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Heart Palpitations Forum >> Symptoms and other concerns >> RLR, I need a question answered, please.
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Message started by lr3216 on Aug 4^th, 2007, 12:01pm

Title: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by lr3216 on Aug 4^th, 2007, 12:01pm

Hello RLR,
I have printed out your wonderful explanations about palpitations.
As of this last April, I just have not felt well at all. In the month of May, I had a two week fever (which was going around our area). Then, after power mowing our teeny back yard, and I mean a small back yard, I got huge and on going palpitations (about 10-15 mins). I went into a panic attack and now, no matter what I do, if its strenuous, I get palpitations. My doctor had me wear a Holter Monitor and said there were only two odd beats that were seen in that 24 hour period. Now, when I walk hurridly or do much of anything,I get the palpitations. Can this be anxiety related or wasn't something more omnious caught on the Holter and I should get it checked out further. I am 64. Thank you for answering me.....I have also had panic attacks for the last 40 years and am on no medications for it. I am also taking Tenormin but just 12.5 mgs to help with the thyroid issues, (Hashimotos) and just recently was told to increase my synthroid meds for that.
Again, I just need a kind voice in the mud of my life!

Thank you for your time, LR3216 :)

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by saab on Aug 4^th, 2007, 12:20pm

Just wanted to say welcome to the forum. RLR will be along at some point to answer your question. It may be helpful to say if you have had any other tests like ecg's or such like. The Claire Weekes book, "Self Help for Your Nerves" is very good on anxiety and panic atacks. Best wishes.

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by lr3216 on Aug 4^th, 2007, 1:37pm

Hi Saab,

Years ago I did have ekg's and even the stress tredmill test and all was fine but that was probably 10 years ago. This is just different in that I can't even help husband dry off the car, without going
into palp mode. I see other 64 year olds and they are golfing, major yard work...etc....and i just
cannot do that anymore. I have never been one for exercise (ask my husband) but have loved yard work., etc.

Yes, all of the Claire Weekes books are my bibles and they are sooooo dogeared its unbelievable.....but as I said, this is seems like its beyond the norm of panic attack. Last night we walked up a hill after a concert and it just did flutter type palps which was also not the normal kind that I have been feeling.

I do hope RLR will give me some advice. Here I sit, feeling sorry for myself and wondering what this is really all about.

Thank you again for your advice about the book.

LR3216 :)

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by angiebaby on Aug 4^th, 2007, 2:20pm

I am only 37 and i get them upon the smallest of excertions!! Ever since i became ill with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and depression. It is put down to anxiety and panic attacks and it does stop, which is something. I have had thousands of ECG's and i have had a three day holter monitor, it just showed sinus tacchycardia and sinus arrhythmia which the cardiologist has said is normal, he also thinks that i am having ectopic heart beats, again benign and normal. I don't like the fluttering feelings and the very fast heart beat although my fast and somebody else's fast are probably far apart. I have clocked my heart doing 130 which by some people's standards i know is not that fast, but it certainly feels that fast when it is bashing away and i can feel it all over and hear it in my ears! RLR will sort you out i am sure, he has wonderful advice and excellent knowlegde.
Welcome to the site and all the best.xx

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by lr3216 on Aug 4^th, 2007, 4:00pm

Hi angiebaby!
Wow, 37 and you are just in the same mudbath as most of us are! All these palpitations just play havoc with our minds so much and the moment we mention the word "anxiety" we are tossed into the "ignore" box! When this is real and it affects your life and all your thought processes.....I just want to toss it over to them and say, here now you try this and see how it feels!

Sending you a feel good hug today and thanks for your reply! Maybe some magic will happen and a special pill will be formulated to take care of these dreaded palps!

LR3216 :)

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by angiebaby on Aug 4^th, 2007, 5:58pm

Hello there, i am sure that there are much younger people than me and even on here, sure of it. I don't feel very young, lol.
My cardiologist said that his hospital waiting room was always full of people who suffer like we do and we just had to live with it. Hopefully as we begin to get a bit better the symptoms will start to subside some. But he says that i am normal, find that hard to believe but he is the expert!!
Take care.xx

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by RLR on Aug 6^th, 2007, 4:25am

Hello and welcome to the forum.

The onset of a panic attack subsequent to the experience of palpitations is quite common, particularly if the person directly equates the event with heart disease. You mentioned that you have had panic disorder for about 40 years but did not mention whether you've ever experienced palpitations as well.

At this point, my response would somewhat depend upon more clarification. If your synthroid has been increased prior to the palpitation events, then together with the Tenormin, it would serve to explain why the occurances are taking place in the presence of strenuous activity. One of the classic side effects of synthoid is the presence of palpitations, particularly when either establishing a therapeutic dose or increasing it. Remember that the thyroid acts upon metabolism and can effect the heart rate. Tenormin, a beta blocker, even in mild doses can act to create a threshold of the sinus rhythm of the heart. In other words, without the medication, the demands placed on the heart are responded to with a corresponding increase in both heart rate and cardiac force to whatever extent is necessary to compensate. While taking beta blocker drugs, there is an effect upon this upper threshold. It does not mean that your heart will fail, but rather that it will only compensate to a certain exent, the consequences of which result in oxygen debt and quicker fatigue.

My guess here is that the recent increase in synthroid is mainly responsible in your case. I wouldn't give this any concern where heart disease is concerned. I do advocate, however, that you limit outside strenuous activity that is particularly associated with exposure to heat. Synthroid can cause heat intolerance that rather sneaks up on some folks. Stay well hydrated and limit exertion under such conditions. Also, achieving maximum therapeutic benefit from synthroid is sometimes a trial and error process, very dependent upon symptomatic response of the patient. If the palpitations become more frequent or cause you to limit your activities, then discuss this with your primary care physician. A determination can be made whether up or down-regulation may be warranted, but the side-effect may be temporary and subside with continued use at the present dose.

I would give a little more time and ease into your regularly attended activities to determine whether the symptom dissipates over time. As I've discussed monitoring results before on the forum, we can see many things on the test strip that would indicate the presence of heart disease and it's not necessary for us to actually see the palpitation events to know whether they represent something "ominous."

If the palpitations continue, then your doctor may consider either a physical or chemical treadmill test to help determine whether sufficiency is being challenged, but at this point I'm still leaning more toward the recent change to your medication regimen.

You'll be just fine.

Best regards and Good Health

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by lr3216 on Aug 7^th, 2007, 9:03pm

Hi RLR,

Many thanks for your time and for your response. One clairfication that I do need to make it that I have just as of yesterday, started to increase the Synthroid dose. I am only increasing it by taking .100 mcg one extra day per week. So....I haven't been taking any extra prior to when the palps with exertion happened. I seemed to understand from your post, to me, that you thought I had recently increased the Synthroid but I have been on the same dose for 3 years and monitored on a very regular basis. I do appreciate the infomation about heat intollerance and Synthroid. I had no idea of that side effect. Perhaps its time to go back on the Levoxyl. My doctor changed it to Synthroid
because she seeemed to feel from my comments, that I might feel better on it. Now, I guess I feel more scared than before and more unsure of what is really going on. This is also my birthday so things just seem to hit home today, more than they should!

Thank you again, LR3216

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by RLR on Aug 8^th, 2007, 3:45am

Well, you shouldn't feel scared or more concerned. I see nothing among your description that would cause me to consider the prospect of heart disease. In light of the presence of both panic disorder and Hashimoto's disease, there are perfectly rationale circumstances for the presence of palpitations.

The clarification regarding your dosing for Synthroid does not suggest another more sinister cause for your palpitations. The holter monitor and other diagnostic tools are very capable of detecting the presence of heart disease that would initiate the onset of arrthymias.

Again, I just don't see anything here that warrants fear of heart disease. Enjoy your birthday celebration and plan on many more. You're going to be fine.

Best regards and Good Health

Title: Re: RLR, I need a question answered, please.
Post by angiebaby on Aug 8^th, 2007, 11:28am

Well, i hope you had a lovely birthday and had a wonderful day.xx ;D