Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Heart Fluttering--Weird
        
(Message started by: starlight on Sep 20^th, 2006, 9:48pm)

Title: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by starlight on Sep 20^th, 2006, 9:48pm

Hi everyone. Um, I have begun noticing that every now and then like it happened last night when I laid down to go to bed: I started getting some twinges that didn't go anywhere (don't normally get those when I lie down at regular going to sleep hour but whatever)--along with the twinges I got heart fluttering--heart rapidly beating and at exact same time it is hard to breath for a few seconds. This has been happening on and off during only this cluster cycle. Always coincides with "twinges". Is this bad? Normal? ??? Thanks, Star

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Skyhawk5 on Sep 20^th, 2006, 11:53pm

Warning: Only a Doctor can really judge this.

I get this during cycle too. My Doc immediately sent me for an EKG that came back normal. Easy procedure. When it first happened it scared the crap out of me. It still upsets me though the Doc said mine are like being on the edge of an anxiety attack due to the stress of CH.

Please check with your Doctor as we are all different.
Skyhawk5

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Dave_S on Sep 21^st, 2006, 12:07am

I too have had this it happened while at the ER the nurse went ashen in seconds I was on a bed with a heart monitor and 3 doctors hitting the print screen button over and over after a bit they gave me the biggest pain shot I ever had for my headache and my heart stopped fluttering. The doctors made me stay in the cardiac intensive care for the night I kept telling them it happens often with the head aches I was sent home in the morning with a heart stress test scheduled for that afternoon it came back fine Dang doctors would not listen to me I don’t mention it any more at the ER my doctor agrees that is what I should do. You should go get it checked out once if all is ok then don’t worry about it if you Waite it might just flutter and stop.
Dave S

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by kcopelin on Sep 21^st, 2006, 1:08am

Star,
Get a medical reading on this-it sure could be an anxiety sort of thing, but there are headaches associated with cardiac problems. Please get it checked out just to be on the safe side, okay?
PFDAN
kathy

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by brewcrew on Sep 21^st, 2006, 6:43am

I had this happen when my dosage of verapamil was too high. Brought it back down to my normal dosage and it didn't happen any more.

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by BB on Sep 21^st, 2006, 8:28am

What meds are you on again please Starlight?

Verapamil can cause heart fluttering as well as some abnormal beats occasionally, thats why every time the dose is increased you need a cardiogram, but mostly they are quite harmless.

If they seem to be strong or frequent enough to worry you then see your doctor for a cardio work up.

Good luck with it and painfree wishes to you.

HUGS

Annette

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by starlight on Sep 21^st, 2006, 10:29am

Hey all--

I am only on melatonin and O2--supposed to be on verapamil but never took it--thought I could "manage" and cycle would end but still waiting for that to happen and cycle is longer.
This is different than that pounding rapid heartbeat that we clusters sometimes get with the headache. Dave, I think I know what you were experiencing--yeah it's pretty crazy--I've had that sometimes during HAs where it feels like your heart is going to POUND out of your chest.
This is not as ferocious as that. It does not happen during HA itself. It happens like a threefold thing: 1) cluster headache "twinge" 2) heart starts fluttering, beating rapidly 3) shortness of breath for a couple of seconds--I ignored it but it keeps happening. It's totally physical--not anxiety cause it just strikes out of the blue. Maybe a heart murmur or something...HMMMMM.

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Dave_S on Sep 21^st, 2006, 1:37pm

It was the shortness of braeth part that finaly concernd me enough to tell a nurce while it was happening. Any thing funny with your heart that also has shortness of breath with it really needs to be looked at. If it keeps happening after your heart has been checked out then never mention it again or you will spend a lot of nights in the cardiac ICU. However get a stress test the shortness of breath part is a serious sympton when related to funny heart beats. At this point you have to get it checked out and report the results back to us we really would not care to have a memorial service for you over something unrelated or triggerd by your clusers that could have been taken care of if you had not wated untill your sympton was no heart beat to agree to have it looked at get my point?
Dave S

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by starlight on Sep 21^st, 2006, 2:42pm

Dave, thanks for giving me that information. I do think it is a little strange cause I
well I avoid doctor's offices at all cost, don't usually harp over illness, symptoms but something tells me it is not quite normal. I will try to force myself to call a doctor cause I know I probably should. Also sometimes it feels like my heart during these episodes will be fluttering and then stop beating for a second or something hard to explain. Damn.
Did it turn out to be nothing for you I hope? Thanks, Star

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Karla on Sep 21^st, 2006, 3:01pm

I had irregular heart beat while I was on verapamil. So my dr took me off of it because I was having other terrible side effects also.

Another side effect I have is my blood pressure will shoot up. It is normally 120/70 which is good. I have had it rise up significantly where they give me morphine to get the pain under control so my bp gets under control again.

Right now I am having severe back pain. My blood pressure has slowly gone up to 160/99. They say that is just because of pain so ignore it. hmmm.

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by starlight on Sep 21^st, 2006, 9:46pm

Karla,

I hope you are OK. I have not had any high blood pressure--but within a few days this cycle it went from normal to quite low--and not on any meds. Maybe you should get a second opinion. JUst to be on the safe side. Love, STar

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Charlotte on Sep 21^st, 2006, 10:23pm

Star, it couldn't hurt to get it checked out. It will only cost you some time & some $, and give us all peace of mind.

My teenager had heart flutters & dizziness and the track coach wouldn't let her run. She didn't tell me until the end of summer. We got it checked out. It happened for the doc. She did have chest xrays & ekg. It is a little abnormal but not dangerous. Something that starts with a, but my mind's blank.

I hope yours is something like that, too. But check it out. OK. I avoid docs, too, but it is a necessary evil.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by brewcrew on Sep 21^st, 2006, 10:40pm

Charlotte, you might be talking about arrhythmia.

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Charlotte on Sep 21^st, 2006, 11:50pm

Cathy said that might be it. I just ca't remember.

But we had it checked out & it was OK. Inconvenient, but now we don't have to worry about that particular thing, especially since it happened for her doc & I trust him.

Thanks, brew.

So Star, you're going to the doc?

Charlotte

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Dave_S on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 7:57am

Star they had me do a stress test which was walking on a treadmill with a bunch of wires taped to my body I passed with flying colors. That was about 4 years ago about 3 months ago I ran out of 02 so I went to the ER and dumb me it was not one of the regular doctors and I opened my big mouth about it even though my heart test fine it is still scary so instead of just getting some 02 I got to spend the night. I too have a extreme dislike like for doctors. I spent a year in my teens in a bed and 4 years of pretty bad pain because they miss diagnosed JRA . Then ten or so years of CH with rude disrespectful down right cruel ER staff and doctors It was not until years after I had been diagnosed with CH until I learned of 02 and another 2 until I could get a doctor to prescribe it.

Once at our great HMO ER the admitting nurse asked what medications I had taken normally the answer would have been thirty aspirin but there were only 7 left in the bottle so I said 7 aspirin she asks why am I trying to kill my self over a headache twilight zone I was held by force until the could get a shrink to evaluate me for a 72 hour hold he spent 2 minutes with me and let me go.
You really need a stress test because of the shortness of breath with funny heart beats I hate to say this because you may blow off the test but god your symptoms sound just like mine even though I have been all checked out it is still scary when it happens
Dave S

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by starlight on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 9:51am

Charlotte,

I am going to call that doc--I will haul myself in anyway if only cause HAs are not going away--cycle is already pushing 3 months and it has never been longer than 2 months in 18 years--not exactly inspiring optimism from me although I still remain hopeful the cycle will end.
Charlotte, I am glad your daughter is OK. With the arythmia--yes--that it totally probably what I have too--although past few years, actually funnily enough I notice it started acting weird starting last cycle now that I am thinking back--like one time spontaneously crazily crazily fast heartbeat out of nowhere laying down watching a movie (happened last cycle watching the movie "Frida")--good movie too.

DAVE-- "twilight zone"--I had to laugh at the way your described that incident--I can't believe you were put on lockdown because of your "7-pill aspirin habit" although honestly sadly I can. I too remember popping those like candy--when I was younger cause of these HAs--that is why I inwardly chuckle when I hear people freaking out about their liver when they go over the "2-pill" limit by taking say--3 pills. I'm glad you were promptly released after the doc saw you!!! Yep, I too have some type of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from years and years of docs telling me I am crazy cause I get HAs every night, go see a psychiatrist...oh cluster headaches? hmmmmm yEAH OK....oh that is a disease of middle-aged men silly little lady there is nothing I can do for your pain you are crazy you are not a middle-aged man.
You guys thank you for the info. Now i will definitely mention it guys. HOpe you are all doing well. Star

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by SophiaK on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 3:31pm

An EKG usually can be taken at your Dr.'s office or medical center to show an arythmia. I have experienced what I call a 'feather moving back and forth fast in my chest'. I do have arythmia, I don't feel it. I also have irregular heartbeat. I saw my cardio last week and he told me I don't have heart disease. I showed him the study from the doctor's in Ma. showing a relation to CH and certain heart conditions. He said I don't have the other factors to lead him to believe I have heart disease. Arythmia and irregular heart beats are fairly common. The visit was worthwhile in that he would not have me take verapamil and inderal at the same time and wants to see me back again in 3 weeks. He is concerned about my heart rythym, don't say what I'm thinking. Doctors make a person crazy. Get your butt to the doctor's office for a proper diagnosis.

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Carl_D on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 2:54am

Since I was a teen, I sometimes get a flutter that almost feels like my heart is skipping a beat or two and I lose my breath. Sometimes it happens quite frequently. I haven't noticed a huge difference though since being back on Verapamil for almost a year. It just happens every now and then. One doc said I had a heart murmer, another said I didn't.

Like everyone else has said, definitely get it checked out. I have had ekgs and everything, but am about to ask my doc for a stress test, since I noticed when I started working out I got alot of chest pains. Wasn't sure if it was pulled chest muscles or what. It gradually went away as I got more into the workouts, but stopped workouts shortly before I went back into cycle and upped the verapamil. I am starting back up again next week though, so time will tell.

Peace,
Carl D

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Charlotte on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 12:35pm

It is something we have to check out. Hopefully, as an elimination tool so we don't worry. And also, to catch something if it is a serious thing.

Thanks Carl. I'm glad you are asking for a stress test and I hope it was a pulled muscle that is now healed. Are you back into the workouts. You probably mentioned it, but my memory is not it's best right now.

Helen, I hope they figure that out & get something that works for you soon. Good luck.

Star & Dave, I don't use any oc meds except benedryl now. The neurontin and indocin have deadened the trigiminal nerve enough that I don't need maxalt except on rare occasion, and I still use the occasional energy drink. I get the end of mini-cycle spinouts, and some "panic"/heart/breathing stuff that's all been checked out & stamped ok. It's just all confusing sometimes.

I pray we all have remissions soon.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Dave_S on Sep 26^th, 2006, 10:18pm

7 aspirin still blows me away they held me for a physic evaluation on that and they had never seen someone with a head ache hit there head against the wall it was truly out of the twilight zone. But no where near the strangest encounter with a doctor that is hands down when I broke my arm I had some rinky dink medical group coverage I went back for a recheck the nurse comes in cuts the cast off the doctor enters screams about who is going to pay for that and starts throwing punches as fast as he can. ME just shock I block 8 maybe ten punches with one arm and a few kicks just utter shock finally another doctor grabs the doctor and throws him to the floor. But I get all the bizarre stuff he makes 2 doctors that started completely unprovoked no hold bears fights with me plus one doctor who kicked me hard when I did not respond to his question in the ER always a different doctor explains the crazy doctor is having some life difficulties I should sue some of these nuts but it ant worth the hassle. Of coerce its not just doctors I get pulled over for speeding my 4 year old son in the back seat with the window down kid says something cop screams in his face to shut the f up then spits in his face the kid is 4 I get out of car motorcycle cop helmet on runs screaming in his radio I stand there the guy is still running full speed away 3 blocks down the street I do get to many crazy’s to be coinisidence I started out meaning to post to charlotte and your tag I pray we all have remissions soon I used to pray for that when I was chronic 2 hours on 2 off when I could focus I was real angry that my CH went from something that came every year for 2 to 3 months then I would believe no I knew it would never come again now while I am not 2 hours on 2 off I don’t go a month with out a kip 9 and I think I was better off chronic 2 on 2 off because I was so out of it I was clueless as to how bad that 2 plus years of my life was. Now I get stress migraines caused by the terror that I will have at least one KH event every 5 days I never feared the damn things like I do now never felt so totally hopeless as I do now that things are or should be so much better than they were be careful what you pray for you may get it kind of
Dave S

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by Charlotte on Sep 26^th, 2006, 10:44pm

I'm sorry Dave_S.

And I hate it when people look at me like I am insane. I hate getting hit in public. Lately it's been a lot better. It still hurts, it still bugs me, but it hurts less w/the meds. I still get phrenetically active, but I'm just trying to incorporate everything into my life.

Hard to fit in all the sweating, but I am of an age where people are used to seeing women my age sweat, so that almost works.

Sorry about the stress, Dave. I don't think it's better to be chronic, but it has been so long that I can't remember what it is like to be pain free.

My husband has been so good. It is so scary and this is the worst I've ever been. He says, just take it day by day, second by second, just go with it and take the good and the bad. We'll deal with it as it comes.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Heart Fluttering--Weird
Post by athome on Sep 26^th, 2006, 11:00pm

Starlight,
I suffer from panic attacks/anxiety whatever you want to call it and that sort of thing happens to me alot. Like everyone said go to the Dr. and get checked out but it might be something as simple as that. My attacks will hit me anywhere and anytime. Does not have to be at any type of stressfull moment. The heart race, feeling like you can't breath, I sometimes get cold/hot.... The twitch thing I am not to sure of I get more of a tingle in my hands type of thing and dr said it was all nerve related. Thank God. It's scary and I hate Drs too but go check it out and everything will be fine.