|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
 
Location: IL | So a little bit of background. I never had a problem with this until after my horse face planted coming into the 2nd barrel about 7 years ago. I flew off and landed on my left shoulder. Had chest pain along my sternum and ribs for a couple days after the accident but nothing unbearable, figured it was just some bruising. However, ever since that happened I have had a couple of issues. It started with a severe pain beneath my sternum, so painful that it would cause me to have to take very short breaths as deep ones were excruciating. But, as soon as I would get my sternum to pop, the pain would go away and I could breathe normally again. I told my doctor at the time about this but she told me that I must be confusing the popping of my sternum with my back popping. That is not the case, if I have a tank top on or a sports bra, you can actually SEE the pop occur on/in my sternum. This progressed to me having what felt like my heart fluttering. The heart fluttering feeling would be accompanied with slight dizziness. For awhile it was just the sternum pain and heart fluttering, but now it is accompanied by what feels as if the wind has been knocked out of me for a second and I "recover" from that when I quickly inhale due to the feeling. The wind knocked out sensation happens randomly and sometimes quite often throughout the day and then sometimes not at all. Many times it doesn't happen WITH the heart fluttering, somtimes just by itself. Doesn't matter what I'm doing either. Sometimes it happens when I lay on my right side in bed instead of my left, or as I'm rolling over in bed, or it happens while I'm being active. Also, most mornings when I wake up, my first breath is really painful. It almost feels like my ribcage didnt' expand all night and my ribs are bruised. But once I take that first painful deep breath, my ribcage is fine, no pain.
At first I thought perhaps the fluttering heart was due to too much caffeine. However, now I have a very small cup of coffee morning (not every morning) and only drink soda if we go out to eat. I drink water, natural half lemonade & half tea, and most recently blueberry lemonade. So I ruled out caffeine as the cause because the same issues happened whether I drank caffeine or not.
I've mentioned all of this to my doctors over the years and they've all said it just sounds like it's a heart palpitation due to stress, caffeine, anxiety, etc. and I'm not convinced that's the case. It has been going on for about 7 years now. Anybody had any experience with something like this? | |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| Take magnesium. About half of everybody over 40 has some type of post ventrical constriction. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
Location: IL | I just turned 25 on March 1 :) | |
| | |
 Living in Denial and Loving it
Posts: 1555
Location: minnesota | Have you ever had an EKG?
I would seriously consider a new doctor if they simply reply "it sounds like ...... heart related issues" and don't run any tests.
The good news is that it has been going on for years so the likelihood of it being anything serious is slim. However if you really feel like there is something wrong, you need to find a doctor that will at the very least, put your mind at ease by acting like you have a legitimate complaint.
FYI, if someone walked into the ER with a chief complaint of "palpitations" you would have a cardiac work up right away. You can't get the whole story, just from the story.
| |
| | |
  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
 
Location: Florida.. | my son and a trainer friend of mine had injuries and they have this.. sometimes its so bad when they take a breath they thought they were having heart attacks..not saying it is but since you had a injury.. it is possible.all your symptoms are like my friends.. Id have a dr check out your heart ekg as well.. though.. better to be safe..
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/costochondritis
| |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Sounds to me like you are having some sort of arythmia. If your doctor will not listen to you find another doctor. It certain would be worth doin an EKG but a holter monitor test would be better since you wear the monitor for 24 hours. Be persistent with your doctor. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
Location: IL | Yeah I figured since I havne't gotten seriously ill yet, that hopefully it's not something too serious. Hubby and I won't have any health insurance til May as he lost his job and this one is new. So, part of the reason I haven't really pressed the issue as I'm sure it will cost quite a bit for them to run cardio tests.
Thank you for the replies. I've tried to do some of my own "research" and I have heard of a condition where the cartilage and such along the ribcage becomes inflamed? The symptoms seemed similiar to mine but again, just a web self diagnosis! lol | |
| | |
Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | TACKyPaints - 2014-03-12 9:42 PM Yeah I figured since I havne't gotten seriously ill yet, that hopefully it's not something too serious. Hubby and I won't have any health insurance til May as he lost his job and this one is new. So, part of the reason I haven't really pressed the issue as I'm sure it will cost quite a bit for them to run cardio tests.
Thank you for the replies. I've tried to do some of my own "research" and I have heard of a condition where the cartilage and such along the ribcage becomes inflamed? The symptoms seemed similiar to mine but again, just a web self diagnosis! lol it is similar to the link I posted above.. yes costochondritis
Edited by Bibliafarm 2014-03-12 8:48 PM
| |
| | |
Living in Denial and Loving it
Posts: 1555
Location: minnesota | Costochondritis doesn't continue for several years and it won't cause a "fluttering" or "palpitation" sensation.
| |
| | |
 Veteran
Posts: 268
| Certain tea and sodas have quite a lot of caffeine, something to consider!
When the pain starts, perhaps you get anxious, and as a result, feel heart palpitations.
It would be a good idea to get checked out by a physician or cardiologist just in case, they might fit you with a holter moniter to check your heart rate etc during a normal day - just to make sure there is not an underlying cause | |
| | |
Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | JazzyGirl - 2014-03-12 9:54 PM
Costochondritis doesn't continue for several years and it won't cause a "fluttering" or "palpitation" sensation.
yes it does..several years it can yes..where did you figure that out ?.. My friend trains and has hers since 15 years ago. ...flutters no | |
| | |
 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | There are a lot of conditions that can cause heart fluttering, and yes, it does make you feel breathless. I had that problem for several years, along with eyelid twitching, that was coming from some cranial nerves and my brain stem being compressed. My mom has had something similar to your problem since a bad car wreck 30 years ago. The seat belt damaged the cartilage in her sternum. | |
| | |
 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 8:58 AM
There are a lot of conditions that can cause heart fluttering, and yes, it does make you feel breathless. I had that problem for several years, along with eyelid twitching, that was coming from some cranial nerves and my brain stem being compressed. My mom has had something similar to your problem since a bad car wreck 30 years ago. The seat belt damaged the cartilage in her sternum.
What did you do to treat the eyelid twitch and heart fluttering? Mine started about 10 years ago, both the eyelid twitch and the fluttering. I never have related the two things until now that you mentioned them. I've mentioned the heart fluttering to my doctor a couple of times, but he hasn't seem concerned. It doesn't happen all the time. It's probably been about a month or longer since I remember having the eye twitch and heart fluttering, so it's kind of a come and go type thing. | |
| | |
Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Jenbabe - 2014-03-13 10:03 AM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 8:58 AM There are a lot of conditions that can cause heart fluttering, and yes, it does make you feel breathless. I had that problem for several years, along with eyelid twitching, that was coming from some cranial nerves and my brain stem being compressed. My mom has had something similar to your problem since a bad car wreck 30 years ago. The seat belt damaged the cartilage in her sternum. What did you do to treat the eyelid twitch and heart fluttering? Mine started about 10 years ago, both the eyelid twitch and the fluttering. I never have related the two things until now that you mentioned them. I've mentioned the heart fluttering to my doctor a couple of times, but he hasn't seem concerned. It doesn't happen all the time. It's probably been about a month or longer since I remember having the eye twitch and heart fluttering, so it's kind of a come and go type thing.
Edited by Three 4 Luck 2014-03-13 10:13 AM
| |
| | |
Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 10:12 AM
Jenbabe - 2014-03-13 10:03 AM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 8:58 AM There are a lot of conditions that can cause heart fluttering, and yes, it does make you feel breathless. I had that problem for several years, along with eyelid twitching, that was coming from some cranial nerves and my brain stem being compressed. My mom has had something similar to your problem since a bad car wreck 30 years ago. The seat belt damaged the cartilage in her sternum. What did you do to treat the eyelid twitch and heart fluttering? Mine started about 10 years ago, both the eyelid twitch and the fluttering. I never have related the two things until now that you mentioned them. I've mentioned the heart fluttering to my doctor a couple of times, but he hasn't seem concerned. It doesn't happen all the time. It's probably been about a month or longer since I remember having the eye twitch and heart fluttering, so it's kind of a come and go type thing.
Doesn't sound like what I've got going on, because I don't have any of the other symptoms that you mentioned. I've tried to figure out if there is a specific trigger, like stress, caffeine, being tired, etc. and have come up with nothing. The only thing might have relevance is something hormonal because I don't ever remember having the twitch or the palpitations while I was pregnant with either of my children. I've been putting going off talking to my doctor again about this, but suppose I better just make an appointment.
Thanks for sharing. And to the OP, sorry for stealing your thread! | |
| | |
 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 10:12 AM Jenbabe - 2014-03-13 10:03 AM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 8:58 AM There are a lot of conditions that can cause heart fluttering, and yes, it does make you feel breathless. I had that problem for several years, along with eyelid twitching, that was coming from some cranial nerves and my brain stem being compressed. My mom has had something similar to your problem since a bad car wreck 30 years ago. The seat belt damaged the cartilage in her sternum. What did you do to treat the eyelid twitch and heart fluttering? Mine started about 10 years ago, both the eyelid twitch and the fluttering. I never have related the two things until now that you mentioned them. I've mentioned the heart fluttering to my doctor a couple of times, but he hasn't seem concerned. It doesn't happen all the time. It's probably been about a month or longer since I remember having the eye twitch and heart fluttering, so it's kind of a come and go type thing.
All of a sudden I find myself riveted by this.
I've had heart palps since I was very young. I think I was 14 the first time it lasted long enough to get my moms hand on my chest to feel it. She freaked and I was put through all the tests available way back then (kidding, ekg, stress, echocardiogram). Nothing glaring and no incidents during the stress test. I've also always had a twitchy eyelid (left eyelid). I have ALWAYS had ringing in my ears. Different tones and intensity at times. I will have a moment (like 2-5 seconds) when one ear or the other will quit and I can become unstable when that happens if I'm not already sitting down. Balance problems is putting it lightly. I have to be very careful every morning not to walk into the walls with my shoulders, and times in the evening that it happens again and I'll bump a wall too. My gut has always had issues, and in the past 2-3 years it has become an 'issue,' which is a little more serious. I've never had facial numbness, tho a few years ago I started having eye sensitivity to bright light (example: when I flick my lighter to light a cig it sends shooting pain behind my eyes). How do you get a doctor to listen to you in this day and age to even look into something like this? Is there an easier test? I'd love all these things to go away, or even just moderate! | |
| | |
Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | lonely va barrelxr - 2014-03-13 11:34 AM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 10:12 AM Jenbabe - 2014-03-13 10:03 AM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-13 8:58 AM There are a lot of conditions that can cause heart fluttering, and yes, it does make you feel breathless. I had that problem for several years, along with eyelid twitching, that was coming from some cranial nerves and my brain stem being compressed. My mom has had something similar to your problem since a bad car wreck 30 years ago. The seat belt damaged the cartilage in her sternum. What did you do to treat the eyelid twitch and heart fluttering? Mine started about 10 years ago, both the eyelid twitch and the fluttering. I never have related the two things until now that you mentioned them. I've mentioned the heart fluttering to my doctor a couple of times, but he hasn't seem concerned. It doesn't happen all the time. It's probably been about a month or longer since I remember having the eye twitch and heart fluttering, so it's kind of a come and go type thing.
I've had heart palps since I was very young. I think I was 14 the first time it lasted long enough to get my moms hand on my chest to feel it. She freaked and I was put through all the tests available way back then (kidding, ekg, stress, echocardiogram). Nothing glaring and no incidents during the stress test. I've also always had a twitchy eyelid (left eyelid). I have ALWAYS had ringing in my ears. Different tones and intensity at times. I will have a moment (like 2-5 seconds) when one ear or the other will quit and I can become unstable when that happens if I'm not already sitting down. Balance problems is putting it lightly. I have to be very careful every morning not to walk into the walls with my shoulders, and times in the evening that it happens again and I'll bump a wall too. My gut has always had issues, and in the past 2-3 years it has become an 'issue,' which is a little more serious. I've never had facial numbness, tho a few years ago I started having eye sensitivity to bright light (example: when I flick my lighter to light a cig it sends shooting pain behind my eyes). How do you get a doctor to listen to you in this day and age to even look into something like this? Is there an easier test? I'd love all these things to go away, or even just moderate!
If I were you, I would go to an ENT and request an MRI with contrast. I was lucky in a way, because by the time I went to the dr for my issues, they were advanced enough that there was no question I needed an MRI. Of course, if I had been diagnosed before it got so large, it would have been easier and less traumatic to treat. They often grow for decades before being found--mine was unusually fast growing, they think from pregnancy and breastfeeding. My second child was 6 weeks old when I finally went to the dr and got diagnosed. And like I said, these are very rare, so it's very likely something different, but with your symptoms, I would be looking to rule that out. | |
| | |
 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7619
Location: Dubach, LA | TACKyPaints - 2014-03-12 8:42 PM Yeah I figured since I havne't gotten seriously ill yet, that hopefully it's not something too serious. Hubby and I won't have any health insurance til May as he lost his job and this one is new. So, part of the reason I haven't really pressed the issue as I'm sure it will cost quite a bit for them to run cardio tests.
Thank you for the replies. I've tried to do some of my own "research" and I have heard of a condition where the cartilage and such along the ribcage becomes inflamed? The symptoms seemed similiar to mine but again, just a web self diagnosis! lol
If you haven't already, find a good chiropracter.
| |
| |
| |
Folks on-line