Atrial Fibrillation, Palpitations

My story is kind of long so I will try and make it short and stick to the major points. I am a 27 yr old male that has been battling the thought of heart disease for quite sometime now. When I was 18, I was headed to a friends house to go out for our senior dance. On the way, I felt my heart drop almost as if it stopped for a second. Of course, I ended up in the emergency room and much to no ones surprise they found nothing wrong with me. From that point on, I remember having occasional flutters or palpitations as I know them now from time to time. They would make me tired and very worried. By the time I turned 19, I had tons of doctors run almost every test imaginable on me. I have been to local Dr.'s, doctors in nearby cities, and have been to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. The final outcome of all of this was that nothing was wrong with me(most likely anxiety) and I needed to move on and quit going to Dr.'s and live a normal life. After that, I went to college and lived pretty much just the same as all of my friends other than I had to take medicine for GERD(acid reflux). Keep in mind that I still had to battle my feelings and occasional flutters. It wasn't until 2004 until my next episode hit. I had been at some friends house having a few drinks and left to go home. My roomate at the time had fried some fish so I ate that up, had another beer and a few cigarettes and went to bed. I wasn't in bed long before my heart skipped a beat and stayed completely out of rhythm for awhile before I made the decision to go to the ER. They tried to convert me with IV but it was unsuccessfull and I remained in an unregular rhythm for a little while. The next morning when the cardiologist came in he told me mom and dad I had atrial fibrillation and if my rhythm didn't kick back in soon that they would convert me with the paddles. That is a scary thought. Don't even want to think about it. Anyway, he was feeling around on my chest putting pressure in different areas and thank GOD I went back into rhythm. At that time, they put me on 81mg aspirin and Cardizem. And that gets me up to the current status I am in now(I quit smoking at that moment). About a month ago, I went to my dr. and told him I had been having pains in the upper left part of my back, pinches in my left shoulder, and a pain down my left arm that ran in a straight line down to my ring finger(also felt like my left arm was weak). He felt it had nothing to do with my heart and put me on a inflammatory medicine because I do so much heavy lifting at work. Well, 5 days later my wife and I are on the way home and my back starts hurting and I can't get comfortable. I stirred around in the seat and began to get worried something was terribly wrong. We ended up at the ER and by the time we got there I told her I thought I was dying and that my heart was about to stop. They immediately hooked me up to an EKG and I was in normal sinus rhythm just beating at about 125bpm. I probally stayed in normal rhythm because of the meds. I stayed at that rate for quite awhile. The cardiologist came in the next day and recommended we run test just to make sure nothing happened and to rule out that it was my heart. We did more EKG's, echocardiagram, and also stress test. After the test, he said I was fine it was not my heart and that I was at less than 1% chance of sudden death or cardiac arrest. This was excellent news but what the heck happened to me that night? Although I have never had a heart attack it sure felt like one to me. We changed my meds from Cardizem to Bystolic and I am now taking 2 Prilosec a day instead of 1. Since then I have been having palpitations fairly regular and am know on a heart monitor for 30 days. I have been back to the gastoentologist and had a tube run down my throat again and everything seemed fine. I also have been to the spine dr. and all the x-rays showed up fine. I am worried sick about this. My wife is almost 3 months pregnant and I find it hard to be as excited as I want to because I am worried sick about my health. The dr. says that palpitations and fast heart aren't taking yrs off my life and that they are not life-threatening but I just find that so hard to believe. I worry I might have a blockage or something but the dr. dosen't even feel the need to check for that because of the other test results. Is there anyone having or had these types of problems that can help guide me? Is there anyone who has had these problems for quite awhile and it has led to be something other than heart disease? I don't know what to do. I need to find a peace somewhere because I can't go on like this. Can anxiety be causing all of this? Can I have a spell of atrial fib in my 20's and still live to see grandchildren? I am truely worried about my health. Everyone in my family on both sides has lived a long life. No history of heart disease, cancer, or other life-threatening diseases but I am worried it has to start somewhere. Please help, I have read so many posts on here and all of you are so wonderful. Thanks!!!

By CathyAnn
Posted January 1, 2009 at 12:35 am
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You should try seeing a heart doctor that specializes in the electrical parts of the heart. I use to have the same problems and I saw on a Discovery Health program on TV a way to make a racing heart go back to normal rhythm. You take a deep breath and hold it and bare down like a woman trying to have a baby. It was a temperary fix though. It gradually happened more often. Then it happened when I was in the hospital to have a heart cath. A doctor preformed a heart ablasion and it hasn't bothered me since. It's been almost a year with no more problems. I hope this information is of some help to you. Good luck!

By Lumpy
Posted January 21, 2009 at 11:51 pm
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Hi Jareeves,
I have had supra ventricular tachycardia (palpitations) since I was in my early teens. It was bothersome, but I found if I held my breath it went away. It did get worse when I was in my late 20s and went on medication (metoprolol) in my early 30s. The medicine seem to work on my palpitations but it made my blood pressure very low so the Doctor took me off the medication 6-7 months ago. However, I just had a terrible episode that sent me to the emergency. I ended up having the paddles as the Dr. couldn't stop my heart beating so fast with other methods. The Dr. put me to sleep so I didn't feel a thing; thank goodness. CathyAnn is right saying that you should see a cardiologist as it might be a electrical problem with your heart. That's what my problem is. I recently saw a cardiologist and he suggested having a procedure that destroys the abnormal electrical pathway in my heart. There is a high success rate for this procedure. I'm sure you will find some answers that you are looking for when you see a cardiologist. Good luck.

By DrD11
Posted January 22, 2009 at 4:51 am
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I agree with the suggestions of your friends:CathyAnn
and Lumpy.You need an opinion of an Electrophysiologist/Cardiologist.
Did you adjust you diet and social habits:Caffein,Nicotin,Vitamins,Health Supplements,
Over the counter medication?
What is your Choleterol,L.D.L.,HDL.,Triglycerides?
Write it down and discuss it with your doctor.
Best wishes.

By hammerdan1
Posted January 24, 2009 at 5:54 pm
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I found myself in the ER to many times,having little or no insurance. I finally hooked up with a Cardiolgist, He tried converting me through meds Friday- Monday
what a waste of time.( keep in mind no insurance).Monday morning I got the shock ,I converted on the second jolt , I felt both of them. A couple of tricks I'll pass on.When I have angina it feels like a horse standing on my chest.To fix this I drink a classic coke,and when i burb away goes the pain. At 57
I picked up on you drinking some. If I mix or over indulge I know I will be writing a new rhythm soon. I think this idea of electrical impulses and the corrections are right on. Best of luck, ALL THINGS IN MODERATION.

By jareeves4581
Posted January 24, 2009 at 7:02 pm
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Thanks everyone for you responce. I have surely been in a battle lately much like the rest of you. To answer a few questions from above, I do have a cardio dr. that I see. He however dosen't feel like my recent visit to the hospital was heart related as well as my primary doc. My pains seem to fluctuate around and somehow I seem to relate them all to my heart. I have had some palps and fast somewhat irregular beats but they must not be too dangerous because I am wearing a holter monitor and it has all been recorded with no emergency responce yet. I do feel fatigued at times, have bad headaches occassionally, and seem to also get bradycardia alot at night(45-50bpm). All of these issues could be coming from my beta blocker as the side effects are aggravating to some and possibly are affecting me as well. My cholesterol was high at a couple of years ago but is down now. Total: 172, LDL: 108, HDL: 39, Triglyceride: 140. The LDL and HDL are slightly off but I am continuing to work on that(diet:have lost 20lbs, and exercise). My concerns lately have turned from rhythm issues to plumbing issues it seems. I worry that I might have a blockage because that is the only test that I haven't had done. I have been through the mill of stress tests, ultrasounds, chest xrays, and EKG's and all seem to be fine. The cardio says I am at less than 1% chance of having sudden death or cardiac problems but I can't seem to grasp that. I have pains in my arms sometimes, some tightness in my chest, and the other things mentioned above and truely worry myself sick thinking the doc's have missed something. I almost wonder if I should get on anxiety meds just to help with the worry. If my arm hurts, it's my heart. If I get tight in the chest, it's my heart. If I get palps or a irregular beat, I am about to die from a heart attack. This is driving me crazy. I have good days but they seem to be far and in between because of the worry. Hammerdan, do you know you have some blockage? How do you get diagnosed with angina? Not sure if that's what I feel or not. I seems like 90% of the stories I read of heart attack occur in people with family backgrounds. It almost seem certain that when a younger adult has passed from heart conditions that it is included about a strong family past of heart conditions. My family has no heart conditions at all on either side or any other disease as far as that goes. We have truely been blessed! I feel like I might start the train a rollin sometime though. I am just scared! Flat out scared and not afraid to admit it. I am 27, have a beautiful wife, a pregnant wife at that and I really want to be around to see my child grow. Any responce from you guys is great. I really am happy and honored to have you all to be able to comunicate with. Thanks and GOD bless all of you!

By DrD11
Posted January 25, 2009 at 5:37 am
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To Jareeves:
Ask you doctor about vitamin B3(Niacin).
It will help you to raise your H.D.L. and lower your
Triglycerides.(Fish oil effect)

To Hammerdan
I like your story(BURP)
I think this a great idea,still risky when you also drink Classic Coke(Caffein).,as you mentioned. However,moderation,as you mentioned,
is also a good idea.
Burping,is essential for newborns.We all know that.
In the world,specifically in the Middle East,after one
finishes his meal(Males),it is customary to let a Burp.
This is a sign that you liked the food (You wouldn't like to offend the person who prepared your meal).
Females do release some pressure,but they are far
more polite.
In the western world,one takes a peppermint at the end of the meal.It relaxes the stomch-esophgus sphincter so it allows release of "Steam".
Any carbonated drinks will do.
This "Burp",stimulates the 10 th nerve/Vagus.
This stimulation slows you pulse(Valsalva manauver).
Keep connected with your doctor.

By b52gflyer
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:31 pm
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I am 60 years old and have a bunch of problems. These include anxiety and panic attacks, AFib and AFlutter. I have used up maybe 10 rolls of ekg paper. 2 weeks ago they decided to treat the AFlutter. They openned an artery in my leg near the groin. Next they inserted 3 or 4 cathers each with a camera and a laser burner. On the table they induced flutter and burned the nerves that caused it. Now now more flutter, but it does nothing for anxiety, panic or AFib. I am on Metropol for AFib (high blood pressure medicine). My normal BP is 90/60, so when I stand up to fast I fall down. I also take coumidin which is a blood thinner. This has been an ongoing problem for about 15 years. The best I can tell you is learn to live with. I am trying to but it is scary as hell.

By Lumpy
Posted January 27, 2009 at 1:41 am
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I would ask the Dr for the meds for anxiety to see that would help. After my last episode of AVF and had to be converted I felt somewhat anxious. I wanted to go back exercising and my heart started going faster and I was somewhat out of breath. I and realize that I might be just anxiety. I try to calm myself down to see if that helped. It did. It feels very real; just like the first time. Ask you Dr. for some meds to help you get over anxiety. If it works you know, if not you look else where!

By lns2119
Posted February 18, 2009 at 9:40 am
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I certainly understand all your anxieties. I have been dealing with these issues for years. In addition to the beta blockers and high blood pressure medications that the docters have put me on, I added potassium and magnesium supplements. What has helped me the most meditation and deep breathing techniques recommended by Dr. Weil. Check it out. There are some great tapes out there.

By rick2
Posted February 25, 2009 at 5:49 pm
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Had my cardiac MRI. No sign of sarcoidosis according to the report.
My Dr. has no idea why I have the tachycardia.
My rt. hand and sometimes my rt. foot gets cold when the temp. is lower than 68 degrees.
When I play raquetball with my lt. hand my rt. hand and arm get almost as cold as ice. I hurt my lt. are and started trying to play with my rt. arm. Now my left arm gets as cold as ice. My dr. has no idea as to why.
Has anyone else had this combination of symptoms?
I was diagnosed with Sarc. in 95 and fibro. about 6 mos. later. I no longer have any nodules or lesions in my lungs.
Thanks

By BrittaneeN
Posted June 10, 2009 at 5:35 pm
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Wow, I'm dealing with almost the same exact situation. It's so hard to deal with, that I feel like I'm going crazy most of the time. I have Atrial Fibrillation and it seems to be getting worse. I started taking anxiety medication for it because I've been freaking out about it so much. I'm constantly worried about having a heart attack or stroke. I'm worried about leaving my husband and daughter behind if I can't get this under control. I've been taking Verapamil for the palpitations but I don't feel like it's helping. I'm also taking Pristiq for the anxiety and depression. I hope you have found something to help and ease your mind. I have had a real problem with sleeping too. It seems to bother me most when I try sleeping on my left side. Let me know if you have found something that helps. My doctor's aren't giving me any good answers, apparently it's "fine." Doesn't feel that way, does it?

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