Chest pains and heart palpitations???

Kim_in_TN · #1 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009, 04:52 PM

I've been having chest pains the past few days and palpitations and heavy heartbeat. Could just starting back on Janumet do this? What else could cause it other than a heart attack?

I'm scared to go to the ER about it as I've had two false alarm visits several years ago and don't want to look stupid or waste money!

PLEASE ADVISE!

VinceF · #2 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009, 05:17 PM

I think you should go to the ER. I'd rather look foolish than dead

Nita · #3 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim_in_TN

I've been having chest pains the past few days and palpitations and heavy heartbeat. Could just starting back on Janumet do this? What else could cause it other than a heart attack?

I'm scared to go to the ER about it as I've had two false alarm visits several years ago and don't want to look stupid or waste money!

PLEASE ADVISE!

I have been there and know how you feel. Twice I have gone to the ER with like symptoms in the middle of the night. We think my episodes were GERD. My stomach is super sensitive at times and I really have to watch how I take my meds....usually with food. GERD affects your heart beat also.

I had a scary one the other night and no matter what I did it would not go away ..... causing irregular heart beats and my pulse went up to 144 with it. I finally got over it but was almost calling 911 once again. It lasted a couple of days. I also have acid reflux at times which causes these feelings you describe. BUT, one never knows ??

I quit taking my potassium for months because it cause stomach upset...upper and lower. I started it up again because of this heart irregularity. Hope it helps me.

Check with your doctor....let us know.

Nita

Penny · #4 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009, 08:32 PM

Kim, I didn't have chest pain with either of my heart attacks, but if I had them now, I would be in the ER right away. Why risk it?

Mothernature · #5 (**permalink**) 06-24-2009, 10:38 PM

One the major side effects of Janumet is:

-You have a slow or irregular heart beat.

This is a symptom of Lactic Acidosis.

princesslinda · #6 (**permalink**) 06-25-2009, 06:47 AM

Is your blood sugar high when this happens? I can always tell when my numbers are high because my heart will beat faster.

I'm with the others though...get to your doctor and have an EKG so you can ease your mind. Better a false alarm than a heart attack!

Kim_in_TN · #7 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesslinda

Is your blood sugar high when this happens? I can always tell when my numbers are high because my heart will beat faster.

I'm with the others though...get to your doctor and have an EKG so you can ease your mind. Better a false alarm than a heart attack!

Thank you all for your replies and concern. I decided to wait it out because I was thinking it might be acid reflux for me as well. I did have some really bad indigestion a few nights ago .... probably the worst I have had in years. Finally after taking several antacid tablets and some Pepto Bismol, I was able to go to sleep.

However, if this keeps up and I feel like I am "controlling" my reflux, I will most definitely be getting an EKG done!

Russell A. · #8 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 11:28 AM

Kim:

Have you consulted with your doctor? I would take anything heart pain related VERY seriously!

Russell

slipperyelm · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:04 PM

Yes, please call your doctor. They can do an EKG in the office. It is quick, painless, easy, and can be read right away. I think your doctor would definitely want you to come in, even if you don't feel any of theses problems today or tomorrow. Having had them already is reason enough. Heart problems are often mistaken for indigestion (though that could be a problem, too.) Don't know how old you are, but my understanding is that palpitations are common in perimenopausal women.

Mom22weewuns · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:50 PM

Most definitely get yourself to the doctor. While it may simply be GERD (which can cause major pain square in the center of the chest) or even a panic attack, you really need at the very least an EKG to rule out anything cardiac. As for palpitations, if you get them frequently, definitely see a cardiologist as well. While wearing a holter monitor can be a pain, it can help figure out what's going on. Believe it or not, if you have something as simple as mitral valve prolapse, it can cause chest pains and palpitations, even anxiety attacks.

And a word of advice on antacids - I have major GERD and had been taking Tums like candy to control it. After one particularly bad chest pain attack that Tums did nothing for and thankfully turned out to be nothing (had a stress test and echo - definitely not my heart thank God), my doc warned me that some of the antacids like Tums and Rolaids can actually make GERD worse for some reason. He suggested, and now I take, the liquid Ultra Strength Mylanta. And yes, I drink it straight from the bottle.

Hope you are feeling better.

Granny Shanny · #11 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:50 PM

Speaking of antacids, does any know of any conflict in taking something like Maalox or Mylanta when you're on lipitor and/or metformin? These are anti-gas antacids which contain calcium & magnesium carbonates plus simethicone.

Mothernature · #12 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 04:47 AM

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Cimetidine (Tagamet), by decreasing the elimination of metformin from the body, can increase the amount of metformin in the blood by 40%. This may increase the frequency of side effects from metformin.

metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet) - drug class, medical uses, medication side effects, and drug interactions by MedicineNet.com

I also second a doctor visit for Kim. You are in your 40's with Type 2 diabetes. Any doctor worth two cents would applaud your proactiveness.

GayleM · #13 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 05:39 AM

Gayle, don't hesitate to see your doc ASAP. I had crushing chest pain and didn't go. I had GERD, but just thought in my pea brain it wasn't a heart attack. It passed. Then, while at my urgent care for bronchitis they found my heart was racing at a dangerous level. Off in an ambulance I went, and the ER was able to get it under control. My heart appeared fine. But they determined I was dehydrated and the fast heart rate probably was caused by the OTC sinus meds. (took them like candy for years...now just irrigate daily and voila! No more sinus problems!! DUH....LOL)

As a follow up my doc ordered an angiogram which came out that my arteries were in beautiful shape. They also went down in my tummy and found that I have an esophageal (sp?) hernia which can mimic the pain of of heart attacks. I was told my GERD probably caused or exacerbated that. Since then, I don't snack at night (except for my small snack-sized yogurt before bed) eat normal food portions at all times my GERD just dissapeared like magic. No mor incidents with the hernia either.

Having said that, I wouldn't know any of this had my doc not been made aware of my symptoms and demanded I get tested.

I only tell you my tale to show that it need not be bad news, but you need to be sure! They never made me feel stupid in the ER or having these further tests done. All the pros kept telling me in women heart attacks can feel very different than the symptoms we're used to seeing.

Take care and get thy posterior to your doc!

Gayle

buddy7 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim_in_TN

I've been having chest pains the past few days and palpitations and heavy heartbeat. Could just starting back on Janumet do this? What else could cause it other than a heart attack?

I'm scared to go to the ER about it as I've had two false alarm visits several years ago and don't want to look stupid or waste money!

PLEASE ADVISE!

Hi Kim, so sorry to here of your chest pains, please do the right thing, go to ER, I'm sure no one will look on you as stupid, more proactive and sensible.

Morris "Type 1" · #15 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 01:19 PM

Unrelated but somehow has relation to your posts I believe..

2 weeks ago I was diagnosed as being type-1 diabetic, I was getting sick but refused to go to hospital because I thought I would be fine. It wasn't until a friend harassed me to go, if I hadn't things could have turned out way worse I expect. Okay, it was obvious something was wrong, but here in the UK we have had campaigns which had huge signs that tell us to call for an ambulance when feeling any kind of chest pain.. Better safe than sorry.

Okay, so our medical care is quite free, but that said it's gotta be better to know than have it hurt you worse later?

I hope it all turns out fine for you.

Regards