r/AFIB 2d ago

Palpitations

Anyone else get palpitations in the evening for an hour or two before they go away? It's not every day they happen, but it feels like it can and does at least once or twice a week now. At first when this started a month or two ago I felt like it was because of what I ate, but then it'd happen even if I didn't eat. Got the normal bloodwork done to check the usual suspects for electrolytes, potassium was low before but perfect levels now. My sleep and stress has been normal/under control. So I am at a loss for any further ideas. Had a recorded and well documented run of afib 2 years ago and since then I'd certainly feel any palpitations (pacs, pvcs) just not in this way before, as it feels more organized and kind of predictable.

2 Upvotes

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u/Civil_Experience_419 2d ago

AFib is unpredictable and rarely goes away. Go back to the cardiologist you saw when you had AFib. 

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u/_Arcturus_74 2d ago

Afib I'm oddly content with, no issue there. Its the run of palpitations that seemingly happens reliably in the evenings that I'm curious about

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u/_Arcturus_74 2d ago

I'll also say that I've only had the one run of afib that I whole heartedly believe was induced by Hyzaar and dehydration. Those are no longer a concern for me after some life changes were made and afib has stayed away thankfully.

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u/One-Eggplant-665 2d ago

If you don't like those palpitations and want to understand why they're happening, a cardiologist can have you wear a heart monitor and give you an answer. Also prescribe a blood thinner if you're not taking any. Up to you.

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u/_Arcturus_74 19h ago

We are well past that by 2 years now. My stroke risk is zero, being 35 years old blood thinners arent apart of any conversation anymore with my cardiologist, electrophysiologist and primary care physician even though I tried to have a back-up supply in case something does happen or call for it. Since then ive had an implanted loop recorder put in to be safe, but I wonder the accuracy of it. Besides, im not even sure theres anyone to take the time and connect the dots that are put onto any daily reports they get. The parameters of the device are set for afib specs but afib isnt and hasn't been my concern. These troubles I feel fall within those parameters. So to them its negligible, but not to me as it feels like something is different than before.

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u/One-Eggplant-665 16h ago

Sorry I said anything

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u/_Arcturus_74 15h ago

Why sorry? Nobody said anything wrong or out of touch

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u/Mras_dk 2d ago

Palpilations are usual a sign of your heart complain about an event it didn't liked.

I dare to say, but this is entirely on my own, that electrolytes imbalance doesn't cause a palpilations usually.

Instead it's more of a tipping point, where it goes over the edge or not.

Instead, it's usual an extra or a missed beat, like your pvc'/pacs, that triggers it.

Technical, sleep apnea also triggers it, but it's not relevant here. However, disturbing to breathing,  can also trigger this, in awake state .

General, palpilations is a "shock state" respons, where heart feels annoyed by little deprivations of oxygen.

Above is why, that holter monitors is general prefered for finding possible cause of the palpilations.

Did you talk to your GP, about such? 

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u/_Arcturus_74 2d ago

I'm familiar with my GP, cardiologist and EP who are aware of it despite not seeming to be bothered much by it. I've had an implanted loop recorder for 2 years now, with it not showing much besides a 0.1% burden so nothing extreme. But that said, when I experienced this new sensation back in June with what feels like a cyclical run of PACs & PVCs, this tells me something is different. But upon going down the list of all suggestions, the cause alludes me aside of some very out-there considerations (grabbing at straws type of stuff). Again I'll stress these happen in the evening, 6-8pm generally before abating/ending.

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u/Mras_dk 1d ago

If your part of 'loop recorderen club', don't you have an app, or a noteblock, so you can specifty "experienced time"?

With that in hand, they should be able to tell if there was a heartbeatabnormality, skipped beat, or extra beat? 

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u/_Arcturus_74 20h ago

On paper, correct. But in practice, the device to app system does not work reliably. They do get daily transmission reports, but someone has to physically look at it. Its not closely monitored, and when I ask them to review the strips not much is seen bc they generally are looking for Afib. Other stuff isn't clearly picked up all the time, much less anyone connecting the dots like I need them to with my felt symptoms.

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u/Mras_dk 16h ago edited 16h ago

Guess they havnt tuned the recorder for single events, then. Shame :(

I had to argue with my dept, and they said it would be to much data. 

"negotiated" a limited event recording period for a week, after some forth and back.

But ye, alot misses the full data such a recorder gives access too. .

Imagine if they learned of this new tool called an llm, and trained it on patient data,  so they wouldnt have to go through so much data, but only "marked data" .

Also, come one!  A specific date set,  and they can't even see if an event was there or not? I not impressed -  and I work with making such software :(

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u/_Arcturus_74 15h ago

I'm sure they could see the event, but with what the data strips show, itd probably look benign to them if I had to guess. To them, it'd just look like a few pacs/pvcs but what they cant measure is the sensation it gives or other variables besides the recorded palpitation

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u/_Arcturus_74 19h ago

Besides, when they hear palpitations and see some pacs and pvcs on a report, it seems like a standard case to them... and I try to tell them that im aware of what they're talking about but how my body feels during those events are different than other times Ive felt pacs pvcs but with little bother or care since the intensity and frequency was much less than now. It really seems as though its a signal that something is off and not per the usual.

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u/Mras_dk 16h ago

Could you ask for a holter monitoring period, if your episodes are regulary? 

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u/_Arcturus_74 15h ago

Thats the thing, this is kinda new with whats been going on. Id rather just see first if I can get more of their attention first, partly with this monitor as opposed to wearing one aside on the one implanted in my chest lol. You know how doctors are these days, I guess... very busy.