Something is very wrong...

[Yochaved]

I have no idea what to do and would appreciate any advice.

I've always had episodes where my heart races up to about 180, once 200 BPM. No trigger, it is like a light switches on and off. I can be sitting at my desk and it has woken me up before.

I was told by a non cardiac doctor when I was in hospital for something else that it was paroxysmal SVT and that did seem to fit.

But he didn't document it

5 years ago I collapsed at work and was grey and unresponsive for about 15 minutes. They did compressions but I wasn't shocked. The hospitals thought my heart had briefly stopped, I had a 28 day monitor which apparently came back normal. Echo and multiple ECGs normal.

They said it was just a faint.

I'm still getting runs of fast heat beats, (yes, I hope my breath and blow, dunno my face in cold water, it works about 50% of the time) I think I'm experiencing ectopic as well. But I'm getting dizzy with them now and nearly blacked out in the kitchen this evening.

I can't face the thought of asking for help again because I'll look like such a numpty who is neurotic that she has something wrong when everything shows es up fine.

I'm completely stuck aren't I?

Kardia is an excellent recommendation.
They come in 1 lead and 6 lead versions. I got the 6-lead one and it has proved useful on more than one occasion. It means you can instantly record an ECG on your phone while the episode is happening, and they are a decent clinical standard, so worthwhile as they give good data to the medics.

I was told anxiety, menopause, stress. Then I went into fast AF, ended up in resus and needed an ablation (went private due to the wait). I’m still on bb but get palpitations on and off all the time. No one is concerned.

Can I ask how old you are ?

My ferritin was 5 at the beginning of the year and I had palpitations, dizziness and a rapid heart rate. When I went to the GP, my heart rate was 120 despite only walking about 20 paces from my car to the surgery and being sat down for a good ten minutes before being called in. All due to low ferritin. It’s sorted now and all the symptoms have gone away.

It would certainly be worth you getting some up to date bloods done.

Yes I'm 45. Not symptoms of menopause so far.

I am on ferrous fumarate and it got my ferritin up to 37. I was told that was fine.

Idiots. So I buy it now

Nope @Yochaved you want your ferritin to be at least 80. I think the NHS range starts at 30 but that is far too low for good health.

I was diagnosed with AF last November following sepsis last year, dodgy ECGs including long QT and confirmed by 48 hour Holter. I'm on max Bisoprolol they can give me (awful side effects and not working for rhythm), have had the echo showing structure basically OK and am awaiting finally seeing a cardiologist to discuss cardioversion/ablation 'in due course'.

My GP surgery are good but the only things they can suggest in the meantime are Amiodarone (no thanks, without a very good reason) and calling 999 if palpitations go on for more than 20 mins. I'd have an ambulance permanently parked on the drive if I did so.

My latest ruse is to ask for a beta blocker switch to Nebivolol which is apparently less likely to cause the sleep problems that Bisoprolol does. Awaiting results of that request.

Sorry for that but I agree noone really seems to take even diagnosed cardiac issues in women properly seriously.

A friend of mine was having that issue at night as well, waking up with his heart racing. As well as a couple of other things, he's also now been diagnosed with sleep apnoea.

They offered me ablation but I refused it. My cousin had it and had complications.

Buy a Kardia ecg machine? Works with your phone. If the episodes occur, record it with the Kardia machine.

you need to keep going back.

To be clear they did an EP study which was massively useful for diagnostic purposes but the nature of my arrhythmia meant an ablation wasn't straightforward. I would definitely have said yes if they could do it.
I also had one occasion where SVT turned into fast AF. I was blue lighted in and it took a bit of sorting out but it only happened once and that was before I was on calcium channel blockers.