Pounding heart

[ETHEL103]

Hi all. I'm on Digoxin and verapimil and have noticed my heart pounds when I go to bed. Very uncomfortable. Does anyone else have this problem?

[BobD Volunteer]

I suffer from pulsatile tinitus so always hear my heart in my right ear when all is quiet such as trying to sleep. Annoying isn't it?

[ETHEL103 in reply to BobD]

Yes Bob I'm a tinnitus sufferer too. My sensations are coming from my left chest area and yes my ears too.

[queseyo in reply to BobD]

I also have pulsatile tinnitus but I hear it in left ear, I think it is because I have left carotid calcification however, doctors have been unable to tell if it is the reason. Sometime it keeps me awake for hours, doing breathing exercises helps but not always. Other times helps get wormer or drink a glass of mostly hot water. But since I have been put on Sotalol 40mg it is not so bad...???🙃

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Are you an anxious type? Panic attacks can do the same, too. It could be the medications, also.

I've had severe tinnitus, too. In both ears (noise lowered 80% with a natural supplement). However, it's not related to my pounding heart episodes.

I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder 20 years ago. It used to cause periods of pounding heart, which are called panic attacks. I agree ... very uncomfortable. Felt pounding from chest ... up into neck .... and into face. They all lasted less than an hour.

[ETHEL103 in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Hi yes I have heart health anxiety as one of my best friends dropped dead when I was with him and I tried cpr till the ambulance came. That was 2012 but it has had a severe effect on me. I never had the pounding heart thing till I started on Digoxin and Verapimil to control arrhythmia and atrial flutter.

[The_Lord_is_with_Us in reply to ETHEL103]

So sorry about your best friend. I lost my best friend, too, four years ago.

Your experience with him passing would cause trauma to anyone .... that could certainly lead to 'panic attack' episodes. However ... medicines are still suspect, too.

Your friend's memories will always be with you. And you'll learn to accept it as time goes on and know that you will see him again according to the Lord's promises.

[Paulbounce]

Hi Ethel.

Yep - it's happened. I avoid it now by sleeping in a certain postion.

I can't fall asleep getting some kip lying on my back. I tend to sleep on my front but leaning to the right (if that makes sense). That way I don't 'feel' my heart beat and won't panic.

Is it worth changing your sleeping position ? Just a thought.

Paul

[ETHEL103 in reply to Paulbounce]

Hi Paul thanks for answering and yes now sleep on my back. I was a left side sleeper but that causes all sorts of problems. Mind me asking what meds are you on?

[Paulbounce in reply to ETHEL103]

Sure Ethel - no problems at all. At the moment I'm on 200 mg of Flecainide a day. I was also on dabigatran but stopped about 3 weeks ago - maybe it was the right move / maybe wrong. I think time will tell. The doc said to maybe stop it now as it could cause problems later in life. My cardio said it was totally my decision but that's what I have decided to do right now.

I don't think though it affects my sleep either way. However If afib kicks in again I'll be back on it - it's a tough call to make.

I think sleeping on your back is the best for you.

Hope that helps.

Paul

[Palpman]

I had one episode today. Palpitations lasted for 40 minutes.

I was in Tesco when I had some difficulty breathing through my mask and felt a bit dizzy.

There was nowhere to sit so I left my trolley and went outside. Nowhere to sit there either. My heart was pounding and rumbling in my chest and throat.

I managed to walk the 1 mile home and rested till it subsided. My wife said I was as pale as a sheet.

This was not a panic attack as I was not worried at all except for the inconvenience of it.

[ETHEL103 in reply to Palpman]

Sorry to hear that. Hope your OK now.

[24yearsandcounting]

Hi EthelDigoxin does me good; i never had a pounding heart from that. Some foods do it though, tomatoes and bananas and liquorice - when i still ate it, i have given up now. sometimes it was so bad i would shout at it to either stop it, or just stop! that was a long time ago.

best of luck with it.

su

[ETHEL103 in reply to 24yearsandcounting]

Ha ha I love the fact you shout at it to stop. I say to mine o for goodness sake be quiet.