects in the first couple of weeks. It’s 8 months since you wrote this but you sounded similar to myself

[41Trish]

The diazapam calmed my fast heartbeat, triggered after a bad chest infection and citalapram has stopped the palpitations for a couple of years. When you have it, take a deep breath and cough to help it stop.

[RunningWolf]

I suffered with palpitations for many years and more recently SVT’s. Had a routine ECG and they found that I had Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome. Definitely a good idea to get a Kardia device if you can, I got one on loan from my cardiologist so that they could catch an actual episode.

[Knktoys]

I was diagnosed with PVC's some PAC's and now as of the last year SVT. The SVT is scary. The doctor says they are so short lived like just a few seconds of my heart beating at a higher then normal rate that he is not worried. Lately I am getting the palpatations at night mostly- it takes me 3 hours before they calm down and I can go to sleep. Before I had them during the day and then night would be better. I just had a 3 day monitor so I caught them on that and am waiting for the results. Anyone else out there with SVT? Does it turn into Afib? I am just scared and so tired each morning. Thanks!

[ETHEL103 in reply to Knktoys]

Hi I have flutter a fib. Svt and ectopics. All started with atrial ectopics in Jan then sadly progressed.