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grandmapoo

Anyone got relief for palpitations?

grandmapoo
17 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm 52 and I've been going thru menopause for the past 2 yrs. It all started with hot flashes and palpitations. A yr ago, I saw a cardiologist and all tests were good except for slight mitral valve prolapse. I knew about the mitral prolapse since I was in my 20's and had palps all my life, but suddenly these got scary.

Bloodwork showed near postmenopausal, and anemia. Iron helped with the rapid pulse and fatigue and the palps lessened. After a few months, they went away almost completely. But now they're back, not as bad, but bad enough to keep me from sleeping. Recent bloodwork shows anemia is not the problem.

It has to be the changing hormones. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm so tired and sleepy most of the time and tired of being anxious about this.

Thanks for listening. Sorry for rattling on.

Comments (45)

  • grandmapoo
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    Thanks Catherinet. I have been on magnesium and a low dose of potassium and it did help when they were bad. I quit both supplements when the palps got better b/c I didn't want to get too much, but recently started back on them. I have taken calcium w/D, folic acid and iron for a couple of yrs now. I've had rheumatoid arthritis and low thyroid since my early 40's and use several meds of which cause the anemia. Last yr, I was also diagnosed w/osteoporosis which I take Fosomax for.

    Since the hormones went bye bye, my thyroid med had to be adjusted and it goes up & down. I have bloodwork done every 3 mos. I have a strange suspicion that I'm now not getting enough calcium, since the Fosomax uses calcium. I only take 600 mg + the small amt that is in my daily vit.

    Have you noticed the palpitations are worse when you don't take your calcium or enough?

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  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Yes, I think it does. For awhile, I ignored the possibility, because I didn't think it would cause palps, but yes, I definitely noticed it more when I didn't take the calcium. But......when I would skip my calcium, I would usually skip my magnesium too......so who knows for sure. But when I do get alot of palps, I make sure to take both of them. Can you go up on your calcium?
    I take 1200mg of Caltrate Plus (in 2 doses).

  • grandmapoo
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    Yes, I did increase the calcium yesterday, so I got 1200mg + what small amt in my multi.

    The interesting thing is that I don't always take the potassium, b/c of the warnings about too much can cause the same irregular h/b as too little and the past two evenings, I took it with the mag/calcium and when I layed down to sleep, no palps!!!

    I've slept well the past two nights and I'm almost certain it's the potassium keeping the palps at bay, but maybe I just found the right combo. I also bought some Sleepy Time tea and have been drinking a cup before bed and it does seems to relax me, but who knows when I'm already so beat I could fall over! lol

    I do, however, continue to have them off and on throughout the day. When do you take your supplements or how do you split the doses?

    Thank you for your insight. Your help is sooooooo appreciated here. ((((HUGS))))

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Hi grandmapoo,
    I take my first 600 mg calcium, and 250 magnesium late morning, with a little food. Then I take the second dose after dinner. If I add yet another magnesium dose, I take it mid-day.
    I don't know if you have any GERD, but I also get alot of palps when my lower esophogus is irritated. I also get a TON of irregular heartbeats when I'm constipated. I think it pushes up on my heart, and my heart pushes back!

  • grandmapoo
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    Interesting about the irregular h/bs with constipation. I get them more often after a meal. The Fosomax causes esophogus irritation if not taken properly. But I've discontinued the Fosomax for 2 weeks twice over the past yr, but it didn't help get rid of the palps. During an ultrasound/xray of my esophogus after drinking some thick liquid, I had some regurgitation when I was lying on my left side. I usually don't actually feel anything coming back up in my throat, only occasionally.

    I started keeping a journal of when and how bad the palps are over more than a yr now, and I've made notes that after a good bowel movement, the palps would temporarily subside. But they also subside w/decreased thyroid med, yet they have been present even w/decreased thyroid. So, I can't put together a real pattern. The only thing that is ALWAYS present when a bout comes on is stressful events.

    The more I read up on herbs & hormone creams I'm finding there's not much evidence that they work very well. I've had a lot of stress/anxiety with my son in Iraq twice now and I'm beginning to be more convinced I have more cortisol than my body can handle. My son, d-i-l and grandkids are away from me so often, being deployed somewhere and that causes me such anxiety. I long for them to be nearby. That will be happening soon, though! :)

    Last night the palps were worse than I've had in a long while and I took all my supplements. The only added stress, but I hate to call it that is I had two of my grandchildren throught the afternoon/evening. They are a handful. I just getting dragged down w/o sleep so often. :(

  • noocha
    17 years ago

    When I spoke to my gyno about palpitations, she acted like I was nuts & she'd never heard of such. Why is that?
    Linda

  • grandmapoo
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    Yes, the same here! Even my cardiologist stated, "They are not heart related." (Of course this was after several tests.) Well, in my opinion, if it's my HEART that's palpitating, it MUST be HEART related! After some tears and release of "my opinion", he then suggested having my primary care do some extensive blood work.
    My previous gyno also didn't have a word to say about my palpitation complaint. I think the problem is that when you see a "specialist" they only do what they "specialize" in and don't want to waste time with other complaints. But, they were both men and since then, my new FEMALE primary care doctor actually listened and after ruling out a "heart problem", helped tremendously by doing a hormone profile, finding menopause/hormones was the culprit.
    So what's next? You take hormones or live with it...enough to drive you carzy! LOL

  • jenn
    17 years ago

    How much coffee (or caffeine drinks) do you consume? I was drinking only 1 large cup of coffee a day and when I stopped, the palpitations went away. I had a few sips of regular coffee a few weeks ago and had my first palpitations since I stopped drinking it.

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    I'm sorry I didn't get back to this post.
    I find it amazing when doctors don't seem to know about some of this anecdotal stuff. Surely other people get they've seen get these symptoms.
    Its like the itme I was going to a reproductive endocrinologist because I was having hormone-related migraines during perimenopause. She acted like she'd never heard of that!
    Then there was the cardiologist who'd never heard of palps with menopause. How can these people be so uninformed??
    It's always so comforting when you find the occasional doctor who knows these things.
    Yes, I agree, even a little caffeine can increase the palps.

  • Heathen1
    17 years ago

    Well, women's problems didn't use to be much a concern to the male medical world, and menopausal studies have just recently become popular too. I saw THAT little factoid on the news. Women aren't immune to that either... I had a female intern tell me once that the cervix DIDN'T HAVE ANY NERVES.... not fewer, none! I was really angry (she was hurting me badly) I told her that she was out of medical school now, she could use her brains.
    Sometimes you have to educate your doctors.... :o) Really... they don't know everything....

  • grandmapoo
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    I've drank 2 cups of coffee every morning for as long as I can remember. When my Drs. all told me to stop, I did for a few (3) days with no improvement, but since I drink half caff. I get palps with or without coffee (even tried de-caff) and the other things they advise. I wish it were that simple for me. They just came on suddenly with menopause and now come and go, but I seem to have them for about 3 months in each bout. I've read where they are transient, but most women say they have them for a matter of 2 or 3 weeks at a time.

    Catherinet, I'm happy to report that since I upped my calcium, they have mostly gone away. I get one or two every now and then, but I'm so relieved! Thanks for your input and reminding me about my supplements! :)

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Hi grandmapoo,
    I'm glad the calcium is working for you. Do you think it works better than the magnesium? When you asked me earlier about the calcium, I guess it didn't occur to me that it might be the calcium or the combo of the cal/mag that helps.
    It's funny......sometimes the magnesium gives me diarrhea. But.....if I have palps and take even more magnesium, I don't get diarrhea. Maybe when it's really being utilized, it doesn't cause the diarrhea as much??
    I'm glad it's working for you. Even when we know those palps are harmless......they sure are disconcerting!

    Heathen.....I can't believe your doc said that to you about no nerves in the cervix!
    I can remember when I was younger, and went in for an IUD. When he started to go through the cervix, I passed out from the pain!

    lol! I liked your come-back to the female intern!

  • rthummer
    17 years ago

    Hi, I am learning alot from these post. I had a complete hysterectomy in 2002. I was on an estrogen patch,but got off. I have low thyroid and diabeties(type I). I complained to my Dr. about the heart palpations and he did some tests to see if it was my heart. He put me on an anti-depressant. It did not help with the palpations. He told me the only other thing he could do was put me back on the estrogen patch. Well, I just decided to live with it. I will try the calcium and mag. Yes, I am sorry to say I have not been taking calcium. I'll try anything to get rid of the palpations. Do any of you get a real face flushing with the heart palpations??

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Hi rthummer,
    I don't get face flushing with the palps. But when I was going through perimenopause, I would get so much body flushing, that I got nauseous and thought I would pass out.
    Even when you have a hysterectomy, I think the other 2 parts of the hormone equation sometimes keep working (hypothalamus and pituitary)....and causing some symptoms.
    something is making you vaso-dilate......which could cause both your heart palps and your face flushing. Do you think your thyroid med might need adjusting?
    At least you can relax that it's not your heart. Did you have something like a stress echo?
    Can you think of anything you do or eat or drink, that might bring these palps on? You might keep a diary.
    Calcium and magnesium can't hurt. Sometimes it makes people constipated, but you could just go up on the magnesium to help with that. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

  • grandmapoo
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    Catherinet, I remember during Christmas last year, I was not having palps and during that time I was taking 1200 mg calcium along with my magnesium and potassium. Like I said, I also have to take iron, so I was terribly constipated all the time, so during this yr, I cut my calcium dose in half, (I'm not sure exactly when) but my palpitations came back around May this yr and stayed with me until I increased my calcium back up.
    I know that calcium also controls nerve impulses and heart rhythm, so it sure looks like the calcium is the main one in my case. As I've said, I take Fosomax, which uses calcium, so maybe that's the key supplement in my case.

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    That's interesting Grandmapoo,

    The body is so complex! I started out taking calcium for my IBS - diarrhea. Without it, it's totally out of control.
    One August, my heart palps were out of control. I went to the ER and a doctor gave me magnesium I.V. I was so impressed that a conventional doc would do something like that. He said that you can't truly know your magnesium levels IN your cells. You can have a normal blood magnesium, but still be deficient. I didn't have any irregular beats for several weeks after that.....then they came back, and I started taking oral magnesium.
    I had also started drinking coke again, back when I got those palps, and I've read that the phosphoric acid in soft drinks can really lower your calcium. So who knows for sure why I was having all those palps.
    Also, the calcium calms down my upper GI problems too. And when I have those problems, I tend to have more palps. I was talking to people on the GERD forum once about this, and it seems like a fair number of us with GERD have palps. Then someone said that their doctor told them that the vagus nerve runs through the esophogus, on it's way to the heart, and when it gets irritated in the esophogus, it causes palps.
    So it seems like there might be alot of reasons for palps. But now when I get them, I know to be sure and take my magnesium and calcium, treat my heartburn, drink lots of water, increase my fiber, and cut back on the caffeine! I figure that covers most of my bases!

  • rthummer
    17 years ago

    Catherinet, Yes, my Doctor ordered a nuclear stress test, I believe that was what it was called. It was all clear. I think you are right about the thyroid med needing adjusting. I have an appt. in Oct. I am getting arthritic like symptoms in my joints, especially fingers and wrist, ankles. When this happen last time it was my thyroid med. but I can't remember if it was too low or high. You jogged my memory when you mentioned it. Thanks... I have terrible, terrible night sweats. I have changed the sheets up to 3 times in one night. I am retired now. I cannot imagine what I would do if I had to get up in the morning and go to work all day. My sleep is messed up. Sometimes I catnap during the day when I have had nightsweats the night before and they have disturbed my sleep. I have heard of women never having any menopausal problems, not even hot flashes, and others all kinds. One dear lady told me she had hot flashes, irritability, etc. for 15 years!!!!!!!!!!! Dear God........

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Oh poor you rthummer!
    I can really relate to your problems. Even though I didn't have a big problem with night sweats, I went insane for several years with perimenopause. Truly, I went crazy. I always felt like I was dying.

    You can't think about how long this might last. You just have to work towards feeling better one day at a time.
    Have you ever tried anything like Estroven, or black cohosh for your night sweats?
    Is your diabetes well-controlled? It seems like your thyroid and diabetes problems could be making your sweats worse.
    I feel like you do. If I had a job, I'd probably get fired from it! It doesn't seem fair that some women can just breeze through this time, and then others (like us), are almost destroyed by it.

    How's your eating? I think perimenopause/menopause symptoms are alot like fibromyalgia symptoms. So I think what helps one condition might help the other.
    I know that women with fibro are very much affected by carbs and sugar and caffeine. So if you're eating alot of these, you might try to decrease it.
    I began my menopausal journey around 10 years ago. Life is ALOT better for me now (I'm 56). I still have some funky goings-on, but it's definitely better. So try to stay optimistic. I know it can be VERY hard......but try to be hopeful that things will get better!

  • rthummer
    17 years ago

    Catherinet, I am on so many med's it isn't funny. I take synthyroid, demadex, potassium, insulin, I am on the pump, three blood pressure pills, one to protect kidneys, Lipitor, (I've had 2 heart attacks), methrotrexate(rhuematoid arthritis), Humira, Plavix, and acidplex. I do very good for what I cope with. I just keep my faith and prayer life current!!!! I held down a job until this summer when I had to have an operation on my leg. I still get around very good. I just seem to get tired more often which is sometimes flustrating as I have always been a go, go, go person. My husband is glad I am home. I had my own salon for 36 years. He really likes me doing the homey things. Thank God I have him- We have been married for 37 years. I have always been a diabetic, but it is finally doing a "job" on my body. Diabeties never slowed me down when I was younger. When mental pause came that is when "what didn't fall off, fell apart." But, sometimes when I think of many years ago, I do miss my youth. I try to stop that thought process and thank God for this day.

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Hi rthummer,
    I would imagine that with all those meds, your hot flashes could somehow be related to them. That's alot of medicine side-effects that you could possibly have.
    Are there any of the meds that you could possibly come off of?
    I'm really sensitive to almost every med there is, and always seem to get side-effects from them, that are worse than the condition they are treating!
    It sounds like you have a really positive attitude about things. :)
    Have you tried the calcium/magnesium yet? Be sure to ask your doc if it's okay......but it might really help your palps. They are so annoying. Even though they can be harmless, I think our bodies react to them, like something must be really wrong. I always get so nervous when I have them.
    Even though HRT causes some problems, I think that it's probably the closet thing there is to a "fountain of youth" pill. I know when I quit taking it, everything started breaking down. But I like being off of it.
    I agree, it IS very comforting to have someone around who cares for us, as things are breaking down and falling off!

  • rthummer
    17 years ago

    Catherinet, Actually I am suppose to be on calcium/magnesium. I just felt I didn't need it. I had my bone density test and it came back normal. Man, it sure was good to have something come back normal. So, with all the other med's I have to take I just left that off. Maybe I needed it after all.... I will start taking them. Thanks:)

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Hi again,

    I hope I don't repeat myself. Alot of times I forget what I have and haven't said, so please forgive me if I repeat.
    I know what you mean about having something normal! I had a bone density last year, and the tech said I had the bones of a 35 year old (I'm almost 57). Wow! Cool! But it's the only good thing I have! lol! Better than nothin' I guess!
    I just knew my bones were strong, but supposedly you just can't tell without the test.
    I'm sure my bones would have been good without having been on the calcium for a couple years. I started the calcium for my IBS. It keeps me from having constant diarrhea.
    Sometimes it gives people constipation, but the magnesium should even things out.
    I'm really not a person to take medications, but I have to say that I really do see a difference with my palpitations and may muscle spasms/twitches, when I take the cal/mag.
    You could try it for a month or 2, and if you didn't see a difference, then just stop it.
    I understand your not wanting to take more pills. Maybe you could find some calcium in a drink, or one of those chocolate chews (I forget the name of them)
    And actually......if you don't have a problem with diarrhea, you could start out just taking the magnesium, to see if that controls the palps without the calcium.

  • nanasuz
    17 years ago

    I had palpitations on and off for a 6 month period and went to the RE. The EKG and blood work came back normal. I had them worse when I was stressed out and when my stomach was upset. I happened to be looking at Internet sites and came across an article about Aloe Vera and how it stopped palpitations. I tried it and now I am free of them. I take Two Aloe Vera Gel tabs in the AM when I wake up and two before I eat lunch. Try it!!!

  • linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
    17 years ago

    What do the palpitations feel like to you? I am having some symptoms (I call it a "Flutter") but don't know if it is the same thing all of you are talking about.

    With mine there is no regular heartbeat, just a really rapid "tik-tik-tik-tik-tik" that gos on afor a few seconds. Followed by nausea and a general punk feeling that lasts the rest of the day. I am 50, in perimenopause; periods just starting to become more irregular in the last 9 months. No night sweats (yet) or the other stuff.

  • AnneCecilia z5 MI
    17 years ago

    Linnea, I've described my symptoms just like that, a "flutter." Feels like a bird trapped in my chest. After tests showed nothing was 'wrong' with my heart, my Dr. put me on Inderal (a beta-blocker) to control the symptoms - which she said were probably related to peri-menopause. After being on the Inderal for over a year, she suggested we try a withdrawal from it and see what happens (it must be done gradually.) What I found out was that my system has become *extremely* sensitive to caffeine. If I can stay completely away from it, I don't need the Inderal. That means, NO "decaf" products because they still contain enough caffeine to trigger it, and definitely no chocolate. Nothing with even a hint of caffeine can be tolerated by my body. If I am weak and take a nibble of say, a chocolate chip cookie, I experience the fluttering shortly thereafter. I am hoping that after I am through menopause this all goes away; my Dr. said that it might.

  • catherinet
    17 years ago

    Hi everyone,
    For me, it feels like someone hits me in the chest with a soft glove on. It makes me cough. Boy I hate those beats. I know they can mean nothing, but they still scare me.
    Anne........I was on Toprol for about 6 years (for high BP, due to perimenopause), and I found that it actually GAVE me more irregular beats.
    I am finally weaning off it, and am realizing that I'm pretty sensitive to caffeine too. There is a "rebound" period of time when we come off meds, when we get alot of the symptoms back, but I've found they go away after about a week. When I first came down on the Toprol, it was like I was on amphetamines!!
    I wonder if you will eventually be able to tolerate a little caffeine? I've found that I can have 1 glass of coke a day, but if I go to even the tiniest bit more, I get irregular beats.
    My mother had the same problem. I wonder if some of us just have really sensitive hearts?
    Linnea......I'm wondering if you have an episode of tachycardia (sometimes ventricular). Sometimes the heart can just take off, and then it stops (well, not completely!).

  • judy333
    16 years ago

    I discovered this gardenweb forum tonight. I think I've finally found a place of kindred souls!

    Two weeks ago I was in the hospital due to palpitations which woke me in the middle of the night. This follows daytime palpitations this past summer which scared me to death. (My dad had a major heart attack at age 60.) In addition, I've been having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Then, there were instances of feeling hot and clammy. Hot, clammy, heart palpitations - to me that was the signal of my dad's heart attack. Well, ladies, after many heart tests- with the only thing amiss being PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) nothing serious was discovered. No answers to the mystery. Until..........last weekend I met a woman who told me she had the same thing - middle of the night "heart attack" symptoms - - and it ended up being diagnosed as menopause! Hmmm. I asked my doctor to order a blood test when I saw her this week to see where I stood (I had my uterus removed in 1999; therefore, I can't tell what's going on with my ovaries and hormones...blood work a year and a half ago indicated no sign of menopause.) Well, yesterday I got the results of the bloodwork: I am definitely now in post-menopause. Could those intense heart palpitations REALLY be part of menopause??? Boy, am I clueless. My mother and her mother never had any side effects when going through menopause - no hot flashes, nothing (which amazed their doctors)...so I'm new to this strange world of menopause. I just assumed I would not notice anything when hitting that stage. Again, are heart palpitations really part of menopause???

    Judy in Massachusetts ( who in 4 days will turn 50 and one half...lol...)

  • linn_z
    16 years ago

    I went to the ER for heart palps. My (at the time) primary physician did an EKG, didn't know what they were, never heard of them ??? At the ER they told me my heart was fine, I could stop the palpitations myself, and they were right. When my heart started beating fast I would just think "you're fine, if you want to beat fast go ahead I don't care". It really worked once i knew my heart was okay. I was in my 50's, sure it was some menopausal thing, hardly ever beats fast now, I am 60.

  • mweddles_yahoo_com
    16 years ago

    my paltipations are very bad as soon as i get up in the morning they start im a 26 year old male that has recently been dealing with anxiety and i had a ekg and everything was fine also a chest xray i just dont know what to do i have this warm feeling in my chest and then it starts and i also have shortness of breath also with a funny taste in my mouth like metallic is there anything i can do about all of this i also have nasal prolyps

  • judy333
    16 years ago

    HELP!!!

    My sudden onsets of palpitations comes with a warm rush to my head, a warm taste in my throat, light headedness, and shallow breathing (probably because I'm scared to death!). Have any of you had some of those events accompany the palpitations???

    I've had almost every heart test known to man (without being invasive) and the only thing that was discovered was a bit of PVC (premature ventricular contractions). I'm age 50 and was just two weeks ago diagnosed as post-menopausal.

  • judy333
    16 years ago

    Quick follow-up to my previous post. Yesterday afternoon, my cardiologist told me that I have PSVT. I can't find anywhere on the Internet that it is menopause-related. Hmmm.

  • carol10470_yahoo_com
    13 years ago

    I'm a female. I started BP meds at age 53 (2 and 1/2 yrs ago), Lisinopril, and it worked like a charm lowering my BP. I'd been having headaches and nasuea and vomiting, and my great toes on each foot were black under the nails (blood pooled). Then, 6 months ago, I started having PVC's, and went to a cardio doc and he put me on Metoprolol to control the extra beats and the high blood pressure, and took me off Lisinopril. I still get palps on the Metoprolol though, and the medicine makes me SO, SO tired that I nearly fall asleep driving home from work, and I used to be an avid Jazzercise person, and now, I am SO tired all the time, I only think about sleeping and I know it is the meds. If this is menopause, I hate it. If this is menopause, I'd hate to find out what happens after menopause. Unfortunately if I don't get hit by a big truck, I'm going to find out!! Heh! Heh!!

  • mare555
    12 years ago

    Hi, i've been having palpitations on and off for years (just a couple a day) but in the last six months, have had alot of them for maybe two weeks periods, then they would skip about four months and now this past week, i've been having them alot again. I'm post menopause (about 2-3 years). Since my gyn seems to think I should have no menopause symptoms now since I'm "post" menopause, I'm wondering if anyone else out there is still having palps, or any other kinds of menopause symptoms even though you might be "post" menopause. Can someone please help? Doctors don't seem to have a clue. All the information online is directed to women in peri or menopause but not post menopause.

  • mae_wee
    12 years ago

    Hi mare555, I am with YOU! I went through menopause 13 years ago...no hot flashes, no night sweats, no nothing. I'm 62 years old. NOW I'm having palps exactly the way they are described in this forum. I take magnesium and potassium but calcium constipates me and that annoys the hemorrhoids! I can't win! I don't know what to do either. :(

  • dtm1966
    12 years ago

    I have started having PVC. They are particularly bad at certain times of the month. Caffine and adrenalin make it worse. When I get them I get uncomfortable and that makes the adrenalin flowIt becomes a vicious cycle. I have had some releif from low doses of beta blocker (ziac or bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide -2.5 mg/6.25 mg tablet ). It doesn't stop them completely but maybe 80-90% reduction. (I do not have high blood pressure.) good luck

  • josi_59
    11 years ago

    I'm so glad I found this site. I'm 52 & have been suffering with various perimeno symptoms like palpitations, hot flashes, racing heartbeat that wakes me up at night, etc., for several years now. I will go for several months with no symptoms, then I'll have a 2-3 week period of time where I'm feeling agitated, anxious, lightheaded, palpitations, like I'm going to jump out of my skin. As many have already said, I've gotten zero help from MDs. Primary MD sent me to cardiologist who told me palpitations have nothing to do with menopause. Really? He needs to read this forum! Beta blocker helps but then I heard those can cause elevated blood sugar, and last year I was told that I have prediabetes, so I went off the beta blocker and my statin. Now I only take 1/2 beta blocker pill when the palps really scare me. Xanax also helps when I feel like I won't be able to sleep. I am going to try the calcium and magnesium. I think I tried mag before but stopped it due to IBS/diarrhea. It is always something! You treat one thing, then you have to take something else to treat the side effects from the first treatment. Very frustrating. Thanks for all your good advice and for sharing! It is nice to know I'm not alone or crazy or hysterical or imagining things!

  • PMac10
    11 years ago

    I can't believe I stumbled upon this site! I am 43 years old and have been experiencing heart palps (irregular heart beats and heart slowing down to as low as 48 BPM), insomnia, night sweats, foggy thinking, confusion, fatigue, humming in ears, low sex drive, cramping in intestines, and a slew of other symptoms that came on abruptly. Angiogram, x-rays, stress tests, and heart ultra sound ruled out heart problems. CT scan ruled out neuro problems. They said my heart was "the victim" of something else.. I've seen an endocrinologist. With the exception of low B12, my potassium on the low/normal side and DHEA levels low they said they did not know what could be causing my symptoms. GYNO took me off of low estrogen pill earlier this month. The pill was suppressing periods all together. It was three weeks before I started my period and palps ceased (which was great) but other symptoms persisted. GYNO said the heart palps are not normal for BC pill side effects. When I asked her if she thought I was menopausal she said she did not think so. I asked her to run tests anyway�waiting on results. The funny thing is, I�ve asked EVERY doctor I�ve seen (ER docs, heart, endo, gyno, family doc) if they thought it was menopause related and they all said NO! I have a history of PMS and had to take progesterone to sustain pregnancy after 3 miscarriages so hormonal problems was my first thought. So, again, I�m glad I found this site�at least I�m not totally nuts!!!! Really, I feel like a hypochondriac because they keep telling me that they can�t find anything that would be causing all of my symptoms and I clearly know that I AM NOT FEELING WELL. Frustrating!!!!!

  • PMac10
    11 years ago

    I can't believe I stumbled upon this site! I am 43 years old and have been experiencing heart palps (irregular heart beats and heart slowing down to as low as 48 BPM), insomnia, night sweats, foggy thinking, confusion, fatigue, humming in ears, low sex drive, cramping in intestines, and a slew of other symptoms that came on abruptly. Angiogram, x-rays, stress tests, and heart ultra sound ruled out heart problems. CT scan ruled out neuro problems. They said my heart was "the victim" of something else.. I've seen an endocrinologist. With the exception of low B12, my potassium on the low/normal side and DHEA levels low they said they did not know what could be causing my symptoms. GYNO took me off of low estrogen pill earlier this month. The pill was suppressing periods all together. It was three weeks before I started my period and palps ceased (which was great) but other symptoms persisted. GYNO said the heart palps are not normal for BC pill side effects. When I asked her if she thought I was menopausal she said she did not think so. I asked her to run tests anyway�waiting on results. The funny thing is, I�ve asked EVERY doctor I�ve seen (ER docs, heart, endo, gyno, family doc) if they thought it was menopause related and they all said NO! I have a history of PMS and had to take progesterone to sustain pregnancy after 3 miscarriages so hormonal problems was my first thought. So, again, I�m glad I found this site�at least I�m not totally nuts!!!! Really, I feel like a hypochondriac because they keep telling me that they can�t find anything that would be causing all of my symptoms and I clearly know that I AM NOT FEELING WELL. Frustrating!!!!!

  • Kolorado
    10 years ago

    I'm having the same thing, heart palps, nausea, vertigo type sensations

    My problem is, I wake feeling like I'm falling, and each time I drift back to sleep, I get waken up again feeling like I'm falling. It usually happens around 4 or 5am. Very frustrating

    Anyone else experience this? Were you able to get any relief, and what did you do or take. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

    Thankyou much!!!

  • Mimbletina
    9 years ago

    Newbie here. I recently turned 50 and got palpitations as a birthday gift. I've had the tests done, (of course when I wasn't getting them) so I just read about them online and yes, it does help knowing others are going through it. I am a chronic worrier and have generalized anxiety so this is the icing on the cake.

    I started taking a tablespoon of Milk of Magnesia daily to up my magnesium intake. As I'm also chronically constipated, it helps in several ways. It hasn't really helped with the palps, though. Does anybody else cough from the PVC's? And I worry about exercising with them... is exercising safe or will I keel over?

  • Marilyn Muma-Reid
    9 years ago

    I am 45 and have had palps all my life. PVC'S are what I am having, pre-ventricular contractions. Totally benign, been through every test they could think to run. Used to have them when I was young from anxiety disorder. Then they went away for years and came back as I started to have peri-menopausal symptoms. I am currently suffering with them and have been steady for about 5 days. I have found the following things bring them on: Stress, hormone fluctuation (especially the week before my period), and when my back is out. Between T1 and T2 there are two nerves that run directly to the heart. If your back is out there, it can cause PVC'S. Last night was really rough. Had TONS of them and almost contemplated going to the ER but there really isn't anything they can do for me. I do magnesium but only transdermally. Taking the pill is worthless. You are better taking it in through the skin with epsom salt baths or foot baths. That is the best way to get magnesium into your system. Don't do the calcium with all I have read about it causing plaque in the arteries. I will have to read up on any safe ones or just juice more calcium containing greens since I can't do milk. They are so frustrating and it makes me want to scream. Good news is, this morning, since I started my period last night, I seem to be better. I don't feel like I am having them or at least not as many. But after a night of having so many, my chest feels a bit like I had a really bad low sugar attack. It usually takes me a few days to come back around after a super strong bout of them. I am not sure about you ladies but I am about over these peri-menopausal symptoms. I have had them since age 35. Enough is enough. Do lots of meditation, energy healing (reiki and chios), essential oils, and other natural treatments. They are the best way I have found to deal with this stuff. Good luck all.


  • Jeanette Mcdonald
    7 years ago

    I am 55 years old and been going through menopause for about 2 years, the last month or so i have had heart palpitations that can last for hours at a time, they are day and night and are making me very stressed and scared. I don't know what i can take to ease them as i have heard so much conflicting information. Help.

  • linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
    7 years ago

    What's been mentioned on here are probably the only things you can try. The one thing I would add is fish oil. Fish oil helped the most with my hot flashes, so maybe it helps with the palpitations too. I already take magnesium for several other reasons.

    I just read an article recently that mentioned low iron as a cause. I went back and checked my most recent tests, and saw that though it is in the "normal" range, it was only 1 point above. Ask your doctor for a ferritin test too. I will ask mine at my next checkup next month. It's a test that shows how well your body can bind the iron and use it. A doctor friend suggested that to me 10 years ago when I was having major memory issues that I attributed to perimenopause. I found that though "technically" I was not anemic according to the usual tests, my ferritin showed I was grossly so. After 6 months of iron, the fog lifted. I took a formula that is less constipating.

  • Robin Harrison
    7 years ago

    I have joined the PVC club. They can be scary. My cardiologist said that menapause can cause them. He prescribed me magnesium which really does help. He also told me to excersize. That wasn't a problem because I do excersize at least four times a week. It also helps. Sometimes I get PVCs from it but it's the adrinelin. Then they calm down. He told me that the excersize makes my heart stronger. lol I did know this. But it was nice to hear him say it. I think I'm going to add calcium too. He has done test and my heart is healthy. If your afraid to excersize which I don't blame you. When these started. I would pray all during Zumba. Start out slow. I was lucky that the ER gave recommended a great cardiologist. He listens to me and my fears. Plus he likes to start out with the least and go from there. I like reading these stories cause it tells me I'm not alone.

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