Palpitations, shaky and chest tightness

[sunshineafterarainyday]

A couple of months ago I went to my GP with shortness of breath and a tight chest. She did my obs and noted that I had a fast heart rate and I was having (what I now know to be) palpitations. A 24hr ecg was performed and I’ve been referred to the cardiology dept for further investigations.

Since then I’ve been having palpitations on occasions but am waiting out for my cardiology appointment.

This past hour I’ve been really aware of my heart beat and am a bit shaky and have tightness in my chest. I’m not distressed by any of this but am just aware. I feel ok otherwise and can get on with my evening but I could just as easily got bed and sleep if that makes sense?


Any ideas what’s going on?

[BadTasteFlump]

I am no expert but I would suggest any tightness in the chest would warrant a 111 call [flower]

[sunshineafterarainyday]

@BadTasteFlump I just feel silly calling and making a fuss when I don’t actually feel unwell and am functioning ok. I’m pretty sure they will say to go to hospital won’t they?

[Tinysarah1985]

Are you anxious at all or worried about anything? I find when my anxiety is playing up my chest sometimes feels tight and i feel shakey.

[Butterymuffin]

If you've got a walk in centre anywhere near, gothere and they will examine you, listen to your heart and hopefully put your mind at rest.

[crazycatlady5]

Is this not anxiety? I mean you saying you’re aware of it and not disturbed by it doesn’t sound much like a panic attack but everything else does

[sunshineafterarainyday]

@Tinysarah1985
@crazycatlady5
I’m off work this week and have a nice week planned with the DC so not feeling anxious at all. Normally when I’m anxious I just feel sick and get a headache.

[sunshineafterarainyday]

@Butterymuffin I’m sure it’s nothing but I think they’d send me to the hospital if I mention the chest tightness won’t they (very small walk in centre with not many facilities)? I’m just not convicted need it warrants a hospital visit.

[Italiangreyhound]

Please call 111. Yes, they may send you to hospital. Be honest about your symptoms.

NEVER feel silly for prioritizing your own health.

[mineofuselessinformation]

Try a few deeps yawns - it sounds weird, but can stop palpitations!
Is the tightness because you're aware of your heart jumping about a bit, or there during normal beats too?

[Italiangreyhound]

Women sometimes experience heart attack differently to men.

[BadTasteFlump]

Easy to say, I know, but they won't think you're being silly or making a fuss - it's the non emergency medical advice line; it's not as if you're calling 999

How have things been left with the hospital? I'm assuming if anything sinister had shown itself on the ecg they wouldn't leave you waiting two months? I agree it sounds as if it could be anxiety but obviously it's better to be on the safe side.

[sunshineafterarainyday]

@mineofuselessinformation My chest has been tight since I woke up. I thought it was where I’d slept awkwardly and was muscular to start with but now I’m not sure.

[MsHarry]

Have you been drinking a lot of caffeine? I go through bouts of palpitations that make me cough but I'm not tight or breathless when it happens. I cut back on caffeine and they go away for months. I then forget and drink more caffeine and red wine and they start again. Some people can be more sensitive. I would think that your heart reading can't be anything worring as they would have called you in urgently.But then I'm not a doctor. If you are breathing without a struggle, I would take it easy and get help if it gets worse,

[sunshineafterarainyday]

@BadTasteFlump The ECG showed that my heart rhythm was normal but showed 11 episodes of palpitations (reaching 143bpm) which the dr wouldn’t normally expect to see for someone of my age which I think is why she referred to cardiology to look at.

[CiderwithBuda]

Please call 111. They may well tell you to go to hospital but it much better to be safe than sorry.

We can say it sounds like this that or the other but we are not doctors with equipment to actually check you out.

[Chloe1984]

Do you get indigestion? I had very similar symptoms, for fine in general though and that was the cause of it. Stomach acid can aggravate the vagus nerve which can trigger palpitations if it’s left untreated for a long time.

[Synecdoche]

Are the palpitations associated with postural changes (ie from sitting to standing, lying to sitting)?

Two glasses of cold water in quick succession can help to stop palpitations.

[MsHarry]

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Supraventricular-tachycardia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[WhoWants2Know]

Did the doctor check your peak flow / O2 Sats to see how your breathing is?

[AuroraBora]

You know you, so if this isn't normal for your anxiety then call 111.

If you wait and see if it gets worse and it is actually your heart then it might be too late and even if it isn't too late then your heart might still be damaged. Better safe than sorry.

[MsHarry]

I've used Vasalva to stop mine successfully.

[mineofuselessinformation]

In that case, definitely ring ooh.

[Freshprincess]

How old are you? I've been having palpitations for about a year and the doctor has said it can be a symptom of peri-menopause. BUT my ECG was very normal and mine is definitely cyclical.

[Countduckulanose]

This sounds like how my anxiety manifests. I had it for ages before a diagnosis because I thought that anxiety=being anxious. Mine strikes when I feel just fine or even in my sleep.

[Seeingadistance]

Phone 111, or 999.