pulsing sensation in chest

[Robfromwales]

Does anyone else ever get what I can only describe as a short pulsing sensation of discomfort/ pain that lasts for 1/2 seconds only in the chest for say a duration of elapsed time of 5-10 mins. It’s not accompanied by any other symptoms and remains in the same spot for that period? I get these say one a month or maybe once every two months. Doesn’t seem to be triggered knowingly by any food or drink or bouts of stress. A non cardiac cause has seem to be ruled out by stress test treadmill wired up, 2 CT scans and MRI stress test ruling out blood supply issues.

I recently had an aortic graft ( replacement) of my ascending aorta and left atrial appendage closed. I know TAA are meant to be asymptomatic but I did wonder whether I wouldn’t get it after the op but the sensations have returned. I have what I think they call chronic eosophagatis ( revealed vid endoscopy) so it may be that but from my reading it’s certainly not classic. So I know I am probably asking a no cardiac question but given overlaps in chest area I wonder if you wise hearties have any thoughts?

[Robfromwales]

i missed out angiogram as well which was undertaking pre op for the aortic graft

[Tos92]

Hi Robfromwales

I hope you’re well today.

Do these feel like palpitations? You mention a “pulsing sensation” which can be likened to that of heart palpitations. Palpitations in themselves, are not really a cause for concern unless they are happening a frequent basis.

I note that you’ve had surgery, could this be a post-op symptom?

A holter monitor can record any abnormal heart beats that you may be having but that would be up to your doctor or cardiologist to action and investigate further if they feel it is a concern.

All the best.

Tos

[Robfromwales in reply to Tos92]

hi TOS

Doesn’t feel like palpitations or ectopics at all. Remains a mystery at the momemt

[Autumn_Leaves]

Something like that, yes. The sensation doesn’t seem like ectopics to me but that seems to be the dustbin diagnosis whenever I mention it to a healthcare professional. I’ve had ectopics for years but these sensations don’t feel like ectopics. They don’t seem to record as ectopics on either the apple watch or the Kardia. I recently had another 24h ECG but I still need a copy of the results. I am due an echocardiogram soon, so I’ll mention this symptom on the day.

[Robfromwales in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

doesn’t seem like I would imagine ectopics to feel and given how many people have these I would imagine far more people on this forum saying ‘ that’s likely to be ectopics’. Remains a mystery

[Robfromwales in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Milkfairy - we aren’t describing any form of coronary artery spasm are we? As I describe it’s more discomfort than real pain and characterised by what I would describe as a short pulse of pain then say a minute or two gap then another short burst. Nearly always in same area for the duration. No other symptoms. I have had a barrage of tests including stress induced mri looking for small vessel disease. My angiogram was pre operative and it wasn’t specifically looking for anything else.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Robfromwales]

Hello,Vasospastic angina tends to lead to quite severe prolonged episodes of chest pain at rest rather than intermittent brief sensations.

Though everyone is different.

Vasospastic angina is difficult to diagnose. The most accurate way is by an angiogram with acetylcholine.

Occasionally ECG changes such as ST elevations or depressions can be recorded during an episode of chest pain.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

[Robfromwales in reply to Milkfairy]

thanks as always Milkfairy . So would you or vasospastic sufferers have angina type symptoms ( ie pain across chest, may go to jaw or shoulder, breathlessness and sweaty ) when you have episodes. And are you saying that it’s prolonged rather than what I would describe as a ripple or pulse then nothing for minutes until the next ripple.

However what is interesting from the BHF link you sent is that the longest and most prolonged period I had of these pulses , which I went to A and E with , led to them finding that I was in AF ( heart rate 72 from memory which is high for me). I will do some more looking and may get back to you

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Robfromwales]

Vasospastic angina is caused by temporary, transient contrictions of the coronary arteries, leading to a lack of blood supply to the heart.If severe enough you can have a heart attack.

It can be very difficult to distinguish between vasospastic and unstable angina.

I would say my coronary vasospasms feel like being in labour.

[Robfromwales in reply to Milkfairy]

that sounds so debilitating and frightening. So the symptoms are really full on it appears although as you said earlier, every one will experience things differently. Just one more question if you would oblige, the BHF site takes about clusters of 2/3. What does it mean by clusters?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Robfromwales]

So far over 10 years, I have managed so far always to get into hospital on time. I am treated with an infusion of IV GTN.

Over a period of time you can have vasospasm after spasm repeatedly. They then stop and start again, this is what they mean by clusters of chest pain.

I hope you find the answers to why you are having your symptoms.

Living with uncertainty is the worst.

I found knowing why I have my symptoms helps me cope with as you say my debilitating episodes of chest pain.

[Robfromwales in reply to Milkfairy]

my sensations seem so insignificant compared to yours but will keep an eye on things. As I said previously I am advised that the symptoms are cardiac but neither do they appear to be clearly linked to gastric or other muscular skeletal issues. But thankfully having them has led to the incidental finding of my aortic aneurysm which is now repaired!

[Robfromwales in reply to Robfromwales]

sorry ‘ are not cardiac’!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Robfromwales]

Now that I would find scary having to have open heart surgery 😳

[Robfromwales in reply to Milkfairy]

wasnt half as bad as I thought. Reading all about it and what they do does get your mind racing

[RailRover in reply to Milkfairy]

I wouldn't recommend it as a day out, but you get through all right. 🙃

[Robfromwales]

autumn leaves / how would you describe the sensations and how often. What heart issues do you have. The strange thing with me is that apart from the ascending aortic which is now repaired the only other issue I am aware of is one bout of AF for12 days two years ago. So I am advised that whatever the pain/ discomfit sensations are - they are not presumed to be of a cardiac origin

[Autumn_Leaves]

It can feel like popping, pinching, a tapping or knocking effect inside my ribcage or sometimes a “bulging” beat. It used to be occasional then daily a few times, then daily too many times. My pulse doesn’t change and there’s no sign of arrhythmia on the Kardia or the apple watch when I can feel these sensations. I have a fairly recent diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation following a long history of ectopics with a moderately high ectopic burden and some mitral valve issues.

[Robfromwales in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

hmmm . Interesting. I was thinking of likewise getting a kardia to see if the pain is associated with any arrhythmia but like you I don’t think so. As I said mine is like a pulse of pain for secs only but not behind sternum. I do get what I suspect is more like general heartburn so it maybe a variant of that but I have my doubts if I am honest. I say this as if it was as a result of heartburn or GErd - surely1000s of people woukd report similar type symptoms?

[Autumn_Leaves]

I had a 24h ECG recently but I need to see the results. As it turned out I wasn’t too troubled when I had it (why does that happen??) yet the evening before I was very symptomatic and was convinced it would be like that over the 24h ECG. But it seems I have had a slightly lower ectopic burden on this one and they still don’t know what I’m talking about, so…. I don’t know what the next step is 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Robfromwales]

Thanks. will let you know how I get on researching the esophageal route and I have a couple of ideas.

[Autumn_Leaves]

Should be interesting.

[Autumn_Leaves]

I’ve considered that one and I might just do that. In the meantime I need to chase up a copy of my recent 24h ECG to see if there’s anything relevant on the report.