What is this?

G said:

Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got any
worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do most of
the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a check-up in
the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
medication.
Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my pillow
(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x faster
than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house (clock,
dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
Ta.

See a doctor, and get a Holter Monitor and wear it for 24 hours. They
will then be able to tell you what is going on. Sounds like it might
be A-Fib.

For more information on A-Fib go to www.afibbers.org.

Bob

"Bob Cardone" <cardone1!@!mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

G said:

Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got

any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do most

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a check-up

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
medication.
Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my pillow
(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x

faster

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house (clock,
dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
Ta.

See a doctor, and get a Holter Monitor and wear it for 24 hours. They
will then be able to tell you what is going on. Sounds like it might
be A-Fib.

For more information on A-Fib go to www.afibbers.org.

Bob

I had a 24-hour monitor a couple of years ago which just confirmed
occasional ectopics.
Can you not normally 'feel' A-Fib above your normal pulse?
But I will take your advice on seeing a doc.

"Bob Cardone" <cardone1!@!mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

G said:

Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got

any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do most

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a check-up

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
medication.
Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my pillow
(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x

faster

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house (clock,
dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
Ta.

See a doctor, and get a Holter Monitor and wear it for 24 hours. They
will then be able to tell you what is going on. Sounds like it might
be A-Fib.

For more information on A-Fib go to www.afibbers.org.

Bob

Thanks for the link Bob. I've had a good read of this site but cannot say
that this really describes my symptoms. When I 'feel' this rapid beat (in my
ear), my normal pulse (taken at the wrist) seems perfectly stable at about
60bpm. If you can have A-Fib conincident with normal heart operation, then
it may be an answer to my situation. Any comments?

G said:

Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got any
worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do most of
the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a check-up in
the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
medication.
Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my pillow
(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x faster
than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house (clock,
dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
Ta.

Watch?

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

G said:

Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got

any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do most

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a check-up

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
medication.
Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my pillow
(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x

faster

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house (clock,
dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
Ta.

Watch?

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com

Well, obviously I'm hoping for a solution something like that. But I don't
think my digital watch makes a tick! I will check out other watches, but I
didn't think my hearing was that good.

I'm also glad you didn't jump in and agree with A-Fib. Of course, maybe it
is (with my history).
Thanks for the suggestion.

"G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the link Bob. I've had a good read of this site but cannot say

that this really describes my symptoms. When I 'feel' this rapid beat (in my
ear), my normal pulse (taken at the wrist) seems perfectly stable at about
60bpm. If you can have A-Fib conincident with normal heart operation, then
it may be an answer to my situation. Any comments?

You originally said 4 times your heartrate that would be 240 times a min - 4 a
second that would be very fast, like a machine gun. Are you sure it could not
be more like 120 bpm?

Bill

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the link Bob. I've had a good read of this site but cannot

say

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that this really describes my symptoms. When I 'feel' this rapid beat

(in my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ear), my normal pulse (taken at the wrist) seems perfectly stable at

about

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

60bpm. If you can have A-Fib conincident with normal heart operation,

then

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it may be an answer to my situation. Any comments?

You originally said 4 times your heartrate that would be 240 times a min -

4 a

Quoted message said:

second that would be very fast, like a machine gun. Are you sure it could

not

Quoted message said:

be more like 120 bpm?

Bill

Well it does seem somewhat faster than 2Hz. Being very quiet and much weaker
than my pulse, it's quite difficult to get a true reading. If it were 120bpm
then I could quite imagine that as being my normal rhythm. I'll see if I can
take another measurement.
Thanks for your response.

Quoted message said:

What is this?

Quoted message said:

I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?

Just a suggestion.....http://www.tinnitusearringing.com/pulsatile_tinnitus1.htm

I have pulsatile tinnitus.... In my situation, the carotid is very close to
the eardrum, and so I hear the pulse rate all the time....aggravating, to be
sure. Nothing else showed up on the MRI/MRA. Of course, this is just a
suggestion. Everyone is unique.
Virginia in MI

"Elva4" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What is this?

Quoted message said:

I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?

Just a

suggestion.....http://www.tinnitusearringing.com/pulsatile_tinnitus1.htm

Quoted message said:

I have pulsatile tinnitus.... In my situation, the carotid is very close

to

Quoted message said:

the eardrum, and so I hear the pulse rate all the time....aggravating, to

be

Quoted message said:

sure. Nothing else showed up on the MRI/MRA. Of course, this is just a
suggestion. Everyone is unique.
Virginia in MI

It could be that. Thanks for the info. I wonder what determines the 'click'
rate.

G said:

"Elva4" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What is this?
> I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?

Just a

suggestion.....http://www.tinnitusearringing.com/pulsatile_tinnitus1.htm

Quoted message said:

I have pulsatile tinnitus.... In my situation, the carotid is very close

to

Quoted message said:

the eardrum, and so I hear the pulse rate all the time....aggravating, to

be

Quoted message said:

sure. Nothing else showed up on the MRI/MRA. Of course, this is just a
suggestion. Everyone is unique.
Virginia in MI

It could be that. Thanks for the info. I wonder what determines the 'click'
rate.

It should be the pulse rate.

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

Graeme said:

"Bob Cardone" <cardone1!@!mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

G said:

Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got

any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do most

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a check-up

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
medication.
Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my pillow
(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x

faster

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house (clock,
dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
Ta.

See a doctor, and get a Holter Monitor and wear it for 24 hours. They
will then be able to tell you what is going on. Sounds like it might
be A-Fib.

For more information on A-Fib go to www.afibbers.org.

Bob

I had a 24-hour monitor a couple of years ago which just confirmed
occasional ectopics.
Can you not normally 'feel' A-Fib above your normal pulse?
But I will take your advice on seeing a doc.

Firstly, I am not a Doctor, just a patient. I checked into the ER
back in April and when I would lay on my side, it felt like there was
a vibrator in my chest. PAC's and A-Fib was the diagnoses. They had me
on a continuous ECG monitor and I had more erratic beats than NSR (
normal beats) until they finally put me on an anti-arrhtymia drug
called Flecainide. It doesn't sound like that fast beating that you
are getting is just Ectopic. If it were me, I would get it checked.

Bob

"Bob Cardone" <cardone1!@!mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Graeme said:

"Bob Cardone" <cardone1!@!mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"G" <[email hidden]> wrote:

>Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
>I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got

any

Quoted message said:

>worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do

most

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of

Quoted message said:

>the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a

check-up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in

Quoted message said:

>the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
>flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
>medication.
>Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my

pillow

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x

faster

Quoted message said:

>than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house

(clock,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
>I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
>Ta.
>
>

See a doctor, and get a Holter Monitor and wear it for 24 hours. They
will then be able to tell you what is going on. Sounds like it might
be A-Fib.

For more information on A-Fib go to www.afibbers.org.

Bob

I had a 24-hour monitor a couple of years ago which just confirmed
occasional ectopics.
Can you not normally 'feel' A-Fib above your normal pulse?
But I will take your advice on seeing a doc.

Firstly, I am not a Doctor, just a patient. I checked into the ER
back in April and when I would lay on my side, it felt like there was
a vibrator in my chest. PAC's and A-Fib was the diagnoses. They had me
on a continuous ECG monitor and I had more erratic beats than NSR (
normal beats) until they finally put me on an anti-arrhtymia drug
called Flecainide. It doesn't sound like that fast beating that you
are getting is just Ectopic. If it were me, I would get it checked.

Bob

That's right. I have occasional ectopics, and this (I'm sure) isn't it. but
I have a theory (see later post).

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

G said:

"Elva4" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

> What is this?
>> I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?

Just a

suggestion.....http://www.tinnitusearringing.com/pulsatile_tinnitus1.htm

Quoted message said:

I have pulsatile tinnitus.... In my situation, the carotid is very

close

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

the eardrum, and so I hear the pulse rate all the time....aggravating,

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

be

Quoted message said:

sure. Nothing else showed up on the MRI/MRA. Of course, this is just

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

suggestion. Everyone is unique.
Virginia in MI

It could be that. Thanks for the info. I wonder what determines the

'click'

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rate.

It should be the pulse rate.

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

I have a theory now after sleeping on it (literally). I'm pretty sure the
'click' rate is 4x normal pulse. I could easily imagine hearing 2x normal
rate (lub-dub), and if you consider that I may be hearing the pulse in my
ear together with the pulse in my wrist (there should be a delay between the
pulse reaching my ear and my wrist, yes?), then this would add up to a 4x
perceived rate (lub,lub,dub,dub).
It seems a minor issue to get checked when it is only audible in a very
specific position and does not appear to alter the normal rhythm.
Comments? Ta.

"G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry for the obscure subject but I didn't know what else to put.
I've had (suffered from?) palpitations for 20+ years. They haven't got any
worse, and haven't got any better. I'm 41, male, non-smoker, and do most

of

Quoted message said:

the normal healthy stuff. Not overweight either, and have had a check-up

in

Quoted message said:

the last couple of months. So, a typical bloke who has the occasional
flutter (and I don't mean gambling!). I don't take drugs or other
medication.
Recently, when in bed, lying on my left side with my arm under my pillow
(order: bed-arm-pillow-ear), I can hear a rapid 'beat'. It's about 4x

faster

Quoted message said:

than my pulse, but I can't attribute it to anything in the house (clock,
dripping tap/fawcet). What is this?
I know it's a longshot, but has anyone a suggestion?
Ta.

Update:
Well, as stupid as it sounded, I went to my doctor and he did the normal
examination and said I'm perfectly fit. The 'beat' that I hear when I am
lying down is nothing to do with my heart, but probably caused by
anxiety/stress due to screaming kids and not enough sex (I added the last
bit for my wife's benefit). So, I'm happy again.
Best wishes to you all.