Chest Flutter And Breathing Difficulties. Similar Experiences?

[Bex]

Hi everyone,

I have POTS as a result of EDS 3, plus other complications (bowel, bladder etc) that have been put down to the same condition (EDS interlinking with dysautonomia). Lately I've had something else happen, which is quite strange, and I wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar. Every once in a while I get a very pronounced fluttering feeling in my chest (presumably an arrhythmia), and at the same time I can't seem to be able to inhale or exhale. It's like my chest is paralysed whilst I feel the fluttering. Luckily the feeling is only momentary, so it hasn't caused any major issues, but it's slightly concerning. I wondered if it might be part of the dysautonomia etc, but it seems a little odd. I have a feeling I may be unique with this symptom! I'd be interested in hearing any thoughts or similar experiences any of you have had.

Thanks

Bex

[bellgirl]

Hi Bex, welcome to the forum...This happens to me as well...I have a Mitral Valve Prolapse, which can cause tightness, and irregular heart beats at times. But others who don't have a MVP, still have these issues on occasion, so it could just be the Dysautonomia. I have other breathing issues as well, including, sleep apnea and mild asthma, sometimes bladder/bowel issues when my symptoms flare, but no EDS here. Everyone is different, but a lot of us here have similar symptoms. The best thing to do is talk with your doctor about your concerns. You will find everyone here to be very supportive and encouraging, and also very knowledgeable on this site. You will feel right at home here to relate to others who will understand what you are going through

[Libby]

Hi Bex! Welcome to the forum

Hm. It sounds like I might experience the same thing. For me, I get the feeling from a string of 3 or more premature ventricular contractions (pvc) - aka ventricular tachycardia. My heart will flutter, my chest will freeze up and I'll want to cough, but I can't. It only lasts a few seconds - annoying, but not too bad.

PVCs, in the absence of other heart conditions, are usually benign. The V-tach thing kind of made me nervous, mostly because it's one of those phrases medical tv shows have the doctors shout out before they shock the patient , but it didn't worry my cardio.

Beta blockers helped me a LOT. I was having a couple dozen 'episodes' a day, but with metoprolol I have one or two a week.

Do you have MVP? I know that I'm more prone to palps because of it.

If you haven't already, you might want to go see a cardio and have them set you up with a holter or event monitor. Just to make sure there's nothing else going on.

[RichGotsPots]

keep an eye out for a breathing poll I'm posting tonight, might have some answers

[Bex]

Thank you for all of your replies - they were really helpful. I honestly thought I was either imagining it or I was having something random and unexplained that nobody had come across before! It's reassuring to hear that it's likely to be nothing serious, and hopefully not something else to add to the list of health issues! What you describe sounds spot on, Libby. I get the feeling of needing to clear my chest during the episodes, but can't. It's very bizarre. I've not been tested for MVP, but I seem to remember hearing at some point that it's relatively common in EDS, so I wouldn't be too surprised if I did have it. It was something I was planning on asking about at my next appointment with the autonomic specialist, so I think I will definitely mention it now.

Thank you all also for welcoming me to the forum