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Original poster

Heart palpitations

77 replies

Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 10:24

Hello,

Ive been to the doctors a couple of times over the years for heart palpitations, I've had many ECGs and they've always come back normal, as does my blood work.
I started taking Venlafaxine at the end of March and been on a 150mg dose for coming up to 5 weeks.
I'm certain my heart palpitations have gotten worse. I know we shouldn't drink red bull but I have one every now and then, well I won't be anymore because last time within minutes of drinking it my heart was pounding and this lasted for hours afterwards. Again with alcohol if I have a drink, even 3 glasses of wine my resting HR last night was 104 and then if I stood up and walked it shot up to 139! I then have terrible heart palpitations the next day. I feel like my heart is pounding, racing and I can feel it in my neck!
I'm becoming increasingly concerned that there is something underlying with my hear that maybe a ECG can't show? Is that possible? Is it worth speaking to the doctor or will they just say "don't drink red bull and alcohol"!
I am 29 yo female, healthy weight, no other medical conditions.
Thank you for any replies 

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
thereisonlyoneofme · 19/06/2022 10:42

I suffer from this, did for many years and always put down to stress or anxiety by the doctor , ecg showed what they called ectopic beats, but never treated. Sub sequently I saw a different doc who sent me for an ultrasound and MRI and they did find something, which they say was caused by untreated high blood pressure.
I am on a beta blocker which has helped, but always been annoyed that previous docs just shrugged it off. I would try and get a second opinion, it probably is due to caffeine etc, but it warrants investigation.

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 11:08

thereisonlyoneofme · 19/06/2022 10:42

I suffer from this, did for many years and always put down to stress or anxiety by the doctor , ecg showed what they called ectopic beats, but never treated. Sub sequently I saw a different doc who sent me for an ultrasound and MRI and they did find something, which they say was caused by untreated high blood pressure.
I am on a beta blocker which has helped, but always been annoyed that previous docs just shrugged it off. I would try and get a second opinion, it probably is due to caffeine etc, but it warrants investigation.

Okay thank you! Yeah it's always been put down to anxiety for me too but it's starting to concern me now and your heart isn't something we should ignore! I'll speak to the GP again

OP posts:
lljkk · 19/06/2022 11:47

How much red bull do you drink?

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 11:47

lljkk · 19/06/2022 11:47

How much red bull do you drink?

One every two weeks if we average it out

OP posts:
cottagegardenflower · 19/06/2022 11:49

I would get this from drinking coffee. Switched to decaf instead and rarely have palpitations.

cottagegardenflower · 19/06/2022 11:50

Don't drink tea, just coffee and soft drinks

lljkk · 19/06/2022 11:55

Do you get palpitations on days when you've had no alcohol & no caffeine? Even green tea counts as caffeine, btw, but I'll let you off of chocolate=caffeine if you are only having a few squares or a single biscuit.

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 11:57

cottagegardenflower · 19/06/2022 11:49

I would get this from drinking coffee. Switched to decaf instead and rarely have palpitations.

I don't drink any tea or coffee and very very rarely will I have a sugary caffeine drink! The occasional red bull once every two weeks apart from that it's water, dilute and fruit juice

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 11:59

lljkk · 19/06/2022 11:55

Do you get palpitations on days when you've had no alcohol & no caffeine? Even green tea counts as caffeine, btw, but I'll let you off of chocolate=caffeine if you are only having a few squares or a single biscuit.

Yeah some days more than others, mainly on a morning when I first wake up

OP posts:
kingsleysbootlicker · 19/06/2022 12:07

Does your heart rate always rise that much when you stand, or only after alcohol/caffeine? If it does, have a look at Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS)

losingit31 · 19/06/2022 12:11

DH has had treatment for atrial flutter - he would get random skipped beats and a racing pulse (up to 180 at rest).

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:12

kingsleysbootlicker · 19/06/2022 12:07

Does your heart rate always rise that much when you stand, or only after alcohol/caffeine? If it does, have a look at Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS)

No not always, sometimes it does but with alcohol absolutely!

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:12

If you don’t drink Red Bull/alcohol/caffeine does it still happen ?

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:13

losingit31 · 19/06/2022 12:11

DH has had treatment for atrial flutter - he would get random skipped beats and a racing pulse (up to 180 at rest).

I feel like AF shows on ECG which mine all come back normal

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:13

KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:12

If you don’t drink Red Bull/alcohol/caffeine does it still happen ?

I wouldn't say I notice it as much no, I still get palpitations at times but no as intense as when I drink

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:15

There are lots of things that cause this - anxiety, anaemia, peri menopause.
Im getting palpitations recently, I think due to peri menopause, and alcohol definitely makes it worse.
I also had palpitations, missed beats, and extra big beats when I was anaemic.
Is there any history of heart problems in the family ?
Do you have anxiety ?

KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:16

Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:13

I wouldn't say I notice it as much no, I still get palpitations at times but no as intense as when I drink

Show quote history

I think that you have to give it up then, or suffer the consequences. I know that if I have any alcohol I will wake up in the night with it, it’s something I choose to put up with sometimes.
it’s not fair, but that’s the way it is.

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:19

KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:15

There are lots of things that cause this - anxiety, anaemia, peri menopause.
Im getting palpitations recently, I think due to peri menopause, and alcohol definitely makes it worse.
I also had palpitations, missed beats, and extra big beats when I was anaemic.
Is there any history of heart problems in the family ?
Do you have anxiety ?

I do have a anxiety diagnosis yes but I feel there's more to it. Last night after a few glasses of wine I went upstairs and had to take like deep breaths to sort of catch up my breathing if that makes sense... surely can't be normal, with or without alcohol, and I think that's because my heart rate goes high!

OP posts:
Iheartmysmart · 19/06/2022 12:20

Possibly a silly question but have you actually seen your blood test results. I had dreadful palpitations and a very irregular heartbeat, was referred to cardiology for various tests and when I went back for the results the cardiologist was horrified that my GP hadn’t picked up on and treated my extremely low ferritin which was causing all my problems.

KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:22

It was low ferritin causing my problems. And yes, I got the catching my breath thing.
Have you got your results on an app that you can screen shot and share with us ?

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:27

KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:22

It was low ferritin causing my problems. And yes, I got the catching my breath thing.
Have you got your results on an app that you can screen shot and share with us ?

Oh right interesting! I've got the nhs app let me try find the results from the last time I went. I had some done in hospital recently but won't have access to them sadly!

OP posts:
Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:31

KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:22

It was low ferritin causing my problems. And yes, I got the catching my breath thing.
Have you got your results on an app that you can screen shot and share with us ?

These are from last year, the ones I had more recent was just hba1c

Heart palpitations
Heart palpitations
Heart palpitations
OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:32

I had a feeling like my heart had stopped, my upper chest ‘filled up’, then I got a big heart beat followed by palpitations. When this happened I couldn’t breathe.
It’s uncomfortable, but it went when I started taking the ferritin.

Original poster
Leanne053 · 19/06/2022 12:32

Sorry there's another part

Heart palpitations
OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 19/06/2022 12:36

HbA1c is for diabetes