I am 41 and I have a heart arrhythmia. I have had an ep study that found nothing. I was told I no longer needed medication so I was taken off metoprolol. Well I started having issues so they put me back on 25mg of metoprolol. I continued having heart flip flops so the dr. has upped my medication and I am now on 100mg of metoprolol xl. I have been having flip flops and flutters and now my heart feels like it stops and starts and also have palpitations. My dr.. says not to worry but that is easier said than done. I am suppose to go on summer vacation and now I feel I can't go because of this. I have major anxiety so I am going to see a councelor to see if that helps. I just am not sure what to do . Do I try to find a new dr.? Do I see if I can get on another 30 day monitor to make sure nothing has changed?
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Hello Liddylulu,
I can appreciate your concerns and reservation about going away on vacation without really knowing if what your are experiencing is something of concern or not.
Are you under the care of a cardiologist or a primary care physician?
If I were you, I would consult a cardiologist. Without an electrocardiogram, I cannot tell you what the flip flops and flutters are. My experience as a critical care nurse leads me to guess that these sensation can be premature atrial contractions (PACs), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) or short runs of premature ventricular tachycardia, which is more serious.
Regards,
Maryann
May 27, 2013 - 5:37pmThis Comment
I have a cardiologist and and electrophysiologist. They both tell me it is nothing to worry about. I have not had a heart monitor on in quite a while so I am not sure if this is more of the same problem or it is something new that they have not seen yet. I have anxiety over this problem so I am not sure if that is causing extra stress on the situation. Are PACs and PVCs in the class of svt?
May 27, 2013 - 7:00pmThis Comment
Hi Liddylulu,
This problem is causing you stress and increased anxiety. Personally, I would want to have a heart monitoring done to rule out any new developments. If you are not satisfied with the current level of care that you are receiving from your cardiologist and electrophysiologist, speak up and also consider a second opinion.
A premature atrial contraction or PAC is amongst the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia. It is due to the premature discharge of an electrical impulse in the right atrium, which is an upper chamber of the heart. It occurs earlier than the next regular beat should have occurred. Most people describe the sensation as missing or skipping a beat.
A premature ventricular contraction or PVC is an extra, abnormal heart beat that begins in one of the heart's two lower pumping chambers called ventricles. These extra beats disrupt your regular heart rhythm and can feel like a flip-flop or skipped beat in your chest.
Supraventricular tachycardia or SVT is a rapid heart rhythm, with heart beats from 100 to as much as 300 per minute. Most episodes of SVT are caused by faulty electrical connections in the heart camera. What causes the electrical problem is not clear.
I hope that this information is helpful.
Maryann
May 28, 2013 - 4:53pmThis Comment
My cardiologist is sending me a heart monitor that I will wear for 30 days to see if anything new is going on. I have done so many of those it doesn't bother me anymore. I kind of feel better having one because if something is going on he will be able to see it. I have had about 10 episodes today. The skipped beats. It is just very scary and the anxiety with it is aweful. I am always waiting for the next one to show up. Thank you so much for the information.
May 28, 2013 - 6:23pmThis Comment