Background Body Throbbing/ Heart Pounding

[AliB]

For the last five years or so I have had this awareness of my pulse/heart/throbbing sensation going on and I don't know why. During the day it doesn't really bother me but I notice it at night when I am trying to sleep.

My blood pressure is ok, in fact I have stopped my medication as my BP has come down since going gluten-free in Jan and is sitting around 130/75 which is fine. I was hoping that whatever this is would abate now I have stopped the gluten and dairy but it seems to be no different.

I lost some weight before gluten-free too but that hasn't made any difference either.

Does anyone else get this or have experienced it. Do you know why? I've had ECG's and it all seems fine so I'm at a loss.

I am Diabetic on insulin and Metformin. Metformin was started about 8 years ago and insulin around 5 1/2. I have noticed it seems to be worse when I have a full bladder, but I'm not sure if that is relevant or not!

[celiac-mommy]

My background: cardiovascular technologist

Most people who have palpitations notice them more in the evening. Most likely this is because you're more active during the day and not really aware that it's happening. A lot of my patients notice it especially when they lay on their left side. Since the heart sits in the left side of your chest, when you lay on your side, the apex of the heart (where the more forcefull pump occurs) rolls toward your ribs and you really notice the palpitations. It can be caused by sooooo many different things: diet, exercise, medications, caffine, short circuit (arrhythmia) in the heart's electrical cycle, etc... Most of the time when you have an EKG, your heart's not palpitating--never seems to do it when you need it to . The EKG is only a few second representation of your cardiac cycle. You might want to ask your Dr about a Holter or King of Hearts monitor. These you will wear for a few days to a month (depending on the type) and it records what's going on all the time. Plus, when you feel it happening, you push a button and it marks that particular time on the recorder. This is effective to make certain what type of rhythm you are experiencing. Other than that, different aspects of your daily life may need to be evaluated to lessen the episodes (like caffine, exercise in the evenings etc). There are some medications that can help too. Many Dr.s send their patients to me for an echocardiogram (ultrasound) also to make sure their heart is structurally normal.

[Guest hightop girl]

I am not sure if you meant a fast fluttering feeling or that pounding sensation that moves your whole body with the heartbeat. I get the whole body moving thing sometimes. I noticed it the other day after I accidently ate something with gluten and was retaing a lot of water. I take a diuretic, but it had not "kicked" in that morning. I have no idea what it is or if it is something to worry about.

[ptkds]

I have the same symptoms. When I lay down at night, my heart just pounds, and I can feel my pulse throughout my body. It takes a while to calm down. My heart rate is high on a regular basis. I have yet to find the answer.

Celiac mommy, could it still be some heart defect even if an EKG and Echo come out normal?? I haven't done the halter thing. I feel like the dr's just don't believe me when I tell them what happens. I am so frustrated!

[AliB]

Yes, it's just a constant thing. I get little in the way of palpitations (and especially noticeably absent since going gluten-free and my gut has started to heal and digest properly) and am not aware of any arrhythmia, it is just that I am very aware of my heart/pulse, whatever.

It is usually around 65 beats per min, give or take a bit, quite normal, it's not high blood pressure, I just can't figure it. It doesn't seem to make any difference whether my heart rate is fast or slow although it obviously pounds a bit more if I have been doing anything physical.

I can feel it now as I sit at the computer if I am quiet.

I had an ECG watch from the doctor for 2 weeks and not once did I have to use it!

Hightop girl (sorry don't know your name), that's interesting about the diuretic. I haven't needed any of those thank goodness but I do get days when I am retaining a bit of water and my feet are always puffier in the morning than in the evening (I know, that's the other way round to most people!). Whilst it is there all the time it does seem to be even more noticeable when I have a full bladder so maybe it is to do with water-retention.

I might try having a nettle tea this afternoon to see if it makes any difference.

Thanks for that y'all.

[Nancym]

Couple of things come to mind. I get a hard pounding heart when I eat a lot of carbs, especially refined carbs like sugar and starches. This seems to happen to a lot of people.

Another thing is hyperthyroid. When I had Graves disease I had a rapid (120 or more) pulse and the heart beat was really hard. I could lay in bed at night awake listening to my heart pound. It was awful. You might want to google Graves disease and see if you have any of the other symptoms.

[celiac-mommy]

  ptkds said:

I have the same symptoms. When I lay down at night, my heart just pounds, and I can feel my pulse throughout my body. It takes a while to calm down. My heart rate is high on a regular basis. I have yet to find the answer.

Celiac mommy, could it still be some heart defect even if an EKG and Echo come out normal?? I haven't done the halter thing. I feel like the dr's just don't believe me when I tell them what happens. I am so frustrated!

If the ECHO comes out normal, it should rule out any structural defect--but it is totally dependant on the person doing the exam as well as the quality of images obtained. If the images are poor (varies from person to person but usually dependant on body habitus) there may be an abnormality or defect missed--severity of a valve leak or stenosis, PFO (hole between the atria-which 20-25% of the population have), etc.. I agree that hyperthyroidism can cause it was well. If you didn't have any episodes in 2 weeks while wearing a monitor, you may need the month-long monitor. If you know that something is wrong with your body and you don't feel like you're being listened to, find a dr who will listen!!!

[AliB]

It's funny Nancy - when I first noticed the pounding I always thought it was to do with my blood sugar and carbs - back then my sugar levels were commonly 250 or more, but over the last few months I have been taking an herbal supplement that has brought my sugars right down to around normal level so I don't get the high ones that I used to, yet I'm still getting the thumping.

Although i have had a few carbs over the last week or so, I was very low carb for the first few weeks of gluten-free and was still getting it then so I'm not so sure its carbs.

I'm pretty sure that it's not my heart, Rachelle. It seems to be fine. When the doc gave me the ECG watch I had been getting some palpitations, but I knew it was my digestion, not my heart. I had been changed from insulin to Byetta last July and that triggered the most dreadful stomach problems - I was getting a lot of discomfort and pain, dizziness - a couple of times after eating out I would lose all my energy and virtually collapse. I was also getting palpitations but I just was certain it was linked with the digestive problems.

After 3 months the doc took me off it and put me back on to insulin which helped a little but the stomach problems never really went away and just gradually got worse until my digestion all but collapsed. I suspect the Byetta either triggered celiac symptoms or extreme gluten intolerance. I am pretty sure I had a hernia and some kind of gastritis, but the gluten-free and dairy free diet settled it all down, thank goodness. Since going gluten-free I have not had one bout of palpitations.

Anyway, back to the thumping. I have had a nettle tea this afternoon so will see how it is later - I'll let you know if it helped!

[cyberprof]

I had this prior to going gluten-free. I've not had it since.

Are you getting enough magnesium?

~Laura

[AliB]

  cyberprof said:

I had this prior to going gluten-free. I've not had it since.

Are you getting enough magnesium?

~Laura

I have been taking some extra magnesium but have not been very regular with it. I'll try and take it every day and see if that helps. Thanks Laura.

The morning after the night before - I think it was a little better after the nettle tea but will have to be a bit more regular with that one too before I can draw any conclusion about that one. I had a restless night as I was a bit of a piggy last night with a few home-made peanut cookies and some nuts, etc. My body just cannot cope with carbs at the moment.

Unfortunately, because my Celiac/GI is complicated by Diabetes, I am unsure what is behind this. I did hope that after going gluten-free it would sort itself out. It's only been 2 months so maybe it's still early days yet. How long did yours take to resolve Laura?

[West Coast Canuck]

For the past couple years I gradually noticed an increase in what I thought was heart palpitations.  Turns out it was the gut "throbbing", and in January 2014 I was diagnosed with celiac disease as well as several mild to moderate food allergies.

 

For the first couple months, the throbbing became less prominent.  However, I'm getting worse again in the last month, and it's keeping me awake at night.

 

Am pretty sure I have not been glutened.   Suspect it is related to food allergies, but for some reason it is getting worse, not better.

 

Has anyone else noticed this during the initial months of recovery, and it does it go away eventually ?

 

Any input much appreciated.

[NatureChick]

Have you been tested for vitamin deficiencies? Hormone imbalances? Adrenal insufficiency?

[GF Lover]

  On 5/6/2014 at 4:03 PM, West Coast Canuck said:

For the past couple years I gradually noticed an increase in what I thought was heart palpitations.  Turns out it was the gut "throbbing", and in January 2014 I was diagnosed with celiac disease as well as several mild to moderate food allergies.

 

For the first couple months, the throbbing became less prominent.  However, I'm getting worse again in the last month, and it's keeping me awake at night.

 

Am pretty sure I have not been glutened.   Suspect it is related to food allergies, but for some reason it is getting worse, not better.

 

Has anyone else noticed this during the initial months of recovery, and it does it go away eventually ?

 

Any input much appreciated.

 

Hi Canuck.

 

Just so you know, this thread is 6 years old.  You may want to start a new thread.

 

Good Luck.

 

Colleen

[nvsmom]

I get a shaking/throbbing that I though was related to my heart but it goes much faster than my heart rate. I'll often wake up to the sensation in the morning. It feels like my heart rate is shaking my body a bit BUT when I take my pulse, it is always slow and steady compared to the shakiness.  Very odd.

 

I do have shakiness that I am guessing is an essential tremour.  It was worse a few months ago (and I was on mild steroids at the time) but it's still there now that I am steroid free.  

 

Graves hyperthyroidism can cause symptoms like that - could that be something you should look into?

[West Coast Canuck]

Thanks very much everybody. Saw my family doctor, going to have B12 and thyroid checked, and then be referred to a G.I. specialist.