Heart palpitations at night

[WendyOSullivan]

Hi - for months now I've had heart palpitations and fluttering chest when I lie down at night. Also ear throbbing with pulse. During the day I sometimes get sharp pain in left side of chest and am starting to get slight jaw pain occasionally too. I've been to the doctor, had 24 hour heart monitor, antibiotics etc but the doctor says my heart is regular so he doesn't think it's that. They do not know what is the cause. It's driving me crazy and I hardly sleep and don't feel well most of the time. I don't know whether it's my immune system going haywire, my heart or an irritated nerve and don't know what to do. Somethings I get headaches and sightly breathless too. It all indicates my heart to me but the doctor says it would be irregular if it was. It would be great if anyone has any ideas or suggestions and thanks for any help - Wendy

[ChrisColumbus]

You might join the BHF forum for more advice:

healthunlocked.com/bhf

Meanwhile also see this:

healthline.com/health/heart...

[WendyOSullivan in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Hi Chris, thanks, I just realised I was on the wrong forum so will join BHF forum. Thanks again - Wendy

[Eryl]

Magnesium might help witb the flutter

[WendyOSullivan in reply to Eryl]

Hi Eryl, thanks for advice. I already take a multivitamin and mineral tablet but maybe like you say I could try more magnesium so thanks again for advice - Wendy

[Eryl in reply to WendyOSullivan]

I take 900 mg of magnesium citrate before bed (it's advised not to take it at the same time as other vits or minerals as that cpuld affect absorption)

[WendyOSullivan in reply to Eryl]

Thanks Eryl

[Munroist]

Sometimes we can get over attuned to our bodies, especially after an injury or traumatic event and can end up in a state of high anxiety and notice things more keenly that might not be major issues. I had a phase of this after a lower back issue which gave me a lot of pain and limited movement for several months. Your sympathetic nervous system feels like it’s permanently on high alert, worried about every small sign. When you are injured

It’s a perfectly normal defence mechanism to protect yourself while your body heals, but sometimes it doesn’t go back to normal as quickly as you would expect, resulting in long periods of anxiety and stress. One of the first steps to moving on is realising that this has happened, and even that can be difficult, people can resist the idea that some of this is their own bodies over reacting. I took pregabalin to help reduce the neuropathic pain I was getting and it had the side effect of reducing anxiety. At the same time I started meditation which I still do every day which allowed me to look at things more calmly and the combination allowed me to move on. Not all the issues went away and I have tinnitus which occasionally annoys me and still have nerve and back issues occasional but they are manageable and don’t send me into the panic I used to get. Our bodies can heal if we give them a chance but sometimes we have to moderate our behaviour and our demands on them, and also accept that things might never be 100% perfect again.

I think you’re absolutely right to check all of these things out with the doctor, but at the same time, try not to react too strongly, because, if nothing else, it rarely helps. All the best.

[WendyOSullivan in reply to Munroist]

Hi, Thanks so much for all the advice. I've gone through everything you've said and will try not to get too stressed about it. I've tried taking a strong antihistamine before going to bed sometimes and that seems to calm down the palpitations so maybe it is my immune system over-reacting. I'll let the doctor know and see what he says. Thanks so much again and all the best to you too - Wendy

[kelirock]

I have recently been diagnosed with Mitral Valve regurgitation and experience the same fluttering feeling and pains you describe. I am surprised your GP has not arranged for you to have further investigations of your heart. The Mitral Valve is failing (for me) and will require treatment. My doctor has referred me to a cardiologist. Without treatment the Mitral Valve could prolapse which could be life threatening. Please see your doctor again and ask about this.

[WendyOSullivan in reply to kelirock]

Thanks so much for letting me know. I'll definitely go back to the doctor and see what he says. Hopefully he will refer me and if not I might try and get some tests done privately. Thanks again - kind regards, Wendy

[kelirock in reply to WendyOSullivan]

Good luck.