DH has irregular heart beat and been referred for ECG

[BeccyCat]

DH has had "flutterings" in chest/stomach for the past week and saw GP today who has referred him to a cardiologist. He had an adrenaline injection for a dental procedure last week and it started after that. I was sure the two were related and it would wear off and am a bit shocked at the referral. Is this serious? I am worried now. Has anyone any experience of arrythmia? I'm watching DH like a hawk and dont know CPR and quite frankly worried sick.

I have arrythmia and have to have adrenalin free anaesthesia at the dentist.

He didnt have arrythmia before though. I am not sure what to do. The doctor would have sent him straight to A&E if it was life-threatening, right? I am telling myself that.

Most arrhythmias particularly those in people without known heart disease, are not life threatening or likely to lead to cardiac arrest. The palpitaions may be one of a number of different types of arrythmia so without knwoing hte type it is impossible to give advice but learning some basic CPR is a useful skill to have generally - you are unlikely ot have to use on your DH.

Is it normal to be referred straight away to a cardiologist? I am trying to remember the baby CPR class I went to after DS was born but can't at all. You are so right wobbly - its making me nervous that I just don't know it as second nature.

I'm sorry to hear about your DH's problem. I'll watch with interest as I occasionally have arrythmia & have had an ECG (at doctor's surgery), but unluckily not on one of the days when it was a problem. I find it's worse when I'm stressed - something to do with the way I breathe/hold my breath (subconsciously) - according to my GP.

Strangely enough, I am sensitive to adrenaline too, and have found that a local anaesthetic at the dentist has to be one without adrenaline or I have palpitations and feel faint. It took years of these symptoms before a dentist explained they were caused by the injections (I just thought I was anxious & nervous).

Perhaps some people have an 'over sensitive' heart that reacts to stimulus that wouldn't affect other people? Hope your DH gets a reassuring answer soon.

Don't get too worried, if anything immediately life threatening had been found he would have been sent into hospital. Has anything been confirmed - has the GP found an irregular pulse or found an abnormality on ECG?

My dad had this I think. One side of his heart was beating in a different way to the other. It left him very out of breath. The doc said it was annoying rather than life threatening. He had to take tablets to thin his blood for a while then they shocked it back into the right rhythm under general anesthtic.

The GP said his pulse was irregular and has made the cardiologist referral. Its quite hard to get full details from DH which is frustrating - but I think this is because he himself is worried and doesn't want to talk about it. Thanks for your posts - its lovely to know just that people are out there!

Did he have an ECG - that would normally be next step if an irregular pulse was found in surgery?

I had palpitations for years but it happened rarely and I just put it down to stress/ being too busy. I found if i lay down they stopped as quickly as they started. Then about 2 years ago I was sitting at work computer and felt one starting- I wasnt stressed at all. I stayed in my seat instead of lying down and I ended up passing out for afew seconds. This prompted me to go to GP.
After ECG at cardiologist diagnosis made of Wolf Parkinsons White Syndrome. Its is a completely harmless condition caused by a misfiring of nervous impulses in the heart. I had 3 options- do nothing, go on drugs for rest of life or have surgery. Last 2 options would cure it completely. I decided to do nothing as condition has very little impact on my life at this time.
Dont know if this is any help as obviously different to your situation. Hope it reassures you though that these symptoms arent always serious.

sanae is right though, if life threatening they would send him straight to hospital. GP's aren't experts so have to refer to someone else who is, be reassured by the referal rather than worried.

hi beccy Im afraid I cannot comment on how serious this is for you DH but wanted to let you know my DH had something similar a few years ago.

He had been having palpitations and mentioned this when at the GP's about something else. There was some irregularity on the ECG so he sent DH to A&E with a letter.

We went to A&E that night and they discussed admitting him but in the end he came home and was referred to the consultant clinic.

He did end up on medication and when we moved he was seen at the hospital here and following a 24hr trace they decided to stop all meds.

I know its very scary thinking about being referred to the cardiologist but if you are really concerned about it you could look at the option of seeing the cardiologist privately and thus reduce any waiting time.

we looked into doing this at the time as DH just wanted to be seen asap and know what was wrong. The consulatants secretary was really helpful and gave us an idea of waiting times and the cost of private appointments and tests which gave DH the reasuurance that if he felt the need to be seen sooner he could.

His ECG is tomorrow. He is complaining of very heavy arms and legs and general fatigue. He says the palpitations are not sore, just annoying. He is getting frustrated with them, but I think he is very worried.

Is the heavy arms and legs normal?

I had chest flutters and panic attacks last summer and had a 48hr monitored ECG thingie - which I wore home and then went back.

Firstly - it's good that the Dr has taken your DP seriously.

Secondly - do not worry too much, your DP is being looked after and is aware of it.

My problems were caused by stress, and too much adrenalin in my system - which made my body do lots of odd things. And it hurt, lots.

All clear now, I know how to manage it. Good luck to your DP, and you - let us know how he gets on.

When i went to my GP to discuss my symptoms, I went thinking it was nothing... She sent me straight to hospital and 1/2 hour later I was having an ECG! I couldnt believe it all happened so fast. They also gave me a monitor to wear for 24hours to take a recording. It was wierd and suddenly felt very serious. All proved to be nothing to worry about at all. Hope you too find it is nothing to be concerned about.

Thanks everyone! I hope to be able to come back and tell you its all fine - fingers crossed ...

I have you tubed the CPR and it is 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths so I feel better knowing a bit about what to do, and thanks to Michael Jackson i know on a hard surface not bed.

I can't sleep though - i feel like i have to watch for anything wrong.

What are the really bad symptoms to watch for? I know not breathing. But are there earlier ones?

Ive been reffered to cardiologist too. Im fairly clueless about it all but wanted to say good luck

try British Heart foundation website .

Hope it goes well today, thinking of you.

I hope today went OK. My dd (6) and dh both have heart problems, dd in particular has had problems with her heart beating irregularly and although they decided that it wasn't anything serious it makes her feel quite poorly. She goes ashen-faced and quiet, and her heart rate shoots up. Afterwards, she gets very tired and often falls asleep. I think it's pretty normal to feel rough afterwards, especially if the palpitations/irregular heartbeat has gone on for a while.

It may be that the problem won't show up if his heart is beating normally when he has the ECG. My dd had to wear a Holter monitor at home for 24 hours, and they give you a diary to keep too. It just records what the heart is doing while you carry on doing what you usually do.

If you think that your dh is having problems breathing, or if his heart rate stays very fast and doesn't seem to be slowing down, you can always ring an ambulance.