I wish I could give you some answers for what might be happening to you, unfortunately I just don't know.

I really feel like you should call your doctor and have them check you out. I just don't like the thought of your heart doing odd things and not being checked by someone.

Best wishes.

Take Care, Dawn

Thank you for your reply and concern.
I was once in ER with this symptom and they did an EKG. The reading was explained to me as showing "something" strange but they couldn't tell me decisively what was going on. I was referred to have a 24hr monitor put on.

At the time I was not able to have that done, but since I continued to have that symptom from time to time, the heart monitor was put on. The problem is that during that 24hr period that palpation thing did not happen and the results came back as "normal." So I continue to have this happen from time to time without explanation.

I was wondering if this, along with the shortness of breath, could be yet another thing tied to Fibromyalgia.

I have exactly the same symptoms and I had ER visit as well EKG n referral for echocardiogram and halter monitor for 24 hrs. Echo came back normal, heart monitor came back in normal range. I felt like nothing was discovered and I live in fear of when I get one of these heart skips I'm gonna die.
I recently went to PCP and asked about this again and was sent for stress test and all came back normal.

I wish you well,
Roni

Hey there,

Do you know if your CO2 levels were checked? If your CO2 levels are off that can cause you to feel breathless/close to hyperventilating all the time even if your oxygen saturation levels looked normal on the little finger thingy.

If your CO2 is out of range, generally it just means your electrolytes are out of whack or you may have metabolic acidosis which is easily fixed with RX baking soda-please do not prepare baking soda for yourself at home, there are special instructions,and sodium and other electrolyte levels you have to manage while on RX baking soda...

Generally low C02 is not that serious and easily fixed...I would ask your Dr if your CO2 was checked when he ran your labs.

Best, LuLu

I have had these breathing issues, especially when I'm feeling fatigued. Tried to explain it to a doctor & he sent me for a stress test - which was normal of course, they said I was just deconditioned (really, ya think so.) Recently my PCP gave me an inhaler to try when I feel short of breath, it helps sometimes other times no help.

Thanks for the CO2 tip LuLu, I will have to ask my PCP on my next visit

I get heart palpitations every day. Some days they're more frequent than others. My EKGs have always been normal. Only other abnormality is that I have a heart murmur, which I don't think is related to the palpitations in any way.

Many days I feel like there's a weight on my chest, preventing me from taking a full breath. I was tested for asthma and I do not have it. I wonder if sometimes it's a bit of anxiety that's causing it for me.

I hope you get some answers. I know how frustrating and upsetting those symptoms are!

Thanks guys!

Hey Lulu, I did have an oxygen test done. I don't know if C02 was measured, but I know that the technician running the test said I was only getting 76% out of my oxygen and she administered a treatment through an inhaller. Then she measured me again. That time there was an improvement so she gave me an inhaller and said she was going to recommend a prescription to me doctor. However, when I had the follow up with my doctor, she said the technician was wrong and that my test were normal.

I didn't argue because I didn't like the way the inhaller made me feel feel anyway, plus I was just tired of the whole "doctors contradicting each other" scenerio happening to me at that hospital. It happened to me several times there. I'd begun seriously doubting the compatency of many of the doctors I'd seen there already by then.

I will ask my new doctor if it is possible to get the C02 test when I get my physical next week.

Sunnyinla,
I can totally relate to your fear of dying as a result of this problem. It feels really bad and scary. I have found myself wondering even though they do not happen any more frequently than they have in the past, are they are getting a bit more intense when they happen.

Used to be a fleeting thing, but now when they happen I have time to think, "calm down, ok start beating again," or "Is it going to start beating again?' Now my breathing gets involved and I have to grab hold of something. I guess what I am saying is that there didn't used to be a need for a recovery, whereas now there is. You are right it is scary.

Spacegirl63, I do think it has happend to me more frequently when I have been fatigued. And it is seldom that I am not experiencing fatigue. I'll have to keep that in mind. Thanks for your input.

Outsidesmile, I feel for you. May you get relief from having to experience that everyday. I'm sure you are right about anxiety also playing a role.

Thanks again everybody.

I also have those symptoms, and the doctor told me that mitral valve prolapse can also cause the palpitations. It is very common with people who have fibromyalgia. I have the breathing problem too. I was referred to a pulmonologist and she did aterial gases, breathing tests, and x-rays. My problem has to do with a hiatal hernia and twisted spine that's causing some compression on my lung. Please check with your doctor to be sure. Take care.

Wow Wildflower,

I have both a hiatal hernia and an imbilical hernia. I also have degnerative disc disease in 3 levels of my spine. I had no idea, nor was it ever suggested to my by my physicians that this could be the source of, or otherwise connected to my palpatations and breathlessness.

I am very grateful for the discussions taking place on this forum.
Thank you all very much for being so caring and forthcoming.

Wow Wildflower,

I have both a hiatal hernia and an imbilical hernia. I also have degnerative disc disease in 3 levels of my spine. I had no idea, nor has it ever suggested to me by my physicians that this could be the source of, or in any way connected to my palpatations and breathlessness.

I am very grateful for the discussions taking place on this forum.
Thank you all very much for being so caring and forthcoming.

These sound a lot like my PVC's (Premature Ventricle Contractions).

Google that and see if your symptoms match.

The way how it was explained to me by my cardiologist (after several ER trips, several monitors, EKG's, etc)

Most people experience PVC's, it just depends on what part of the heart it happens to is whether or not we feel them. Basically they are your heart misfiring. aka, skipping a beat.

They can last for a few seconds, to minutes to hours.

Mine just happen to fall in my lower ventricles. Thus allowing the blood to fill up and then suddenly my heart starts again and has to "pump" all of that blood back out. Thus the rush like sensation of blood returning to areas of my body.

Yes, at times, I feel like I'm going to faint. Yes, they scare the crap out of me each and every time. But they don't warrant any kind of treatment. (not yet). In some severe cases, people are given pacemakers to help keep a healthy heart rhythm.


There are some things that trigger PVC's as well. Common things are caffeine, sugars, and overeating even. I can get them from drinking a cold glass of water too quickly.

They are sometimes more agitated by exercise or lack of exercise.

Really, there is no rhyme or reason to why these happen. You just live with them.

As for the breathlessness. When my PVC's happen, I do feel like my breathing synch is out of whack for a little while. I can not come up with a good answer as to why that happens. But being asthmatic on top of everything else, I've always contributed it to that and PVC's both.

I would recommend doing some breathing exercises if you can. Slowly introduce the concept of deep breaths by imagining that you are filling each quadrant (divide your lungs into 4s) and increasing your breathing to fill each quadrant. Do this for about 5-10 minutes 1/ day for a week and then increase it to 2/week...slowly keep building until you feel it restored.

These were exercises I was given to help expand the muscles in my chest wall to help with breathing. Also, keep your posture in check! We tend to roll up when in pain and after sitting that way for a week or longer our ability to take in air is decreased because of this smaller area to fill.

You are not alone, the same thing happens to me. I often wonder why I'm not breathing as good as I use to. I quite smoking 13 years ago so I know it's not because of that. I often wonder if it's because of my anxiety. I don't know anymore. For 3 days, I felt like I was having a seizure of some kind and then I would fall on the floor as though I passed out. It was really scary. It hasn't happened for a couple of days but still scary, none the less. Hugs GB

Yes Yes and Yes!! I just read your post and had to reply.
I have been there done that until I was referred to a cardiologist who did a stress echocardiogram. When she read it in front of me she accidentally said, "uh oh". Don't worry, all is getting taken care of now and by His grace I was there when I needed to be.

My symptoms; felt like I couldn't breathe at times or catch my breath, heart palpitations especially at night when lying in bed, a feeling of pressure in my chest at times, lightheaded, dizzy, extreme exhaustion (all could be fibro symptoms).

I have read that arrythmia's can be especially difficult to catch and are especially important to catch. Please don't miss this opportunity to find a good (possibly female because I went to a male doc when I had severe chest pains 3 times! and he gave me Xanax, lol) ....anyway, a good cardiologist who will listen and do a full workup for you. Women's cardio symptoms are very vague and often misdiagnosed as mine was for several years. It was almost too late when we caught it.
Good luck and God Bless, Janelle

p,s. oxygen saturation does NOT always measure whether or not you are getting proper blood flow to the heart (thus oxygen). I had 18 sessions of heart treatments when my heart was at it's weakest; I could not walk to the end of the hall without sitting down or feeling like passing out and my O2 was 98.

After having every cardiac test known to modern medicine, my issue is exactly the same as Wonderbaby's.

No danger, just a lot of aggravation.

It does show up on an EKG, but only if they catch it when it's misbehaving, and even then it goes away when I'm lying down, which is the way they took my first two EKGs. I asked them to put the leads back on and let me sit up, and when my doctor read that one he said "Oh, OK, there it is!"

They said I could take a beta blocker if the symptoms were really bothersome, but that there was no medical benefit. I've learned to live with them now that I understand, but before all the tests they scared the living crap out of me.