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[toffeecushion]

For those of you who suffer with palpitations, how long does each episode last?

[Annie0710]

I have arrythmia anyway but it had worsened during this, it could go on for quite a while (never timed how long for) but happened many times a day.  I cut out caffeine and it's now nuch better in fact the worst is when im dropping off to sleep


Annie

[DebsMK]

I had bad palpitations after taking Prempak c for 3 months.  The GP gave me an ECG but it was normal so I attributed the palps to hormone fluctuations.  Had them for about 3 weeks and then changed to Femoston 1/10 and they stopped.  At the end of my 5th month on Femoston they started again but not as strong.  I had these for about 4-5 weeks and I was about to go and change to a higher dose because along with the palps I didn't have a bleed and felt generally unwell, when I had a heavy bleed in the middle of a pack and then the palps stopped!  I am now feeling very well so am holding off on the GP appointment.  I guess the first lot lasted around 3 - 4 weeks and the 2nd episode 4 - 5 weeks. x

[Hola Lolly]

Hiya.
Last year I had no idea palpitations were related to menopause.  My period suddenly stopped and after months of feeling totally unwell, nauseous, fatigued and occasional bouts of alarming palpitations when I thought I was dying, my GP referred me to a psychiatrist for health anxiety and I started anti-depressants. The palpitation bouts would last a few hours.  They were completely unrelated to stressful situations and affected my quality of life enormously.  I really didn't put two and two together at that point and realise it was menopause.  I was utterly terrified something serious was wrong with me. 
I found this site and asked my GP for HRT.  I was given Elleste conti and it made no difference to my condition.  I waited months for a referral to the local menopause clinic and when I went, they changed the HRT preparation to Femoston conti.  After one month, I still felt dreadful and my BP was fairly high so my GP prescribed low dose beta blockers, which I take every morning. With the new HRT, AD's and propranolol, I started to feel SO much better.  It was wonderful.  Two months later, I appreciate every day of normality after about a year of sheer hell. 
I'd definitely recommend trying beta blockers for palpitations.  Palpitations lead to horrendous anxiety, which brings with it loads of other symptoms.  I really wish I'd started these meds a year ago, because I've lost so much time worrying myself sick.

[Annie0710]

I tried beta blockers aged 40 when my arrythmia was diagnosed but they made me feel worse

This time round they seemed more regular and more frequent and so I asked if I could try them again but they refused because since diagnosis I've developed asthma, so I started timing them to sort of accept them in a strange way then cut out caffeine and although I still get them, they don't concern me like they were doing

3 years cardiology gave me a 24 HR monitor and it showed all the palpitations but the most interesting ones were during my sleep, they went as high as 140bpm to as low as high 40s

I've got an app on my phone now that I record them on and I was chatting to my friend this week who has thyroid problems and it was refreshing to talk with someone who understood the missed beats too, I get a churn in my stomach like going down a dip in a road immediately prior to a missed beat

Annie

[toffeecushion]

I think I suffer from SVT.  Since 2009 I have had about 10 episodes when my heartbeat increases to about 160 and this usually lasts over an hour.  I have had and ecg and an echocardiogram but nothing abnormal showed up.  This happened again on Thursday, for no reason my heartbeat went up to 160 and stayed there for 2 hours.  It's very scary at the time and has left me dreading the next time.  I have an appointment with my gp in a couple of weeks time and I am going to ask her to refer me for testing to see if they can find a reason why this happens as I am scared to do anything.

I know that palpitations are a common symptom of perimenopause but I assume they shouldn't last as long as a couple of hours.  Anyone else have them last this long?

[Annie0710]

Toffee cushion

Having been a keen viewer of '24 hrs in A&E' I've seen many times people go in because of fast heart rate that hasn't stopped after a while

I am not meaning to scare you at all, and I can't remember what their bpm were, but if it were me I think I'd go and at least have it recognised on my records

My periods of arrythmia never lasted that long



Annie

[toffeecushion]

I have been to A & E twice.  The first time it had calmed down by the time I got there and the 2nd time they wanted to give me an injection to stop it but I persuaded them to wait and see if it stopped on it's own.  It did eventually stop after about 6 hours.  It wouldn't be so bad if I knew what triggered it.

[Annie0710]

Is always caused by a trigger or just that some people's heart does it ?
I wasn't told that anything triggered mine just that caffeine would make them more frequent and stronger, which it does, then when they calm right down, like no episodes for weeks, I start caffeine again and it can be months before they return, but this menopsuse malarkey have made them very bad at times



Annie

[Cassie]

I feel your anxiety but what about athletes who runs marathons over many hours, sometimes 9 hrs at a day with high heart beats....I think our hearts can sustain way more than we give them credit for...well thats what my physician pointed out when I was concerned about panic attacks causing heart damage, he kinda smiled and told me to stop being daft

[toffeecushion]

Yes I know what you mean and I have had a couple of tests and seen a cardiologist.   But it is still very scary when it happens. 

[Salad]

Just replied to one of your other threads

I had episodes of palpitations earlier in the year. My heart rate was 110-115 but I felt like I was 'on edge' - just couldn't settle.
One lot lasted 12 hours, which was actually quite tiring. Especially as my chest felt uncomfortable too.

I had an ECG and blood tested for thyroxine level and a variety of other things and eventually we realised it was yet another menopause symptom.

Thankfully things are more controlled with HRT changed from gel to patch.

[lyn]

Hi. I am new to this site but had to comment on SVT. 8 years ago I had SVT and my cardiologist  said I had been born with an extra pacemaker in my heart which seemed to "kick in" when menopause hit. He performed a cardiac ablation under general anaesthetic and fixed the problem permanently.   I had put off the surgery due to fear but after several trips to emergency and being injected with adenosine (horrific experience) I was so glad I had the surgical intervention.
The reason I have joined this site is for some support.
 After a year of absolutely no menopausal symptoms ( and 8 years off HRT) I have suddenly developed shortness of breath, hot flushes again and palpitations. Have been tested for pulmonary embolism and awaiting further lung and heart tests but I am convinced it is menopause returning. It is as if someone has flicked a switch and off I go...anxiety, palpitation, short of breath, feeling like collapse. This can last for a few hours then I am better. I am a nursing lecturer and, after becoming so short of breath I cannot teach, have taken the week off work. The anxiety is , as others have said, unrelated to anything I may be doing and wakes me in the night. I feel so guilty taking time off work when we are short staffed. my dad is dying and we have other family concerns just now, but when is life completely smooth? There is always something upsetting happening and I can usually cope brilliantly. I feel so frustrated that I have ground to a halt.
I went to a medical centre a few days ago (my  regular GP is in Egypt) and the doctor suggested Livial. I was on this many years ago but my GP was of the opinion one should only stay on HRT for 5 years so I stopped it. Was feeling better anyway. I can't see what harm trying it again will do, can you? I am now 56 years old. Had hysterectomy aged 36yrs .
I live in Australia but love the UK...was there last year.I think your medical system is better than ours!
Any advice/support you can offer gladly appreciated as I feel as if I am going insane...!

[Winterose]

Re palpitations

My physio suggested they might be linked to low thyroid so had that checked and was put on thyroxine, palpitations 90% cured so may be worth checking the thyroid out, mine  was low / borderline and my Gp said some doctors wouldnt treat it but she believed women of our age should be for various reasons,

[dogdoc]

They started for me about 6-8 months ago. They are terrifying. Initially they were very severe, particularly at night. Early on it felt like my heart was trying to leave my chest, and I was sure I was dying. I've had a stress echo and the cardiologist assures me by heart looks just fine. They are no longer as 'forceful' but they're there a lot...more like flutters that I get quite regularly. I can go through days and days of none, but they always come back. Almost assuredly hormonal for me. Often precede hot flashes, episodes of anxiety etc. They're all linked together. Fun times.

Tara