Re: Have you had these heart symptoms?

December 8, 2005

It might be necessary to use a King of Hearts monitor for a longer period of

time. With lies' vtach and svt she had the system for 3 months. We

captured both arrhythmias the last week of the three months.

shaynapearl happyclam8@...> wrote: I'm wondering if anyone's had these

symptoms and if so, what kind of

tests you did to figure out what it was and/or how you treated it.

For several years, I've had occassional episodes where my heart rate

suddenly skyrocketed (sometimes to over 200 bpm). My chest was

pounding, my throat was tight. The last several episodes have been

closer together (3 this fall) and the fatigue afterwards has been

intense. My chest is usually sore for quite awhile afterwards.

Once it was sore for about 4 days.

I had an echocardiogram a few weeks ago and it was normal (I was

quite relieved!). I also had an electrocardiogram which was normal

but it was not taken during an episode. They gave me a king of

hearts monitor to try to catch the episode on the spot but naturally

I didn't have an episode during the two weeks when I had the

monitor. (Typically they only occur 4 times/year or so). The

episodes are not brought on by anxiety. Of the last 6-7 episodes, I

was only anxious once before the episode. Generally, they've

occured when I'm relaxed. Several times they occured when I was

exercising, but it was exercise that I do regularly and am

acclimated to.

Any thoughts?

Best,

Shayna

Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are

not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

December 8, 2005

Shayna

I have similar periods, but also times when my heart rate is around

40. My neuro thinks it is autonomic, but I'm trying to find a local

cardiologist as he thinks I might have to wear a unit that I can send

data over the phone at the time it is happening. I have also had a

chemical stress test and scan which showed that the return of blood to

the front of my heart is very slow. It is probably time to repeat that

as well.

Have you seen a cariologist or has your primary doctor ordered these tests?

I hope you find some answers.

laurie

> I'm wondering if anyone's had these symptoms and if so, what kind of

> tests you did to figure out what it was and/or how you treated it.

> For several years, I've had occassional episodes where my heart rate

> suddenly skyrocketed (sometimes to over 200 bpm). My chest was

> pounding, my throat was tight. The last several episodes have been

> closer together (3 this fall) and the fatigue afterwards has been

> intense. My chest is usually sore for quite awhile afterwards.

> Once it was sore for about 4 days.

>

> I had an echocardiogram a few weeks ago and it was normal (I was

> quite relieved!). I also had an electrocardiogram which was normal

> but it was not taken during an episode. They gave me a king of

> hearts monitor to try to catch the episode on the spot but naturally

> I didn't have an episode during the two weeks when I had the

> monitor. (Typically they only occur 4 times/year or so). The

> episodes are not brought on by anxiety. Of the last 6-7 episodes, I

> was only anxious once before the episode. Generally, they've

> occured when I'm relaxed. Several times they occured when I was

> exercising, but it was exercise that I do regularly and am

> acclimated to.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Best,

> Shayna

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

> are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail

> is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

> responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with

> their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

> automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

December 8, 2005

--- shaynapearl happyclam8@...> wrote:

> For several years, I've had occassional episodes

> where my heart rate

> suddenly skyrocketed (sometimes to over 200 bpm).

> My chest was

> pounding, my throat was tight.

This happens to me a couple of times a year but I've

never investigated it. I do get tacchy occasionally

without chest pounding.

Mom to the two best kids in the world!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

__________________________________________________

December 9, 2005

Thanks, Joanne. What were lies' symptoms? Having the KOH

monitor for a longer period of time is a good idea. There's a

shortage of them at the hospital I go to so I suspect my doctor will

have to do some serious advocating to make that happen. So far, my

primary care doc has been handling this but I wonder if my mito doc

or a cardiologist should get in on it. I guess I'll talk to him

about that when I see him.

I'm wondering if anyone's

had these symptoms and if so, what kind of

> tests you did to figure out what it was and/or how you treated

it.

> For several years, I've had occassional episodes where my heart

rate

> suddenly skyrocketed (sometimes to over 200 bpm). My chest was

> pounding, my throat was tight. The last several episodes have

been

> closer together (3 this fall) and the fatigue afterwards has been

> intense. My chest is usually sore for quite awhile afterwards.

> Once it was sore for about 4 days.

>

> I had an echocardiogram a few weeks ago and it was normal (I was

> quite relieved!). I also had an electrocardiogram which was

normal

> but it was not taken during an episode. They gave me a king of

> hearts monitor to try to catch the episode on the spot but

naturally

> I didn't have an episode during the two weeks when I had the

> monitor. (Typically they only occur 4 times/year or so). The

> episodes are not brought on by anxiety. Of the last 6-7 episodes,

I

> was only anxious once before the episode. Generally, they've

> occured when I'm relaxed. Several times they occured when I was

> exercising, but it was exercise that I do regularly and am

> acclimated to.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Best,

> Shayna

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

severity of the attack.

>

December 9, 2005

lies' cardiac symptoms have been a funny or atypical mix (what else is

new?). Soemtimes she would complain of dizziness, sometimes she was short of

breath, other times she felt her heart racing or skipping beats. Worse yet, her

episodes of vtach (the most serious of her arrhythmias) were completely

asymptomatic. they just happened to occur while she was wearing a Holter

monitor so thei were captured and identified. The svt caused the symptoms she

actually felt.

Her echo has remained normal even though she has had progressively more air

hunger, shortness of breath and, more rarely, dizziness.

When our hospital runs out of KOH monitors they subcontract for units from

another company. We have always been able to get one even if it means a short

delay. The longest my girls have used them is 3-4 months.

shaynapearl happyclam8@...> wrote:

Thanks, Joanne. What were lies' symptoms? Having the KOH

monitor for a longer period of time is a good idea. There's a

shortage of them at the hospital I go to so I suspect my doctor will

have to do some serious advocating to make that happen. So far, my

primary care doc has been handling this but I wonder if my mito doc

or a cardiologist should get in on it. I guess I'll talk to him

about that when I see him.

I'm wondering if anyone's

had these symptoms and if so, what kind of

> tests you did to figure out what it was and/or how you treated

it.

> For several years, I've had occassional episodes where my heart

rate

> suddenly skyrocketed (sometimes to over 200 bpm). My chest was

> pounding, my throat was tight. The last several episodes have

been

> closer together (3 this fall) and the fatigue afterwards has been

> intense. My chest is usually sore for quite awhile afterwards.

> Once it was sore for about 4 days.

>

> I had an echocardiogram a few weeks ago and it was normal (I was

> quite relieved!). I also had an electrocardiogram which was

normal

> but it was not taken during an episode. They gave me a king of

> hearts monitor to try to catch the episode on the spot but

naturally

> I didn't have an episode during the two weeks when I had the

> monitor. (Typically they only occur 4 times/year or so). The

> episodes are not brought on by anxiety. Of the last 6-7 episodes,

I

> was only anxious once before the episode. Generally, they've

> occured when I'm relaxed. Several times they occured when I was

> exercising, but it was exercise that I do regularly and am

> acclimated to.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Best,

> Shayna

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

severity of the attack.

>

December 9, 2005

I had an event monitor for 30 days, which was long enough to capture

6 events, each a bit different. I mostly have bradycardia (slow bpm)

episodes, but also arrhythmias and tachycardia. Went from 50 bpm up

to 120 bpm in several seconds. I found that caffiene made the

episodes worse.

Eventually I may need a pacemaker, but as long as the episodes are

intermittent and tend to be at night when I'm not out and about, the

cardiologist isn't very concerned. The episodes are most definitely

cardiac of origin, not anxiety attacks, and probably caused from a

metabolic problem I guess. I do not have cardiomyopathy and passed a

stress test.

Take care,

RH

I'm wondering if anyone's

> had these symptoms and if so, what kind of

> > tests you did to figure out what it was and/or how you treated

> it.

> > For several years, I've had occassional episodes where my heart

> rate

> > suddenly skyrocketed (sometimes to over 200 bpm). My chest was

> > pounding, my throat was tight. The last several episodes have

> been

> > closer together (3 this fall) and the fatigue afterwards has been

> > intense. My chest is usually sore for quite awhile afterwards.

> > Once it was sore for about 4 days.

> >

> > I had an echocardiogram a few weeks ago and it was normal (I was

> > quite relieved!). I also had an electrocardiogram which was

> normal

> > but it was not taken during an episode. They gave me a king of

> > hearts monitor to try to catch the episode on the spot but

> naturally

> > I didn't have an episode during the two weeks when I had the

> > monitor. (Typically they only occur 4 times/year or so). The

> > episodes are not brought on by anxiety. Of the last 6-7

episodes,

> I

> > was only anxious once before the episode. Generally, they've

> > occured when I'm relaxed. Several times they occured when I was

> > exercising, but it was exercise that I do regularly and am

> > acclimated to.

> >

> > Any thoughts?

> >

> > Best,

> > Shayna

> >

> > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

> contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

> The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

> List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

> content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

> changes in their own treatment.

> >

> > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

> sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

> severity of the attack.

> >

December 9, 2005

Were the monitors the type that activate automatically, in addition

in response to the patient pressing the button? Several of my

episodes were captured because the event monitor was a newer unit

that detects irregular heartbeats etc., and automatically saves the

last minute or so and starts recording, even if the patient doesn't

notice an event.

Take care,

RH

I'm wondering if anyone's

> had these symptoms and if so, what kind of

> > tests you did to figure out what it was and/or how you treated

> it.

> > For several years, I've had occassional episodes where my heart

> rate

> > suddenly skyrocketed (sometimes to over 200 bpm). My chest was

> > pounding, my throat was tight. The last several episodes have

> been

> > closer together (3 this fall) and the fatigue afterwards has been

> > intense. My chest is usually sore for quite awhile afterwards.

> > Once it was sore for about 4 days.

> >

> > I had an echocardiogram a few weeks ago and it was normal (I was

> > quite relieved!). I also had an electrocardiogram which was

> normal

> > but it was not taken during an episode. They gave me a king of

> > hearts monitor to try to catch the episode on the spot but

> naturally

> > I didn't have an episode during the two weeks when I had the

> > monitor. (Typically they only occur 4 times/year or so). The

> > episodes are not brought on by anxiety. Of the last 6-7

episodes,

> I

> > was only anxious once before the episode. Generally, they've

> > occured when I'm relaxed. Several times they occured when I was

> > exercising, but it was exercise that I do regularly and am

> > acclimated to.

> >

> > Any thoughts?

> >

> > Best,

> > Shayna

> >

> > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

> contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

> The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

> List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

> content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

> changes in their own treatment.

> >

> > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

> sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

> severity of the attack.

> >

December 9, 2005

> > For several years, I've had occassional episodes

> where my heart

> rate

> > suddenly skyrocketed (

Today I had a small episode of this at work. Checked

sats and pulse. Sats were only 93% and pulse was about

103. I was more concerned about the sats than the

pulse. I have no know cardiac or pulmonary problems. ARgh.

Mom to the two best kids in the world!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

__________________________________________________

December 9, 2005

Ummm...might I ask what 'sats' are?

Curiously,

Shayna

>

> > > For several years, I've had occassional episodes

> > where my heart

> > rate

> > > suddenly skyrocketed (

>

> Today I had a small episode of this at work. Checked

> sats and pulse. Sats were only 93% and pulse was about

> 103. I was more concerned about the sats than the

> pulse. I have no know cardiac or pulmonary problems. ARgh.

>

> Mom to the two best kids in the world!

> http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

>

> __________________________________________________

>

December 9, 2005

Oxygen Saturation - measurement of oxygen carried by hemoglobin in the

blood. Normal values 90% - 100%.

shaynapearl happyclam8@...> wrote: Ummm...might I ask what

'sats' are?

Curiously,

Shayna

>

> > > For several years, I've had occassional episodes

> > where my heart

> > rate

> > > suddenly skyrocketed (

>

> Today I had a small episode of this at work. Checked

> sats and pulse. Sats were only 93% and pulse was about

> 103. I was more concerned about the sats than the

> pulse. I have no know cardiac or pulmonary problems. ARgh.

>

> Mom to the two best kids in the world!

> http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

>

> __________________________________________________

>

December 10, 2005

93% sats is a good number.

Anything below 90 is abnormal.

I have long QT and my cardio put me on potassium for it and it sure has

helped, no more dizzy spells, blackouts or arrythmia so far, knock on wood....

my potassium was low and he said that people with long qt have to watch

their potassium.

December 10, 2005

Can a person check their oxygen saturation themselves? If so, how?

Or, did you go to a doctor?

> >

> > > > For several years, I've had occassional episodes

> > > where my heart

> > > rate

> > > > suddenly skyrocketed (

> >

> > Today I had a small episode of this at work. Checked

> > sats and pulse. Sats were only 93% and pulse was about

> > 103. I was more concerned about the sats than the

> > pulse. I have no know cardiac or pulmonary problems. ARgh.

> >

> > Mom to the two best kids in the world!

> > http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

December 10, 2005

To check O2 sats at home you need equipment called a pulse oximeter. Several

of us have that equipment either because we have medically fragile children or

supplemental oxygen (although many individuals have supplemental oxygen and no

pulse oximeter).

shaynapearl happyclam8@...> wrote: Can a person check their

oxygen saturation themselves? If so, how?

Or, did you go to a doctor?

> >

> > > > For several years, I've had occassional episodes

> > > where my heart

> > > rate

> > > > suddenly skyrocketed (

> >

> > Today I had a small episode of this at work. Checked

> > sats and pulse. Sats were only 93% and pulse was about

> > 103. I was more concerned about the sats than the

> > pulse. I have no know cardiac or pulmonary problems. ARgh.

> >

> > Mom to the two best kids in the world!

> > http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

December 10, 2005

--- Joanne Kocourek servedogmom@...> wrote:

> Oxygen Saturation - measurement of oxygen

> carried by hemoglobin in the blood. Normal

> values 90% - 100%.

>

That's true, but.... A normal person's sats are

usually 98-100%. Below 92-90% is critical. Of course,

medicare doesn't pay for oxygen until your sats reach

less than 88%. Mine should be closer to 100%. You

measure this with a pulse oximeter, the little thingie

they put on your finger in the hospital with the red light.

Mom to the two best kids in the world!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

__________________________________________________

December 10, 2005

--- MitomomX3@... wrote:

> 93% sats is a good number.

> Anything below 90 is abnormal.

93% is not a good number for anyone with no cardiac or

respiratory issues. This group should be 98-100%. 90%

is a critical number, not the start of abnormal.

Mom to the two best kids in the world!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

__________________________________________________

December 10, 2005

HI,

Thanks for that info. Regarding the values you give on the pulse

oximeter - are they for resting? I happen to have one on while having

a thyroid core biopsy. I noticed that mine was close to 100 while

resting, but when I moved even a little bit, it went down right away. I

moved the other arm and my legs to test that, not the hand that had it

on. I could not test it thoroughly, and don't remember the values, but

I am curious what they should be while moving - walking, for instance.

Thanks.

Regards

Sunny

>

> --- MitomomX3@... wrote:

>

> > 93% sats is a good number.

> > Anything below 90 is abnormal.

>

> 93% is not a good number for anyone with no cardiac or

> respiratory issues. This group should be 98-100%. 90%

> is a critical number, not the start of abnormal.

>

> Mom to the two best kids in the world!

> http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

>

> __________________________________________________

>

December 10, 2005

--- z39z@... wrote:

> Thanks for that info. Regarding the values you give

> on the pulse

> oximeter - are they for resting?

Shouldn't really matter much whether active or

resting. How far did it go down? Was it momentary or

did it last? A point or two is no big deal. But a

desaturation occurs when there is a drop of about 4%.

Often docs don't think this is a big deal but, very

conservatively, it shouldn't happen often. For

example, if my baseline is 98% and I drop to 93%, I've

desatted. If my baseline is 100% and I go down to 95%

I've also desatted. Now, if my baseline is 95% I could

go to less than 91% before I desatted. The stress of

the procedure could have caused the drop. I'd not be

too concerned about that at all, as long as it wasn't

a huge drop.

Also, if you're cold a pulse ox may not pick up

correctly.

Mom to the two best kids in the world!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

__________________________________________________

December 10, 2005

> Shouldn't really matter much whether active or

> resting. How far did it go down? Was it momentary or

> did it last? A point or two is no big deal. But a

> desaturation occurs when there is a drop of about 4%.

Thank you, . I could not tell too much because I had also had to

lie still for the procedure a lot. It was a few points - could have

been 3,4,5,or 6 - they all would see a small number to drop from 99. I

do know the pulse oximeter reading did drop each time I was active. I

will keep this in mind, and investigate further when I get the chance.

My pulse also increases what I think is a lot as soon as I move, going

from possibly low 70's when sitting to mid or high 80's when walking

normally - and the increase happens pretty quickly. I am also looking

at that more closely.

Thanks again. Best Regards,

Sunny

>

December 10, 2005

--- z39z@... wrote:

> My pulse also increases what I think is a lot as

> soon as I move, going

> from possibly low 70's when sitting to mid or high

> 80's when walking

> normally - and the increase happens pretty quickly.

This seems normal. It's better than mine, certainly.

Mom to the two best kids in the world!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasandkatie

__________________________________________________

December 25, 2005

Hi Joanne - here's my experience with cardiac arrhythmias (palpitations,

tachycardia). They started one day when I was in my mid twenties. Doctors

were not concerned as said it was a common thing. When I was 28 and had my

first child I had trouble breastfeeding but was encouraged by Nursing Mothers to

just keep on feeding and the milk would come. I took it to extreme and had my

baby on the breast almost all the time (and still could not produce enough

(Mito??)) Anyway during that period I had the most shocking palpitations which

I put down to the extra stress my body was experiencing during that period. My

whole body would shake and heart pounding sometimes up to an hour at a time. As

it was coming on blood would rush into my neck and my head would get dizzy so I

knew it was coming on. Resting would not help . I felt nauseated but moving

around was better, but nothing stopped it till it was ready to stop. Over the

years the palpitations continued (doctors not concerned), no telling what

triggered them, except that I noticed sometimes they would start when I had bent

over say to tie shoelaces and straightened up after that, and I could sometimes

stop them by holding my breath and going back down again for a while, and after

a while coming up slowly while exhaling.

I am 56 now and at this age doctors have been more concerned when palpitations

have occurred, as they have said there is more likelihood for blockages like

plaque in the arteries. I had a bad episode and went to the doc several years

ago but wouldn't you know it it stopped just as I was sitting down in the chair.

He sent me to a cardiologist who gave me exercise stress test and echo which

were normal (exercise was not normally a trigger so this was not really a good

test though). So they said don wurry be yappy. So I threw myself into my high

stress IT job, but when I worked for long hours my heart would start pounding.

Two months later I had a heart attack and was in intensive coronary care for

three days. Angiogram showed clear arteries so they were all completely

confused as my heart was in spasm (still four years later ECG shows damage). It

was called coronary spasm, and one called it tako tsubo syndrome although

current cardio says it was due to high cholesterol and plaque .

I don't know if the heart attack had anything to do with the palpitations. I

had atrial fibrillation recorded during the infarction. I was put on heaps of

medications including statins and couldnt tolerate (now know why). I still had

pounding episodes during periods of stress (either physical or emotional) and

caught one episode of atrial fibrillation on a 24-hour monitor so cardio now has

me on Isoptin (Verapamil) 120mg. ( I also take Questran and Ezetrol for

cholesterol). The Isoptin seems to have stopped the arrhythmia - I can

sometimes feel it wanting to come on but it doesn't continue. I think Isoptin

lowers blood pressure but not sure so it may just be for certain people.

I don't know if any of this helps. Now I know I have mito (Melas) I can't help

but think they are all connected. I feel stress is a factor (and certainly

was for my infarct), although as you say one often " feels " relaxed when they

start. Maybe its a conduction malfunction which I understand can be part of

mito (and according to what I have read, pacemaker fixes this). Since you do

have this problem I would recommend keeping a close eye on your body's

cholesterol levels. I also am interested to hear of other cardiac stories.

pamela

January 2, 2006

Hi there,

Hope you don't mind me putting my 2 cents in to say that I started with

palpitations/tachycardia in my early twenties as well. Docs attributed it to

stress. It only happened once or twice a year in the beginning. It became

more frequent in my thirties. Docs still found reasons to say it was

stress. I did 24 hour holters but it never happened during that time. EKG

and Echo looked normal. I hit my forties and it became even more frequent,

sometimes several times a month. I was sent to a Cardio by my MDA Neuro who

gave me an event monitor and I was able to capture a number of episodes.

He thinks it is possibly AVNRT (AV Nodal Reentry Tachycardia), which would

be a congenital defect of having extra pathways. He can't say for sure it

this is the case or it is possibly Mito related. It was suggested that I

have a cath done with the possibility of ablation if the extra pathway could

be found. I was cautioned that there exists the possibility that if a

pathway was found and it was too close to the AV Node I could end up with

needing a pacemaker.

The alternative was to try medication. I was told I would need to be on it

for life and that there may come a time when it won't work anymore. I chose

the medication route and have been on Toprol for almost two years now with

great success. I still have times when I feel like the tachycardia will

start. Most times it doesn't. If it does it is nothing like what I

experienced and is short lived. I was cautioned not to attempt to drive when

an episode hits as the possibility exists that I could pass out.

My heart rate would go into the 180s when an episode hit. I would feel

short of breath and my body would shake. I felt weak and my only

alternative was to lay down and I would sleep it off. Sometimes an event

would last for many hours before it would start to subside. I would be

exhausted and weak for a day or two after it happened.

I could never find a trigger for the episodes.

I have a son with an enlarged aortic root.

I have another son with a conduction block.

No heart issues in my other kids at this time.

We live with suspected Mito.

Hope this was a help.

Hugs,

Marie (suspected Mito mom to eight suspected Mito kids)

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of pamelama33

Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 8:58 AM

To:

Subject: Fw: Have you had these heart symptoms?

Hi Joanne - here's my experience with cardiac arrhythmias (palpitations,

tachycardia, fibrillation etc). They started one day when I was in my mid

twenties. Doctors were not concerned as said it was a common thing. When

I was 28 and had my first child I had trouble breastfeeding but was

encouraged by Nursing Mothers to just keep on feeding and the milk would

come. I took it to extreme and had my baby on the breast almost all the

time (and still could not produce enough (Mito??)) Anyway during that

period I had the most shocking palpitations which I put down to the extra

stress my body was experiencing during that period. My whole body would

shake and heart pounding sometimes up to an hour at a time. As it was

coming on blood would rush into my neck and my head would get dizzy so I

knew it was coming on. Resting would not help . I felt nauseated but

moving around was better, but nothing stopped it till it was ready to stop.

Over the years the palpitations continued (doctors not concerned), no

telling what triggered them, except that I noticed sometimes they would

start when I had bent over say to tie shoelaces and straightened up after

that, and I could sometimes stop them by holding my breath and going back

down again for a while, and after a while coming up slowly while exhaling.

I am 56 now and at this age doctors have been more concerned when

palpitations have occurred, as they have said there is more likelihood for

blockages like plaque in the arteries. I had a bad episode and went to the

doc several years ago but wouldn't you know it it stopped just as I was

sitting down in the chair. He sent me to a cardiologist who gave me

exercise stress test and echo which were normal (exercise was not normally a

trigger so this was not really a good test though). So they said don wurry

be appy. So I threw myself into my high stress IT job, but when I worked

for long hours my heart would start pounding. Two months later I had a

heart attack and was in intensive coronary care for three days. Angiogram

showed clear arteries so they were all completely confused as my heart was

in spasm (still four years later ECG shows damage). It was called coronary

artery spasm, and one called it tako tsubo syndrome although current cardio

says it was due to high cholesterol and plaque not evident at the time .

I don't know if the heart attack had anything to do with the palpitations.

I had atrial fibrillation recorded during the infarction (but not the worse

one ventricular fibrillation). I was put on heaps of medications including

statins and couldnt tolerate (now know why). I still had pounding episodes

during periods of stress (either physical or emotional) and caught one

episode of atrial fibrillation on a 24-hour monitor so cardio now has me on

Isoptin (Verapamil) 120mg. ( I also take Questran and Ezetrol for

cholesterol). The Isoptin seems to have stopped the arrhythmia - I can

sometimes feel it wanting to come on but it doesn't continue. I think

Isoptin lowers blood pressure but not sure so it may just be for certain

people.

I don't know if any of this helps. Now I know I have mito (Melas) I can't

help but think they are all connected. I feel continuing stress is a

factor (and certainly was for my infarct), although as you say one often

" feels " relaxed when they start. Maybe its a conduction malfunction which I

understand can be part of mito (and according to what I have read, a

pacemaker may rectify this). Since you do have this problem I would

recommend keeping a close eye on your body's cholesterol levels. I also am

interested to hear of other cardiac stories. pamela

January 2, 2006

Very interesting thanks Marie and worth more than 2 cents. My 23yo son also has

some sort of cardiac conduction defect - will have to check on all these things.

pamela

Fw: Have you had these heart symptoms?