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My girlfriend is having some weird stuff going on with her heart and I'm pretty worried. She's going to make an appointment to see a doctor first thing tomorrow but I was hoping someone here might have some advice as to what it might be. WebMD turns up 92 possibilities so perhaps someone here can help narrow it down.
She tells me that it feels like her heart rate skyrockets as if she was panicking then she feels like her heart is skipping beats or something which results in her coughing. When she coughes it seems to normalize her heart beats but it can be painful. This sort of thing seems to happen randomly even when she's just sitting around. The only thing that seems to increase the chances of it happening is her laying down.
Like I said, she's going to see a doctor tomorrow but I'm worried and fishing around for answers anywhere I can.
 
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Oh, this is just normal muscular convulsions.
I get them all the time. It's totally normal, greatest danger is thinking it is a heart attack. Just sit down, breathe deep, wait it out. It's just muscular tension resolving itself or something like that. I've had them since I was ten, parents got worried, doctor said I would be fine and that nothing could be done. So don't worry about her!
Unless she is over 21. In which case she should see a doctor immediately. Just to be sure.
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She tells me that it feels like her heart rate skyrockets as if she was panicking then she feels like her heart is skipping beats
I have this exact thing from time to time, just without the coughing. Most of the time it happens when i am close of falling asleep.
I highly doubt it's something serious but yeah visiting the doc is still good.
@Praetorial - I am getting 26 and still have it :o
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She's 27. Hopefully it's nothing. She has been stressed lately but this has never happened in the past when she's been way more stressed than this.
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On April 05 2012 10:31 cbt111 wrote:Show nested quote +She tells me that it feels like her heart rate skyrockets as if she was panicking then she feels like her heart is skipping beats I have this exact thing from time to time, just without the coughing. Most of the time it happens when i am close of falling asleep. I highly doubt it's something serious but yeah visiting the doc is still good. @Praetorial - I am getting 26 and still have it :o
15 and I have it...guess it's a common problem.
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Yeah, I get a similar feeling from time to time, it's stress related in my case, sounds as if it's similar in hers.
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Why is it that you guys are making me feel lucky that I don't have fucking chest pains? I'm 16. Shouldn't chest pains be the last thing on my mind? I should be worried about that blond chick in math class, not a massive blood clot heading straight for my aorta.
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On April 05 2012 11:01 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:
Why is it that you guys are making me feel lucky that I don't have fucking chest pains? I'm 16. Shouldn't chest pains be the last thing on my mind? I should be worried about that blond chick in math class, not a massive blood clot heading straight for my aorta.
Objection, I'm a year younger and I like cute girls too!
Once you learn to ignore it, it stops becoming a distraction.
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On April 05 2012 10:14 Phyre wrote:
My girlfriend is having some weird stuff going on with her heart and I'm pretty worried. She's going to make an appointment to see a doctor first thing tomorrow but I was hoping someone here might have some advice as to what it might be. WebMD turns up 92 possibilities so perhaps someone here can help narrow it down.
She tells me that it feels like her heart rate skyrockets as if she was panicking then she feels like her heart is skipping beats or something which results in her coughing. When she coughes it seems to normalize her heart beats but it can be painful. This sort of thing seems to happen randomly even when she's just sitting around. The only thing that seems to increase the chances of it happening is her laying down.
Like I said, she's going to see a doctor tomorrow but I'm worried and fishing around for answers anywhere I can.
I hear the Emergency Room is a good place to seek medical knowledge.
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On April 05 2012 10:14 Phyre wrote:
My girlfriend is having some weird stuff going on with her heart and I'm pretty worried. She's going to make an appointment to see a doctor first thing tomorrow but I was hoping someone here might have some advice as to what it might be. WebMD turns up 92 possibilities so perhaps someone here can help narrow it down.
She tells me that it feels like her heart rate skyrockets as if she was panicking then she feels like her heart is skipping beats or something which results in her coughing. When she coughes it seems to normalize her heart beats but it can be painful. This sort of thing seems to happen randomly even when she's just sitting around. The only thing that seems to increase the chances of it happening is her laying down.
Like I said, she's going to see a doctor tomorrow but I'm worried and fishing around for answers anywhere I can.
can you give more detail.
and. in the case that this has been happening for less than a full day...get the hell off your computer and take her to the ER.
if it's been ongoing, just wait for the doctor.
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if you have any doubt at all, stop being stupid and goto the ER.
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Sounds like a panic attack to me
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On April 05 2012 14:08 Renent wrote:Show nested quote +On April 05 2012 10:25 Praetorial wrote:
Oh, this is just normal muscular convulsions.
I get them all the time. It's totally normal, greatest danger is thinking it is a heart attack. Just sit down, breathe deep, wait it out. It's just muscular tension resolving itself or something like that. I've had them since I was ten, parents got worried, doctor said I would be fine and that nothing could be done. So don't worry about her!
Unless she is over 21. In which case she should see a doctor immediately. Just to be sure. What you are saying may possibly be true but you are basing this entirely off symptoms not signs. I fail to see how you came to your diagnosis. The reason to see a physician is not only so they can look at the vitals (blood pressue/pulse/spo2 etc) and good accurate history but that they also have access to other diagnostic tools such as an ECG/Bloodwork/ultrasound etc... Anything cardiac related should always be evaluated out by a physcian as soon as possible... Also curious why the line at 21? And wouldn't the greatest danger is thinking its not a heart attack when really it could be?
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
On April 05 2012 13:11 Masq wrote:
if you have any doubt at all, stop being stupid and goto the ER.
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On April 05 2012 10:14 Phyre wrote:
She tells me that it feels like her heart rate skyrockets as if she was panicking then she feels like her heart is skipping beats
But is it actually skyrocketing or she just feels like it is? Sometimes it can feel like it but its not actually happening. Do you know how to measure a pulse? If her pulse is jumping around without her doing anything that is not a good sign.
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Oh, this is just normal muscular convulsions.
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My advice is to ignore "it's normal" advice from TL and take any heart issues seriously - call a doctor or take her to the hospital.
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Is the feeling like she can perceive her own heartbeat as if its racing? Like 'her heart is gonna come out through her throat'? If so, we call that symptom palpitations, and it usually translates an arrhythmia. Could be a variety of things but going with the description it sounds like either a panic disorder or a supraventricular tachycardia. However it is impossible to point a diagnosis without a consult. I'd recommend her to visit the ER/private physician and note the following things:
-Does it appear during physical exertion or while at rest?
-Is it accompanied by loss of conciousness?
-Are the heart beats slow or fast? Regular or irregular?
-How long does the symptom last?
-Any other problematic symptoms?
-Is it accompanied by shortness of breath or chest pain?
Also, if possible, try to consult when the symptom is present, so they can do an EKG which has a higher chance of being diagnostic. You should also know most causes of this kind of symptom are benign and self-limited, so go to the ER or your doctor, but be calm, its most likely something mild.
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Common things being common likely to just be a panic attack.
If its an actual arrythmia the most likely cause will be atrial fibrillation.
There are a variety of treatments for the condition, and it can be caused by a variety of things.
Next time she feels that way she should go to an ER and an ECG will clearly show the condition
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What is your basis for A Fib? It may be right it may be wrong but I always like to see the thinking paths behind any cardiac diagnosis. Also, an ECG may not clearly show the condition simply because it is reported by the OP as being intermittent. She may need a holter monitor that she can wear for a long period of time and bring back to the hospital for analysis.
As I said earlier I wouldnt even dare to make a diagnosis with just symptoms. No vitals, no signs, no ECG etc... She also may need a ultrasound and bloodwork drawn...
It could just be a normal inspirational sinus arrhythmia.
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There are a variety of arrhythmias that could explain the symptom, but as has been previously said, it's impossible to point a precise diagnosis without a full consult. If they think it's an arrythmia they'll probably not be able to get it in the ECG considering it most likely only happens when she has the symptoms, so she'll probably require a Holter study.
The point is, you should see a doctor, I also tried to calm the OP down as he seems really stressed. Most of the diagnostic possibilities are benign conditions and self-limited or with simple treatments, you shouldn't worry excessively, just enough to see a doctor.
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I hope your Girlfriend is alright!
You should open up a doctors corner here on TL =)
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Hey mordk, I was also going to ask you about your reasoning behind SVTs...
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On April 07 2012 02:24 Renent wrote:
Hey mordk, I was also going to ask you about your reasoning behind SVTs...
It's just a rather common arrhythmia on young people suffering palpitations as a symptom, but it's just a suspiscion, without a consult it's impossible to know. You'd need to clear up more anamnestic details and throw in a small workup if you think that's the diagnosis.
Usually the patient refers several episodes of sudden onset of fast, regular palpitations, with equally sudden cease of the symptoms. But in this case it was meant more as an example than a specific diagnosis, since I'd have to see her myself and do the appropriate tests to actually know.
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Cool cool, I am guessing you obviously work in the health care system but as what?
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On April 06 2012 04:05 mordk wrote:
-Does it appear during physical exertion or while at rest?
-Is it accompanied by loss of conciousness?
-Are the heart beats slow or fast? Regular or irregular?
-How long does the symptom last?
-Any other problematic symptoms?
-Is it accompanied by shortness of breath or chest pain?
Classic questions! Also family history is an important one.
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CA10828 Posts
while this thread topic itself is problematic (due to the fact that we have no VS or PE to work with), i really wish that people without any medical expertise would refrain from commenting from these type of health-related issues.
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On April 07 2012 12:01 LosingID8 wrote:
while this thread topic itself is problematic (due to the fact that we have no VS or PE to work with), i really wish that people without any medical expertise would refrain from commenting from these type of health-related issues.
pretty sure anyone with medical expertise expressed how important it is seek professional care.
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Don't screw with heart stuff
Go to the ER
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On April 07 2012 12:01 LosingID8 wrote:
while this thread topic itself is problematic (due to the fact that we have no VS or PE to work with), i really wish that people without any medical expertise would refrain from commenting from these type of health-related issues.
This is a very important issue. Personally I'm by no means an expert, but I do have clinical experience. However, whenever I answer a topic with a medical question I always try to remind the asker that there's no way in hell I can do a full evaluation over the internet, and that they need to see a doctor.
I've thought about opening a "medical questions thread", but it can be dangerous, people should always understand that even when given by a doctor, medical advice through the internet =/= a real medical consult.
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On April 07 2012 14:19 mordk wrote:Show nested quote +On April 07 2012 12:01 LosingID8 wrote:
while this thread topic itself is problematic (due to the fact that we have no VS or PE to work with), i really wish that people without any medical expertise would refrain from commenting from these type of health-related issues. This is a very important issue. Personally I'm by no means an expert, but I do have clinical experience. However, whenever I answer a topic with a medical question I always try to remind the asker that there's no way in hell I can do a full evaluation over the internet, and that they need to see a doctor. I've thought about opening a "medical questions thread", but it can be dangerous, people should always understand that even when given by a doctor, medical advice through the internet =/= a real medical consult.
It's not actually a bad idea for some of the smaller trivial health problems they may have though. Obviously half the time they will just be referred to go seek a health professional. But like if they have some sort of skin problem like say eczema, (they can attach pics), they can be told to get some hydrocortisone cream OTC from the local store etc.
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On April 07 2012 14:19 mordk wrote:Show nested quote +On April 07 2012 12:01 LosingID8 wrote:
while this thread topic itself is problematic (due to the fact that we have no VS or PE to work with), i really wish that people without any medical expertise would refrain from commenting from these type of health-related issues. This is a very important issue. Personally I'm by no means an expert, but I do have clinical experience. However, whenever I answer a topic with a medical question I always try to remind the asker that there's no way in hell I can do a full evaluation over the internet, and that they need to see a doctor. I've thought about opening a "medical questions thread", but it can be dangerous, people should always understand that even when given by a doctor, medical advice through the internet =/= a real medical consult.
A doctor on TL? Man, we really need to get a health care provider thread going!
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I have exactly the same thing and the doctor told me to do a "stress test".
(Like extreme endurance conditions test)
'will see what I have, I'm kinda worried too.
Hope it turns out well with your girlfriend.
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ER will likely not find anything. ECG can only pick up this much. Like someone stated there will be a need for Holter/stress test. Impossible to predict what causes palpitations without registering them as they happen.
Once any of you guys get more info please post your results. Its usually diagnosed as panic attacks/anxiety disorder and most professionals close their eyes on the issue, where it could potentially be dangerous. Ah, youre young, dont worry about it, just stress/muscle twich. Well, Ive had this for years. It wont go away on its own. My guess is chemical imbalances, did your gf do any drugs or drank often? Could be a trigger too.
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Never read webmd, it ain't worth it man.
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Sorry for no updates. She's fine now, the weird heart racing stuff slowly went away after a few days. Turns out all that stuff happened after she had a bunch of pure cocoa. -_- Like, three times to recommended daily amount. For someone that practically never has caffeine and thus has no tolerance whatsoever, it had quite the nasty effect.
Now you know what happens when you intake way too much caffeine in a short period of time. Just glad she's okay but jeez does she make odd decisions sometimes.
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Wait, cocoa has caffeine in it?
I have a similar problem and it gets worse when I drink coffee. I think it's not just the caffeine, it's every stimulant as well. I still drink coffee (pretty irresponsible of me) because I'm apparently addicted to it - as time passed I kind of learned to cope with the symptoms (to an extent).
All of that appeared out of nowhere when I was 24 and it doesn't have to do with just coffee.
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EPT
