Albert06

I'm a 20-year-old male, 6'2'', 265 pounds. I was diagnosed with type II DM in August '08, but it is well controlled, and my last A1C was 5.1%. Since August '08, I've intentionally been on a diet and exercise plan which has brought me down from 311 pounds. Overall, I'm down from 334 pounds in July '06.

Sunday night, I laid down to bed with a book to read and noticed that there was subtle awareness of my heart beating. I was wearing noice-cancelling headphones because I need silence to read, and I could feel the headphones "pulsing" from my heart beat. Furthermore, when I stand up from sitting or lying down, I can place my hand over my heart and feel it beating under my chest. There is some very slight shortness of breath that comes with it, but I'm recovering from a 2.5 week "chest cold" and my lungs are still sore from the coughing and sneezing, and I think that's what the deal might be with that.

I went to the doctor yesterday and he listened to my heart and he said it sounded good and very regular. An ECG was taken and it revealed no abnormalities--all was normal. No apparent arrythmia. Further, chest x-rays looked fine.

Recent bloodwork reavaled great levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in my blood.

The doctor had no real explanation. He said perhaps the metformin (500mg daily) I was on was causing hypoglycemia and inducing the palpitations, but my blood sugar has been steady over 100-120 for the past twelve hours and I'm still feeling the heart beat when I stand up. He told me to discontinue the metformin.

My blood pressure at the doctor's office yesterday was 142/60, with the top number being on the high side probably because of my nervousness and anxiety.

My blood pressure is typically 130/70, which is slightly borderline, but my doctor says it will relax as I continue to become thinner and healthier.

I should note to you that I am an anxious and stressful person. My parents and I have theorized that maybe the anxiety and stress are spilling over and causing these symptoms and I hope that is the case because there's something I can do about that.

In short, the main symptoms are a feeling of my heart beat under my chest when I stand up and place my hand over it. There is no dizziness or pain that I'm aware of.

Can anyone offer some insight?

Medicine/vitamins I take daily:
Magnesium (500mg)
Fish oils
Cinnamon
Multivitamin
Metformin (500mg)