I think Freddie Kruger is after me at night…Help!
Recently I’ve been awakened at night by what feels like jerking
in the chest. The heart would beat haphazardly with many beats
occuring together, skipping, and then beating wildly again.
Within 10 seconds or so it would stop but replaced by some type
of tachycardia. Very fast, but only lasting a short time, less
than a few minutes.
I have had problems of "fluttery" sensations in the past, which was
diagnosed after wearing a King of Hearts Monitor as skipped and
premature beats.
I feel like I’m being awakened with PVCs followed by V-Tach.
These sensations at night are different and more violent than the
skipped and premature beats that were felt and diagnosed months ago.
I thought premature beats were PVCs? Why would these new sensations
feel any different? They are quite unnerving to say the least. I’ve
made arraignments to see my Cardiologist again to find out what is going
on.
Is anyone else experiencing similar sensations at night? With Tachycardia?
Any reply would be appreciated.
My email address is: scog…@mail.apcnet.com
Scogard wrote:
> I thought premature beats were PVCs?
There basically two kinds of premature beats: Ventricular and
Supraventricular. Ventricular premature beats originate in one of the
heart’s two ventricles, the two muscles that do most of the work in
pumping blood throughout your body. Supraventricular beats orginate in
either the Atria (smaller muscles of the heart) or within the AV
junctional fibers. With PVC’s the heart muscles of the ventricles
contract differently than normal. With the other premature beats, the
heart muscles of the ventricles contract in a more normal manner.
Either kind can feel very aggravating/unnerving.
>Why would these new sensations feel any different? They are quite unnerving to say the least. I’ve
> Is anyone else experiencing similar sensations at night? With Tachycardia?
> Any reply would be appreciated.
I have the PVC’s most of the time. Sometimes every 2-3 beats, but
usually much less often. My internist checked me out with EKG, Echo
Cardiogram, and Treadmill Sress test, and Holter Monitor, but found no
problems. He said as long as they don’t come every 2-3 beats
continuously or don’t drive me nuts, they don’t need to be treated. Of
course if they had found evidence of heart problems othre than this, it
would probably be different.
By the way, "V Tach", or ventricular tachycardia is present when you
have a rapid heart beat that originates from the ventricles, not the
normal pacemaker of the heart, called the Sino-Atrial Node. It is like
having one PVC after another for more than 3 beats in a row.
Hope this helps a bit. You should be able to get this kind of info from
your doctor, the local American Heart Association, local library, and
probably on the internet by doing a search.
Good luck,
Bill