Hi, quite a few people have done posts on these symptoms before. I am 28, around the age of 20 or so noticed a bounding pulse and heavy heartbeat which has got worse with time. I have had cardiac tests that show my heart is fairly large and pumps a high amount of blood volume with each beat, although overall it is healthy.
My heart rate is also slow, typically around 50 resting. The bounding pulse is constant, 24/7. Every night I get 7/8 hours of sleep but never feel refreshed, always tired. I can feel my heart beat against my ribs on the left side of my body. I have tried everything, beta-blockers, SSRI, magnesium, literally everything, and nothing works. However, there are lots os things that make it worse. Most supplements seem to make it worse, vitamin D makes it really bad for some reason. I have to be very careful with what I put in my body. Caffeine and alcohol don't make a difference.
I have quit exercising as instructed in order to raise my heart rate so I feel each beat less. It was originally low 40s and now 50, but it won't get any higher. My blood pressure is pretty spot on at 100/60.
This symptom is ruining my life, I am always tired, miserable, and feel tense. I also have lots of reflux so looking into a hiatal hernia. Looking for someone who has been through this and found out what was going on.
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electrisio
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Welcome to the forum. Sorry you are having a hard time - all of us on this forum have been through rough times and there are plenty of people who can share their experience with you and try to help.
I'm a good bit older than you (66), but I have had all the symptoms you describe, apart from the reaction to supplements.
I have type 2 AV block which causes me to have a low heart rate, and my left ventricle has above normal function with an ejection fraction greater than 70 percent (it should be between 50 and 60), so I can feel my heart beating all the time. I now have a pacemaker that keeps my heart rate above 55, but it doesn't get rid of the constant thumping in my chest.
I'm not suggesting that you need a pacemaker, but I need to say that I also have an underactive thyroid gland, and all the symptoms you describe (including the reflux) are characteristic of hypothyroidism. It might be worth having a thyroid function test, just to rule it out. I do tend to blame my hypothyroidism (which went undiagnosed for about 10 years) for my heart problems, but it might not be the cause.
I hope you can get to the bottom of your symptoms and find an answer.
Thank you for taking the time EMBoy, it's really appreciated. I have had my thyroid tested, but it came back as normal. Ejection fraction-wise, mine comes back as medium to low. The thing which always seems high for me is my stroke volume. This is what my cardiologist believes is the problem. I read online that the average 70kg man has a stroke volume of 70ml. I am 80 kg and mine comes back at 130ml! Part of the reason this is high was due to exercise, but even still it seems excessively high.
This would correlate with the force/amount of blood pumped in one beat. I do believe it is the amount of blood pumped that is the problem, rather than the force, at least in my case. When I took beta blockers it actually made the symptoms worse despite being a negative inotrope (ie make the heart pump with less force). This is because beta blockers slow the heart rate and increase stroke volume. That is why I think stroke volume is the issue. I presume your stroke volume must have also been elevated given a high ejection fraction (atleast that is how I think it works)?
This is why my cardiologist says I should get my heart rate as high as possible. I presumed if I had a more normal heart rate, of 65-70, I wouldn't notice my heart beating so hard given the volume of blood of each beat would be less.
Hi Electrisio, reading your post was scary as it was like I’d written it word for word myself!
I’m 43 male, normal weight, I take Losartan for mildly high BP, otherwise no other meds. The last couple of years have been torture for me with periods where I feel my heart is going to explode from my chest due to me being able to feel it beating. I also have weird sensations where I feel my heart is racing, yet a test will show it’s only 90-100. My resting is 65-70. The fatigue is a real killer and not knowing whether tomorrow you will have an episode or the energy to do something makes planning things very tough. Initially when I was having these I took myself to bed and hoped it would pass. Now I find that forcing thru it ( in the knowledge I’ve had all these tests and it’s not a heart attack etc) and forcing myself just to go for a slow walk somewhere quiet can help. The distraction seems to be able to take my mind away from recognising my pulse trying to rip out my chest!
I’ve had every test possible to reach a dead end. My gp is now trying to convince me it’s stress or anxiety, which makes me stressed as I know it’s not. I have a great life thankfully and truly nothing to be anxious about!
My cardiologist has said it’s just one of these things and medically I am sound. It’s something I need to live with and will pass. 2 years on and still waiting.
Like you I suffer badly with stomach acid, I’ve had bloods, camera down the throat and all clear, no hernia, nothing down there that is causing it… more frustration! I’ve taken my diet back to the basics, which is super boring, but in the hope I might find things that irritates it more, so a food diary is very helpful.
I hope you find a solution, if you do, please let me know as its so frustrating and makes some days a true struggle. And sorry go bore with such a long reply!
Don’t rule out anxiety as l am positive that’s what causes mine I have nothing to feel anxious about . Some days are worse than others if l am busy l don’t notice it and have no problems at night .
I find meditation helps slow it down or should l say quieten it.
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, the default response to this is that is anxiety, which is fair enough as in most cases it probably is. However, when you're in a position where it isn't anxiety it is really stressful when people around think that it is. Luckily, my cardiologist and the doctors I have interacted with don't think it's anxiety and I haven't been written off as such.
It's a different story with my family, however, which is why I choose to not get them involved. I had another health issue in the past (hormone related) which they said was anxiety, and without going into the details (as it's a very long story), they were actually wrong. As a result, I took their advice and this delayed me getting the treatment I needed and I suffered for many years as a result. You know your body and how you feel better than anyone else.
There is literally nothing I can do to escape it, I meditate 20 minutes a day which quietens my mind but doesn't get rid of the symptoms. Additionally, I tried SSRIs and beta blockers which actually made the bounding pulse worse in both cases, which is why I am sure it's not anxiety in my case. The only thing I can do which helps, but doesn't probably resolve it is to eat less. I find when I eat more calories, especially carbs it is worse. I believe this is due to extra water retention and blood flow needed at the stomach putting more strain on my cardiovascular system. But then there is a trade-off as not eating as much has it's own negative effects.
These symptoms do get reported in various forums and they are very often related to acid reflux. Maybe there is something yet to be discovered. Having an invisible and undetectable set of symptoms was not something I was expecting to happen in my life. Just have to keep on battling on until you find a solution!
Hi there, I'm really sorry to hear about your experience and I really do hope that you can find a resolution or at least some relief. I also developed a BP last December after a very strange heart complication which occurred one night. Ectopic heartbeats started at the same time too which were extra unpleasant because of the BP. Fortunately the BP has subsided a little since then but my heart does not beat the same way as before. Like most people, throughout my life I have never felt my heart beating except after vigorous exercise but after that night I could feel it beating 24/7 and looking at my stomach I could see it had changed. I found this video on youtube which shows the same thing I experience:
Thanks for your reply. Yeah I get that stomach noticeable moves up and down. I can also see it in my temples, neck and arteries either side of my groin. People will just say it's because I am lean, which is true, but there is 100% more going on. Mine is much worse after eating, especially carbs. I am now starting keto diet to see if it helps.
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