Paul's Posts

Is that you bike riding/racing in the pic? I am beginning to feel different types of heart beats. Just last night, I poured myself a glass of wine, sat down after a full day of work at my desk, and was feeling quite good. After 15-20 minutes, I started feeling breathless, I couldn't catch a full breath, and my heart felt as if were slowed down, but it also felt like contractions and palpitations. I couldn't tell what was happening. It was causing fear and I felt as if i was having an anxiety attack. I felt wiped out afterwards. Is that what happened? did I experience PAC? what are your symptoms? this has been happening to me quite a bit lately.....usually after a hard day's work, physical activity, or stress. I have not spoken to my doctor about it as of yet. I am going to research it. Thank you for posting this because I was having a difficult time trying to describe the feelings!

Lilly that's me racing ,but 1983. I still try to ride but not when it's hot, and not fast and not far. Just trying to stay healthy. If you fell like your having palpatations you probably are. We are more prone to disrhymia than the population. When you think you are having palpatations lay your fingers across your radial artery at your wrist. If your pulse is irrigular or an occasional weak pulse you might have a palpatation. But which type of disrhymia is it? So many types of disrhymias it's hard to tell without an EKG. I have several but most often they are PACs. PACs, Pre Atrial Contractions ( Complexes). For me and many with heart surgery. it is like having a second pacemaker. A single cell in the scar tissue can become irratable. It will fire and start a cascade of electrical activitiy. The Atriums contracts and often the venticals follow. The beat is a little mis timed and a little mis shapen, therfore the thump in the chest and a weaker pulse beat. Most Drs say a few PACs a day to an otherwise heathy heart is not to worry. But I have a compromised heart and my PACs are 19206, not a few. Left untreated they may lead to stroke from a clot, VT, sic sinus sindrome or more. But what to do? Some cardiologists won't treat it. Some try to treat it with beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. But often anti arrythmics don't work. One cardiologist told me he would not treat them until.they reached 30%. At 19206 I'm at 17%. His recommendation then would be ablaition of the ectopic area. But he said this is tricky ,has possible complications and may not work. Read the Copenhagen heart study. I have tried 4 different meds, there may not be a treatment for me. My disrhymias are getting more frequent and leading rise to other new types. The cardiologists will point out that stress will make your palpatations. But the feedback works both ways. Palpatations can trigger the fight or flight response making one more anxious. Sometimes the palpatations interferes with rest and sleep. I find that if I walk or ride my bike I notice them less ( but they are still there). If I can't sleep because of the thumping in my chest (think of the water drop torture for days) I'll lay down, put a pillow or folded blanket over my chest, then put my headphones on and play the music loud enough to counter the thumping in my chest. You might ask how can I relax with the headphones on loud? Well It's less maddening than the constant pounding in my chest.

I just read about the different Types of Cardiac Dysrhythmias. I don't have the serious kind that cause fainting etc. but some flutter, some pounding and contractions several times a day. I agree, with regular exercise I feel them less as if it keeps my heart regulated. I have never been told by my doctors that I have afib or arrhythmia. I would rather do everything I can to stay healthy other than taking medication, which usually makes me feel worse! I will read the Copenhagen study. I don't like listening to my heart either at night so I use a neck pillow to keep my ear from touching the pillow. I've become really good at coping with my situation and grateful for feeling quite well most of the time. I don't have unrealistic expectations. Thanks for your feedback, Paul, I learned something new. Take care!