Hello there! I am wishing you a healthy day whoever reading this.
Three weeks ago, I started to notice fluttering in my chest and skipped beats every now and then especially when I lie down at night. They lasted for a moment and I was all OK about it. I also started to notice less bowel movements and an uneasy stomach along with them. I used to exercise regularly so I kinda know my body, I started to fatigue sooner than I would.
A week ago, I was watching TV and my heart skipped a beat and suddenly my heart rate went over 170+ right after and lasted a couple of minutes. Beats felt like a regular beat and I didn't faint or whatsoever. I went to the emergency and got my heart checked by ECG and it obviously didn't catch anything. I'd seen a cardiologist and I got equipped with 24 hours monitor. I also got my heart checked up structurally and it's fine. I had no tachycardia but a light fluttering in my chest when it was on. I turned in the monitor and my cardiologist told me that I have nothing to worry about and prescribed me a low dose beta blocker.
Thing is, he didn't even diagnosed what type of arrhythmia I am suffering. He just told me that my heart is structurally fine and I am probably having beign arrhythmias. Again, I have no idea how he based those assumptions on a monitor result that didn't even catch an attack at all. I feel exhausted and sometimes have those flutters again but not tachycardia. I don't use the prescribed beta blocker because it made me even worse. All I am asking is your insight based on your experiences and knowledge on what kind of arrhythmia I am having and if exhaustion is related to it? I am 23 years old male and I don't have any other condition. I want to be able to exercise again and not worry about my heart failing suddenly.
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felix844
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It's almost certain they do work on most people with their tachycardia events but they also have some ill-effects like being tired all the time. I am an active person, I don't want to have those pills and just disconnect from the outside because this is exactly what they did to me. I will surely get some answers but from another doctor
Me too. I suffer from ectopic beats and the beta blocker I was on not only made them worse but made me feel quite ill. Have you tried mediation and breathing exercises. Although drugs help there is always a downside to most of them.
Arrhythmias can be notoriously difficult to diagnose so do not be to hard on your cardiologist. How long did you try the beta blocker for? It usually takes a week or two to adjust to them. Other beta blockers are available.
Two friends have had good results with ectopics and arrhythmias by eliminating trigger foods like caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and spicy foods. Other triggers include smoking and recreational drugs. The hardest to elimate are worry and stress. Good luck..
The only reason why I am just fed up with the current system is that I am the only one seeking for a diagnosis but not the doctors... How possibly can someone tell you not to worry without knowing what type of arrhythmia you're having? It just doesn't make sense, even for a doc
I am glad your friends are doing better now, I do in fact have a healthy lifestyle and I workout very often (well at least I used to). Worry and stress have always been something really hard to dealt with... So I'll make sure to be less anxious about the attacks but without a diagnosis it's really hard thing to do.
I spent countless nights in the ER with unexplained Tachycardia (the ER thought I was crazy and had anxiety)Mine always seemed to happen at night. I would just be watching TV and would get a weird feeling and my heart would start racing. I had a complete work up and all they could tell me was I have tachycardia. I take metoprolol 25mg twice a day and it has helped tremendously. I do t have very many episodes anymore. I do have a loop recorder implanted with the hopes of possibly seeing a pattern and maybe be a candidate for the ablation so I don’t have to take medicine. Do your research and find a good cardiologist or if you have access to a facility like Mayo Clinic or John Hopkins.
Hi, I would go back and try and get a difinitive diagnosis. Cut out or lessen as many stimulants as you can because they will be blamed
I have sinus tachycardia which just means my heart races for no reason, I stopped drinking two years ago and cut back on chocolate and tea, this has made no difference whatsoever. As soon as I start walking my heart reacts as if it is running a marathon and a gentle stroll will see it reach easily 150-180bpm. I am now trying to get a diagnosis of inappropriate sinus tachycardia so I can get further treatment besides tablets which don't work for me.
You know yourself best and if something doesn't feel right just keep going back until you get the treatment that works for you
I am so sorry you're having this awful experience too. From what I've heard stimulants and deficiency of certain minerals may trigger that kind of episode. However, my heart rate is totally normal but I am usually out of breath doing simple things like standing up and walking. I will surely get a diagnosis from another doctor, thanks!
Hi I have IST and have been prescribed Ivabradine. My resting heart rate is still in the 80s but as it used to be over 100bpm at rest it is an improvement.
Thank you for the replies fam, it means a lot to me.
I only used caffeine as a stimulant which I quit when sudden tachycardia occured. I am normally living a healthy and active life but I can't even take a long walk because I feel like I am out of breath. The reason why I quitted using beta blocker (I used it for a couple of days) is because it made me even more exhausted than I am right now. I could barely stand up and have my chores done.
I actually had another attack yesterday and it was again a flutter and then my heart raced for a couple of minutes. I could carry on my day afterwards. Do anxiety cause heart arrhythmias? I am feeling like I am on a constant tension and got an upset stomach too.
Yes stress and anxiety can cause them, but if you do not normally have a lot of stress then I would rule this out as the cause but thinking and worrying about them could make them feel worse. Like you I get breathless doing normal things and it is becoming a right pain in the bum.
Yeah it's so annoying to get breathless out of the blue especially when I used to be super active, lift weights and walk/run for hours and now I am trapped in my bed T_T
Hi Felix, about thirty years ago, I too began having heart arythmia. I was hospitalised and put on Beta Blockers. They took me a month to get used to. Having been kyboshed by the beta blockers, I adjusted my lifestyle, made sure I got much more sleep than normal, cut out coffee, chocolate, smoking - you name it I cut it. You seem to have a much healthier lifestyle than I ever did. However, the fact you are worried about your symptoms means that you should not accept the diagnosis of the doctors as there is something going on that they haven't discovered. Keep a health diary and take it with you when you next go. Also, have your cholesterol checked. I discovered I had FH, which is genetically inherited high cholesterol - I did not realise the consequences of that until I had my heart attack. My son and grandchild are being checked for it now as it can cause heart attack in very young people. Not saying you have it... but look at all the possibilities and ask your doctors to look deeper into your family history etc. Good luck and keep well.
Hi Felix, do you experience any other sensations when your heart flutters? Sweating, breathing faster, feeling dizzy?When you notice the sensations what is your fear? Eg I am going to die
If you drs have ruled out any health problems it may be panic/health anxiety
For some people they experience a heart sensations flutter, focus on their body, think OMG what is wrong with me I am going to die, I must sit and rest. This reinforces avoidance and panic.
This vicious cycle keeps the panic going.
As others have said eliminate any stimulants eg caffeine
Notice when the problem happens and what your thoughts are
Keep a diary of events, what you were doing when it happened etc
Try square breathing, imagine a square in your head as you go along one side breathe in for 4 seconds, down the next side hold your breath for 4 seconds and the next breathe out for 4 seconds, then hold for 4 to complete the square.
Anxiety and panic can feel awful, literally like we are going to die, however no one has died from panic - panic is our bodies fight or flight system which says ‘get me out of here’ or ‘I gotta fight for my life’ so if we collapsed it would be a very poor evolutionary protective response.
Hi Felix! Sorry you are going through this. Heart stuff is so scary and frustrating. Have you had your potassium and magnesium levels checked? Sometimes just taking those supplements can help palpitations. Magnesium can also help anxiety. I have found them to be helpful.
I had exactly the same at around your age. NO monitor could ever catch the episodes until I was eventually sent for a stress test. Nothing happened during the test but hey left the electrodes attached when i sat down and had a massive attack of odd beats. They also told me they were benign because they could see exactly which part of the heart they were coming from but they didn't elaborate. I'm now 73. I still get the ectopic beats occasionally, out of the blue but hey don't worry me at all. What caused them to start was probably stress and anxiety. I had a heart attack 2 years ago which had absolutely nothing to do with the ectopic beats. I simply ignore them. You've been told they are benign so believe the doctors. The more you worry about hem the worse they will probably get. Stress and anxiety cause lots of physical problems.
Hi, I'm new to this group, but just reading your story could've been written by me!! I have exactly the same problem. Bloods, ECG and BP normal. 24hr tape showed occasional rate of 177bpm, sometimes with light headedness. Waiting for an echo and cardiology review as so far only been seen twice in ambulatory care, who have now put me on bisoprolol 1.25mg daily.
I get the same as you with beta blockers. High Blood Pressure since last year. Tried several different type meds. Beta Blockers worst. Heart Beat ok and systolic ok but systolic goes too high. Since being on blood pressure meds now get heart flutters spec. in evening and after eating.Waiting to see Cardiologist after 24hr. Holster. I have anxiety and hernia .Own GP says prob just anxiety. Never met him. Just phone contact. Been to & E several times and they are good but long waits.Waited 3 months for Holster.The flutters happen and I get a warm feeling and feel weak. Quite scary.Happening more often lately.Possible A Fib but no real contact other than A & E. Own GP says just tell Cardiologist when you see him and call 999 if chest pain. Very dismissive. Difficult time to get real medical support. This all adds more to anxiety and also more flutters. Lost over 4 stone walk daily aged 70.Eat very healthily no salt nor sugar or processed food. Salmon and chicken fruit nuts and veg.Cant do any more myself.Feel that GP is leaving it all to Hospital.Lucky to get 5 minutes over phone. All very scary
Felix hi mate! ever since a month ago ive develope similar symptoms to what youve experience and id like to know how youre feeling about it nowadays, has it improved in any way?
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Tachycardia 
unexplained tachycardia 
Exercise and unwelcome high heart rate.
Supra ventricular tachycardia 
