...yes, that's right. Some tiny person is walking around inside my chest wearing flip flops! Or at least that's the way it feels.
Hi Dr. Stoll
I hope you enjoyed your vacation with your family. I took the time while you were away to pour over the archives trying to find out all I could about "flutters in the chest". I learned that most disrhythmias (right word?) of the heart are more than likely caused by magnesium deficiency and that to get it back up to correct absorption levels, the magnesium must be administered intravenously for only a short period of time. I know a few people who are on medication for palpitations and the such, and I am definitely going to let them know what I found out! Thanks and I took down the 800# so I could find someone qualified in this area to test MY magnesium levels.
My question is, though, are all flutters in the chest region be heart related? The reason I ask is because, years ago when you had an office in Lexington, KY, my mother came to you with the same problem I'm having now. She described it as a feeling of "something" inflating in the center of her chest, then quickly deflating. She said you then listened to her heart and then went on to explain something about "trapped air" and that this was exactly what was happening regarding the inflating/deflating but that it was not her heart.
I am sorry to be so vague as that is all that she remembers. She doesn't remember where you said the air was trapped or the reason for it happening. All she remembers is being relieved that you said it wasn't her heart.
Anyway, I'm having the same problem now and it happens mostly when I lie down at night. No pain, no shortness of breath, only trouble going to sleep until the "flutters" subside. There's the "inflated" feeling, then a few seconds later the "deflated" feeling. This happens several times consecutively and sometimes just once.
My mother and I order your book 3 months ago and are enjoying it immensely.
Looking forward to hearing what you think is going on with the little dude in flip-flops, or dudette.
In Reply to: Flip Flops in my chest posted by Carol on October 15, 1998 at 12:01:40:
Hi, Carol (and hi to your mom). No true dude would wear flipflops so it must be a dudette (grin). So saith the old farm boy. There ARE other things that can give those feelings. The way for one to tell the difference is to feel the pulse right when the dudette is flipflopping. If it is the heart, the pulse will be doing the same thing; if not the heart, the pulse will be regular as ever. To be more accurate, it is best to check the pulse at the angle of the jaw rather than at the wrist. If you do not know how, ask any person who does aerobic exercise. Walt
In Reply to: Re: Flip Flops in my chest posted by Walt Stoll on October 16, 1998 at 13:09:15:
I've happily determined that these flutters are not from my heart. Sooooo,....I guess that leaves me with the question of what ARE the other things that could cause these flipflops? I've also ruled out the possibility of a "dudette" because I would most certainly have heartburn when she donned her perfume in the mornings. hehehe (I know what you're thinking, (grin) there's one in every crowd). Having fun, Carol
In Reply to: Re: Flip Flops in my chest posted by Carol on October 17, 1998 at 00:38:46:
Dear Carol, Congratulations on taking the time to learn how to rule out your heart doing this. About now you might be asking why everyone is not taught that first, by the physician, instead of running thousands of dollars of tests when the person comes in--- when the doc knows the same thing I told you. Have you ever heard of kickbacks? Anyhow, the next most likely cause is clonus & tonus of the chest wall muscles caused by the total body "bracing" that we have been discussing here on this bb for years. You can look up the definition of these terms but, basically "tonus" means tension and "clonus" means jerkiness. You could reproduce these in your arm if you held a weight in your hand & extended your arm out to the side until it happened. Once the muscles have been overstrained long enough they get like this. I will be surprised if you have not had costochondritis in the past or will have it in the future. Costochondritis is inflammation of the rib joints caused by trying to breath through the tension of the intercostal muscles (the muscles between your ribs). ALL of this can be resolved by the regular practice of effective skilled relaxation for 6-12 months. OR, if you want sooner relief, a Certified Rolfer will resolve this in a week or so. However, if you do not do the skilled relaxation, the problem will eventually come back about a year or so after the 10 Rolfing sessions. Call (800) 447-0150 for the closest Certified Rolfers to you. Fortunately for you, even the least most likely cause (esophageal flutter) is also resolved by the above approach although the Rolfing would be less spectacularly effective for that. Let us know how you do and do not let the relief of your symptoms stop your continuing to learn about yourself. This is just the way your bodymind has decided to get your attention about things that need to change before you have something more serious. Walt
Sincerely,
Carol
Follow Ups:
Re: Flip Flops in my chest
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 16, 1998 at 13:09:15:
Follow Ups:
Re: Flip Flops in my chest
Posted by Carol on October 17, 1998 at 00:38:46:
Thanks Dr. Stoll
Follow Ups:
Re: Flip Flops in my chest
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 18, 1998 at 08:24:13: