For the last week or so I’ve had multiple episodes of palpitations and racing heartbeat. I’ve also been woken by a racing heart. Some vertigo symptoms and a terrible headache. Ended up in hospital late on Saturday. Had lots of tests, all totally normal. It’s happened a couple of times in the last three years and every time the tests have been clear and it’s been assumed to be my MS.
I’m almost 10 years on from a diagnosis of RRMS. Have failed lemtrada and currently on ocrelizumab (although last dose was a year ago). Use a wheelchair when out of the house. Have been in quarantine since 13th March so mobility now very limited. Don’t feel especially stressed - except by these symptoms! Working full time from home in a job I love.
Anyone had a similar experience or have any advice or insight?
I have had same and i put it down to my MS.It happens every so often.I have had palpitations from the age of about 14 but they seem to be worse the older i get.I also get the opposite where my heart beat will slow right down and seems to miss a beat or 2.
I used to think mine were caused by coffee and other stimulants but that’s not the case with me.I think mine are caused by my MS affecting my vagus nerve which is quite rare with MS, but can and does happen.
I had what I thought were palpitations a few years ago. They kept coming back and I’d make my husband feel my heart to see if he could feel what I could internally. They seemed to me to be just what I’d had years ago when I had an overactive thyroid which was definitely palpitations and for which I had beta blockers (the thyroid was cured by surgery).
Then I suddenly realised they were not palpitations, but more of an internal (infernal) shaking - related to spasms. I described the feelings to my neurological rehabilitation doctor and he prescribed Cloneazepam. It worked. I’ve taken it ever since and it really does the job.
These spasms are very different to spasms I get in for eg my legs, and for which I take Baclofen. Also different to bladder spasms. I think there are some real differences in the types of spasm we might experience.
As your ‘palpitations’ have been shown to not be, maybe it is your MS, but something for which you could get help?
That’s interesting. I take levothyroxine and a beta blocker. I’ve unintentionally missed three days and my symptoms seem better. I’ll restart tomorrow and see what happens. I really want to talk to an MS specialist about the symptoms though!
Hi, I’ve had SPMS for about 14 years now, I also suffer from palpitations quite often and I can wake up early in the morning with my heart pounding for 5 to 60mins. This is aggravated if spirits are consumed the night before and I take Bisoprolol and Ramipril tablets every day which helps a great deal, but the cardiologist never linked my heart problems with MS and have had an ECG plus a heart scan recently. If things get desperate try jumping in a cold shower which effects the Vagus system and is supposed to lowe the heart rate.