In a Heartbeat!
On Monday, I will be wearing all this get-up for 24 hours just to see what's going on with my heart. It's been doing bizarre things for the past month or so. The technical term is, "palpitations" but I call it "Kaflubbing"!
I have been getting them about 20 -30 times a day, mostly in the evenings and when I'm in bed. Quite frankly, they scare the bejeepers out of me. I've really cut down on caffeine and don't drink alcohol or eat chocolate so it's not that. Most likely I need more of a drug that's a beta blocker to regulate my heart rate to be slower and more even.
They have subsided somewhat in the last two days when I started taking more of the beta blocker med of my own accord. (Don't worry! This is okay! I was only taking half of what they had me on originally anyway!)
I hope my theory is correct.
Guess I won't be going swimming while I'm wired, although that might liven up the swim class a tad!
Mother of Invention, still ticking and kaflubbing! Ever had that?
posted by Mother of Invention at 7:01 PM
30 Comments:
The monitoring is always an odd day. I have a friend who had stomach problems and had to spend a day with monitors going up his nose and down his throat which just irked him. I hope it goes okay. I like the word, "Kaflubbing." That made me smile.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
hope everything goes well and they find out what the problem is.
take care mother of invention, and keep us posted. hugs!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
You have a nice chest. :)
When my heart does that i hate it, i can feel it shaking my whole body. I hope something useful comes of it.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
m.o.i. I hope they can find what is making your hear kaflub and make it stop doing that. I think I've had what you describe twice before in my life when I had a lot of stress going on and that was years ago. I don't have it now, thank goodness, it is a scary and unsettling feeling. When I held my finger on my pulse back then, it felt like my heart was skipping a beat which made the kaflub feeling.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Brooksba: yes, it's weird lugging around attachments like a vacuum cleaner! Guess I can't even shower! Your friend's sounds worse! My doctor thought it was a funny word too!
Mystic: Yes, me too. More drugs will help it I'm sure but I want to find out what's causing it.
Meno: What nice pecs eh?! I used to get a few kaflubs a month but since the heart attack I had last year, I've had a lot more and I always think I'll have another if it really gets kaflubbing!
Lynclay: It is a weird feeling and yes, very scary for me. Maybe I need a pacemaker but I hope not.
Monday, January 22, 2007
You always amaze me with your ability to see things with a sense of humor and positive attitude. Let us know how your monitoring goes - and get that racy heart of yours in line!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Really? They won't let you unhook and hop in a shower? Cruel, cruel docs up in Canada.
Here's hoping that it goes ahead and does its kerflubbing nicely so you get an answer, dammit. Nothing more irritating than to have worn the thing and have your heart go all nice and normal for a day.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Diana: No! And she laughed when I said I'd opt out of swimming as it might disrupt the class! That's EXACTLY what my GP said! I purposely only took 1/2 the metoprolol today because I'm sure it will kerflub like crazy tonight. It'll keep me busy writing in the diary of activities and episodes!
Maggie: Thanks, Maggie. It is a struggle but it always helps me to see the funny side. I do have my moments when all my health issues come crashing down, I just have one big spurt of frustration tears and then pick myself up from there.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Something like this happened to me about 8 years ago.....all of a sudden there was this strange rhythm, a racing.......doctors all concerned......hooking me up like some racehorse......they called it PVC's - something about premature ventricular somethings........then one day I woke up and it all had disappeared.........odd. It was odd..........crossing fingers and sending blessings your way.......I hope it is something that is just odd......!
Monday, January 22, 2007
I used to have heart flips. I think it was related to my thyroid issues. I recently waking up with what felt like angina and I went it got it checked out. Still checking but we're thinking it's a type of reflux. Just got all my thyroid tests back...it still shows antibodies and we'll be looking into whether it's connected to my CF. After 30 years of dealing with all this I'm trying not to get my hopes up.
Monday, January 22, 2007
You will be wearing an ambulatory monitor or are you going to be occupying space in the hospital?
If it is ambulatory, then it is a Holter monitor (unless there is a different name). A friend of mine had to wear one back in 2001 and I was shocked at how bulky it was (and inconvenient, since she had to press a button to record potentially interesting events). I immediately set about designing a smaller 24/7 monitor (had I actually gone through with it, it would have been about the size of an iPod nano - I was going for 1 inch square). The main problem I had was power consumption, I could not work out getting more than a few hours out of it (let alone one week’s worth of run time) without resorting to a couple of ‘D’ cells.
Let me know how it goes. I am curious about the technology. I have an interest in medical devices from a previous job where I was one of 3 principle architects / developers for Sandman.
Fortunately, I have never experienced too much in the way of problems with my health (aside from increasing aches and pains as I grow older) - sometimes I worry that everything is just building up for one massive KO.
I hope they get the information they need from it.
Monday, January 22, 2007
RDG: Yours might have had something to do with any meds you were on. Thanks for crossing fingers! I hope it's not something really serious, although I guess they should be careful with me since I've already had angioplasty on my heart.
Colleen: Yes, I've read that palps can be related to thyroid but can't remember which, hypo or hyper? I'd think hyper since that's when your whole system speeds up.
I hope your angina was reflux. I have chest pain quite a bit but they said it wasn't heart but perhaps tied in with nerve-sore muscles etc.
My thyroid is just a tad wonky and that could be related to CFS/Fibro but also diabetes. I am finally going to a Rheumatologist to get a whole assessment (hope the guy has all afternoon booked to take down my history!) of Fibro and any arthritis. Will be interesting to see what tests he does and what his findings are....and if there's anything he suggests for treatment. That'd be a surprise! Just started taking amitriptaline for pain in various body parts but I won't notice any difference for at least a month. I'll update you just for interest.
Richard: Yes, it is a Holter Moniter about the size of a walkman tape deck with a lot of bulky straps and wires. That would have been great if you could have designed something smaller, as I'm sure it can be done. The insulin pump is even smaller than this!
This has the name "Roxon" and then Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver printed on the back....but this could just be the leather case. On the front it has "Burdick" and "Vision 5L" with a time display and the date which I JUST noticed says Dec. 22nd 2006! Weird. Dec. 22nd is my birth date but what's with 2006? Of course, it is hard to dress around and you can't bathe or swim but it's only for 24 hours.
I fill in a diary of all my activities or document when I have a palpitation. I don't press any buttons..they'll just cross reference my diary entries. Do you think they could get whatever info they needed from the Sandman Elite? It's probably smaller than this thing.
I'll let you know if it picked up any types of Palps. Here's hoping I have at least a few for them to analyze so I can get the right dosage of beta blocker.
I'm sure you are a lot healthier than you think!
Thanks!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sandman is not a portable system, it runs on a desktop computer.
Mind you, Sandman is just teh software part of it (collection and analysis). The software hasn't changed much since I left, mostly it has been the hardware (I know because I still talk with people there - I tell then I would be willing to go back when they have something new to do).
There is no getting around recording your symptoms. I am surprised they don't have you annotate the recording by pressing a button. But it does sound like it records a full ECG for 24 hours - which was better than what my friend had. She had an older style that would only record the preceding and following when she pressed a button.
Incidentally, Sandman was for sleep medecine (for some reason, they always kept shying away from EKG and EEG applications - perhaps to avoid diluting their focus).
Monday, January 22, 2007
That doesn't sound too comfortable, MOI! I guess you've started it by now, and I'm not sure if to say I hope you've had some kaflubs or not - there's pros and cons either way!
I have a hypothyroid, and I've had palpitations a few times... and I know that it's also similar to a 'panic attack' (delayed reaction on stress, usually, so not always at the time of being stressed)... but I believe you can also get them when you're hyperthyroid too...
Unfortunately, with a history of heart problems there's a good chance it's that, but there's just as much chance of it being from a new med... sending good healing vibes your way!
You take care of yourself, and take it easy until this is sorted out, ok?! Not too much of that dry road skiing (well, I don't suppose you could, if you've got loads of snow!) Put your feet up (once you've finished being monitored) and do some meditating or something... (((Big hugs!)))
Monday, January 22, 2007
I know how scary this must be. I am thinking about you and hope things go well with your test. After a heart attack, I'm sure you are always aware of any strange feeling. Your doctors will undoubtedly know exactly what to do.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Richard:You never know, you may find yourself back there desining some new device. I can see you coming up with all kinds of ideas to improve devices.
I've only had 1 flutter so far and it's 11:00 p.m.! Now I have to try and sleep with this thing on!
Annelisa:Thanks, I hope it's not something terrible either. I've got enough "Gunk" hangin' 'round me! I actually did the Nordic walking today but just on the sidewalks which were cleared, and only for 30 minutes as it was cold. I wanted to see what the monitor picked up during exercise.
Barbara:Thanks, I hope you're right. I'm a little too conscious of my heart still.
Monday, January 22, 2007
This happened to me when I got new thyroid meds. They don't like caffeine, and any amount in my system made my heart freak out. It doesn't happen anymore. Thankfully.
Hope everything goes well with your test! Let us know what they say.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
So, did the monitor pick up any kaflubbing??
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Mona: I've heard from a few people that it's related to thyroid. I've really cut down on caffeine!
Annelisa:I only had one kaflubb and 1 small flutter in 24 hrs! Darn, I wanted them to pick up more. I probably won't hear anything back for at least a week. Hasn't been any this evening but I did take more of the beta blocker at supper.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
hope all goes well! what is important is you do not delay, and that you go to the right doctor. my 15-year old daughter was diagnosed to have toxic daughter, and to make matters worse, i didn't realize that the doctor we went to was not a pediatric endoctrinologist. he treated my daughter as though she were an adult. good, i realized it after a few visits, now she is on her way to full recovery. all the best!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I hate those things! One doctor was suprised that I was aware of them, he said most people don't feel them. I think that once a person has heart problems, they are extra sensitive to any activity in the heartage area!!!!
Best to check it out than worry, and take one's medicine as prescribed!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Sexy Mom: WOW, what an ordeal! What is toxic daughter? I thought you were being funny in saying that many kids are caustic and lippy with their parents! Thank you for the visit and comment. Checking your site later.
Old Lady: You got that right! Aware of them? They rock my whole body! I have to cough to downplay the feeling and so I don't concentrate on them. They seem to last a full few seconds but probably only last 1. Hope something +ve comes from this and a med change perhaps. Beta block lessens the palps but make me tired and feeling a tad winded..more like just conscious of my breathing. Ever had that?
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
My husband gets extra beats... ectopic or something?? And he takes a beta blocker when he needs to because they are related to anxiety for him and beta blockers also work for that too... It's a pretty tame drug from what I understand.
Have you been tested for thyroid? I know you can get that kaflubbing in bed thing as a sign of a thyroid imbalance.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Mom, why are you not taking the your medicine the way they told you to? Thats what I want to know!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
How did it all go?
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Bobealia: Yep, I'm on metoprolol morning and night but my husband just told me that it restricts the bronchial system and that' why I'm feeling a little breathless...and it makes you sluggish!
My Endoc. doctor thought I was a little hypo thyroid but not really bad yet. I'm getting it checked in 2 monhs.
Steve: I had to fool around with it to test it...it's no different than what they originally put me on so nothing will happen.
Teri: It was fine wearing it, but as I've said, the palpitation only happened once so I'm not sure they got much info on it. Probably takes a week to find out. Thanks for asking.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
(I'm sure you're being careful, messing with your meds... being as you know a fair bit about medicines already... but take care not to change things too quickly, even if you are moving towards what they originally prescribed. I was told that everything should be done real slow... old chap!)
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Annelisa: Don't worry, I'm very conservative about what I put in my drug-filled body!!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
MOI, what happened and what did they do for you?
I am wearing one of those things today and just wondering what they did. I am like U, no special flutters since they put the thing on me. Usually I have at least 5 or 6 before bed, then it goes crazy after I lay down. I also get dizzy floaty feeling when it starts acting up. I know I have a bicusbid aortic valve and that something is causing my heart to fire off impluses irregularly just don't know why.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Pixie: They did nothing and they settled down on their own. I have had a heart attack already so am really aware of heart rate etc. Please let me know how you're doing. Heart things are so scary. How did you find out you had a valve problem and did they do anything for that?
All the best.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Post a Comment
<< Home