littlebit27
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24477
posted
My doctors keep asking if I'm having heart palpitations, but I'm not sure. I get this feeling of fluttering in my chest sometimes. My heart rate has been 110-135 lately, well for months now. EKG was normal. I have noticed the fluttering every once in while. Is this a heart palpitation?
Which one causes heart palpitations? I guess I will mention the fluttering with the new primary today and the LLMD during my next appt. But just wondering if this is something other's have experienced.
posted
Bart caused this for me. Some of us use Beta blockers for awhile until tx can take care of it. It is very scary!
Posts: 476 | From Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I get the palpitations and usually notice them mostly at night. It feels like the heart beats irregularly and skips beats. For me this only happens a few times in a week and not every day.
I also have a pulse above 100 even when at rest.
Posts: 26 | From New England | Registered: Mar 2010
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littlebit27
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24477
posted
Yeah the fluttering is random. The last time I had it was a couple of days ago while doing the dishes at night. I can't remember when the other times were though. I just remember the fluttering.
I'm going to get tested through Igenex for bart and babs and the western blots for lyme soon so hopefully that will tell me something.
posted
I believe, technically, palpitations are an increased steady heart rate. The "flutters" and "skips" are an arrhythmia, such as PVC's and PAC's.
I am one of the lucky (unlucky) ones to deal with cardiac symptoms such as PAC's (skips), chest pain, and shortness of breath, with passing colors on all standard tests without a diagnosis.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
I'm sorry. Let me correct myself. Palpitations is technically an awareness of your heart beat (which I do get). Increased heart rate would be tachycardia. Sorry for my confusion.
I believe palpitations is loosely used to a large degree to describe heart symptoms like Kleenex is for tissue.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
EKG's suck!
Get an echo cardiogram! I got diagnosed with frequent PAC's, mitral valve prolapse, and regurgitation of 2 valves.
I took meds, but they lowered my bp too much.
Now I just put up with all the irregularities.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i had the echo done last week. man, it hurt!!
that guy rammed this piece of metal up under my left rib and i thought i was going to break down and cry.
is it supposed to hurt?
i get results back tomorrow. stress test was ok.
he increased my diovan to one pill instead of half adn it seems to have helped a little.
i get those irregular beats adn all mostly when i lay down at night. haven't had them for awhile.
heart rate is now staying down in the 70's and 80's but i've started walking again too.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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lyme in Putnam
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11561
posted
I usually get palpitations near monthly menstrual cycle. EKG was ok and took echo yesterday which showed mitral valve.
-------------------- He took u to it, He'll you through Posts: 2837 | From NE. | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
An echo should not hurt. There should be an ultrasound wand that they roll around your chest.
Maybe the echo device they used on you was some older model or maybe the tech was doing a poor job of being aware of your comfort level. There's no reason to jam the wand under your rib.
I've had three or four of them in the last couple of years and I can't recall any of them being applied painfully.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
An echo should not hurt whatsoever!
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posted
randibear- You are not alone. I have had several echos and they have a hard time seeing my heart due to the way I am made I guess, something about my ribs being close together..?
Anyway, they press that wand up against me so hard that I have had tears in my eyes before..I also have had some bruising afterwards if that tells you anything about how hard they press..
Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I am always very sore the next day too.
Posts: 146 | From Midwest | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
They have a new method of doing an echo now.
I have a nurse friend who told me. They do it through the esophugus (spell check)
Much clearer results can be seen.
Posts: 208 | From Hudson Valley, New York | Registered: Mar 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Fordace, Thanks. That is good to know. From a basic search, here is just one article about that. It's called a TEE. I'd love to see a HEE added on to that, just for fun. (A Humorous and Emotional Experience, maybe?)
With sedation, there would be liver and kidney concerns to consider, depending upon what would be used. ----------------
The transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is an alternative means of producing echocardiograms of the heart. It carries more risk than the standard echocardiogram procedure (which is essentially risk-free), but is still quite safe and under the right circumstances can be extremely useful.
How is TEE performed?
As opposed to the standard echocardiogram, in which the transducer is placed over the chest wall, in TEE the transducer is passed into the esophagus (the swallowing tube) and is positioned directly behind the heart.
To do the procedure, the patient is sedated, and the gag reflex is suppressed by spraying a local anesthetic into the back of the throat. The transducer is then passed through the mouth and throat, and down the esophagus. Once in position directly behind the heart, the transducer bounces sound waves off the heart (just as in the standard echocardiogram), and images of the cardiac structures are produced.
There are two major advantages of the TEE. First, TEE is useful in patients in whom adequate echo images cannot be obtained by the standard echo techniques (most often because their chest walls are particularly thick, or because they have emphysema.) Since the sound waves during TEE do not have to pass through the chest wall or the lungs, good echo images are obtainable in virtually all patients.
Second, TEE can be performed in the operating room during open heart surgery. Intraoperative TEE is especially useful during valve reconstruction surgery. The echo image can give instant feedback to the surgeon as to the adequacy of the repair.
What are the complications of TEE?
The most common problem with the TEE is a certain amount of gagging and throat discomfort during the procedure. Adequate sedation usually minimizes this problem.
Patients often have sore throats for a few days after the procedure. Rarely, perforation of the esophagus can occur (a surgical emergency), and occasionally bleeding from the esophagus is seen.
The (Standard) Echocardiogram -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Yes, Heart palpitations are extremely common and frequent for most lyme patients.
MAGNESIUM Deficiency can cause heart rhythm irregularities of all types. Be sure your magnesium - and calcium - is up to speed so that your heart's pace can be steady, steady..
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