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What Causes Heavy Breathing, Fluttering Of Eyes And Hand Tremors?

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Posted on Tue, 22 Aug 2017
Question: Hello.
Last summer I had 2 episodes of syncope that resulted in fall injuries. I have had my aortic valve and hemiarch replaced and a pacemaker inserted 9 years ago. My cardiologist at the time decided the syncope was due to being overmedicated and stopped my blood pressure pills and beta blockers.
About 3 months ago I started having episodes again, once while standing and resulting in a fall with no injuries other than a few bumps and bruises. I have since had several (more that 25) episodes mostly while sitting or laying in bed. Once in the middle of a dinner in a restaurant. The only warning I get is that I feel like my heartbeat is irregular and it feels irregular to my husband as he manually checks my pulse. He said that every episode seems different sometimes heavy breathing, fluttering eyes, choking sounds, tense shaking arms and hands. Even once while sitting cross legged on the end of a hotel room bed peeling and orange and I did not fall or drop the orange.
My current cardiologist, without any exam or further testing, says it sounds neurological, but that doesn't make sense to me if the warning I get (could be hours prior) is the irregular heartbeat. My pacemaker reports come back normal with no evidence of episodes. I'm at a loss of what it is. I'm almost to the point of. Ring scared to stand up let alone going out in public.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows :

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would agree with your doctor on the fact that your symptoms seem to be related to a neurological disorder, called epilepsy seizures.

The fact that no cardiac arrhythmia has been recorded is very reassuring that these episodes are related to an extra cardiac cause.

For this reason, I would recommend consulting with a neurologist and performing an EEG.

A brain MRI may be necessary in case of abnormal EEG.

I would also recommend checking your fasting glucose and thyroid hormone levels in order to exclude possible metabolic causes which can trigger this clinical scenario.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Wishing good health,

Dr.Iliri
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9536 Questions

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What Causes Heavy Breathing, Fluttering Of Eyes And Hand Tremors?

Brief Answer: I would recommend as follows : Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern, I would agree with your doctor on the fact that your symptoms seem to be related to a neurological disorder, called epilepsy seizures. The fact that no cardiac arrhythmia has been recorded is very reassuring that these episodes are related to an extra cardiac cause. For this reason, I would recommend consulting with a neurologist and performing an EEG. A brain MRI may be necessary in case of abnormal EEG. I would also recommend checking your fasting glucose and thyroid hormone levels in order to exclude possible metabolic causes which can trigger this clinical scenario. Hope you will find this answer helpful! Wishing good health, Dr.Iliri