Palpitations. ECG and Cardiac referal - eek!

[Catsdontcare]

Having being having palpitations, not too frequently maybe every 6 to 8 weeks. sometimes I can stop them before they take hold other time I can't and they go on for a while and I feel quite shite for a good few hours afterwards.

Have been to the DR's this morning and all blood pressure etc is fine and she has booked me in for an ecg next week and is going to discuss a referal to a cardiologist. She did name a possible diagnosis which she thought was likely and mentioned maybe medication but like an idiot I can't remember any of what she said and am sat here worrying and not wanting to google.

She said something about the ventricles at the top of the heart

any reassuring words?!?!

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation? Most likely, quite common, no real dramas. Going to be a bugger to catch on ECG if you only get it every two months, though.

Well that what she said about the ecg too. I think that's why she wants to refer me so I can be fitted with a monitor for a while and then record it when it happens.

Feel like an idiot for not going down when it was happening.

Two possible non-cardiac causes - anaemia due to heavy periods, and menopause, which can cause random palpitations - obviously this may not apply, depending how old you are. I've been to the doctor for palpitations recently and was really worried - magically cured with some iron tablets. If you have heavy periods, have recently been pregnant, or are perimenopausal sort of age, worth considering (for me, the palpitations were much worse a few days after a period because of the blood loss, but I didn't twig about the pattern until I'd had blood tests and been shown to be anaemic!)

I get palpitations that go on for hours, my heart is going fast and I get out of breath easily. It was diagnosed as supra-ventricular tachycardia but I only managed to get a diagnosis after going to A&E during an episode. As bruxeur mentions, you have to have an episode during the ECG and that didn't happen in my case. Perhaps it could be that Catsdontcare?

You can get treatment (drugs or some small op) but not treating it isn't a problem. BTW, the nurse in A&E said I should have gone to A&E when it first occurred (years previously for me) as any heart issue should be seen. Can you go to A&E when it occurs Catsdontcare, assuming it is not Fri/Sat night?

Thanks for the replies. I think the supra ventricular thing sounds like what the dr could have. In hind sight I should have gone to a&e but I was in the car with ds so just pulled over and waited for it to pass. I didn't want to drive like it whilst I had ds with or take him to a&e!

If it happens again I will go to the hospital. Thing is if I catch it very quickly I can stop it from progressing but am wondering of next time I should not try to stop it and just go to a&e?

OK the ventricles are at the bottom not the top.

If it is a rapid but reglar heart beat then SVT is most likley. If it is irregular than more likley to be AF. Both of these can be cured.

You probably need a cardio memo as well as an ECG. The ECG will show what is happening at the time it is taken and can show previous damage from a heart attack.

A cardio memo (they have other names) is a small device - about the size of a credic card and when you have your symptoms you make your own recording.

How are you managing to stop it?

If you are having SVT one way to stop it without any danger to your self is to swallow as big a piece of ice cream as possihble in one go. I know it sounds nutty but ican work, all other methods I only recomend if you are in a hospital.

good luck

I stop it by holding my breath and pushing down like when you give birth. Only works if I do it in the instant that the palpitations work though.

That was one of the methods that my consultant mentioned Catsdontcare. It's great that you can stop it, I have never managed to and can sometimes get SVT several days running for a few hours each time.

Yes i'm glad that I can stop them if I'm quick enough because they scare the hell out of me and leave me feeling awfull for hours and hours afterwards.

Hopefully will get some answers soon as I do feel a bit panicky about it all now

Try not to panic - your GP obviously doesn't think you need a trip to A and E so hopefully things will be sorted soon.

Thanks sashh