Truscifi Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 I have PAC, premature atrial contractions. Feels like my heart skipping. I've had it for years, it happened every once in a while and was no big deal. Until a week or so ago. Suddenly I'm having it multiple times a day, sometimes multiple times in a row, enough that it makes me lightheaded, headachey, and sick to my stomach. Yes, I've been to the doctor. I'm waiting for an appt with a cardiologist. I was told today to go ahead and completely cut out caffeine and drop HIIT exercise until this is sorted but otherwise continue normal activity and just sit down and rest when I have an episode. What could cause this sudden change? I've had no change in diet, exercise, medication, nothing I can think of. It is very unpleasant, like when you stand up too fast, but worse and longer lasting. And I'm concerned I might have an episode while I'm driving. :confused1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Could you be pregnant? (sorry, thats all I can think of) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 I'm pretty sure no. I can be certain in about a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Stress? Some type of low-grade infection? Recent illness (even very minor illness)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I have that happen whenever my vitamin D levels get really low. Acid reflux can also cause it for me, oddly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I think that's what I had once for a shortish time period--a week or two? a month? I was still in my thirties and my youngest was still a baby I think. I called my dad who is a doctor and he explained what it was based on my description and said that he too had a time when he had that. And then it went away and hasn't come back. I have no idea what brought it on or what made it leave. (sorry--no helpful advice, but hope it goes away again for you too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 I have had a cold. Not bad, just a sore throat and a little sinus drainage. I suppose that could be it. I assume vitamin levels are something the doctors will check. I will ask if they don't suggest it. Thank you for the ideas. I hope it goes away too. Or at least back to the one every once in a while that it used to be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I have had a cold. Not bad, just a sore throat and a little sinus drainage. I suppose that could be it. I assume vitamin levels are something the doctors will check. I will ask if they don't suggest it. Thank you for the ideas. I hope it goes away too. Or at least back to the one every once in a while that it used to be. :grouphug: It's awful to live with. When mine gets really bad I have trouble sleeping because every time my heart skips and then thumps really hard it wakes me up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I have PAC, premature atrial contractions. Feels like my heart skipping. I've had it for years, it happened every once in a while and was no big deal. Until a week or so ago. Suddenly I'm having it multiple times a day, sometimes multiple times in a row, enough that it makes me lightheaded, headachey, and sick to my stomach. Yes, I've been to the doctor. I'm waiting for an appt with a cardiologist. I was told today to go ahead and completely cut out caffeine and drop HIIT exercise until this is sorted but otherwise continue normal activity and just sit down and rest when I have an episode. What could cause this sudden change? I've had no change in diet, exercise, medication, nothing I can think of. It is very unpleasant, like when you stand up too fast, but worse and longer lasting. And I'm concerned I might have an episode while I'm driving. :confused1: Perimenopause. I had the same thing happen. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datgh Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I was thinking perimenopause too. That is when my heart started to do a happy dance at times all on its own. Stress also adds to mine as does to much sugar. I hope you can get into a cardiologist soon so you can have some answers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I have that happen whenever my vitamin D levels get really low. Acid reflux can also cause it for me, oddly. Acid reflux causes it for me as well. I think it irritates the vagus nerve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 No acid reflux lately. I'm 38, so a little early for perimenopause, but still within the normal age range. I suppose that could be it. If so, then at least coffee should be okay again, right? My doc said the cardio referral would go to them first thing Monday and I should hear from them pretty quickly. Fingers crossed for a quick appointment. And thanks for the hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 No acid reflux lately. I'm 38, so a little early for perimenopause, but still within the normal age range. I suppose that could be it. If so, then at least coffee should be okay again, right? My doc said the cardio referral would go to them first thing Monday and I should hear from them pretty quickly. Fingers crossed for a quick appointment. And thanks for the hugs. yeah by my understanding. Around age 40 +/- a bunch of us were getting cardio workups. :tongue_smilie: The docs seemed to not be very aware of the connection. Mine were CRAZY. I could have an hour of very irregular beats. Once they knew what they were, there was no treatment offered. They didnt think beta blockers were worth it. The beats did settle down not too long afterwards WRT coffee,you mean like after you're cleared, right? If your heartbeats seem too irregular to the point you cant really figure out what is happening on what beat, go to an urgent care and get an EKG. Atrial fibrillation is a dangerous kind of irregular beat but if they catch it early enough --like w/i 24-48 hours, they can nip it in the bud so it doesnt become chronic.once past the window though it is chronic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 My advice for this situation is to try to get an appointment with an electrophysiologist. It's a special type of cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythm disorders, and most cardiology practices will have one. You can call and ask for one when you make an appointment or look up each doctor's specialties. That made a huge difference in figuring out the problems in our family. One of my DD's is very sensitive caffeine. She can skip ever second or third beat during her episodes, and ten percent of her beats are irregular. But if she's very careful about caffeine, it doesn't bother her as much. I will still get PVCs if I am sick, dehydrated, or sleep-deprived. But taking magnesium made my everyday PVCs go away. If your irregular heart beats go away during exercise, that's a good sign. If they increase during exercise, your cardiologist needs to know, and you should have a treadmill stress test. Ask for a 24 or 48 hour monitor if one isn't offered, but I think it will be. The monitor results were what made the electrophysiologist take my DD's issues much more seriously. The EKG results alone weren't helpful. If you haven't had an echo, they will probably want to have you get one. Most of this stuff is benign but a good work up is important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 They seem to lessen during exercise. Not go away completely, but definitely not worse. My doc said I should probably ask about the 24-48 hr monitor as well, so that is definitely on my list. I will check to see if they have an electrophysiologist. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 I hope you can get it taken care of correctly. Heart problems can be worrisome. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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