Bad day/OT

[AAACGRL]

I have hypertension and have had it for about a year. It's well controlled. But Wednesday of last week I started feeling a fluttery feeling in my chest. I sorta tried to ignore it and figured I'd had too much caffeine but by yesterday it was still going. I went to my doctor and he insisted that it's just depression/anxiety and to just take some Xanax and Zoloft instead of seeing a cardiologist.  (I can't just go see one-have to have my primary doctor do an insurance referral).  I told him I really would feel better if I could see a heart doctor just to know this is not serious.  I have premature ventricular contractions (Pvc's) based on the ekg done. It's a type of arrhythmia.
He insisted I must try the anxiety and depression meds first. Do these doctors not get that you're only driving the stress more by not letting us see specialists we want?!?  Pvc's can lead to ventricular tachycardia which can lead to death. Most of the time from what I've read, the PVC's are harmless in those without heart issues but hello...I have high blood pressure. :/  I guess it's time to go doctor shopping.

If anyone else has this heart issue, I'm all ears.  I doubt it could be related to Sjogrens though.  But you never know!

[Linda196]

I've had PVCs since my early teens.....as long as they remain "non-symptomatic" they aren't considered cause for concern. The symptoms that make them notable are drop in BP or effective heart rate (the actual pulse that you can feel drops to less than 40, even though there are faint ventricle pulses between them), chest pain, or as you mentioned, evolution to other arrhythmia's like ventricular tachycardia or heart block.

An ECG will map the location of the impulse that triggers the premature beat, and that will tell your cardiologist if they are benign (triggered in a phase of the cardiac complex that isn't likely to cause problems) or potentially threatening.

[AAACGRL]

Thanks, Lisa.  I just hope I can get to a cardiologist at some point. My primary won't get me the insurance referral. :/  I'm not having any pain just the weird fluttery feeling. Today they've been quieter but before that it's been non stop.

[iraisin]

Please forgive me - I am not familiar with heart issues, so I am going to cipher all this as best I can. Hopefully, Linda is still on and will help me with it.

Linda, you say the "fluttering" is not of a concern unless her BP drops less than 40, or she has chest pain?

AAACGRL, do you have pain? Or know how to check your effective heart rate?

Linda, should she go to the ER? She wouldn't need a referral?

[EllaBlue]

AAACGRL, I do not understand doctors often times. I was having such costocondritis issues, but had been by ambulance to the ER with BAD chest pains/palms sweating...and my GP did order a heart ultrasound for me, the moment I mentioned it, he thought is was a good plan.... I mean maybe he was going to do that on his own, but my point IS, we don't all exhibit "classic text book symptoms." and why take chances. I am not say go overboard with unnecessary testing, but geeesh...I hate this for you.
My hope today is that someone changes their mind AND gets you to a cardiologist!
Best of luck and I truly mean that!!
((Hugs))
EllaBlue

[AAACGRL]

Thanks ladies! I'm trying to do as much as I can on my end (B12, magnesium, taking the meds he prescribed). I'm giving it two weeks and if no better I'm telling him he can give me that referral or I will complain to my health insurance company and switch doctors to boot.