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Original poster

What is this 'funny turn'?

36 replies

yellowDahlia · 01/08/2018 20:49

I've had these on and off for a number of years, been to the GP with it, no answers there, they've been fairly rare/mild recently - until last night when I had a really bad episode. At its worst it's:
begins with tingling/itchy palms
heart rate begins to ramp up
shallow breathing
nausea
really hot - especially head/face
heart beating really fast

...then after a few minutes all calms down, goes away and I'm back to relative normality within about 10-15 mins. Last night was bad though - I felt like I was about to pass out and felt so nauseous I did actually throw up. Then afterwards my heart rate was super-fast and felt very irregular. I still think it's a bit high (resting heart rate 90+)

Can occur at any time of day but most often in the evening or during the night - I wake up and feel the weirdness coming on.

What is this?? Does anyone else have similar episodes? FWIW I am 40, and pretty healthy generally. I have had Graves Disease/hyperthyroidism about 13 years ago and although I suspect some perimenopausal symptoms, have been tested for hormone levels and thyroid and all seems to come back within normal range. Last test was maybe early this year after a few irregular periods. I've also had an ECG check for palpatations, which I also experience fairly regularly, and wore a heart monitor for a week - again, nothing out of the ordinary discovered!

I sort of want to go back to the GP after this last one as it was quite sudden and severe but I'm going to feel like a fraud again if any tests come back normal... At the same time, I can't help feeling like there must be something 'wrong' - otherwise I wouldn't have these funny turns! What should I do?

OP posts:
Peaspleaselouise · 01/08/2018 20:51

Is there a possibility they could be panic attacks?

Rebecca36 · 01/08/2018 20:52

Do you mind if I ask how old you are?

Are you very stressed/anxious?

I recognise the symptoms but a lot of things have the same symptoms. I'm sure it isn't anything serious but do take care.

Rebecca36 · 01/08/2018 21:00

Sorry to have asked your age, I re-read your opening post and see you are 40.

I agree with Peaspleaselouise that it certainly sounds like panic attacks.

moronseverywhere · 01/08/2018 21:00

Sounds like when I experience an anxiety attack.

Have had all the same test you mention and more.
Had my results through again today and again they are normal range.

I do have anxiety and suffer from anxiety & panic attacks.
Have now checked into an anxiety relief clinic over the last few weeks and things are starting slowly to get better.

Can I ask, do you experience hot flushes? That's one thing my gp was very confused about.

I'm under the 'low age bracket for peri menopause' but all my symptoms fit and gp thinks I'm being tested at 'the wrong' days in cycle but I never get to those days with my periods.

moronseverywhere · 01/08/2018 21:00

Sorry have just noticed you age. My apology

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 01/08/2018 21:24

Re panic attacks - I realise the physical symptoms are similar but I don't feel the 'sense of doom' which I gather usually accompanies a panic attack? Also would a panic attack be likely to strike in the middle of the night when I'm asleep?

However I would accept they could be stress/anxiety linked - I've been extremely busy lately with a lot going on at work and also have felt quite mentally 'busy' too. I'm always on the go and don't sit down most nights until 10pm or after, with little time to exercise although I think I eat fairly healthily...apart from perhaps a little too much wine and coffee of late... perhaps my body is tellling me to slow it down on all fronts?

And re the hot flush point - I don't think I'm having any of these, apart from when I'm having a turn when I feel very hot, especially around my head and face - my cheeks can sometimes be burning during the episode and for a little while afterwards.

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 01/08/2018 21:27

Menopause?

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 01/08/2018 21:39

I'm on the look out for menopausal symptoms as my mum had an early menopause - however these turns have been going on for more than 10 years - from early 30s so perhaps that doesn't quite add up?
On the other hand it might be worth noting that my hormones have been a bit screwy this month - late ovulation, really bad skin and a much longer cycle than average (about 28/29 days vs my average 23). I've just finished a period (day 3/4) so could it be a surge of new hormones?

OP posts:
Fairylea · 01/08/2018 21:47

I felt exactly like this when I had hot flushes. I was diagnosed with low oestrogen and began HRT which has sorted me out. I am 37. I also have Addison’s, hypothyroidism and asthma - some of this may have also contributed. Any of these (apart from asthma which is pretty obvious!) can be investigated with blood tests through an endocrinologist. I would ask for a referral, standard blood tests won’t show these things up.

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 01/08/2018 22:12

That's interesting Fairlylea, perhaps I do need to push for some more investigation. Some of the previous visits to the GP I've been really surprised when they've said the thyroid tests were normal but haven't taken it any further.

OP posts:
tobee · 02/08/2018 01:31

Ime panic attacks can occur when you're asleep and waken you and also when you are seemingly relaxed. For what it's worth.

Poxyloxy · 02/08/2018 08:26

I’m another one who immediately thinks panic attack, and yes, absolutely you can wake up in the middle of the night with one - in fact its very common.

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 02/08/2018 08:35

And what about the anxiety/sense of doom element of a panic attack? Or can it be simply a physical thing?
I'm someone who bottles things up a bit and I don't talk freely about stress, anxieties generally so I can sort of see how it might manifest itself this way - if that's what it is.

I had another, milder episode in my sleep last night too - didn't have to get up but got the fast heartbeat, shallow breathing, tingly palms. This sometimes happens too - I'll get a milder occurrence a night or two after a more severe one.

OP posts:
Original poster
yellowDahlia · 02/08/2018 08:42

Sorry, just to be clear I mean the sense of doom or distress is absent for me - other than feeling a bit frustrated that it's happening, I don't feel upset. I can't say I feel panic, and I can usually manage to get back to sleep again fairly quickly so don't linger over anxious thoughts or anything.

OP posts:
ohcheeseandrice · 02/08/2018 10:26

I have this. I went to the Dr and they said it was a vasovagal syncope. If you Google it there's loads of info on it

GravyMilkshake · 02/08/2018 10:31

I have anxiety/panic attacks without a particular sense of doom. All your symptoms minus itchy/tingly palms. It comes out of nowhere.

reallybadidea · 02/08/2018 10:42

I agree that it could be panic attacks, but I also wonder whether it could be supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Did you have any of these episodes while you were wearing the heart monitor?

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 02/08/2018 11:08

really no nothing like that. I had the heart monitor after experiencing a lot of palpitations - but they said there was nothing unusual to show.

Vasovagal - I had looked this up but ruled it out - I think it's more about fainting with a particular trigger isn't it? I have not (yet) passed out with it.

OP posts:
ohcheeseandrice · 02/08/2018 11:26

I've had the episodes that you described for about 2 years at least once a fortnight and it gets triggered by feeling sick. The Dr said that it pushes on a nerve or something that causing the symptoms

reallybadidea · 02/08/2018 12:08

The Dr said that it pushes on a nerve or something
Yes, that's a vasovagal which is often caused by tummy upsets etc because of the nerves that supply the GI tract. It causes your heart rate (and blood pressure) to drop suddenly which doesn't appear to be what the OP is describing (although your heart rate might increase after a vasovagal).

OP I think if you didn't have any symptoms while you were having the heart monitor it might be worth discussing whether it's worth repeating. Are you on thyroxine? Sometimes slightly elevated levels of this can cause atrial fibrillation which is another form of fast heart rate.

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 02/08/2018 16:48

I'm not on thyroxine - was treated with carbimazole when I had Graves' disease but as I say that was about 13 years ago and any thyroid tests since have apparently been normal.

Interested in what you say about SVT reallybadidea - I became convinced this is what I had before the heart monitor but again no result. I think there is some history of it in the family - my uncle (mum's brother) has an arrhythmia of some kind and maybe my grandfather too if I recall correctly.. Looking at the symptoms it certainly seems to match quite closely with what I've been experiencing. But is it worth pursuing this again if it's already been ruled out? Surely the doctors won't want to go down that road again?

OP posts:
reallybadidea · 02/08/2018 16:59

I don't see that anything can be definitively ruled out if you didn't have any symptoms/funny turns while using the monitor. I would pursue more investigations as you're still having symptoms. Don't know whether you have a fit bit/pulse app on your phone but I think it might be interesting to monitor your heart rate when you have one of those episodes and see what rate it's actually getting too. Also maybe worth seeing whether techniques for relieving panic attacks work - might help determine whether it's a factor/cause.

nocoolnamesleft · 02/08/2018 19:10

When you say your heart rate was super fast, have you actually tried counting your pulse rate during one? Very crude, but can give some idea of SVT vs just heart racing for another reason.

Original poster
yellowDahlia · 02/08/2018 19:28

So far not managed to check my heart rate during an episode - usually it's dark, I'm on the bathroom floor trying to keep breathing/not throw up and don't have a watch or clock to check to help me. But if another one occurs any time soon I will do my best to check as I'm now curious to know just how high my heart rate is getting. During the last one it was surely extremely high and my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest for most of the night afterwards - quite unsettling.

I'm currently on holiday (ironic - should be at my most relaxed!) but I'm thinking of going to the GP when I'm back next week. I think I'll also take your advice reallybad and try to reduce stress, limit alcohol/caffeine etc and generally improve my wellbeing. Usually I'm quite good at going to yoga, getting exercise and I've tried meditating but lately I've been too busy lately to keep it all up. A lifestyle tweak is needed no matter what the cause of this I think...

OP posts:
apostropheuse · 02/08/2018 19:32

OP, I have SVT and your symptoms sound very similar to mine. It took a few years before mine was diagnosed as, to begin with, the episodes were short-lived and of course never showed on any of the ecgs I had. As time went on they became more frequent - several times daily - and prolonged. It was after a long episode that I was taken to hospital and as it was still going on they caught it on ecg and diagnosed SVT. I had every heart test imaginable to try to get to the bottom of my issue prior to this - it can be really difficult to catch.

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