Racing heart and dizzy at times

[Megall9 268]

This past weekend I had an episode where my heart was racing, and I was very dizzy. I'm a drummer in a pipe band and we had traveled for competition, so I had been sitting out all morning (in shade under the band tents) drinking Water (and eating a bit). It was really hot and humid, and when it was time to go to the competition circle I couldn't do it. I started walking over, but my sight started "coning" in and going swirly, and my heart started racing, pounding, like it wanted to jump out of my chest. One of my friends took me by the arm and brought me back to the tent and gave me more water. My kilt is loose on me, and my uniform shirt isn't tight around my neck but I started clawing at both of them to get them off or loosen them further because I felt like I couldn't catch my breath. It subsided about 10 minutes later, and I played with the band later in the day... but it is very unsettling when this happens.

And this wasn't the first time.

I thought the first time it happened that it was due to the heat. The first time it happened I had to sit directly underneath an air conditioning unit and drink water, and I couldn't stand up for about an hour. Then I was fine. the second time it happened I was at work in an air conditioned building. I had to stop serving my customers for a minute and take a drink of my water, and slooooooow myself right down until it passed. I thought then (because I wasn't overheated) that it might have been due to low blood sugar (I'm type 2 diabetic who has never been on any medication for it.) I did bring it up to my surgeon during one of my follow ups, but he said that it didn't have anything to do with my surgery, despite it happening only since. He said that since I had felt heart "flutters" before surgery that I need to follow up with my GP. Yes I had felt a flutter here or there before surgery, but that was it, and only once in a blue moon. Nothing like the terrifying heart pounding, can't catch my breath, covered in a sheen of sweat attack like I have been experiencing. Of course I will be contacting my GP this week to see if he can chase down what is happening, but my question in the meantime is, had anyone else experienced anything like this before?

I was sleeved on May 9th.

[KristenLe 5,979]

Sounds like it could be severe dehydration. You may need a drink with electrolytes and/or sodium during these events when it's so hot. Do you check your blood sugar? It could be that too - especially if you aren't eating regularly these times. Hope they figure it out - sounds extremely scary!

[justhere4theshow 462]

I was sleeved on 5/23/16 and have had two such episodes just as you described. I have not had one since. I believe it was dehydration as KristenLe stated. But I think it then turned into anxiety. I could not cool down and couldn't catch my breath for several minutes. I don't know if it had anything to do with hormones, or just low calories coupled with getting behind on fluids. Definitely keep in touch with your doctor about it if it happens again.

[Steph~L~16 168]

Dehydration is my guess. I'm a bypass patient, but for about the first month after surgery I would get this feeling in the mornings a lot. I keep Water near now and drink it throughout the night and haven't had any more problems. Good luck.

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[NeedaBreak4Me 1,755]

Usually when you have dizziness accompanied with heart palpitations its usually because you are low in potassium or electrolytes

[Steph~L~16 168]

The potassium is good to know @AussieGirl81. I hadn't even thought of that. Thank you!

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[theantichick 2,204]

Former ER nurse here - we would get a lot of patients with these symptoms and it would be due to one of a variety of problems from dehydration to electrolyte imbalances to low glucose to anxiety to heart problems. (Basically everything everyone said here.) Most of the time, it's not a heart problem. And lots of times even if it is a heart problem, it's a mild and treatable condition. DEFINITELY follow up with your GP, since this has happened several times. You absolutely need to rule out a heart problem.

[Dub 9,922]

The time that I felt this way was due to low blood pressure and being dehydrated.