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Heart Palpitations Forum >> Symptoms and other concerns >> Have I got this right?
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Message started by Typer on Apr 26^th, 2010, 4:07am

Title: Have I got this right?
Post by Typer on Apr 26^th, 2010, 4:07am

RLR please excuse my persistence...I am sorry if seem dumb, but slowly each question that arises has been answered by you. This has led me to deal with things better, but not as good as I'd like. I am getting there and hope to eventually be able to say I have palps, but they dont have me. For now, they have me.

My questions:

1. So the AF people experience, can be experienced by anyone but they are unrelated to having palps and palps would not turn to AF. Do I have that right?

2.On a few occasions, after I arise from a sedate position, I have had a very rapid and powerful/strong heart beat..if I sit for a moment it resolves - I worried this was AF but, would it be correct to say no, its all part of the same problem as the palps?

3.The fluttery feeling, like a fast, small pulse in the chest, followed by a pause and then the heart kicking back in with force. Is this all part of the palps and again not AF?

4.My other question relates to my feeling dizzy when looking at pure white...like me cleaning the white cupboard and also under fluorescent and bright or dusk light. Is this connected or a neurological other thing?

Title: Re: Have I got this right?
Post by George88 on Apr 26^th, 2010, 7:33am

In regards to your second question, I once asked my GP this because I noted that sometimes I would stand up and my heart rate would go up to about 130 and pound in my chest.

I don't remember his exact words but it is a normal response to a change in blood pressure. If you go from lying or sitting to standing up all of a sudden then your blood pressure must change (rise) to keep blood flowing to your brain and other vital organs. He said your blood "drops" to your feet when you stand up suddenly so your pulse and blood pressure rise in order to maintain adequate blood flow. I'm sure you've had it where you stand up suddenly and you feet a little faint and dizzy for a few seconds. This is because of a downward change in blood pressure and is the reason your heart pounds when you get up.

Also, about your dizziness when looking at white. No idea about an answer, but I have noticed I sometimes also get dizziness that's triggered by things that never 'used' to make me dizzy. I don't have specific things that cause dizziness, it tends to be random. For example I can read a long paragraph on my computer and feel a little wonky after but then it won't happen again. Sometimes if I look up quickly (look at the clock, etc.) I will suddenly feel a little dizzy. If I read something up close (e.g. piece of paper) and its blocking most of my vision, when I look away I will feel dizzy. I think dizziness is common with anxiety and I think it's safe to say you're anxious.

Anyway, hope you get over your palps. When I first started noticing skipped beats and pauses in my pulse I would have panic attacks and would be terrified all the time. I still get them a lot but I don't really care about them anymore. I think a lot of people naturally become desensitised to them because eventually you will realise that nothing has happened to your heart as a consequence of skipped beats and your position has remained the same the entire time. I have had a lot of worry over my skipped beats but when I look back at it I just think what a waste of time and energy that worry was because nothing has happened. Even if something was going to happen, worrying won't help.

George.

Title: Re: Have I got this right?
Post by RLR on Apr 26^th, 2010, 10:39am

Okay, you're not suffering from atrial fibrillation. It's important not to try and match what you feel in the way of symptoms with the clinical aspects of any type of arrhythmia. It doesn't work like that. AF rarely spontaneously resolves and often requires fleccanide or similar drug to induce cardioversion to restore normal sinus rhythm.

When rising from a seated or lying position, some people can experience orthostatic hypotension depending upon certain factors that may be present. In your case, it would be understandable. It does not, however, constitute a disorder in of itself. It merely means that physiological changes in response to motions against gravity are not quick enough to maintain perfusion. The cardiac center in the brain receives feedback that induces increased cardiac force and rate in order to quickly establish equilibrium. You sense this as rapid heart rate and pounding heart. These are compensatory actions by the body and not a sign of disease. So benign palpitations of the type you and others on this forum are experiencing are in no way associated with AF.

As for sensory disturbances when looking at flourescent lighting, pure white or brilliant surfaces and such, this is a consequence of sensory sensitivity. In other words, it is a normal physiological response in most persons at a low and most often undetectable threshold. For persons whose sensory feedback is quite elevated, very strong feedback is transmitted which produces dysregulation that may present as light-headedness, dizziness, racing heart, sweating, feeling disoriented or confused, sensing an oncoming event of some unknown origin that induces apprehension or fear and even panic threshold in some instances. It is harmless.

You'll be fine.

Best regards and Good Health

Title: Re: Have I got this right?
Post by Typer on Apr 27^th, 2010, 10:50am

After a week of feeling anxious and afraid, I feel calmer now you are back and have assured me. In turn, my palpitations are less, not gone, but less.

I thank you and thank whatever power led me to you. Without you, I fear I would have broken down by now.