Vibrating Heart...please respond. - Heart Disorders Message Board

Potassium · 03-30-2005, 09:16 AM

Hi everyone. I know there is something really wrong with my heart, even though my dad thinks it's my imagination. Let me give you an example-this happened this morning.

I woke up this morning because my heart was...vibrating...quivering....going really fast. I mean so fast you could see in my neck where it was moving. I couldn't count it, too fast! Anyway I am also very short of breath. I manage to make in into the kitchen for a drink of water but on the way back I stop on the floor because I felt like I need to conserve oxygen. So I lay down and take deep breaths. I'm not worried because I've been through this so many times. Eventually while my heart is still shaking I feel a loud THUMP and my heartbeat is regular again. Just like that, in two seconds flat.

I'm not imagining this. And it can't be a panic attack it's comes on all of a sudden and there's basically no other symptoms.

It's also varied, sometimes it happens after I exercise. But the most extreme ones happen when I'm just laying around. It happens about 2-3 times a month.

I'm 16, 120lbs, don't smoke, don't do drugs, and this last episode was about 12 hours from the last time I had caffeine. My mother died of unknown heart disease that destroyed 45% of her heart by the time she was 45, my father had a heart attack and coronary bypass, and they all had high blood pressure. I don't know about mine.

So....what's going on? Should I force my dad to take me to a doctor or is it just a "panic situation" ?

Machaon · 03-30-2005, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potassium

I woke up this morning because my heart was...vibrating...quivering....going really fast. I mean so fast you could see in my neck where it was moving. I couldn't count it, too fast! Anyway I am also very short of breath. I manage to make in into the kitchen for a drink of water but on the way back I stop on the floor because I felt like I need to conserve oxygen. So I lay down and take deep breaths. I'm not worried because I've been through this so many times. Eventually while my heart is still shaking I feel a loud THUMP and my heartbeat is regular again. Just like that, in two seconds flat.

I had similar symptoms when I was a teen. It sounds like you could have Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. Regardless of what it is called, your heart wants to beat faster than it should be beating.

If "panic" is causing your heart to beat fast and hard, which I doubt very much, it doesn't matter, does it? If your heart wants to beat hard and fast, then you need to find out a way to get your heart to beat normally again.

Just saying that "panic" is causing your heart to beat unhealthy and fast and hard, doesn't fix your problem. Your heart is still beating too fast and too hard.

When my tachycardia would start, it would start with a big thud, and then I would almost pass out, and then the beats would start hard and fast. When it was done, there would be another big thump again at the end, and my heart would go back into normal rhythm.

I found a way to stop the fast, hard beating. When I would get a bout of this fast, hard beating, I would lie on my back, and then take deep breaths, hold it for a second, and then breath all the way out slowly, and try to relax at the same time. After a few minutes of this, my heart would go back to normal rhythm.

I had those for about thirty years before I had to get medical help for them. I should have gotten help when I had the very first bout of tachycardia.

You will probably have this problem the rest of your life. There are many things that you eat or drink, or that touches your skin, or that you breath, that could be agitating your heart. If you can find out what is offending your heart and stay away from them, then you will have fewer bouts of tachycardia.

If you keep getting these bouts of tachycardia, you might need to be placed on meds permanently.

You need to see a doctor. The problem with going to a doctor, though, is if your heart is not acting up while you are at the doctors, he might not find anything wrong, and then your father will really think that it is only in your imagination.

Has your father felt or listened to your chest while this is happening to you?

babag · 03-30-2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potassium

Hi everyone. I know there is something really wrong with my heart, even though my dad thinks it's my imagination. Let me give you an example-this happened this morning.

I woke up this morning because my heart was...vibrating...quivering....going really fast. I mean so fast you could see in my neck where it was moving. I couldn't count it, too fast! Anyway I am also very short of breath. I manage to make in into the kitchen for a drink of water but on the way back I stop on the floor because I felt like I need to conserve oxygen. So I lay down and take deep breaths. I'm not worried because I've been through this so many times. Eventually while my heart is still shaking I feel a loud THUMP and my heartbeat is regular again. Just like that, in two seconds flat.

I'm not imagining this. And it can't be a panic attack it's comes on all of a sudden and there's basically no other symptoms.

It's also varied, sometimes it happens after I exercise. But the most extreme ones happen when I'm just laying around. It happens about 2-3 times a month.

I'm 16, 120lbs, don't smoke, don't do drugs, and this last episode was about 12 hours from the last time I had caffeine. My mother died of unknown heart disease that destroyed 45% of her heart by the time she was 45, my father had a heart attack and coronary bypass, and they all had high blood pressure. I don't know about mine.

So....what's going on? Should I force my dad to take me to a doctor or is it just a "panic situation" ?

yes, go see a cardiologist. this is a problem that many people have. i had it for years before getting help and i am still alive. the feelings you have are as scary as many others feel. perhaps they won't find anything at the time as the problem probably doesn't happen frequently but the peace of mind is something too. if you arn't satisfied, go again or to another doctor. i am sorry it disturbs you so much. try the breathing thing that "beerzoids" told you to try. i have been doing that for several years now and it works to calm you and your heart. i would rather someone hit me in the face than have a heart that beats me up inside. you will be ok...

Lenin · 03-31-2005, 07:10 AM

I agree with Beerzoids, it DOES sound like paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. I had it but twice (maybe 250 BPM, once caused by the administration of epinephreine by mistake during stay awake surgery...coudn't count that fast so I'm not sure) and it scared me WHITE especially the time it started just sitting at my desk!

Both bouts lasted around 10-15 minutes that seemed like 15 hours "nearer to God."

babag · 03-31-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potassium

Hi everyone. I know there is something really wrong with my heart, even though my dad thinks it's my imagination. Let me give you an example-this happened this morning.

I woke up this morning because my heart was...vibrating...quivering....going really fast. I mean so fast you could see in my neck where it was moving. I couldn't count it, too fast! Anyway I am also very short of breath. I manage to make in into the kitchen for a drink of water but on the way back I stop on the floor because I felt like I need to conserve oxygen. So I lay down and take deep breaths. I'm not worried because I've been through this so many times. Eventually while my heart is still shaking I feel a loud THUMP and my heartbeat is regular again. Just like that, in two seconds flat.

I'm not imagining this. And it can't be a panic attack it's comes on all of a sudden and there's basically no other symptoms.

It's also varied, sometimes it happens after I exercise. But the most extreme ones happen when I'm just laying around. It happens about 2-3 times a month.

I'm 16, 120lbs, don't smoke, don't do drugs, and this last episode was about 12 hours from the last time I had caffeine. My mother died of unknown heart disease that destroyed 45% of her heart by the time she was 45, my father had a heart attack and coronary bypass, and they all had high blood pressure. I don't know about mine.

So....what's going on? Should I force my dad to take me to a doctor or is it just a "panic situation" ?

according to the u of m, try one of these things to stop your event. 1. splash cold water on your face. 2. slowly drink some water. 3. hold your breath for a moment.
i have events that last on and off for days and sometimes skip a few days. i am in the process of fixing this atrial problem that i have been diagnosed with. if it continues, you can wear an event monitor that will read what is going on from a doctor. don't panic, the panic probably would be harder on your body than your heart "vibrating". think this: better to beat than not to beat. extra beats are better than less beats. all the cardiologists want your heart to beat. it would be nice if it was a normal beating and then we wouldn't notice the beating.