Periods of Rapid Heart Beat?

[momof3boys]

Im trying to figure out if what Im experiencing is connected to seizures?

It started last week, and I figured it was due to a medication that I was taking. After stopping the medication, it really let up alot. but last night, I was laying in bed and it started to do it again. I can feel my heart beat like its beating fast!

It does that for alittle bit then goes back to normal. During this, Im feeling alittle like Im not quite right... feeling different.

Im not getting the actual seizure symptoms like, the fear or sadness that I get when the seizure begins. But its feeling like what I can when I have a seizure and my heart begins to race. Only Im not having any other seizure symptoms.

Is it possible to get the beginning symptoms of a seizure and not actually have a full blown simple partial seizure?

Ive had EKG's done... 2 since August and everything comes back healthy and normal with my heart. Im just trying to figure out why the heart racing issues are still hanging around. Like right now, Im just now having another... where my heart feels like its beating too fast! onder:

 

[Nakamova]

I just read about something called "holiday heart syndrome" -- it's an irregular heartbeat pattern that occurs in those who are otherwise healthy after eating large quantity of sodium-rich foods. I don't know if that's what you're experiencing, but with the GERD, it may be related.

Also, have you tried taking a magnesium supplement? Magnesium helps maintain a normal heart rhythm and is good for the brain too. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency in the cardiovascular system include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, and angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries.

 

[momof3boys]

Yeah, my mom gave me some magnesium supplements and had to try them. The heart beats seem to be happening at night, when Im relaxed, and then come and go during the day time. Last night I was just laying in bed when my heart began to race really fast, like I could tell something was up... then I got alittle light headed. I was laying down at the time this happened. The heart racing got alittle better and I felt comfortable enough to sleep. But just minutes later, my husband wakes up to me jerking. I know when I have simple partial seizures, I get the feeling like something isnt right, then I get a tingling feeling in my left body, which starts in my hand and foot area, and works its way up my body the more the seizure goes on. I get the heart racing, and the pit of my stomach feels weird, like a nausus feeling overcomes me. Thats when my head will turn to the right and my body stiffens and starts to jerk. The seizures usually last a minute or two.

I dont think its related to what Im eating, because its happening all through out the day, and not like directly after eating, or close to when I ate. The jerking movements are happening at night, along with the rapid heart race, but Ive not had any jerking movements during the day. Ive been taking the Vitamin B-12, which I think is helping with the GERD. Ive just noticed an increase in the heart racing and jerking movements over the last day or two.

 

[Nakamova]

Is the heart racing just at night after you lie down (that would point to GERD), or is it all throughout the day?

 

[momof3boys]

I was at first noticing it at night. But like today, Ive had a few times where it would begin to race fast. I just got off the phone with a lady who is in the office of the specialist I am scheduled to see december 13th for the Thoracic outlet syndrome, and she said it doesnt sound like I have thoracic outlet syndrome. She asked if when I put my hand up in the air, standing, do I have pain in the arm, does my hand turn white? I dont really have pain, like stabbing pain... but its just discomfort in the armpit and shoulder area of my left arm, and kind of feels tingly in my hand. I didnt notice if my hand turned white. But she said from the way Im describing things, it sounds like I should see a cardiologist. She asked why I havnt seen one? I said because when I went to see my primary care dr, they said if I had a EKG done, one in august, the other just last week, and if it all came back normal, then my heart would be ok. But this lady said thats not always the case. I could have something wrong, that the EKG wont pick up on. She said she will give this information to the dr and let them talk it over. From the sounds of it, she said it may be a good idea to get in touch with a cardiologist and even talked about getting a heart moniter for 24 hours to record these things and see what it says.

Now im kind of scared!

 

[momof3boys]

Ok, I just got off the phone with the Nurse at the GI dr, and I asked her since the nurse I just spoke to suggested on seeing a cardiologist, if they could referre me to a cadiologist at their location? She transferred me to their cardiologist dept and I have an appointment set up for December 6th at 1pm. Its with a lady dr, so Im glad about that! Not to make it look like men dr are bad or anything, I just am more comfortable with a lady dr. It suprised me that it didnt take that long to get in to see! So in a week I can get in and see what they can tell me about my situation! Im glad I can get into the heart dr before seeing the dr that specializes in Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Maybe I can get some results prior to my appointment with the thoracic outlet dr, and I wont need to see that dr. I dont know... Im just so confused right now. I just want all the pain and problems to go away! Anyways, I just wanted to add this in... Im glad it wont be long to at least get a heart doctor to take a look at me, compared to the GI dr who it took 6 weeks to get in to see!

So my scheduled appointments are as follows:

12-6 Cardiologist
12-13 Thoracic Oulet Dr
12-15 GI Dr

what a work out! :roflmao:

 

[Nakamova]

Well I am glad you are getting to see the cardio sooner rather than later. That should give you some answers, and hopefully peace of mind. And maybe the cardiologist will have some input about the other potential diagnoses (Thoracic Outlet/GERD).

 

[momof3boys]

Thanks! Yes, I am very eager to see what is all said and what can be done to fix things!

 

[survivor]

I had such palpatation when i had anxiety. But with heart beat going fast i also felt depressed and a feeling of fear.

 

[Eve]

I wrote you on another link and the computer lost it. I take Hydrocodone for acute migraines. I don't think the hydrocodone is resposible for my heart racing because my heart started racing before I took Hydrocodone. I have had periods of chest pains racing heartbeats since my mid 30s. I went to all kinds of doctors. I have good blood scores...great cholesterol low blood pressure and no diabetes. I walk 5 hours a week and do yoga. Well last year I went to another doctor because I was having racing heartbeats and chest pains . He ran a bunch of tests and diagnosed me with Mitral Valve Prolapse.http://www.medicinenet.com/mitral_valve_prolapse/article.htm . I take Metrophol for it.

 

[difenbaker]

Hey Kristen,
At the cardiologist, you can most likely expect an echocardiogram (just an ultrasound of your heart - I've had 2) and they will probably want to put a holter monitor on (which again is no biggie - its an EKG that you wear for a day or two, I've have both). The holter was how they caught my SVT (supraventricular tachycardia). Which is no biggie either. I get the same thing you do, racing heart (feels like its going to pound right out my chest sometimes) and if the episode lasts long enough I get lightheaded and nauseated from it. My pulse has gone up to 240 during an episode. They've been a lot better since I starting taking metoprolol twice a day (which doesn't interact with the Keppra! Yaye!).
So if it's SVT which to me sounds like it could be... its not a huge deal.
I will say though I like how you're in Nebraska and I'm in Pennsylvania and yet most of our "issues" are almost exactly the same.
But dear, keep us posted with how it goes!!! And good luck!

 

[momof3boys]

Thank you so much!

Im nervous, but eager to see what the cardiologist will have to say. Apart of me thinks its the GERD. i say that because I noticed tonight after eating supper, the pain came back in the center to left area again. I took some maylox, and I think its helped alittle bit. I noticed also when I bend down to pick something up, it hurts then too. Im just really hoping and praying the tests they do, all come back saying I have a healthy heart. Monday night was the last time that Ive had the big pounding heart beat episode. That was really scary! I just couldnt believe how fast my heart was beating! I def quit that hydroco stuff! Id rather stick with the Over the Counter Pain Relievers. The nurse at the GI dr's office said I would most likely get a heart moniter for a day or two to see how things check out. Which is fine with me. I just want to make sure things are ok and not pass this appointment by and think its all GERD thats causing the problems.

I'll let ya know how things go. I go in on Tuesday!

 

[Nakamova]

when I bend down to pick something up, it hurts then too

This also suggests a GERD-type thing as opposed to a heart thing...

 

[drarvindr]

hi
re: your fast heart beat ..
if it happens every day an ambulatory holter monitor test would help the most as it record your ecg for 24 hours
While it records ( if your cardio advises it ) it may be prudent to keep a diary of the times in the day when you feel the heart racing and tell them when you turn in the machine the next day , making it easier for them to spot patterns.
The other thing you should look out for is whether the rate is fast or if you become aware of the rate because of skipped beats or both
skipped beats are usually due to ectopics ( for which the magnesium should help) and fast beats can be due to a multitude of causes which need to be investigated and ruled out one by one

The following may be a bit technical but it may help you if the diagnosis of your ECG is written in purely medical terminology so you can look it up

If an ECG picks up the fast rate it should lead directly to the cause

Atria : upper two chambers of your heart Ventricles : lower two chambers of your heart which is what you feel as a beat or a pulse

1. sinus tachycardia : fast heart rate with a normal rhythm (all nodes of conduction working well and both atria and ventricles contract normally) can be caused by a large number of things ranging from drugs , general pain of any kind , fevers etc. The seizures can also cause this for a while after the attack.


2.Narrow QRS tachycardias are of two types and happen because you have an extra route of conduction in your heart which causes your atria to contract at a much faster rate than normal .Not all the atrial signals get conducted to the ventricles because the muscles there have a limit to how fast they can contract ( refractory period) Both of these are often transient and stop on their own:
a) atrial flutter atria keep contracting at a blindingly fast rate ( upto 400/min) and ventricular conduction is irregular
b) atrial fibrillation : similar to flutter but atrial contraction is not detected on the ECG because they contract so fast the atria become all but useless as there is no atrial kick to push blood in the ventricles. 90% of blood flows into ventricles on its own and does not require an atrial kick so there may not be any symptoms. A fast AFib needs meds to control the rate ASAP

3)Supraventricular tachycardia is when you have a new origin of conduction in your heart that causes contractions (normal contraction is initiated by the SA node in the left atrium)

4) wide qrs tachycardia is really unlikely ( you'd be in hospital) so i woudnt bother

For your GERD : you can try some pantoprazole( generic - dont know the brands in your part of the world) half an hour before meals and some domperidone with it.
It should get your motility up and reduce the symptoms and both are over the counter (at least they are here). burning in your epigastrium ( just below your sternum in the midline) is likely indicative of an ulcer or hyperacidity but ulcers are often associated with increase/decrease in pain at mealtime.

Hope this helps
get well soon
Arvind

 

[momof3boys]

hi
re: your fast heart beat ..
if it happens every day an ambulatory holter monitor test would help the most as it record your ecg for 24 hours
While it records ( if your cardio advises it ) it may be prudent to keep a diary of the times in the day when you feel the heart racing and tell them when you turn in the machine the next day , making it easier for them to spot patterns.
The other thing you should look out for is whether the rate is fast or if you become aware of the rate because of skipped beats or both
skipped beats are usually due to ectopics ( for which the magnesium should help) and fast beats can be due to a multitude of causes which need to be investigated and ruled out one by one

The following may be a bit technical but it may help you if the diagnosis of your ECG is written in purely medical terminology so you can look it up

If an ECG picks up the fast rate it should lead directly to the cause

Atria : upper two chambers of your heart Ventricles : lower two chambers of your heart which is what you feel as a beat or a pulse

1. sinus tachycardia : fast heart rate with a normal rhythm (all nodes of conduction working well and both atria and ventricles contract normally) can be caused by a large number of things ranging from drugs , general pain of any kind , fevers etc. The seizures can also cause this for a while after the attack.


2.Narrow QRS tachycardias are of two types and happen because you have an extra route of conduction in your heart which causes your atria to contract at a much faster rate than normal .Not all the atrial signals get conducted to the ventricles because the muscles there have a limit to how fast they can contract ( refractory period) Both of these are often transient and stop on their own:
a) atrial flutter atria keep contracting at a blindingly fast rate ( upto 400/min) and ventricular conduction is irregular
b) atrial fibrillation : similar to flutter but atrial contraction is not detected on the ECG because they contract so fast the atria become all but useless as there is no atrial kick to push blood in the ventricles. 90% of blood flows into ventricles on its own and does not require an atrial kick so there may not be any symptoms. A fast AFib needs meds to control the rate ASAP

3)Supraventricular tachycardia is when you have a new origin of conduction in your heart that causes contractions (normal contraction is initiated by the SA node in the left atrium)

4) wide qrs tachycardia is really unlikely ( you'd be in hospital) so i woudnt bother

For your GERD : you can try some pantoprazole( generic - dont know the brands in your part of the world) half an hour before meals and some domperidone with it.
It should get your motility up and reduce the symptoms and both are over the counter (at least they are here). burning in your epigastrium ( just below your sternum in the midline) is likely indicative of an ulcer or hyperacidity but ulcers are often associated with increase/decrease in pain at mealtime.

Hope this helps
get well soon
Arvind

Thank you for the advise. I will be seeing a cardiologist in two days. So far, the rapid heart beats has gotten less and less. I really think its the GERD thats affecting me most. I have tried the pantoprazole, was just prescribed it on November 18th, and after 2 days of taking it, I had a very fast irregular heart beat, and started having seizures that night. I went to the ER and they advised me to talk it over with my primary care dr. I havnt taken that medication since and Ive been feeling so much better! No more seizures, and the irregular heart beat that Ive been having show up in the late night time, mostly when Im trying to relax before going to sleep, hasnt been here for over a week now! I was on two different GERD medications since august. Omeprazole and Pantoprazole. Im going to see what the cardiologist has to say and go from there. I have a appointment scheduled with a GI dr on 12-15.