Heart issues being dismissed

[Myacheybreakyheart]

I really sorry for using AIBU but wasn't sure what health topic to post in (if anyone can send me in the right direction I'll get it moved)

Have had problems with heart palpitations etc for a long time. Constantly dismissed as anxiety but after ending up on the kitchen floor in the middle of the night when DS was newborn I got referred for a 24hr ECG. Was never contacted so assumed all good. Later told I have an arrythymia. Nothing to be concerned about. All good.

Since then I get palpitations and cope fine, but know coffee or too much alcohol will send it crazy.

The last few days I've been having terrible palpitations. Two nights ago I really thought I was a goner. After it didn't calm down I spoke to GP who brought me in for an ECG (was on for about a minute) and said all looks good.

We have a history of heart problems in the family. My DGGM lost two siblings in childhood to rheumatic heart disease. She was unable to join part of the army in WW2 due to her heart problem (unsure what that was). All the women in our family have palpitations or arrythymias etc. My maternal GF died suddenly of a heart event a month ago.

I've only just found out it was rheumatic heart disease that my DGGM's siblings died of and have done some googling (I know!).

I suffer from psoriasis. Had two big flare ups after two throat infections (assumed tonsillitis both times but now wonder if it was strep having done a lot of reading during flare ups) which lead to 4 months of being head to toe. Have been seen my dermatologist but no scrapes done. Having looked online just now and the lasting and different patches on my wrists and elbows I assumed were eczema look very much like rheumatic fever rashes. Admittedly could just be eczema but equally I was astounded when I googled how similar they look.

Am I being ridiculous to put a load of different pieces together and wonder if I have in fact had strep (untreated - due to Covid) and that's lead to my heart worsening and left me with these raised scaly patches?

No doctors are taking me seriously when I speak to them about my heart but it's been ongoing for many years now and is particularly bad at the moment. It could be nothing, I'm aware, but it's enough to scare me, and given the history and my skin issues would it be unreasonable of me to really fight for an echo or something as opposed to a quick ECG when I'm not having an episode of the heart palpitations or whatever they are? I've had bloods done recently (not due to psoriasis) and vit B9 was low so on supplements but all was fine otherwise.

I'm aware this truly could be nothing, and I don't know if this limited ECG could detect anything and everything but equally I am a bit scared, and equally frustrated at being shoved off with anxiety as an explanation. I'm just after some advice as to whether I should be pushing/could be on to something/need to chill out.

Keep pushing. My Mum died during valve replacement surgery after having rheumatic fever as a child, then my sister was diagnosed with valve disease and when I started to get symptoms that I know my Mum had, Drs dismissed it as me being anxious because of my Mum.
Anyway, it got so bad that I couldn't even climb the stairs without feeling like I couldn't breathe and ended up in a&e and low and behold, I too have a leaking heart valve that will one day need replacing.
I was having yearly monitoring but since covid they're stopping all non urgent cardiac investigations and basically said to go back to a&e if symptoms get bad.

@Flowersandhearts

Hi OP, It's worth asking for a Holter test to check for arrhythmias, as it might be something like Wolff Parkinson White syndrome.

Panic can cause real symptoms of fast heart beats though.

Rheumatic Heart Disease would only really be relevant if you've had Rheumatic Fever. Strep infections (Scarlet Fever, tonsillitis) can cause Rheumatic Fever but it's quite rare especially if you've not had untreated tonsillitis or a case of scarlet fever (it's more common as a complication after scarlet fever).

WPW has a permanent delta wave on the ECG, it would show up on the 12 lead ECG and the 24 hour / holter ECG.

I could have written this! Last summer after a month of non-stop ectopic beats (up to 10 a minute) I finally went to my GP. But of course the 30 second ECG they did didn't capture it. They referred me to cardiology anyway for a 24hr halter monitor. I'm still waiting for that appointment. It's been 9 months so far. My heart feels tired. I get random waves of nausea now when I do anything.

I bought one of those Kardia monitors just to keep an eye on the progress myself. I like it. You can pay £5 for a cardiologist in the USA to look at your report. I did. He said "forward this report to your physician within 24 hrs". But my GP wasn't interested because the referral has already been sent so I just have to wait. However, they did take the opportunity to tell me I am very overweight and need to lose weight. I was very grateful for that because I hadn't noticed [eyeroll]

Psoriasis, PCOS, always a little bit anaemic, CRP always a little high, always a little bit of protein in my urine. My mother died at 50yo while waiting for a pacemaker (5 months at that point) because she had an arrhythmia that wouldn't respond to meds. But no one seems worried. So I'm sure it's nothing. I'll be fine once I lose weight lol.

Gosh @TonyBravo I'm so sorry to hear that. That's awful. I'm glad you've finally been listened to.

@BadNomad I have no words. I'm so sorry that you've had to go through this and I sincerely hope you find some help somewhere.

I phoned the GP again today as they said to do so if it got worse. The receptionist told me that my ECG was fine and asked again if I wanted an appointment. A locum called me back and told me once again it was anxiety. I told her I disagreed and she went through the blood test results one by one telling me they were fine. Surely bloods don't cover everything? I continued to push and she said she would try and push along my ECG referral and told me to go to a and e. I haven't gone to a and e, as I don't believe it to need a and e, I just need someone to listen and to stop being dismissed. She has pushed the referral through which is good, and my Kardia arrived tomorrow so that's also good. I have a call with my lovely GP next week so hopefully she will have some advice.

My husband has exactly the same. No history of heart problems at all and his parents are still alive at 90+.

His, like yours are triggered by alcohol and coffee. He was investigated thoroughly when he fainted twice when getting up at night to go to the toilet.

3veruthibg cane back normal and he was told to give up alcohol, coffee and to drink more water. All three make all the difference. He has no palpitations at all when he is off it and drinking 2l of water a day.

I’ve been suffering with heart palpitations also.

I was fairly sure mine were down to stress/anxiety, but spoke to my GP because we have a history of heart issues in my family and my Nan died of a massive heart attack.

I was sent for blood tests and an ECG and all came back ok, so mine was put down to anxiety and I have been prescribed Atenolol (beta-blockers), which so far have had my palpitations under control (and reduced some of my anxiety symptoms).

The worry over this, is likely contributing to things, so anxiety could indeed be making it worse.

Hope you manage to get something sorted

If you have the money OP you could see a cardiologist privately. They can do a 24 hour/7 day and an echocardiagram (like an ultrasound of the chambers of the heart).

If that all comes back normal, you can set your mind at rest. Tachycardia without anything pathologically wrong with the heart is annoying but it's not necessarily a sign there's anything majorly wrong.

OP

The locum is doing all they can. If you are not having symptoms when the ECG is taken then it is very likely to be completely normal so going to A and E when you have palpitations is the best thing to do.