icnmgrjill
03-19-2008, 07:20 AM
In addition to the two wicked flus that I've had in the last four months, I also have been struggling with some very scary heart arrythmias, tachycardia... etc. etc. that run in my family. I first noticed them in my 20's... when I learned that I couldn't take benadryl without experiencing a very fast heart rate. Then, in my 30's, I learned that I couldn't take elavil because it gave me arrythmias. I then figured out that if I had any gas at all on my stomach, I would throw alot of extra atrial beats and the occasional scary PVC. It's been 20 years of being scared and nervous about my heart... really anxiety producing.
Well, this morning, I found out why. I have something called heart entrapment syndrome. Big word for some basic anatomy. Basically, what it means is that my chest cavity is more boxlike than round... i.e. flatter. Thus, I'm 10mm less deep than the average person. What that means is that my heart is pressed up directly underneath my sternum and because it is under slight pressure due to the lack of space, is known for triggering extra beats, etc. etc.
But what makes this even more interesting is that patients with this often have MVP, GERD and even hiatal hernias. By golly, I have MVP, GERD and the cardiologist thought that he saw a hiatal hernia in the cat scan... thus explaining all of the stomach problems that I've had. I'm so excited about this...
#1 - IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW. My dad has it, my sister and brother probably have it. I wish that I had known this in my 20's... as it would have taken away 27+ years of worrying about it. Yikes... it really all does make sense now.
#2 - IT'S BENIGN - My heart is in great shape overall just abit sensitive to stimulation. I'm taking Lopressor to keep my heart less reactive to adrenaline.
#3 - DEHYDRATION is to be avoided at all cost. Someone with this syndrome will experience twice the heart effects from dehydration.
#4 - EXERCISE is essential. I've got to keep my heart strength up so that it is strong enough to push against my ribs and make space for itself.
So.. now you know. I've been freaking for the last four months about my heart... having PVC's every day. Really scary stuff because they make my chest and sternum physically vibrate. But, now we understand why. I'm not crazy!! Yahoo!
On to the endoscopy on Friday afternoon. Betcha $5 that it's confirmed that I have a hiatal hernia!! Wish me luck!
Jill
Well, this morning, I found out why. I have something called heart entrapment syndrome. Big word for some basic anatomy. Basically, what it means is that my chest cavity is more boxlike than round... i.e. flatter. Thus, I'm 10mm less deep than the average person. What that means is that my heart is pressed up directly underneath my sternum and because it is under slight pressure due to the lack of space, is known for triggering extra beats, etc. etc.
But what makes this even more interesting is that patients with this often have MVP, GERD and even hiatal hernias. By golly, I have MVP, GERD and the cardiologist thought that he saw a hiatal hernia in the cat scan... thus explaining all of the stomach problems that I've had. I'm so excited about this...
#1 - IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW. My dad has it, my sister and brother probably have it. I wish that I had known this in my 20's... as it would have taken away 27+ years of worrying about it. Yikes... it really all does make sense now.
#2 - IT'S BENIGN - My heart is in great shape overall just abit sensitive to stimulation. I'm taking Lopressor to keep my heart less reactive to adrenaline.
#3 - DEHYDRATION is to be avoided at all cost. Someone with this syndrome will experience twice the heart effects from dehydration.
#4 - EXERCISE is essential. I've got to keep my heart strength up so that it is strong enough to push against my ribs and make space for itself.
So.. now you know. I've been freaking for the last four months about my heart... having PVC's every day. Really scary stuff because they make my chest and sternum physically vibrate. But, now we understand why. I'm not crazy!! Yahoo!
On to the endoscopy on Friday afternoon. Betcha $5 that it's confirmed that I have a hiatal hernia!! Wish me luck!
Jill