Anyone else get heart flutters?

[torinsmom]

I get these once in a while and they are on and off for a few days and then they stop. It feels like my heart is just fluttering, but my pulse is still normal. I thought it was caffeine, but I have been off caffeine for 2 months and they still happen. I went to the doctor back in the spring and of course they were going strong until I got there and then they stopped. The doctor sent me to a cardio who gave me a 24hour holter monitor, but I didn't have any "episodes" while I was on it. This is the first time I have had them since I got off caffeine, been going on on and off since yesterday evening. I am wondering if I need to ask for a referral to the cardio for a full workup? Last time, I only went for the holter monitor and then the cardio sent my doctor the results, which showed no problems.

Marsha

 

[Christine]

I have them. I can go for months without and then I just get runs of them. I had a holter done and it actually did happen but the were "harmless" skipped beats so my report showed that everything was normal. My doctor said "your normal." I called the cardiac place back who did the tests and had the cardiac nurse read the results to me. I ended up having like 20+ episodes on the holter but they were benign so I got a normal report. I was just irritated because my doctor read the report to me and dismissed that I was having an episode.

I ended up going for a stress echo where I ran on the treadmill and then they did an ultrasound of my heart. I had a few episodes while on the treadmill (but they were benign) so I got a clean bill of health on it. The tests really just show if the skipped beats are dangerous arrythmias. If not, they don't do much for you except put you on medication if you want which evens them out. I didn't want it because I don't care for the other side effects.

 

[anniemae]

This happens to me as well, but I have a heart murmur. When I first mentioned it to my pcp, she tested my thyroid. I think it is pretty common and may be related to stress. It can't hurt to get a full work up to put your mind at ease.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I went off of caffeine completely for about 4 months and then fell off the wagon. I don't remember having heart flutters while off caffeine, but I sure as heck have them now that I'm back on caffeine.

My DH had to go to the ER for chest pain (he was 35) and everything checked out, so they had him follow up with a cardiologist. Well, it turns out, the day before the chest pains, he was at a paintball tournament and had drunk 4 Monster energy drinks. This was when Monster was new, and DH thought it was Gatorade. It is so not Gatorade.

Anyway, the cardiologist went on this big rant about how caffeine should be outlawed and it kills more people by making the heart work harder and thats heart attacks are on the rise. My husband smokes too. The cardiologist told him if he could only quit one thing, quit the caffeine.

So he went caffeine free for a couple of weeks but is back on more than ever. He drinks a 2 liter of Dt Dr. Pepper a day.

I think my point is, that even though you aren't drinking caffeine anymore, I wouldn't rule it out as a possible cause. Ask your dr if caffeine could still be affecting you in some way.

 

[KandD]

I used to have them all the time, my PCP did an EKG and she sent me to get another test done as well (I can't remember what it was). Everything came back normal so she said it could be alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, etc. They got so bad that I did finally quit smoking (I needed to anyway but the flutters were a great push).
I still get them every once in a while and they bother me but when I was smoking I was getting them almost on a nightly basis and I literally couldn't fall asleep.
I would get a workup if I were you just to be on the safe side.

 

[XTinabell]

I get them. It is generally related to indigestion for me or if I've been drinking wine. If I drink wine today, I'll probably get some fluttering tomorrow, that kind of thing. I've gone to a doctor and he was basically useless, told me to watch what I eat.

 

[torinsmom]

I don't drink and I don't smoke, and as I said, I went off caffeine a few months ago. I know I am not hyperthyroid, as my doctor is actually treating me for hypothyroidism(it is subclinical) I guess that could be part of it. I had started the thyroid supplements and then gone off them and now am tapering back onto them. If hyperthyroidism can cause them, maybe my body is just reacting to having more thyroid?

Good to know people have them and it can be benign. I have never had any chest pain or shortness of breath with them, just the flutters.

Marsha

 

[cristit14]

I have them too. They had gotten to the point where they were pretty much every day, very annoying. I did the monitor and an echo. They came back as saying I have PVC (pre ventricular contractions). Apparently a lot of people have them and they aren't bothered by them at all. Since they were so bothersome to me I went on medication for them. I also gave up caffeinated beverages (couldn't give up chocolate though). I do still get them from time to time, but they don't last that long. I think mine are either stress or hormone related.

 

[SandrA9810]

it happens to me every once in a great while. Although it makes me feel like i can't take a breathe. It never happens long enough that it would ever happen in front of a doctor.

 

[parrothead365]

Every time my lovely wife walks by

 

[Imzadi]

I had them too, last summer. It was more of my heart skipping beats. I could really feel them as I was sleeping.

But, later in the summer, I found I had severe anemia. I got iron supplements and within a couple weeks I noticed that flutters were gone. Only happens once in a blue moon now.

I also found out I have hypothyroidism and may have had it during the anemia too, and read that is also a possible cause.

 

[tabby1881]

Every time my lovely wife walks by