What is this 'funny turn'?

[yellowDahlia]

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?

Thanks for all the responses and advice so far - I think I'll try and push the GP for some more investigation and will also try to get hold of a Fitbit/smartwatch type thing so I can keep a closer eye on my heart rate. I'm back from holidays now but still off work so am making a conscious decision to try and slow down a bit and relax properly this week before work/school/normal daily stress etc starts up again.

The more I think about it the more I feel it's likely to be an SVT thing but I'm not ruling out panic attacks - either way, if I can reduce stress, caffeine, alcohol I know that will help and being able to provide evidence of a high heart rate - should it happen again- will be useful to show to a doctor.

It's been good to think through on here because I've been trying not to freak out or bore my family by chatting about it too much during our nice family holiday!

Just reviving this thread as I've had another episode - just now at my desk at work . I felt it coming on while I was eating lunch - nausea and sort of tingly and took myself off to the bathroom just in case. Thankfully I wasn't sick but have spent the past 10 or 15 mins in there feeling nauseous, light-headed, with a rising heart rate. I was finally able to measure it this time - was about 126 bpm at the peak, now that it's settled down again is sitting around the 70bpm mark. This time I also really noticed how hot my face was (still is!) - my face and neck are very hot and noticeably flushed. But the rest of me is not warm - my hands are cold and I've got goosebumps on my arms - I've taken my jumper off to try and cool my face a bit!

This is one aspect of it which makes me wonder (fear?) that it could be a hot flush - but is a raised heart rate and nausea like to come with that? And can it just affect your face rather than your whole body? I can't remember if I said before but I'm 40 and my DM had an early menopause so it's something I'm watchful for.

Unfortunately don't have a smart watch yet to capture the episode- ironically I was looking out for one to buy second hand in the past couple of days and wondering if I really needed one, as I hadn't had a funny turn for a while...

I think you need to go back to the dr and have this investigated. It sounds abnormal and very unpleasant.

I agree see the gp. I still think it could be panic attacks but panic attacks are scary because they mimic other illnesses. And it could be one of those other illnesses/conditions. Hopefully the gp will take bloods/refer you for tests etc. If it is "just" panic attacks the gp should be able to help you with those too!

Good luck!

Thanks silver and tobee yes I think I will go back to the gp. That's two incidents in fairly quick succession, time to get this looked at again. Having had it for so long I realise it's probably not going to kill me but being able to identify it would probably help me manage or possibly even control it. So more blood tests for me I guess...!

Google POTS syndrome. May be a possibility to think about.

I just came across POTS this week when I was googling, but have ruled it out - I do get a bit light headed if I stand up suddenly but when one of these 'turns' occurs I'm usually sitting or lying asleep in bed. It's not triggered by movement I don't think, it just happens.

A wee update - I've been to the GP this morning and described the episodes as I have done here. He was willing to put money on it being SVT, but wasn't sure how best to capture/diagnose it. He's going to refer me to cardiology so we'll see what happens next.

I've also bought a smartwatch to try and monitor and record what's going on in case that's helpful - it's going to be interesting to see how or if it copes with one of these attacks!

My colleague and ex FIL have had SVT and both described very similar episodes, including the hot flush and tingling hands.

Roomba, it's strangely reassuring to know others have experienced similar things and will be good to know for sure if that's what it is. Then I guess I'll have to decide if it's something I want to medicate or manage.

I have similar and doctors just said panic but wierd as very calm sometimes and legs just go especially after mild exercise. Most tests coming back normal though do have lots of infections and enlarged adrenal gland. Am also close to peri age but doctors ruling this out. Have it in night too. Heart fine.