Hi Ladies:

I hope you are all well. I'm doing ok, just getting tired of this heart thing. It seems every morning between 8 a.m and 11 a.m I go thru these weird beats. I can feel them a half a second before they hit. I have to assume thats the quivering motion I don't know. But right before it hits I get this slight butterfly type feeling and sure enough I reach for my neck to feel the pulse and wham, beat beat beat, slow stop and beat, not a thump a beat. Its happening this week so far every morning. I've had to resort to my half a xanax so it doesn't cause me panic about it. I saw my GP internist doc 2 weeks ago, he said your heart beat sounds even and strong and your blood pressure is perfect 110/70, he said for women that where it should be. He sent me for some blood test,which I was finally able to get done this morning and he said I'll call with the results otherwise I see you next year. He seemed un-concerned (if thats a word). Well this is making me crazy, its all I think about. So yesterday I decided I'm seeing a cardiologist and I called the one I saw in 2000 and have an apt for the 21st of Feb. Gosh by then I will be a lunatic with all this. What seems to be so odd to me is this used to be the week before my period, now it starts the day my period stops and continues until it starts again. I've been tracking things. Another oddity is I don't feel good unless I'm bleeding, I feel like a ameeba of sorts. My next apt will be with the Gyno. I feel as if I'm going crazy. One day things are good and I feel normal (if thats possible) then the next I feel crappy.

I have a period every month, so I wonder am I peri or nuts. Heres a list of sypmtoms maybe one of the pro's here can help.

Anxiety
Can't sleep at all the week before period
Nite sweats the week before
headaches the week before
Weird head sensation (when ever they want to occur)
Itchy on the inside of my thighs (to the point of bruising)
Vision off at times
Heart skiping beats after period
Lumps in glands under arms week before period
Neck pain causing forehead headaches
Tingling in feet and hands (occationally)
Adrenalin rushes when falling asleep
Much heavier periods
Very Low Ferratin level (on pre-natal vits)
Much worse allergies and sinus problems

So theres my list and I'm sure more to come. But this heart skip beat thing is the worst for me. I have started taking mag, helps me to sleep better, but nothing else. So if anyone has this same heart issue I would love to hear from you. Thanks ladies for listening and your support.

Hugs, Patty

Hi Patty,
Rest assurd you are not nuts. I have one question...have you ever had an echocardiogram? I had a ton of problems with my heartbeat in my early 30's ( I am now 54) and after a year of various MD"s telling me I was "woman" and that I was "anxious" I found a wonderful cardiologist at Yale who diagnosed my problem in 24 hours-- I have a very benign condition called mitral valve prolapse. Once we knew what the problem was, I was able to take beta blockers (inderal) for a number of years (very low dose, no side effects) and then in my 40's I was able to come off the meds. Well here I am now 54 and the beats have increased again, and I am back on inderal and I feel much much better with it. I am so happy you are going to the cardiologist-- that is the perfect place to start because he or she will be able to eliminate your fears and get you on the right path.

Keep writing in if you are feeling afraid or alone, and I will support you along with all the other PSers out there who feel your pain. It is no fun to feel this way, and it is all-consuming. Just know that you are not alone, and you will be okay--

Hugs
J

Hi Patty,
Welcome to my world! I have had all of the symptoms you listed plus a few more. I agree, the heart skips are the worst. Until you live with them daily, people just can't understand what the big deal is about. I have been thru all the tests, some of them several times, all normal. My palps strated in late 30's, I had some everyday, but not many. Last August they started in big time. thousands a day for 7 straight weeks. I really think that's when my hormones hit bottome. I haven't had a period since Sept. and the skips are better, but no where perfect yet. I strated on an anti-depressant and I think that has helped too. I have a beta blocker for almost 7 years that helps too. It's guessing game to me why some days are better than others. My hormones must still be flucuating even though my periods have stopped. I hate the tought of being 70 and still having these darn things! (BY the way, I am 53). Hope the cardio gives you something to help, don't let him tell you it's not hormones, we have all heard that and it's bull. Good luck, Connie

Hi Jonesy:

Thank you so much for your reassuring response and your support. I haven't had an EKG since 2002, I also had a nuclear stress test, and a 24 holter monitor, a few diff times then and everything was great. I know this will sound crazy, but I would rather know if somethings wrong so it can be treated then not to know. So I'm going back for new testing. Thanks so much tho for being here for me during this whacky time and I will be here for you also and the PS group, everyone here has been so great.

Thanks, Patty




quote name='Jonesy' date='Feb 7 2008, 04:53 PM' post='208411']
Hi Patty,
Rest assurd you are not nuts. I have one question...have you ever had an echocardiogram? I had a ton of problems with my heartbeat in my early 30's ( I am now 54) and after a year of various MD"s telling me I was "woman" and that I was "anxious" I found a wonderful cardiologist at Yale who diagnosed my problem in 24 hours-- I have a very benign condition called mitral valve prolapse. Once we knew what the problem was, I was able to take beta blockers (inderal) for a number of years (very low dose, no side effects) and then in my 40's I was able to come off the meds. Well here I am now 54 and the beats have increased again, and I am back on inderal and I feel much much better with it. I am so happy you are going to the cardiologist-- that is the perfect place to start because he or she will be able to eliminate your fears and get you on the right path.

Keep writing in if you are feeling afraid or alone, and I will support you along with all the other PSers out there who feel your pain. It is no fun to feel this way, and it is all-consuming. Just know that you are not alone, and you will be okay--

Hugs
J
[/quote]

Hi Connie:

Thanks so much for your response and support. Your right, the skips are the worst. I think i could deal with anything else. I can't imagine why estrogen has such an effect of the heart, sometimes I think to myself, if having low estrogen has this effect, what in the world will no estrogen be like. I'm with you on that thought of being 70 and still having this. Oh yucko. Well I hope you get to feeling better also. Thanks for support.

Hugs, Patty

I am so happy to read this thread. I've been having more flutters and palps lately ad it's driving me nuts. I've had 2 ekgs' in a year and had an echostress test in oct. All came back clear, but when you get a racing feeling, then a thud, it's unnerving. I was hoping the bcp;s I was put on in july would help, but not so much. Sometimes I think it's digestive related, because during this time I get pain between the shoulder blades, then burp like a man. It is sooo scary. The cardiologist didn't seem concerned at all and said I could use a beta blocker. My question is this, are the blockers just to feel better, or are we doing damage by not using them? I try not to obsess about it, but it's very hard not to. Ive been keeping a diary since May so I can look back to any of this annoying symptoms we all seem to have and realize I am fine. My conscience mind says, all the tests are clear, but there's that side of me that thinks it's not normal.

Good luck to you all. Thank for listening.

I hear you! Between last year and this year I had 6 EKGs!!! I had an echo stress test in December and was told all was fine. I just wore a Holter monitor last week, no one called me back with results, guess that means all is well? For 2 days been having chest pain now, not so much the palps as I have been having. Like you I also feel somehow it is related to digestion, ulcer, GERD, and I also have the pain between my shoulder blades in the back also. No matter how many heart tests we have, if we have any chest discomfort, our anxiety goes up and we automatically think heart problems. It is unreal. I wish you all well.

There is no damage to your heart by not using beta blockers. They just decrease the strength of heart beats, making the irregular beats alittle "softer" and not so noticeable. In my case the BB does not stop the pvc's or pac's, it slows my heart rate and makes the palps weaker. I still think I feel every last one of them, but usually not the hard jolts I was having before the BB. Yesterday and today I am having a skipped beat about every 20th beat, it's driving me nuts. I can manage a few hours at a time of the skips, but this around the clock crap is for the birds. Now I sit and try to figure what I have done wrong to make them start up again. I have had a virus, so maybe that's it. I feel so bad for those of us that suffer with palps. It is so scarey. Connie

My doc said a virus can bring them on.
Laura

Thanks Laura, I am hoping as I feel better the skips will let up. I had less skips last evening, but they are in full force again this morning. Don't you love waking up every morning wondering what kind of palp day you will have? It gets so old, I would like to wake up just one day and not have to deal with them. I am thankful though, I know others deal with much worse so I shouldn't complain, but I still do. Have a good weekend. Connie

I'm another woman that is tired of the palps. I'm sick of being scared. I've had tests done and nothing was found (good thing). I was just at my doctors 2 weeks ago for this issue and nothing new to report. She was very reassuring but it's never enough for me.

I'm starting to wonder about too much salt on days when they are worse. Anyone else notice what they eat or drink to makes things worse?

I'm still pondering using a progesterone cream. My doctor said I could go ahead and try that to see if it helps.

I do think the addition of flax seed oil has helped with my night sweats.

I just want to feel normal again. I want no fear again.

tela, caffeine absolutely positively makes them worse.

I've noticed that when I eat high salt foods they are worse. I think it is due to the gastic/palp connection that so many of us have noticed.

Beta blockers may help palpitations, but for me I think they cause them. I have to take a beta blocker for a heart problem and I think they make my palpitations worse. Palpitations are a sign of low estrogen also so if you are menopausal you probably have low or fluctuating estrogen. The week before your period is when your estrogen is lowest if you still have periods. Read the book by Elizabeth Vliet, Screaming to be heard, probably available at your local library.

I agree with you, I think low or flucuating estrogen is the cause of the palps. I have tried it both ways many times, with BB and without. For me, without is unbearable. The thuds are much harder and my heart races most of the time. I can have a resting pulse of 110 to 120 after laying down for hours. I have heard of people that BB do make palps worse, I guess it is just trial and error for everyone. Thanks for your reply, I do feel better reading it again about the estrogen connection to palps. It gives me hope that someday they might get better when my hormones finally settle down for good. Connie

Wow! I just found this site and am I glad I did. I am 45 and menopausal, I started when I was 37. I postponed it a little by getting pregnant! But starting at 39, things went way downhill! It's the rapid heartrate and the skips that make me feel like I am loosing my mind. I have been tested twice since I was 41, both times with the ecocardiogram and stress test and once I wore a halter moniter. I spend all day long telling myself that everything is ok with my heart and I'm not going to drop dead and leave my kids without their mother!!!! But it is the worst feeling in the world. I also wake up in the middle of the night with my heartrate at 120 - 140. It scares me so bad! I have been wondering if it is anxiety? Although, I do go for months at a time without incident, but then I seem to go for weeks with daily problems. I also have the GI discomfort so many of you have mentioned. I hope to find some peace of mind here and I'd like to encourage EVERYONE to write their experiences. I felt so much better with every post I read. Now if we could all just get these to stop! My doctor told me to take a progesterone pill whenever it happens (I am doing the bio identical hormone creams, but I have an extra supply of progesterone pills that I only take when this happens). Honestly I don't know if they help or if they just get me back to sleep - he said progesterone will make you sleepy. I have also tried magnesium. Does anyone know how long this goes on for? I had thought that now that my bloodwork shows me to be "post" menopausal that many of my symptoms would stop. This can't be how it will go on for the rest of our lives can it?

Hi Seminole,

I am so happy you found PS! For me, it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship among so many amazing women.

I wish I could give you some substantive advice regarding the rapid heartrate, but it seems to be the only symptom I do not have. Yet, I should say. No reason to tempt fate...

I wish you speedy relief, and I hope to see you here very often.

Yours,
Marcy

Hi to everyone! I am new to this site but so glad to have found it. I am 45 years old and since last Aug i think i have been falling apart. I have Thyroid problems which i have had for about 20 years now and never had a problem with it until now. So i am wondering if i am starting premeipause or thyroid. I am losing my hair bad,and i am having the same heart thing you all are having. I can hardly stand it. Everyday between 11-1 miday i start with these heart palps. I start to get tight i the chest feel my heart beat kinda fuzzy feeling and it can last all day. it seemed to be worse rught before my period but anymore it is all the time. Wheni have a day without one it is great. Which is a rare occasion. I tried something yesterday i had some natural progesterone cream that i had gotten at a health food store. When i felt this coming on i rubbed this on and it made things better. everytime i would feel it i would dap some more on and i would fel better. i am wondering if this is a bad thing to use so much for it says on the tube not to you so much. The today it seems to help not so much. I wish i could find something to make these go away. It seems to be running my life. If anyone has any suggestions for me you can e-mail to cindyandjohnh@peoplepc.com Thank you so much for letting me vent

Cindy