What Causes Noticeably Strong Palpitations While Lying On The Left Side?

Posted on Sat, 2 Sep 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 2 Sep 2017 Answered on

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : 74 yo male. Pacemaker. Heart rate 75 beats per minute per oxymeter. I can feel heart beating very strongly, sometimes uncomfortable. Girlfriend can feel it against her body too. History of a fib and rapid heart beat, ventricular ....... Was controlled at 60 beats per minute, but now too fast. Dintiazem 240 mg once day; Sotalol, 80 mg in morning and 40 mg at bedtime.; Valsartin 80 mg in morning; Elliquis, 5 mg 2x daily.
Is this something I should go to ER about? Cardiologist will not be in until Tuesday.
Other conditions include stage 3 kidney disease, myothenia gravis, history of PE 10 yrs ago post rotator cuff surgery.
I do not feel the heavy heart beats unless lying on my left side in bed. Then very pronounced.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be concerning, considering the fact that you don't have any other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting.

Anyway, as you can not see your cardiologist until Tuesday, I would recommend going to the ER for a physical exam and some tests:

- a resting ECG to investigate for cardiac arrhythmia
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance.

If all these tests are normal, there is nothing to worry about.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask me again!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar