I have an appointment regarding next steps with cardiac stuff...

On Sunday night after finishing a 15-page paper for school I was sitting relaxing reading a novel, trying to unwind when I got the nasty arrythmia again that had sent me to the ER in June. This time I was able to get it to stop on my own - deep breathing, walking around the house, talking myself out of it, going to Miles bedroom and rubbing his back...20 minutes later it was gone. I'd been told by my doctor to call 911 if it went over 15 minutes, but it was 12:19 on Monday morning...everyone else in the house was asleep!

My recorder in my chest (implanted in Sept) picked up the funky beats. The doc called me first thing Monday morning and told me to get in there this week. I'm hoping I will not have to go to the hospital again...will keep everyone posted. Good thought vibes would be appreciated!

Good thoughts.

Good thoughts!!!! Please let us know what they say Katrina!

saying a prayer for you!

I hope everything will be fine!

Good thoughts!

Good thoughts

and good thougths.

good thoughts, keep us posted!

I'll let you know how it goes...I'm trying not to worry too much at this point. Plus, I have a 15- page paper to revise and revise as its due on the 21st. That'll keep me busy and my mind off of the "what ifs."

many good thoughts

Lots of good thoughts - please keep us posted!

keeping you in my thoughts

sending lots of good thoughts and s!!!

GOOD THOUGHTS!

more good thoughts!!!

GREAT NEWS!! No hospital visits!!! NO V-Tach (arrythmia that causes sudden death)!

I told them the episodes are often triggered by stress. My heartbeat had gone up to 163 beats per minute...

So, they gave me a beta-blocker to take a couple days before an exam or a big paper is due or something stressful comes up at work. It will not stop an arrythmia episode if I get one, but it might make it less likely to happen during high stress periods. As I get this so infrequently, this is the least aggressive tactic. They gave me 4 options (one of which WAS to go back to the hospital for tests) and I wanted to try the least aggressive first and go from there.

I am VERY happy with the results of this...I'd be so worried they were going to tell me I'd need an ICD (the thing that shocks you when you get a fast heartbeat).

that's great news! I'm glad you were able to take the easier approach for now

Fantastic news!

Fantastic!!

Yeah, I'm really pleased and I liked the doctor I saw too...the one I usually see has no bedside manner. This guy was really good. I think I'll ask to see him again if something transpires where I need it.

I'm hoping the beta-blockers won't give me a lot of adverse side affects, when I do feel I need to take them...time will tell, but it is a lot easier than having to go to the hospital and getting hematomas and stuff, like last time. It's a huge weight off of my shoulders!

Have you take beta blockers before? I have had them to keep my palpitations before, my main issue is lower blood pressure, I run low anyway, so something that lowers it is not good.

I only took them once when I had to have a cardiac CT scan many years ago - actually, they made me really fatigued! But, I'm hoping in this type of scenario when I'm really hyped up and my blood pressure is probably skyrocketing, it might be a good thing to counteract the scary fast heartbeats from coming. When I get my arrythmia it makes me really dizzy, nausous, and I get chest pain, let alone the fact that my heartbeat is beating so fast I can feel it pulsing in my neck! It's really not fun - I try hard not to panic. So, to me, this seemed like a good stop-gap plan to start with. It's a whole lot better than having to go in for another Electrophysiology study where they try to jumpstart the bad arrythmias in the lab...I have a feeling that the next time (if there is ever a next time for that test) they will ask me to be awake for it as when they put me to sleep for the last one they did not get any results.

Did you have a bad time when taking beta blockers? Did you have to take them every day? They gave me that option and I said no, I wanted to try the least aggressive method first.