Palpations

Whenever I lay on my left side I get palpitations. My PM is on my left side. Is this common? It pounds and feels like my hr goes irregular for a little. Once I change positions it's fine.

3 Comments

left side.

by Alma Annie - 2013-11-11 06:11:59

Yes, I have had pm for 21/2 years now. Always when I lie on my left side this happens, just as you describe. Nothing appears to be wrong. I think we just feel it in that position. They are sometimes called ectopic beats. Yes mine pounds too, more when lying on left side, but sometimes pounds away for no apparent reason. EP says all is fine so I don't worry. Mention this when you have a check up just to make sure all is ok.
Alma Annie.

Ever heard of GRAVITY?

by donr - 2013-11-11 09:11:26

Babsie: Your heart is off center in your body toward the left. To make space for it, you only have TWO lung lobes on the left side. Further, the heart is not suspended really well in the chest cavity. The BIG arteries & veins make up most of the suspension apparatus. Its sac that encloses it is suspended, but not like other parts of the body - no great, heavy ,strong ligaments or other connective tissue.

So - what happens when you flop down or roll over onto your left side is that the heart kinda saaaaags w/i its moorings. It's weight is taken up by the lungs & ribs on the left. As it throbs & pumps, they feel the movement of the heart contracting a LOT more than when you roll over to the right side.

So much for normalcy. Now throw in a brand new PM!!!!!

Your PM & your underlying condition do NOT necessarily CAUSE palpitations. I'll have to interpret Annie's English for you - she calls the ectopic beats. Us Yanks (Even residents of CA) usually call them PVC's (Premature Ventricular Contractions), & they are quite dramatic to the newbie experiencing them. You well may have had them pre PM, you just never sensed them. Now, w/ the PM, you are far more sensitive to the least little variation from normal in Heart beat.

Especially rolling over onto your left side does not cause them - it causes you to SENSE them more easily.

Once upon a time before I got my PM, I was sensing my heartbeat in my left ear & it concerned me. I was in a clinic one day & spied a card on a bulletin board tat said "What is the significance of hearing your heart beat in your left ear?" The answer was "You are lying on your left side w/ your ear on a pillow - roll over to end it." That night I tried it & sho' 'nuff, it was true!

I guess you'll have to learn to sleep on your right side!

Don

PAC's

by Alma Annie - 2013-11-12 05:11:53

Sorry for not explaining myself well about ectopic beats. Mine, according to EP are premature atrial beats, rather than ventricle. Thanks Don for the explanation of the anatomy and gravity. No one has told me that before. I just thought that having a pm caused all the thumping etc.as I never had anything like this before pm I also sometimes have this happen when I am doing things during the day. I still sleep on my left side sometimes, as I am so used to everything now. I think this is the key, give time to adjust to the pm, and yes it can take time, but I have found that once I know there is nothing wrong, it really helps with that adjustment.
Alma Annie

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