I have a problem that I hope someone can shed some light on for me. I have been having palpitations since Oct. 30, 09. I have graves disease (hyperthyroid). I was sleeping on the couch and woke up with my heart pounding. Went to the ER and received meds. (Inderall) to get me to a normal heart rate. I had just been back on my thyroid meds. for 1 week and was stil very hyperthyroid. It took a while to get my thyroid back to normal, which it is now, but ever since Oct. 30 I have palpitations daily. I am on my 2nd Cardiologist right now hoping he can help me. So far all the tests he and the 1st doctor have done are normal. Does anyone else have any suggestions? Just tired of not knowing when and where I am going to have these Palps. as they are scary sometimes. Thanks in advance!!
Thanks everyone for all your information. I am re-reading everything and trying to take all the info. in. Also I got a report back from my cariologist today regarding my echo stress test and holter monitor. He said my heart is functionin normally and was very pleased with the results. He also said that the palps are due to my thyroid and once I take care of that my palps with go away. I have an appt. with a different doctor for my thyroid on Aug. 23, I was reffered to him by my cadio. My current endroconolgist is hard to get into see and just keeps me on meds. which I heard is not good for the liver. Thank you all again. I am so thankful for all you advice and also that there is a site like this. I will keep you posted.
talk also to your dr about anemia. i have had palps for a few years and while i was preggers it didnt happen very much and then when i went on iron pills it went away completely. make sure they do a blood count.
did they just all of a sudden come on in 2009? trust me too = the more you worry about having the next 'episode' the more they come on...worrying makes it happen more.
It could be stress and you don't realize it or maybe you need to drink more fluids ( I heard that can help ). Here is the Mayo Clinic link to check out causes, symptoms, etc.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-palpitations/DS01139
Has your dr put you on a heart monitor? My first monitor i was on was for 10 days. It caught a lot of my palpitations and other issues. I am taking Rythmol now for it. It seems to help a lot. I hope you find a dr to help you, it really is scary :(
Everyone's a doctor... magnesium doesn't cure everything, people.
Sounds like you need to get a 2nd opinion. If you are left feeling confused, your doctor hasn't done enough. Stay on top of it!
my hubby began having palps last summer. he underwent surgery to "fix" them. he is overweight, has sleep aneia (sp), drank beer for 15+ yrs, and uses tabacco. All of these things eventually caused his heart to have palpitations. i am very supprised they havent given you a reason for the palps. We live in texas and the local doctor sent us to houston. Since then he has quit drinking ( only on occiasions now) and uses a sleep machiene, he is trying to cut back on tabacco and eat better but we all know how hard those things are to do. He no longer has the palps but dr wasnt able to fix it all due to my hubby not wanting to be fully under durring the surgery. hope this helps.
Have they suggested dissolving your thyroid with radioactive iodine? I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in Sept. 2005 because I was having heart palpitations/shortness of breath as well. All you do is take the iodine, which is like a pill and then it dissolves on its own. Very painless and done as an outpatient procedure. You do have to stay away from others (especially children) that you are in close contact with for a few days, so the iodine doesn't affect them. I just regulate my thyroid function with synthroid daily.
I'd say what ever you are taking to control the hyperthyroid condition is not working. The medication for hyperthyroid has a fairly high failure rate (it will work initially, but be less effective as time goes on). This is why many hyperthyroid people end up having part or all of their thyroid removed, then go on hypothyroid medication to regulate their system. Hyperthyroid is very dangerous, and not just for your heart. My sister has had multiple operations just to get her eyes to fit back into their sockets because of her hyperthyroid condition. I think you need a new endocrinologist who will help you with your hyperthyroid symptoms and not just look at some test result numbers and tell you you are fine when your heart is beating out of control.
I don't know your age so this may not apply. I'm currently reading a book about menopause and perimenopause (which can start anywhere from your mid-thirties on) and it mentions heart palpitations as one of the signs of early menopause. Thyroid problems are also mentioned. Just something to think about if you are in the right age group.
Are you taking plenty of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium? I know that sounds silly, but I get extra beats when my minerals are off. I used to get SVTs and was diagnosed with Wolf Parkinson White syndrome and had a pretty "simple" procedure to correct it.
I don't know, but assume that hyperthyroidism could cause heart "abnormalities". If you are checked out by cardiologists and are fine, I would take that to the bank. It is scary to feel, but there are lots of heart issues that aren't life threatening and are just annoying.
My heart rate used to get to 230 for extended periods of time (15 minutes) and it was horrible! The worst that could happen though was I would pass out. Scary, yes and I did get it corrected. But all the cardios I saw were nonchalant because it wasn't life threatening.
Also remember, cause I've been there, that worrying about your heart may cause anxiety and make things worse. Try to relax and just let things happen. They are scary, but things seem normal. How about some yoga or a massage or meditation to help you deal with it....if it's going to be "normal" for you, you will need to find a way to cope with them.
Good luck mama.
I know this sounds crazy, but when I was pregnant with my son, I kept having SERIOUS palpitations, and it turned out to be Reflux. The palpitations would wake me up at night, pout of a dead sleep, and I was having major anxiety because I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It hurt really bad, and the pain would even shoot down into my left arm. I went to the ER 3 times and they couldn't figure it out. I mentioned it to my OB, and she said "That sounds like Reflux to me" I was like YEAH RIGHT! I AM HAVING A HEART ISSUE, I KNOW IT! Well, she told me to take Prilosec for a few days, and see if things got better, and they did. It totally went away. I couldn't believe Reflux could cause these kinds of problems. Just something to think about. Good luck though.
K.
Hi! First of all I'd get rid of the cardiologist and find a really good Endocrinologist. I was recommended to one and he really knows his info. First of all what kind of tests did they run?? If you have hyper-thyroid the palps are a given. They put me on atenalol ( I'm assuming probably the same as your Inderall. This was a 3 pill a day med. and A blood Thinner ( Cumadin) to keep blood from pooling I guess in or around the heart. Have they suggested doing a paddle zap to try and get your sinus rithym back to normal? I don't want to scare you any worse but the specialist told me this ( Palps) could be very dangerous and any over exertion should be discouraged. Have they told you to limit your intake of caffeine? It's another reason for the palps? I would really switch drs. and you'll be amazed how much better results will be. Good Luck! P.S. altho my Palps. are gone I'm still gonna have to have surgery to have my thyroid removed to help get me back to a normal life. P. H
what Wendy says is not silly. Magnesium can regulate the heartbeat. Too much can cause diarrhea. But ask the cardiologist. I imagine it could not hurt to add a little to your diet and see if that helps. If you would like the name of a couple of good ones let me know.
Anxiety can also cause palpitations. I imagine your doc already told you this. If you are stressed about the Graves, I would think this would make some sense and probably could exacerbate an already "off" rhythm.
