Really worried about DH

[Notanotherthing]

DH has been having what he describes as palpitations for a while now. He finally went to have some checks, they didn't pick anything up on the ECG but advised his blood pressure was high, they checked it four times. And also his pulse was 97bpm.

He's spoken to the Doctor and they want him to have a blood test and also they'll be sending him a letter to go to the hospital to have a monitor fitted for three days, I guess to check his heart as the ECG didn't pick anything up.

I'm really worried because his pulse and blood pressure was raised. I've also placed my hand on his chest and felt what he is talking about.

I've recovering from some health scares myself and have diagnosed health anxiety, having CBT and on Citalopram for context. So this is really concerning me.

Any ideas what could be going on? Why the blood test? I think DH is worried too but he doesn't like to show these things.

The blood test is to check:

Full Bloods
Thyroid function
Liver Function
Cholesterol
Electrolyte
HDL profile

I think those are right, trying to read DHs scruffy handwriting!

I went through this and got diagnosed with heart SVTS, controlled by beta blocker tablets now. Bloods are just to make sure everything else is fine due to the ecg being ok. The three day ecg is so they can see what triggers it and see if there’s any pattern.

Thanks for replying. I think DH seems to be worried that he might have had a heart attack or something without knowing.

There are so many things that could cause his palpitations and it's not necessarily anything frightening.

Vitamin deficiencies, anxiety etc and yes an electrolyte imbalance.

Please be reassured that they are playing it safe and checking all avenues. I'm sure if they thought it was possible he'd had a heart attack they would have said and admitted him.

The bloods will check all the basic imbalances that could cause palpitations and, I don't know how old your dh is, but I've known several male colleagues in their 50s have to wear the heart monitor over several days and they've been fine.

The monitor over 3 days will look to pick up any fluctuations in cardiac function that may not have occurred during the ECG and again, they don't necessarily indicate anything serious.

Please don't panic, what they're doing sounds fairly standard and they don't sound unduly alarmed.