need info..heart freaking out

Ok peeps, Went to the Drs for a cold and congestion w a 5 day headache.... They check my stats and tell me my pulse is 30 and should be 60-100. They do an EKG and its abnormal so they call the cardiologist and set an appt for the next morning for a holster monitor to see whats up. oh and they keep asking me if I'm dizzy..."No no I'm not" ..They are shocked and ask if I drove there and if I am light headed or feeling dizzy "no I say... Should I be worried to drive?" Their response was "no as long as I don't feel dizzy or faint and if I do go to the ER"

I went to get the monitor to wear over night and returned it yesterday. The Dr called me today to tell me that my heart is giving out extra beats. I tell him I have always had PVC's and never feel them and remind him that he checked me out a year ago and said they were ok as long as they didn't bother me. Well he said its like the PVC but on steroids. 8 extra in a row. constantly. an electrical issue and wants me to have an echo cardiogram asap and his office will call me. He said if I get dizzy or light headed go to the er cause it would mean I'm in Cardiac Arrest. Wow I asked if I have any restrictions and he said I wouldn't lift or exert myself and go to the er if I don't feel right. And then said his office would call to set up an appt. click

ok...so I don't over react but that's a little scary! They called and I go in Monday at 2:30. I own a children's boutique and they didn't say not to work or drive or anything but I must say I'm a little nervous.

My husband wants to know if it could be because of the surgery and the rapid weight loss. My thought is that losing 107 pounds should be making my heart happy!!!!

Any way... wanted to share and see if anyone has ever had anything like this happen.... I also don't want to share with my family (other than my hubby) or friends because that would just add more freaking out with them...

Figures I feel healthier than I have in 15 yrs to now have a heart issue... wish me luck and thanks for letting me vent!!!

xo

Darcy

 Hope all works out well.

Andrea. 

Since you had these before, just not as severe, I would think that it's not due to your weight loss. Try not to stress too much over it. You're getting taken care of by a specialist who will advise and do what is needed to ensure you stay healthy. If there is some sort of problem, it's good that you're finding out this way instead of suddenly having a medical emergency.

Take it easy!

This is my thought on it and I could be completely wrong (I probably am) but it's just the first thing that popped into my mind. When you gain weight (and when you lose it, especially rapidly!) it can put a lot of stress on your heart. That can lead to an irregular heartbeat.

If I were you I wouldn't freak out until you know something is actually wrong. Try to relax and enjoy your weekend without thinking about it too much. Good luck!

 

At this point, I wouldn't worry, but I also don't know if I would work. There are many reasons for the slow heart rate and extra beats, one of them being your electrolytes being off. Have they done any blood work recently to check you potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and inonized calcium? If those levels are off, that can be a huge factor in arrhythmias.

Also, did they say what the interpretration was on the EKG? For a heart rate that slow, it could be a normal rhythm, just slow, or a different arrhythmia that can progress to more severe problems.
Until they know more about why you are having this problem. I would recommend having someone drive you where you need to go (if the extra beats get too long, they can make you pass out and then crash), minimize activity (no exercising, heavy lifting, or straining), and take a stool softener if you have problems with your bowels (straining for a BM can further slow the heart rate down).

Once they determine the cause of the HR and the results of the echo, they will be able advice further on activity level and recommendations.

Good luck and remember everything can still come back OK.

Laurie

I had dizzy spells anywhere and actually passed out at home.  This started around 7 months post op. My PCP ordered several tests over months, that included 2 Holter Monitor tests and one Event Monitor test.  I had pulse rates of 45 and 38 when fitted with these devices. I too was asked if I felt dizzy? Felt OK?  Finally a cario doc consult, one more Holter Monitor test, and I had a diagnosis. I needed a pacemaker implant to control my low bp numbers.  No more issues since the implant, about 5 years ago now. I was told at my last pacemaker checkup that I likely will need a battery replacement within the next few months. DAVE

Thanks for all the kind words! Dave did they say why that happened and did the surgery effect it?

The cardio dr said that it was the lower part of my heart that was having the extra beats like 8 in a row at a time. That it's most likely electrical. I looked that all up and sounds like ventricular tachrycardia. Which people drop dead from according to the web md. That is if you have a too long of a stretch of beats because the hearts doesn't get to push the blood thru properly.

That being said is scary but I am not freaking out because I am doing what they said lol which wasn't much. I'm sure I'll be fine just want to figure it out. Doesn't help though my BFF is a cop and she is flipping telling me she goes on calls all the time where people drop dead that we're at the drs earlier in the day and released for test. She wants me in bed til Monday. But that's just not me.

Blood work was all ok but need to get back on my thyroid meds I'm hypo but dr said doesn't think that's what's going on.

Oh my! Make sure you take it easy.  Good luck and keep us posted.  I'll keep you in my prayers.  (And, I couldn't stay in bed until Monday either!)

 My potassium was low and the symptoms included a possible heart problem.  You could look it up on the internet.  I had no inkling or symptoms, that I was aware of.  That's the only idea that I can offer.  I now have  a prescription for a supplement and my PCP will do another blood test soon to follow up.