Do palpitations go away?

So I've had heart palpitations since I was about 20 (I'm now 36) which makes me think that that's possibly when my apnea started. I've been to a cardiologist and had a bunch of tests, and I have PVCs and PACs, which I'm told aren't dangerous. However, I do find them disturbing and they cause me a lot of anxiety. I've been on CPAP now for about 3.5 weeks, and my AHI is usually in the mid 2's. If anything, the palpitations are worse now than before I started.

I was wondering, from anyone else here who had palpitations, and has been on CPAP long-term, did they go away? And if so, how long did it take? I'm really hoping they aren't permanent.

Sounds like an issue outside of Sleep Apnea and using CPAP.

FlyingMoose wrote:So I've had heart palpitations since I was about 20 (I'm now 36)... I was wondering, ... did they go away? And if so, how long did it take? I'm really hoping they aren't permanent.

I can't speak to your specific question, but getting enough air at night, and avoiding the stress hormones that come along with apnea will give your organs, heart included, much more of a chance to heal and improve, though it will take time.

hang in there.

Krelvin wrote:Sounds like an issue outside of Sleep Apnea and using CPAP.

Well, the cardiologist said that palpitations are associated with sleep apnea, which is how I was diagnosed.

FlyingMoose wrote:So I've had heart palpitations since I was about 20 (I'm now 36)

Go here and read the reviews, see if it sounds like anything you are living with: http://www.amazon.com/Cardiovascular-Re ... B000OP5N12

If so, work on your magnesium level, it takes many months to correct (since you can't take massive amounts of magnesium without being in the bathroom all the time)

If you really are feeling worse, you must tell your doctor - we are most definitely not doctors, whatever our experience. We can certainly try to help get you set up well with cpap, etc., but it's long distance, and mostly speculative, however knowledgable some might be. Atrial fibrillation is associated with OSA, and I'd expect you to feel better when treated, but if something is going on, Cpap related or not, you should get it checked out.

I was just hoping anyone with personal experience would post, I'm not asking for medical advice.

wildboar wrote:Go here and read the reviews, see if it sounds like anything you are living with: http://www.amazon.com/Cardiovascular-Re ... B000OP5N12

If so, work on your magnesium level, it takes many months to correct (since you can't take massive amounts of magnesium without being in the bathroom all the time)

Thank you. I tried taking a supplement containing calcium, magnesium, and zinc, and it didn't help, but it looks like the form of magnesium it contains isn't very good. I will look into this more.

wildboar wrote: (since you can't take massive amounts of magnesium without being in the bathroom all the time)

one of the better ways to up your magnesium levels is with epson salt baths, so I've read.

FlyingMoose wrote: but it looks like the form of magnesium it contains isn't very good. I will look into this more.

costco sells a good manesium for cheap...

This is sort of interesting - I think I'm picking on you to make a point, though please don't take it personally (really!), it's just that people say just what you did about not looking for med advice, or only wanting to compare notes with others, but... I believe they (not necessarily you) are 99% of the time looking to confirm their feelings so they don't feel alone with whatever isn't right at a given time, which is understandable, but - it doesn't help them/you, because medically, physiologically, historically, etc. etc. you are not the same, however similar your experiences may sound to us lay people. Only your doctor, with all the info in front of him can (if you're lucky) put it together and give his take on what's wrong, and sometimes he/she will be wrong. Comparing notes on equipment, which is inert and unchanging (for the sake of this anyhow!) is different, because you can do head-to-heads on it, but even cars of the same year, model, etc. are different (having been put together by people) and what goes wrong with one on a given day is not necessarily what'll go wrong with the others (that day, anyhow) even if driven exactly the same way.

I don't know why it bugs me so much when people looking for company (thinking it's safer) want to compare physical/medical feelings, but it does, and you get to have my rant in your thread tonight. Feel free to ignore it of course... just wanted an excuse to say it (not really the first time).

Julie wrote:Only your doctor, with all the info in front of him can (if you're lucky) put it together and give his take on what's wrong, and sometimes he/she will be wrong.

This doesn't seem to be something that doctors -- even cardiologists -- have an answer for. The current medical thinking seems to be that they can't explain PVCs and PACs, they're not harmful (unless they happen multiple thousands of times per day, and mine happen perhaps dozens), and one should ignore them. Two cardiologists I've gone to got a holter monitor report saying I was having them, and didn't even bother to mention it, just said the test was "normal". I only knew because I asked for a copy of the report.

With that said, I do have an appointment with an even more specialized doctor (electrophysiologist) on the 25th, but I'm not hopeful that I'll get much help.

So, this seems to be a comfort issue, in a way, which is why I'm asking about it here. Yes, I am looking for hope, that this will someday go away.

I do hope you find the answer!

FlyingMoose wrote:So I've had heart palpitations since I was about 20 (I'm now 36) which makes me think that that's possibly when my apnea started. I've been to a cardiologist and had a bunch of tests, and I have PVCs and PACs, which I'm told aren't dangerous. However, I do find them disturbing and they cause me a lot of anxiety. I've been on CPAP now for about 3.5 weeks, and my AHI is usually in the mid 2's. If anything, the palpitations are worse now than before I started.

I was wondering, from anyone else here who had palpitations, and has been on CPAP long-term, did they go away? And if so, how long did it take? I'm really hoping they aren't permanent.

PAC and PVC both can be precursors to A-Fib which is very common with sleep Apnea patients. I had similar brief episodes that went on to become a Nasty case of A-Fib. I am not saying it will also happen to you, but it's something to be aware of. Do you have any underlying heart valve issues? Mine was not related to any valve problems. Over time mine just progressively got worse and worse. I think in hind sight that years of undiagnosed Apnea played a large role, also might be hereditary, but the Apnea either accelerated it, or made it worse.

Unfortunately by the time I got serious about my CPAP treatment I was a day late and a dollar short. Getting on CPAP was the right move for me, but it didn't cure any of my heart problems, even with CPAP it just got worse over time. I hope you don't follow the same path, maybe with your younger age (I was in late 40s) you can nip it in the bud. The CPAP will relieve the nightly stress on your heart and cardio vascular system so stay with it. Stay totally away from any caffine, I had a friend your age who's cardio told him to get off the caffine and he beat it, but he caught it very early.

So you may not have the same problem I had with the palpitations eventually leading to full blown A-Fib, and I hope you don't, but my electro cardio Doctor had a catch phrase when he was explaining my options in relation to A-Fib, his phrase was: "A-fib begets more A-Fib" and of course in my case he was right, I say this because you might be able to say the same thing about PAC and PVC, which as I mentioned can be precursors to A-Fib.

Hope you are early enough to get a handle on your palpitations and you can beat it. But I would say CPAP is going to help your heart, not hurt it, so stick with the CPAP therapy, if your situation gets worse over time it won't be because of the CPAP, but just the normal course of your existing problem.

I would suggest that if your palpitations do not improve, you should keep pestering your doctor.
A misdiagnosis is not impossible, and other causes may only be considered if the squeaky wheel (you) are persistent.
Before cpap, I was having palpitations nearly every night.
On a wild hunch, I switched my 81 mg aspirin from morning to evening.
Whether the cessation of that symptom was a result or just a coincidence, I'll never know.
I have not had a recurrence for five years, but not every frog farts fairy dust.