Heart skipping beats.

[Sophist]

Does anybody here know more about echocardiograms, etc.?? renaeden, I don't think you necessarily have to be having an episode in order for them to properly diagnose you.

In any case, did you tell whoever you spoke to that you felt like your heart was skipping beats and this is something completely new for you? I mean, this sounds like a potential emergency; I find it odd they couldn't find a slot to fit you in much sooner.

[goddessoflubbock]

You do typically have to remove your clothes -especially the upper body - as the sticky patches go around your breast near the heart and the bra would interfere with them. (I've had my fair share of ecg's!) The bottom half is usually not a big deal as long as you aren't wearing tight pants, they'll just slide them under your pant legs onto your ankles, etc.

As for the echos - had my fair share of those as well. They will be able to see what is causing the problem, if indeed there is any underlying problem, even if you are asymptomatic at the time of the test. It gives a picture, much like when a pregnant woman has a scan done of her belly to show the baby's structures. The great thing about echos is they are completely painless and there are no side effects or dangers. They may do other tests as well but the echo is a gold standard for diagnosing the baseline of many conditions. Considering that many people with these conditions are not well enough for an invasive technique, it is a good thing.

I'll shut up now.

[hyke]

You do typically have to remove your clothes -especially the upper body - as the sticky patches go around your breast near the heart and the bra would interfere with them. (I've had my fair share of ecg's!) The bottom half is usually not a big deal as long as you aren't wearing tight pants, they'll just slide them under your pant legs onto your ankles, etc.

As for the echos - had my fair share of those as well. They will be able to see what is causing the problem, if indeed there is any underlying problem, even if you are asymptomatic at the time of the test. It gives a picture, much like when a pregnant woman has a scan done of her belly to show the baby's structures. The great thing about echos is they are completely painless and there are no side effects or dangers. They may do other tests as well but the echo is a gold standard for diagnosing the baseline of many conditions. Considering that many people with these conditions are not well enough for an invasive technique, it is a good thing.

I'll shut up now.

If you don't have skipping heartbeats at the moment of the ECG they can at least tell you if your bloodstream is functioning right. Because they test your heartbeat from your top till your ankles. So they will be able to tell you something. And with that, also if the skipping beats is serious or just annoying.

The humiliating part might have been the way they treated you then. Sometimes they indeed treat people who OD-ed in a disrespectful way, to scare them off it seems . I'm sorry they did make you feel humiliated then.
It is needed to undress your upperbody. But for the specialist that is a daily thing. And if they treat you decent, with the respect you deserve, there is no humiliation in that.

Goodluck on the 23rd

[renaeden]

I have been to the appointment and forgot to write about it. So here goes:

It is fairly common that people get missed beats and there is nothing wrong with my heart. Woohoo! The doctor was really nice and I did not feel embarrassed in the slightest. I had to take my shirt off but not my bra and he gave me a blanket to lay over myself. He waited on the other side of the curtain (you know the ones you pull across in a hospital etc.) and when I was ready he came around and then he stuck those little stickers on and attached wires. Two minutes later it was done. No skipping happened right then even though I wanted it to so I could see it for myself on paper.

After I put my shirt back on and all, the doctor showed me what happens when there are ectopic beats which is what happens when it feels like the skipped beats. It happens when another part of the heart - instead of the sinoatrial node which is like the main battery - spontaneously beats first so that the sinoatrial node waits until the next beat to start going regularly again. The other parts of the heart that can generate electrical impulses (atrioventricular node and the ventricles) don't pump as much blood so when the sinoatrial node starts again there is extra blood to pump and that is why it easy to feel it happenening. Some people are so used to it happening, though, that they don't feel it.

The model of the heart that the doctor showed me was really cool.

[Aspen]

I'm so relieved that there is nothing wrong with you, Renaeden.

It sounds like a cool explanation of the heart.

[hyke]

Glad you had such a nice doctor examining you, and that everything is allright.

[Sophist]

Me too. And I'm VERY glad to hear nothing's wrong!

[renaeden]

I am glad I remembered what the doctor said.

[ruth]

Glad to hear that your heart is in good shape. What a relief.

[goddessoflubbock]

I'm glad you went. And I'm happy this doctor took the time to explain everything to you carefully. And of course that nothing is wrong