Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Do These Holter Monitor Results Indicate?
Question: Hello, I am a healthy, 40 year old female, non-smoker. About 12 days ago when I was going to bed I noticed that my heart felt like it was fluttering or skipping beats. I went to the doctor the next day and was placed on a 24 hour Holter Monitor. A few days later I was feeling tired and would feel worn out when doing certain activities such as climbing the stairs. I went to the E.R. They completed blood work, an ECG and a chest x-ray which all came back normal. Yesterday I finally received the results of the Holter Monitor. It was found that I am having PVCs. My doctor informed me that they are not considered to be dangerous. My concern is that I am continuing to feel tired and worn out or winded when climbing stairs or other activities. For instance when I reach the top of the stairs, my legs feel like jelly (like running a race) and I feel tired for a few seconds and it passes - kind of like when you are pregnant (I am not pregnant currently). Also, if I talk too much I feel winded. I have mentioned this to my doctor who is sending me to the cardiologist to have a stress test done, however I may not receive an appointment for another few weeks.
This has me very concerned. I am terrified about what may be causing my heart to be having palpitations and why I am feeling so tired. Could you please let me know what may be leading to these symptoms and whether I should be concerned. I am terrified that my heart will stop. Also, I am not sure if I should be continuing to do my regular activities. I am a stay at home mom of two kids. Can I continue to clean, cook, run after my kids, or should I be getting more rest?
Thank you
This has me very concerned. I am terrified about what may be causing my heart to be having palpitations and why I am feeling so tired. Could you please let me know what may be leading to these symptoms and whether I should be concerned. I am terrified that my heart will stop. Also, I am not sure if I should be continuing to do my regular activities. I am a stay at home mom of two kids. Can I continue to clean, cook, run after my kids, or should I be getting more rest?
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Needs proper evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ma'am
After going through the medical details provided by you I would like to tell you that your symptoms of weakness, breathlessness and vpc could be due to ischemia of the myocardium and the most important reason for this is coronary artery disease.
Your doctor has advised you right for going for a stress test as it will unmask any underlying coronary artery disease.
Also I would like to suggest you to get one thyroid profile and HBA1C done.
Yes you can do all your daily household stuff. Just don't stress yourself to much take rest in between till proper evaluation is done.
I hope this information will be helpful and will guide you properly. Feel free to ask if you have any more doubts.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Needs proper evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ma'am
After going through the medical details provided by you I would like to tell you that your symptoms of weakness, breathlessness and vpc could be due to ischemia of the myocardium and the most important reason for this is coronary artery disease.
Your doctor has advised you right for going for a stress test as it will unmask any underlying coronary artery disease.
Also I would like to suggest you to get one thyroid profile and HBA1C done.
Yes you can do all your daily household stuff. Just don't stress yourself to much take rest in between till proper evaluation is done.
I hope this information will be helpful and will guide you properly. Feel free to ask if you have any more doubts.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hello,
Thank you for getting back to me.
That sounds very serious to me. I have not been given a date for my appointment with the cardiologist yet however I have been told that it may be in 3 weeks or more. I am concerned that I should not be waiting that long.
Should I be going to the emergency room? I am frightened that if this is not taken care of soon, it will get worse and I will have a heart attack.
The doctor did check my thyroid when they checked my blood and said it was normal. I am not sure if they did an HBA1C.
Thank you.
Thank you for getting back to me.
That sounds very serious to me. I have not been given a date for my appointment with the cardiologist yet however I have been told that it may be in 3 weeks or more. I am concerned that I should not be waiting that long.
Should I be going to the emergency room? I am frightened that if this is not taken care of soon, it will get worse and I will have a heart attack.
The doctor did check my thyroid when they checked my blood and said it was normal. I am not sure if they did an HBA1C.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Yes Ma'am
In my opinion you should go to ER if that's the only option to speed up the evaluation process. As this should not be delayed for long.
Get one HBA1c done for diabetes evaluation.
Most important do not take stress or get anxious, take things in a calm way.
Kind Regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Yes Ma'am
In my opinion you should go to ER if that's the only option to speed up the evaluation process. As this should not be delayed for long.
Get one HBA1c done for diabetes evaluation.
Most important do not take stress or get anxious, take things in a calm way.
Kind Regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
At the hospital they will do an ecg, blood work and a chest xray. Will that show if I have coronary artery disease so they can follow up further? I am afraid I will go there and they will just send me home saying that they can't find anything wrong.
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
No, in that case, that won't help because ECG and blood work will only show problem during chest pain or ongoing ischemia only not during the normal situation.
You can do one thing that you can consult your primary doctor and discuss with him if he can make arrangements for a quicker appointment and also discuss with him to start any low dose antiplatelet medicine until the time of appointment as a precautionary measure.
Hope it will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
No, in that case, that won't help because ECG and blood work will only show problem during chest pain or ongoing ischemia only not during the normal situation.
You can do one thing that you can consult your primary doctor and discuss with him if he can make arrangements for a quicker appointment and also discuss with him to start any low dose antiplatelet medicine until the time of appointment as a precautionary measure.
Hope it will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu Partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Hello,
I ended up going to emerge last night. They hooked me up to a heart and pulse monitor for a few hours. They did a lot of blood work, a chest X-ray, regular ecg and an ecg strip (I think they called it) - it was a longer ecg test anyway. They also had me go for a walk while I was hooked up to the monitor.
They noticed the PVCs on the monitor. All of my tests came back negative. My blood pressure is normally quite low (90 something over 60 something). Last night it reached 138/82 which they said is normal but high for me. They also said my blood was getting enough oxygen and when I went for the walk I think they said my heart was getting enough oxygen.
They released me saying that they will be making a referral for me to see a cardiologist to have a stress test and ultrasound of my heart done. They are hoping that I will be able to get in for that this week which is much better than my doctor's office may have been able to get for me. Unfortunately where I live we are having a holiday weekend so the cardiologist's office will likely be closed on Monday. I will call Tuesday to make an appointment.
The doctor said they found nothing urgent on any of my tests so that is why they sent me home. She said I need to come back if I faint, feel like fainting, have chest pain or a rapid heart beat. The one thing she forgot to mention is nausea. Do I need to go back to the E.R. if I have nausea? Is there anything else I should go back to the E.R. for?
I am just so concerned about this whole situation. I have 2 young kids to care for. The doctor suggested I not drive until I see the cardiologist and not be alone for very long so my husband will be taking time off.
Do I need to be getting a lot of rest or can I do activities? I tend to feel better when I am resting. Last night at the hospital I was resting for a few hours. My PVCs even settled down the last couple of hours I was there.
I am just hoping that while I wait to see the cardiologist I will be alright. I don't know much about heart health and feel very unsettled. It is frustrating having to wait for all of these tests to be done.
Thank you for your help.
I ended up going to emerge last night. They hooked me up to a heart and pulse monitor for a few hours. They did a lot of blood work, a chest X-ray, regular ecg and an ecg strip (I think they called it) - it was a longer ecg test anyway. They also had me go for a walk while I was hooked up to the monitor.
They noticed the PVCs on the monitor. All of my tests came back negative. My blood pressure is normally quite low (90 something over 60 something). Last night it reached 138/82 which they said is normal but high for me. They also said my blood was getting enough oxygen and when I went for the walk I think they said my heart was getting enough oxygen.
They released me saying that they will be making a referral for me to see a cardiologist to have a stress test and ultrasound of my heart done. They are hoping that I will be able to get in for that this week which is much better than my doctor's office may have been able to get for me. Unfortunately where I live we are having a holiday weekend so the cardiologist's office will likely be closed on Monday. I will call Tuesday to make an appointment.
The doctor said they found nothing urgent on any of my tests so that is why they sent me home. She said I need to come back if I faint, feel like fainting, have chest pain or a rapid heart beat. The one thing she forgot to mention is nausea. Do I need to go back to the E.R. if I have nausea? Is there anything else I should go back to the E.R. for?
I am just so concerned about this whole situation. I have 2 young kids to care for. The doctor suggested I not drive until I see the cardiologist and not be alone for very long so my husband will be taking time off.
Do I need to be getting a lot of rest or can I do activities? I tend to feel better when I am resting. Last night at the hospital I was resting for a few hours. My PVCs even settled down the last couple of hours I was there.
I am just hoping that while I wait to see the cardiologist I will be alright. I don't know much about heart health and feel very unsettled. It is frustrating having to wait for all of these tests to be done.
Thank you for your help.
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Ma'am first and the most important thing as I said before is just calm down and relax and Don not panic.
Your ER people has done a good job for making a quick appointment possible.
Don't worry you can normally and safely do all for daily household stuff.
The symptoms which your er people has told will be all to be taken care off.
Just relax you will be all fine. I hope this information will relieve your worries.
If you have any more doubts you can ask me back or else you can close the discussion and kindly rate the answer.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Ma'am first and the most important thing as I said before is just calm down and relax and Don not panic.
Your ER people has done a good job for making a quick appointment possible.
Don't worry you can normally and safely do all for daily household stuff.
The symptoms which your er people has told will be all to be taken care off.
Just relax you will be all fine. I hope this information will relieve your worries.
If you have any more doubts you can ask me back or else you can close the discussion and kindly rate the answer.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
