Heart palpitations - AIBU?

[Sterristripoff]

For the past month or two I’ve been getting daily heart palpitations, they only last a second or two but I get a few of them a day.

At the end of January I had a echocardiogram, heart MRI, chest CT scan and very many ECGs because I was fainting without any kind of warning and apparently that can be a heart thing. All came back ok.
AIBU to think that whatever these palpitations are my heart has already been fairly strenuously tested and it’s all fine? I want to try cutting caffeine/ stress/ taking vitamins. Worry wort DP wants me to go back to my GP.

Your heart is more than likely fine but you still need to get to the source of the problem. I get lots of palpitations and have been checked by a cardiologist. My heart is fine and he suspects sleep apnea is putting a strain on it so I’m having tests to rule that out. I’ve done all the cutting down on caffeine and take magnesium daily in his advice. No harm at all to go back to the gp.

No harm taking a beta blocker, were you offered any?

Yes, I’m taking propanol but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. My argument is I’ve already seen the cardiologist who has signed my heart off as being in good working order less than a month ago. Not sure GP would even send me back. What further tests could be done?

Could it be caused by anxiety and the passing out be panic attacks?

Eighteen months ago I went through a horrid patch of getting palpitations. I also had terrible chest pains, and was referred by my GP to a chest pain clinic at the local hospital. I had a 24 hour monitor, then a chest x ray, bloods and a nuclear heart scan. All perfectly normal. The chest pain was then found to be costochondritis (inflammation of rib tissue) and they did also think that it could be hormone related (I was 47 at the time).

It all cleared up on its own after around 4 months.

ohnooutofdateham that has been suggested but tbh I never feel anxious. So I don’t know.

Fainting, well you need to go back, they have excluded your heart but something is going on.

justasking111 the fainting was weird. It happened 3 times in as many weeks but hasn’t happened at all since then.

I had this! Lots of tests and turns out my thyroid was going crazy from hormones after birth of my DC. Could it be your hormones?

Had a whole raft of blood tests. Thyroid was fine but did have a slight vitamin D and calcium deficiency.

I’m a cardiac scientists. Have they put an 24/48/72 hour ecg monitor on you? If so and for how long? And did you have palpitations or faint while wearing the monitor?

Elsiebear90 I had a 24 hour monitor in January. It didn’t pick up anything but I didn’t faint or have any palpitations during that time period.
Having said that I did have quite a few palpatations when having the MRI with contrast done, and that came back all ok too.

Also, I’m not even sure they are palpitations they aren’t very strong at all. It feels almost like my back is clicking when you stretch, but in my chest. Not sure if that makes sense? And sometimes the sensation is to the right of my chest not the left.

Has anyone mentioned Brugada syndrome? It can be an elusive beast, mine doesn't show on a regular ECG, only under ajmaline provocation.

I would ask for longer monitoring, our policy where I work is progressively longer ecg monitoring so start with 24 then work up to 72 hours, if you don’t have any symptoms while wearing the monitor we implant a device that continuously monitors your heart rhythm for two to three years. You could be having infrequent arrhythmias that haven’t been picked up yet because the monitoring is too short. Or you could be fainting due blood pressure, what happens when you faint? What are you doing? Is there any warning? Do you get the palpitations before you faint? Have you had a continuous BP monitor? Or a tilt test?

I was on Propanolol for migraines and I developed palpitations. Had an echocardiogram, Holter monitor, more beta-blockers (can't remember what they were called). My mood was very low, and my pulse was dangerously slow so I tapered off both beta blockers.

Palpitations stopped almost immediately, never to return...

I think you need to go back to your GP, women's heart issues tend to be overlooked.

How old are you OP?

How old are you , OP ( if you don’t mind my asking?)
I only ask because I started to get palpitations when I was peri-menopausal and they lasted a fair time. Had various checks and tests but all was fine.
The fainting , though, is a bit of a worry. I’d certainly press my GP about those.

Sorry for the numerous questions! Palpitations and fainting can have so many causes so it’s really useful to find out info before suggesting anything. Your palpitations may be costocondritis or another MSK issue rather than cardiac from your recent post, as palpitations usually feel like extra heart beats or an awareness of your heart beating rather than clicking.

Elsiebear90 thank you for your posts. They are really helpful.

I’ve been fainting without any of the usual fainting signs. Just dropped like a stone. Once I’d just got out of the bath, the second time I was on a bus and the third sat in a conference listening to a speaker.

No palpitations before fainting. Blood pressure is fine. Have had tilt test which was also fine.

I’m 27.

Elsiebear90 it never feels like extra heart beats or awareness of heart beating if I’m honest.

Mostly it feels clicking very occasionally it feels like a flip-flop feeling.

What is MSK if you don’t mind me asking?

And would it be usual to feel palpatations on right side when my heart is definitely on the left? Or is this another sign it isn’t actually palpitations. Sorry for all the questions!

Did the tilt test rule out POTS?

The fainting must be scary.

I get palpitations and missed heartbeats and am having tests. Stress from work doesn't help.

I hope you get to the bottom of your palpitations soon.