New kind of palps for me

[Meat-Head]

Hello. I'm new here.

I have a history of anxiety and heart palpitations. I first asked a doc about them (and had first EKG) at around 14 years old. I am male.

I'm also obese but have had several periods of weightloss/fitness. To be specific: 4 years ago, I was 250 pounds (5'9") and ran a marathon. Not walked. Ran. Took me a little over 5 hours. I have done a couple half marathons and Hood to Coast relays also prior to that. But, after the marathon, I took a "break" that has turned into 4+ years and a gain of around 90 pounds. I know this is a bad thing.

My palpitations have been a continual source of anxiety for me. I have been on 2 SSRIs for anxiety (Fluoxitine/Prozac, and Venalfaxine/Effexor). I also added Buspar to Effexor.

I had some side effects from the Effexor. So, I went off them slowly. I've been off SSRI/Buspar for around 3 months.

Now, I only have Xanex for "emergencies". I average about half a xanex every 3 days lately (which is a bit of an increase to when I was on SSRIs)


I've had several EKGs done, and I've done a 48-hour holter. All have shown no heart disease/defects.

I'm used to having palpitations that feel like big beats or skipped beats or fluttering.

I'm also pretty practiced at taking my pulse--both because it's a paranoia thing for me AND from running/fitness training.

Ok, so here's the NEW question:

Lately, around 3-4 times, I've had what feels like a stopped heart. Not only that, but I can't feel a pulse. This has lasted less than 10 seconds. But, it feels like everything stops. Twice it has happened after I climbed a set of stairs (maybe 5-10 seconds after I get to the top). So, it appears to be triggered by "recovery" somehow. I'll immediately put my finger to my neck to feel for a pulse, and I'll get nothing. Then after several seconds it slowly comes back. It does NOT come back with a "thud".

These are new to me, and I am concerned. Are they just a different kind of "benign" palpitation? Or, are they something else?

Thanks for any input/help.

[Aaahhfreakout]

Any stoppage or slowing of the heart for up to 10 seconds would cause you to pass out or feel faint. So I guess it's not that.

Do you get any chest sensations when it happens?

[Meat-Head]

Any stoppage or slowing of the heart for up to 10 seconds would cause you to pass out or feel faint. So I guess it's not that.

Do you get any chest sensations when it happens?


Thanks for the reply.

I've been trying to remember exactly how long it was. You know in-the-moment things feel longer than they are.

If I had to guess, it was a full 5-6 seconds.

I felt weird. It felt like my heart stopped within my chest. I didn't feel a tightness or pain or anything.

My head felt flush for a moment (but that could just be an anxious response).

It is possible that it was a run of PVCs where there was like a series of pauses with weak beats in between. But it was like I couldn't feel a pulse. But with the moment of anxiety maybe there was something. It's hard to be certain.

[countrygirl]

Sometimes a big pvc can feel like your heart has stopped as it literally takes a second or two to beat again plus if you get a run of them the beats can be so faint and erratic that you won't feel them in your pulse! The head rush is very common after pvc's I have had it for many years.
I was told that all these harmless palps chop and change over time and appear as new symptoms but in reality they are just a normal variance of an old symptom.
As ever if you truly feel it needs investigating then do talk to you Dr about the change and they may do another moniter for a couple of days to see if they can catch them but as one cardio said to me, we only worry if someone reports actually blacking out or faintness with chest pain but feeling faint is very common even with harmless palps.

[Aaahhfreakout]

I'd add that I have, in the past, managed to convince myself that my pulse had stopped when it hadn't, it was just the way I was pressing my neck.

[Meat-Head]

Thanks for responses folks.

I've had these a few more times now. Sometimes with a head-rush and sometimes not. Also, I don't think it's a full 5 seconds.

If I had to guess, it's probably pause..weakbeat...pause...weakbeat...pause....beat ...beat..beat...normal



I still hate it. But, I had one today without freaking out. So, that's good.

[anaconda]

Hi

I have the same gaps between beats often preceded by a heavy beat, along with regular ectopics (ie thousands per day). It's nothing to be concerned about and is common.

One point. Lose weight. Do it. Now.f There is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the stomach is involved in the creation of palps and ectopics. Two electrophysiologists (specialist cardiologists) have advised me that whilst solid scientific evidence is lacking, it is clear that the physical impact of the stomach on the diaphragm, vagus nerve and indeed the heart itself is a factor for many people.

I lost weight and it reduced my ectopics from thousands to hundreds per day. I got complacent and put weight back on and I'm bad again. I'm not huge by any means - 5ft 10 and 15 stone but a modest weight loss can make a difference.

Best wishes

[Meat-Head]

Hi

I have the same gaps between beats often preceded by a heavy beat, along with regular ectopics (ie thousands per day). It's nothing to be concerned about and is common.

One point. Lose weight. Do it. Now.f There is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the stomach is involved in the creation of palps and ectopics. Two electrophysiologists (specialist cardiologists) have advised me that whilst solid scientific evidence is lacking, it is clear that the physical impact of the stomach on the diaphragm, vagus nerve and indeed the heart itself is a factor for many people.

I lost weight and it reduced my ectopics from thousands to hundreds per day. I got complacent and put weight back on and I'm bad again. I'm not huge by any means - 5ft 10 and 15 stone but a modest weight loss can make a difference.

Best wishes


Thank you. And I AM working on the wright loss thing...again.

:)

For me, I've been heavy all my life. I was 70 pounds in first grade... I blame my mom.. :)

But I'm working on it.