Readers Respond: Tell Us About Your Palpitations

Readers always find it helpful to hear about the experiences of others who have been in the same boat. So tell us:

What turned out to be the cause of your palpitations?

How was the diagnosis finally made?

Did learning the diagnosis lead to effective treatment, or at least, relieve your worries?

NOTE:This is not an interactive comment section. If you'd like to participate in a real DISCUSSION about palpitations - or any other heart-related issue - please go to our (free) Forum. Share Your Experience

Glass of wine helps

First started to suffer with palps when I was in my 20's, but not often, but over the last 3 years (now 60) have suffered more often, I have had all the test and no high blood pressure, no signs of heart problems, actually in good health, but still suffer with this very frightening thing, usually wake in the middle of the night with attacks, so thinking it is my diet, but then I don't eat fats or over eat, but do notice during attacks I go to the loo more often and just recently I am having palps on and off during the day, which has never happened before, I find a glass of white wine stops them fast, but can't keep doing this, as not a drinker, but why does this stop them and what else can I do other than have a glass of wine ? and why it is happening ?

—Guest Collie

heart thumps

Hi everyone ive been haveing this feeling from my heart it feels like my heart stops and i feel like im going to pass out or faint. Ive been getting these things for about a year and a half now im only 20 i got an ekg done but they found nothing im worryed about this and it scares me.. i read. alot about what you all posted and it. makes me feel alittle better that im. not the onthere out there

—Guest worried

How to stop them???

Hi, I Have had palpatations for many years. Usually under control, I would have maybe oneor two a day. Then last year I had a day where I had them every few minutes! It was horrible! Went to ER and they said I was OK, just stress. Gave me a pill andprescription. I ws OK for a while and found out how Magnesium helps. Been taking it and it worked. Had another expisode last thursday and it has been going on for almost a week. I took a muscle relaxer but only helped a little. this is driving me nuts. I hate it. Been exercigins and doing deep breathing too. Wish there was a way to get rid of this horrible thing. Any one have any other suggestions?? Thanks

—Guest G Lynn

Palps dangerous

Ok... i know this says something different. But are they dangerous are not? I found this article which made me feel more comfortable. http://heart4pvc.webs.com/palpitations.htm

—Guest ed

svt, before and after surgery

Svt has effected me adversely since i was 13 years old. It proggressively got worse as i got older, and it really started to scare me, as my rapid heart beat could last for more than an hour and i would feel really exhausted the day after, which effected my ability to perform tasks. I decided to go to the doctor and try to get to the bottom of why i was getting heart palps. I had a monitor put on me for 24 hours, but the svt didnt happen in this time, so the doc told me the best way to diagnose was for me to go to the hospital and get monitored while i was having an episode. So thats what i did. My heart rate was at 230 beats per minute and i was diagnosed with svt. I had the choice of meds or surgery. I took the surgery and it was a success. I highly recommend it. My quality of life has been much better since. It has been more than a year since the surgery now and last week i started to get some skipped beat feelings. It has been happening often ever since then, hope it goes away:(

—Guest chris

Same thing

It is really nice to be able to read everyone's responses and know this is "normal". Like everyone else, I hate the feeling. Mine is usually the skip beat followed by on hard beat. Happens all day at varying frequency. It is almost always accompanied by gastro-intestinal discomfort and I can actually hear the gas bubbling in my abdomen. I have found that cutting the caffeine and usually taking a treatment of prilosec helps eliminate symptoms, but may take a few days.

—Guest dwell

Supraventricular Tachycardia or SVT

I started having palpitations, going up to 190 bps, in 2007. At the initial stage, I had it almost everyday. I was given betablockers which did not help at all, then diltiazem with lanoxin and ISMN. My palpitations usually lasted on the average about 9 hours (the maximum is 24 hours). I found out that it is related to any discomfort in my stomach and my throat. It happens when I am tired or stressed. I have learned to live with it and sleep it away and waking up it's gone. Sometimes, it does not so I go to the ER and get IVs of adenosine or verapamil. I was scared at first but now I take it for granted and carry on with my normal life. By the way, the betablockers caused my BPs to be low. When I dive down to 70/40, I get the pads to restore my rhythm.

—Guest Antonio

I think palpitations are a Gas

I've suffered from palpitations for over 45 years. I am now 75. What I have found out what causes extra beats is gas builds up in the stomach and presses against the heart and it irritates it and until a person relaxes and expels the gas you will find that eventualy the palpitations will subside. Yes when you first get palpitations they are very frighteing and you feel as though you are going to have a heart attack but fear not the extra beats are frightening but they will not kill you. Pepto Bismol or Maalox helps or a few glasses of wine helps you forget the palpitations. Good Luck.

—Guest Buster

anxiety-panic attacks

I'm 16 years of age and i have been having palpitations for at least several months now ive seen doctor, been rushed to a&e a couple of times and had and ecg test done. I have learnt it probably is all in my head and anxiety but it scares me i worry about everythong and anything now at an age of 16!

—Guest skits

Palpitations

After 10yrs and numerous tests, one emergency Dr. decided to have me wear a 24hr heart monitor. Turns out my heart flatlined three times in the twenty four hours. Emergency surgery for a pacemaker! what a trip. It's been a month since surgery and no more heart racing/dizziness or fainting spells.

—Guest ItsMeSara

a little sharp pain in my chest

My husband had a massive heart attack almost2 yrs ago i have been going through a lot of stress and perimenopause too and a pinched nerve on my neck. It is very scarry

—Guest wanda cruz

Palpitations

I am 59 and have had palpitations for 40 years but not as bad as the past 4 months, went back to the Cardio Doc he listens and said you had a halter monitor 2 years ago, I wouldn't worry about it, today I had about 50 skips so far and give you queasy feeling in your head, I take 1/2 xanax, no relief, Doc says take another BP Beta Blocker when it happens, didn't help...what the hell is going on??

—Guest Chris

massive changes in diet help

OMG!! Put on 25 mg toprol once a day against my wishes. Was having menopause symptoms & looking for relief of hot flashes, palps, pounding heart, & occasional blood pressure elevation. Labs & heart tests all perfect & clear. No heart disease. Wanted to try diet/exercise/herbs for menopause, told "use toprol instead". Immediately felt poisoned, sick to somach, worse heart symptoms, called & said I felt dread & that I was going to die. Told not to worry, keep taking meds. Nightmares, hallucinations, worse heart palps & trouble exercising, weight gain began. Went back & said do not like meds, but told to stay with them. Decided after one year of hell to cycle off on my own. 1st week took half tab, second week took half tab every other day, next week none. some heart palps & anxiety returned...also decided decaf coffee is contributing as was any chocolate, sugar & red wine. stopped all of those, drink only herbal relaxing teas, water, I meditate & deep breathing seems to help.

—Guest Lynn

anxiety palpitations

My heart palpitations started around 2-3 years ago but suffering twice as much in the last 3 months. I've frequently seen my doctor but keep being turned away saying im fine. I used to smoke canibis but quit as soon. as i started to feel the palpitations and assumed it was down to that, im honest with my doctor and tell him everything, he assures me its not down to that but simply suffering from anxiety. im starting therapy soon and just praying it helps....... Fed up of feeling like this now!

—Guest rick Lawson

oh my skip beats

Thank God! it may sound odd but I am glad that I am here in this site. I suddenly started noticing short and sharp electric stings in middle chest when I walk or climb stars for past 1 year and recently started getting skip beats. first it scared me to hell and I had ecg, treadmill and blood test which are all normal. I am very hefty and I thought my weight would give me heart trouble. but all came well but still the skip beats come atleast once a week. some times even 8-10 per min. I dont know wether its food or tension or what not?this thing is worst than a bad relative! its eating my peace! I just felt kind of having lot of bro's and sisters after visiting this site. It is so uncomfortable to have these skip beats and the Dr says everything is OK! I some times get depressed without knowing wether to be afraid during this episodes or not! God I wish I get some reasonable help by explaination to this problem of mine.

—sirishareddy