Interestingly, I have had paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) since I was a child. I took beta blockers and digoxin for about 10 years, and since being an adult, I have only ever really had issues when hormones are jumping around — e.g. pregnancy or menopause (not quite yet!)

From time to time, I get short episodes of the Bump, Bump that Linda describes. I put it down to being extra tired, or stressed – and very often medications can do it. I am taking a heavy duty pain med that causes it fairly frequently but only for short periods.

As far as I know, PAT is fairly benign; unless you are having episodes of several hours where your heart rate is coming on to 180 or so (when it starts fluttering rather than beating). (That is what I used to get as a child). If you have a tachycardia problem there are a number of things they can do now with little intervention. The doc used to say that alot of 60+ people have it, it is not usual in young people.

Hopefully it is not causing you too much discomfort. Happy to provide any other info I can.

Cheers
Debs

I, too, had an episode of tachycardia at a time last year when my symptoms were still progressing and had not yet been brought under control. I was just sitting on the couch watching TV in the evening when I experienced a strange feeling in my chest. My heart rate was over 200 bpm, but was quickly brought down to normal in the ER of the hospital my wife drove me to. I was kept overnight in the ICU for observation and tests and was released the next day with a diagnosis of SVT – supra-ventricular tachycardia – which my doctor explained as a short circuit in the electrical system of my heart that is generally not life-threatening. I was prescribed a beta-blocker, wore an EKG monitor for three weeks, and there has been no recurrence since. Whether this incident had been caused by my CIDP can be neither confirmed nor ruled out, however if you search this site on “tachycardia” you will find that it has been discussed on numerous threads elsewhere on these discussion boards.
When you next see your doctor, it might be a good idea to ask him whether, if you experience these symptoms again, you should go to the hospital for observation. I hope it turns out to be nothing serious. Good luck.

Good morning, Linda,
About three years ago, after it was found that the CIDP had hit my autonomic system, (dysautonomia), and was knocking off the nerves controlling my different organs, I was actually in the hospital for 3 weeks as they tried to fix things that were wrong. One of the things was that I had very shallow breathing and had to be helped with a bi-pap, (to this day occasionally I have to still use the bi-pap at home). Thus, the doctors confirmed that it had hit my phrenic nerves, (phrenic nerve dysfunction), and my lung capacity was down to 43%. I also had low blood pressure, yet was having tachycardia, (rapid heart beats), with a pulse rate of 120-140. It was determined the CIDP had hit the nerves controlling the heart, (through various tests), and had to be put on Altenolol 50mg daily (I still take it to this day), to keep the heart rate down. I also get syncope.
It has also hit various other nerves controlling organs, as I try with chemotherapy, (Cytoxin), to get the CIDP into remission, since normal protocol of IVIG and PE has failed.
So, to answer yes, it can affect the NERVES controlling the heart.
KEDASO