Tachycardia -anyone?

Hello there,

For the past few years I would have these "episodes" where my heart would just start POUNDING really fast -and it would last anywhere from a minute to sometimes 4 minutes. It doesn't happen often - I would say 4 times a year - but when it happens it is SCARY. I started going to a cardiologist and I have had all the tests done - EKG, Stress Test - and everything has checked out fine except he says I have tachycardia.

He says it's not dangerous, just uncomfortable.

I had another episode on Saturday - that was the first one since last March -

Does anyone else get this? How do you deal with it if you do? Ever since Saturday I have been a nervous wreck it's going to happen again. I slept like 3 hours last night and the hours I was awake lying there I was convinced that it was going to happen again. I am totally exhausted today.

Anyone else experience this? I feel like I am all alone because my husband doesn't understand how uncomfortable it is when it happens.

Thanks! Lauren

PS - I made an appt to see the DR tomorrow because I am due for a follow up.

Re: Tachycardia -anyone?

I Have that! I would have really bad palps and my heart would beat very fast, especially at rest. I did the halter monitor a few times, ekg's, stress tests, ER- all of it. And the tachy should up each time- nothing you can really do. i was on med for 3 years and my 2nd cardiologist found that i had MVP. ONce i started TTC i came off the meds and i have been ok for a few years, minus just bad days i have. I try to exercise regularly, and watch the caffeine intake. I also dont take OTC cold meds- it aggrivates it.

Re: Tachycardia -anyone?

Re: Tachycardia -anyone?

Yup. I have superventricular tachycardia. I have had it since i was about 15. It used to be really bad, it would last all day. I was diagnosed when i was about 20.

It has gotten better throughout the years, as i have become a much less stressed person. I used to get it very regularly and I had no idea what was happening. As a teenager, I didn't know what to do with myself. When I was on my senior trip in high school, we climbed a mountain 2.5 miles uphill and the same distance downhill. I had an episode while going uphill, but i didn't know what it was, so i had to keep going. They said to me "boy you are out of shape." Geez.

Anyway, for me, it is not dangerous. I don't have many episodes any more, but i do once in awhile. The biggest triggers for me are stress, lack of sleep, and illness.

I have learned how to relax myself while it is happening. After all, i have 18 years of experience with it! This will sound strange, but when i get an episode, I "squat" down and relax my mind. Not sit, but squat. I tried some medication, but it just slowed down my heart rated, didn't do anything to the actual tachycardia though. Try different positions and see what works for you to help slow it down. But if the doctor says it is not dangerous, then you are fine.

If you are still concerned, I suggest you do a couple of things. I don't know if you have had this, but you probably should have an echocardiogram, just to take a look at the heart. It is just a sonogram of your heart and it doesn't hurt. Also, you can take your test results to another cardiologist for a second opinion, just to be sure of everything. Doing a little more investigative work and second opinions are never a bad idea for your health.

So anyway, my tachycardia is very managable and it sounds like yours is too. People are very understanding if you just need to stop what you are doing b/c of an episode. There is no need to be afraid if you have the type that is not dangerous. In fact, most people now don't even know I have it b/c, when i have an episode, I just pretend to drop something on the floor so I can "squat" without looking weird, I relax my mind for a few minutes, and the tachycardia goes away!!!

I wish you the very best and FM me if you any questions or concerns.

Re: Tachycardia -anyone?

A cardiologist can refer you to an electrophysiologist. You might be able to take a beta blocker to help your symptoms. You just have to make sure your BP does not get too low.

Re: Tachycardia -anyone?

My brother had this about 7 years ago. He had to have surgery on his heart, and they fixed it. He hasn't had an episode since.

They told him that he was born with it, but it sometimes doesn't show itself until later in life. He would have never known something was wrong otherwise.

Definitley go see a cardiologist, my brother went through St. Francis.