Mystery Symptom

Hi All,

I’ve tried to explain this symptom to two EP’s, my IM physician, my cardiologist, and a cardiac surgeon friend. I’ve stumped them all. 

I’ve named it a ‘heart flash’ not to be confused with a ‘hot flash’.

It appears positional - when I’m seated. All but once happened while driving. 

It feels like there is bubble/sensation that originates in my heart and then shoots up through my head and dissipates like an adrenaline rush through the rest of my body. 

We’ve been watching PVCs, PACs, episodic tachycardia, and some vasovagal reflex since Fall. My first ‘heart flash’. Happened in January. Complete block and PM in March.

Two week’s post PM, I had the strongest ‘heart flash’ I’ve had and it was while driving 55 mph over a bridge. It was terrifying. I transmitted the PM data to my EP that day, but it is not picking up the episodes. 

Since then,  I am experiencing them twice a week of varying strengths.

Next step is likely a holster read....but just curious if anyone has experienced or heard of someone else experiencing something similar.

Thanks in advance for your insight! 

Shana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comments

Sort of similar

by Gotrhythm - 2019-04-15 16:14:43

I have experienced something similar.

In my case I would describe it as a feeling in my chest of internal pressure, as if my heart or lungs were suddenly too big, and taking more room than they were supposed to. Followed by feeling warmth starting in my heart and flooding through the tissues. Sometimes up my neck and through my head. Sometimes down my back.

Sometimes it would merely feel warm. Sometimes, espceially when the feeling went up, it would  feel actually hot--my ears would burn.

I never tried to describe it to a doctor but once. :-(

In my case the sensation was a symptom of PVC induced pacemaker mediated tachycardia. Once the ventrical lead was turned off, the symptom disappeared. With the ventricle lead turned on again with new settings, I have experienced it 3-4 times. But much milder than before, and only if I have been taking a certain asthma drug.

Not sure if you think what I'm descrbing is the similar to yours, and since your symptom began before you got a pacemaker...[shrug] Who knows? I gues like a lot of things, the same or similar symptoms could have several different causes.

Hope you figure it out. 

 

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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