atrial fibrillation questions

me too said:

After being examined twice by my gp, and still having no relief after a month and a half, I turn to
you folks for some answers. I'm finally scheduled for a holter on 1/12/04, but that is 2 weeks
away. He seems to think a simple ekg is not necessary as I had a cardiac cath back in June and that
showed no problems. The original problem of "discomfort" in the center of chest is gone but has
been replaced with these:

Quoted message said:

1) very strong pounding pulse in whole upper torso area (and sometimes extending to abdominal
area). More pronounced when lying down and had to prop up with pillows to get comfortable.
Taking 1/2 of a .25 Xanax allows me to sleep through night without waking up to pounding and
short of breath. This has gotten somewhat better.

2)fluttering sensation in upper center of chest accompanied by brief waves of "tightness" in upper
chest area. (3 or 4 times a day)

3)very minor exercise causes pulse to jump.(140 - 180) It recovers within a minute or 2 and then
spikes again a minute later. Before this started I did aerobics 4 or 5 times a week for 45
minutes and was fine.

4)intermittent tenderness in chest and abdomen. Location seems to vary until whole upper chest and
abdomen is involved

5)consistent low level anxiety and intermittent slight shortness of breath

6)blood pressure seems ok 113/80 and pulse of 64, but may go to 124/82 pulse 75 when getting the
chest fluttering.

7)I seem to be belching 3 or 4 times a day (not usual in past)

In my research on the net, this sounds a lot like atrial fibrillation. I have been examined twice
(listened to heart and a thyroid test) but they tell me I'm ok and just anxiety. My real question
is: Can you hear atrial fibrillation with a stethescope or do you need a ekg to identify it?

Don't know about "hearing" afib, but I usually know when I'm in it just by the "flopping fish"
feeling in my chest and my pulse. Of course, it really should be documented either by and ekg (of
course you may not be in afib when its taken) or a 24-hour Holter. I just recently had a 5-day bout
of afib with aflutter, confirmed by an ekg.

Then again, it's quite possible that you DON'T have afib. You could have some other arrythmia, or
simply have anxiety-panic attacks.

Quoted message said:

I am a 53 year old male, 6 foot tall and 185 pounds. In pretty good shape until this started. I'm
one of those unemployed/uninsured hi-tech workers you read about so I'm at the mercy of the
"system" to resolve this problem.

Any ideas/suggestions greatly appreciated..............

If you're overly concerned about it, you might want to consult with a cardiologist rather
than your gp.

Quoted message said:

Bob C. Dallas, Texas

me too <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

After being examined twice by my gp, and still having no relief after a month and a half, I turn
to you folks for some answers. I'm finally scheduled for a holter on 1/12/04, but that is 2 weeks
away. He seems to think a simple ekg is not necessary as I had a cardiac cath back in June and
that showed no problems. The original problem of "discomfort" in the center of chest is gone but
has been replaced with these:

1) very strong pounding pulse in whole upper torso area (and sometimes extending to abdominal
area). More pronounced when lying down and had to prop up with pillows to get comfortable.
Taking 1/2 of a .25 Xanax allows me to sleep through night without waking up to pounding and
short of breath. This has gotten somewhat better.

2)fluttering sensation in upper center of chest accompanied by brief waves of "tightness" in upper
chest area. (3 or 4 times a day)

3)very minor exercise causes pulse to jump.(140 - 180) It recovers within a minute or 2 and then
spikes again a minute later. Before this started I did aerobics 4 or 5 times a week for 45
minutes and was fine.

4)intermittent tenderness in chest and abdomen. Location seems to vary until whole upper chest and
abdomen is involved

5)consistent low level anxiety and intermittent slight shortness of breath

6)blood pressure seems ok 113/80 and pulse of 64, but may go to 124/82 pulse 75 when getting the
chest fluttering.

7)I seem to be belching 3 or 4 times a day (not usual in past)

In my research on the net, this sounds a lot like atrial fibrillation. I have been examined twice
(listened to heart and a thyroid test) but they tell me I'm ok and just anxiety. My real question
is: Can you hear atrial fibrillation with a stethescope or do you need a ekg to identify it?

The latter.

Quoted message said:

I am a 53 year old male, 6 foot tall and 185 pounds.

You might be 25 pounds over "ideal"

Quoted message said:

In pretty good shape until this started. I'm one of those unemployed/uninsured hi-tech workers
you read about so I'm at the mercy of the "system" to resolve this problem.

Any ideas/suggestions greatly appreciated..............

Hope the above helps.

Have a blessed New Years :-)

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

me too said:

. I'm finally scheduled for a holter on 1/12/04, but that is 2 weeks away. He seems to think a
simple ekg is not necessary as I had a cardiac cath back in June and that showed no problems.

The monitor will show if you have AF. What's a cardiac cath? Is is an angiogram? I believe that
would bedone to check if you have blocked arteries. Mine showed no problem with the arteries but I
was in permanent AF and was very uncomfortable trying to get to sleep at night.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3)very minor exercise causes pulse to jump.(140 - 180)

Exercise is meant to show an increase in pulse rate I believe.

I hope you get sorted out soon. It is clear that you are suffering from anxiety and this is natural
with any symptoms suggesting a heart problem. Is there any chance that you have a stomach problem? I
am thinking of gastric reflux. Stomach problems seem to cause pain in many different places.

Diana