I went to my OB/GYN the other day. I told her about my symptoms (ie, hot flashes, morning anxiety, palpitations, irregular periods). I had never experienced any of this until recently. Anyway, she said it could very well be peri, however; she said much too often women and doctors chalk it up to Peri. She ran blood work and then had me on the holter for 48 hrs.
She called today. Though she would initially think it was just sinus tachycardia, there could perhaps be something more. She said it could be SVT or Junctional ??. She said she was tired of doctors passing off palpitations as nothing and not following-up to see if it's something more serious. So now I will be wearing one for four weeks.
What in the world is she looking for? I have read dozens of messages in regards to palpitations, they all sound benign. Why would she think it's something else with me? I have never had them in the past, they only started when I was 41.
Has anyone else been told that they need to follow-up on this sort of thing? I know I shouldn't be scared, but I AM!
Thanks so much for any feedback,
Karen

Hi Karin,
I can understand your being frightened but I think the most positive thing about it is that sooooo many women always have that *question of doubt* whether something has been *missed* and never really can live at ease.
It sounds to me like you are very, very lucky to have a Dr. thourough enough to make really sure everything is fine.
My Dr. is the same, not necc. my Gyno though. I am also in the middle of testing (blood) for an unknown cause of elevated leukocytes and have been from the thoughts of leukemia to just sheer exhaustion being the cause. In the next 2 weeks, being that my Dr. is looking into everything, I should be able to put my mind at ease.
I am sure you are o.k. Your symptoms, as you say, are very typical and soon you too will have the most precious thing, peace of mind :0)
Keep your spirits up.
I wish you strenght getting through the next weks.
Heather

girlsmom, chances are you are just fine! Wow, 4 weeks is a long time! I have the sinus tachy, plus some premature contractions. I've had them all my life. I have done the holter monitor twice over the years, and have only had to wear it for 24 hours.

Your doc sounds like she is very thorough. But maybe this is overkill? I don't know. I've had docs who kinda talk things down, and others who make a mountain out of a molehill. Maybe you could ask her to just do the 24-hour one, and if they find anything that needs to be looked at further then do a 4 week test. It doesn't hurt to ask!

Karin03~Wow, your symptoms sound very similar! I'm soon to be 40 and have different symptoms each month. Most annoying are the internal shakes, irregular cycles, and now heart palps. I just spoke to my nurse practioner at the ob/gyn today about my heart palps. She was extremely comforting and confirmed that she truely felt these heart palps were due to my wacked-out hormones and anxiety. I started feeling the heart palps during my extra long cycle (38 days) on about day 35 until day 3 of my period. She said hormones can really play havoc with the heart (non of which are usually serious). She did say that if they continued for 3 months, I 'd have to have them looked into. I don't know if it was her calming voice, or that today is day 3 of the cycle, but I have not felt any palps today! I had several EKG's and and ECHO about 3 months ago and all was fine...so I guess these can be attributed to hormones! Keep thinking positive, because the anxiety of thinking about the palps only makes them worse!

Oh I forgot to mention...today I started back on birth control. She said this will help even out those awful hormones...and hopefully make my symptoms better.

I've had the whole heart shabang. My cardiologist suspects SVT, but the only way to prove it is to catch it on a monitor while it's happenning. SVT is pretty benign, treatable and curable with ablation. Severe cases can warrant medication, cardio conversion in the ER or surgery (abalation). Believe me when I tell you that I scoured high and low into the bowels of the internet and did not find one case of someone actually dying of SVT.

Thanks so much ladies for putting my mind at ease. And yes, you're right, I should be thankful that my doctor is so thorough. I just received the heart monitor, I suppose my fear is that they'll find something. That said, I suppose it's better to know everything than nothing at all. My doctor does believe that many of these symptoms are Peri-related, she wants to put me on a low dose of birth control. I told her I would rather wait until I get the results of the heart monitor. What I did notice is that when I take my calcium pills that contain magnesium and vitamin D, my symptoms are much more mild. Thank you again for your encouraging words and support

Girl's Mom, I can't wait until you can put your mind to rest and have peaceful thoughts. Please keep us updated on the results of your tests (though in my heart I know nothing is going to show up).

K~

Hi Karen
To have my mind at ease in any aspect of my life right now would be a gift!
I am on an antibiotic (penicillin family) to see if this infection (nobody knows where) in my body will go away. Did a 10 day round of hormones to stop my bleeding (have a growing myoma sitting next to my endometrium). Am on day 4 of my 2 month round of birth control (only took them for 3 years from 18-21) and am paranoid because I am the worst candidate. I am a 44 y.o., smoke with history of fibroadenoma. I take "Asprin Cardio" once a day as well.
I don't know, I am stressed. Widowed with twin 9 y.o. and a 13 y.o. girl, just finished building a home, try to wear "all the hats" and I think my body is giving out and forcing me to stop.
Is it just me, or are we far more suseptible to illness during peri?
If I do too much in a day, I run a low grade fever at night. Very low though. Seems to be better since A.B.'s but I just never feel right.
Thats why I am sooo pleased that you do have a Dr. that dosen't sit by and just assume that everything IS related. My Homeopat is really pushing for answers (he is also a certified M.D.). I see my Gyno in 2 weeks and my Ho. next week for a new fresh blood count.
It just seems like one day I woke up and got old.
To make matters worse I am having hair loss like crazy.
Never too old to be vain ;0)

I forgot to mention, the only danger I could find with SVT is passing out while driving or doing other things while the heart is in rapid tachy. This is why cardiologist suggest getting abalation for frequent SVT episodes.

Take care.

Thanks so much for the information, Gia. I looked into ablation (even before I know if I have SVT), it looks very scarey. There appear to be a lot of risks involved. My episodes usually last anywhere from 5-30 seconds. If I lie down, they go righ away. We'll see what we can catch.

By the way, I live in Northern California as well, it's HOT out here!

Take care,
K~

Girlsmom,

I too am widowed and can relate to wearing all the hats. When my husband died I just knew that eventually the stress was going to manifest in some physical way. It was the worst timing...a teenage daughter to raise, being in my 40s, having to find a job. I have to wonder if my peri symtpoms would have been as bad if I had not lost my husband and been under so much pressure. I so wish things were different but I try to be grateful because it could always be worse.

Lisa

I'd love to talk to you! My Husband dies 2.5 years ago...I'll be 44 in 6 weeks.

Girlsmom,

My husband died 3 years ago. I'll be 47 in Oct. It's been such a rough road but my daughter gets me through. Aren't you glad you have your children?

I'd be happy to share experiences with you. All we can do is take one day at a time. It's amazing how much time can pass that way. My husband's parents are arriving today for a visit. I haven't seen them in a year. It will be emotional for sure.

Hope you're having a good day today (that's relative of course.}

Lisa

Hi Lisa and Girlsmom,
Golly you both have so much on your plates ...........I have the occassional episode of heart palps, but I do find they seem to occur when I'm in a particularly stressful situation.............and you both have to deal with family stresses that are often shared.
I honestly "dip my lid" to both you ladies..........being such strong , wonderful women ,and being able to rise to the occassion and look after your families so beautifully. You must be such wonderful role models for your children to see what women are capable of............and should feel so proud of what you've achieved.
I really wish I could reach out and hug you both
Love
twitchyXX

The best was 2 summers ago after enduring a 3 hour delay in Zurich for our plane to Newark...after we landed got our luggage, cancelled our connecting flight to D.C. and managed a car from >Hertz with no rental and no availabilities my oldest, then 11 said "See Mom, we don't need a man". Made my day....no, make that made my life ;0) ;0)