Recurrent heart palpitations for 3 years despite normal cardiac tests
Hi everyone,
I’m a 20-year-old woman (160 cm / 46.7 kg) looking for advice or experiences from people who have dealt with PVCs or other types of heart palpitations.
I’ve been experiencing palpitations for about 3 years now. They come and go in episodes. Sometimes I can go weeks without feeling anything, and then they’ll suddenly come back for a few days.
When this first started, my doctor performed an ECG that showed PVCs. I was then referred to a cardiologist who did a 24-hour Holter monitor and an echocardiogram. He told me that my heart itself looked healthy and that my aorta was normal. I wasn’t prescribed any cardiac treatment. I was simply told to exercise more, reduce my stress, and avoid energy drinks, coffee, and tea.
The problem is that the palpitations keep coming back.
Most of the time they feel like a skipped beat followed by a much stronger “thump.” Sometimes, however, my heart suddenly starts beating very fast for a few seconds before returning to normal. During those episodes I often feel the need to cough or take a deep breath before I feel “normal” again.
I know I’m a very anxious person, especially when it comes to my health. My biggest fears are things like cardiac arrest or a stroke, so every palpitation immediately scares me.
As for my lifestyle:
I almost never drink caffeine. I might have a coffee once a month, sometimes even only once a year.
I occasionally exercise, but I’ve noticed I can still experience palpitations even during periods when I’m active.
I probably don’t drink enough water. Most days I only drink about one large glass with each meal.
Recently, I did have a day where I drank both a cold coffee and an energy drink, and my palpitations seemed to return afterwards.
What frustrates me is that every time I see my doctor, the conclusion is usually that it’s anxiety, and I’m offered medication for stress. While I understand anxiety can definitely make symptoms worse, I’m wondering if anyone has had a similar experience despite having a normal echocardiogram and Holter.
Has anyone else experienced:
PVCs that come and go over several years?
Episodes of a skipped beat followed by a hard thump?
Very brief bursts of rapid heartbeats lasting only a few seconds?
Triggers such as stress, dehydration, fatigue, hunger, or caffeine?
I’m planning to follow up with my doctor again if this continues, but I’d really appreciate hearing about other people’s experiences.
Thank you so much for reading.