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General health

Ectopic Heartbeats

14 replies

2daysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 28/09/2015 16:14

I have these. It is where the heart gives a random extra beat every now and again. It feels like butterflies or an odd thumping in your chest. They are pretty much harmless.

I was diagnosed with these after having a week long heart monitor fitted as I was suffering from sinus tachycardia. The Consultant told me they were absolutely nothing to worry about.

In all honesty, they have never bothered me much but lately, over the past few weeks or so, they have significantly increased in frequency and strength to the point where if I am sitting still or lying down, I feel them a lot (I can usually ignore them)

Does anyone else have this? Are you aware of how often you have them and do they happen at certain times? I don't really want to bother the GP with it and waste a valuable appt only to be told it is perfectly normal and to just continue to ignore them.

Thanks

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WaitroseEssentialPancetta · 28/09/2015 16:19

You can get beta blockers if they're really starting to panic you I think ? I mean cause a panic attack type feeling

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2daysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 28/09/2015 16:25

Am not worried about them as such, they are just being rather bothersome. I just wondered if the frequency was normal (ish)

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Reggiesgirl · 28/09/2015 16:45

My husband had them. There's no pattern to his, he's had them on the treadmill but also when he's completely relaxed sat doing nothing. And they really take his breath away.

He was referred to a cardiologist who told him he can take beta blockers but if he can cope with them the better option would be to just ride them out so to speak

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2daysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 28/09/2015 16:57

Riding them out is what I thought which is fine by me. I don't think I can take beta blockers. Either something to do with my asthma or the block I have in a sinus node. Can't remember why. should have listened more carefully

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Gatekeeper · 28/09/2015 17:02

I have these- I am 51 and have experienced them since I was 13. I can go a while without having any to experiencing them several times in in a hour when I am unwell.

All normal for me and I am fine- had ECG and monitor fitted in the past. When I have a few in a short spell I now take a deep breath and hold for a minute before exhaling slowly but gustily and that usually fixes it

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ButEmilylovedhim · 28/09/2015 17:14

My DD7 has these. She had a 24 hour monitor on but of course she didn't have any then! They seemed to go away but have come back fairly frequently. Again, no pattern to them. Glad to read they are seen as not serious. They do give her a shock, poor kid.

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Tuiles · 28/09/2015 17:18

Have always had them alongside being extremely bradychardic (resting pulse below 50bpm), sit them out seems to be the consensus.

However they do correlate with times I am overtired or have consumed too much caffeine - so have to watch out for coffee, red wine and chocolate sadly.

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TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 26/10/2015 20:59

Update - had routine appt at docs and she wasn't happy that they have increased in frequency. The change in strength is not an issue. She has put me down for an ecg and full bloods and is referring me back to the cardiac team.

I guess i shall wait to see what they say but i hope they bugger off as they are getting really annoying.Grin

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shouldnthavesaid1 · 26/10/2015 21:45

I have these , have had a 24 HR ecg and lots of normal ones. Never had anything weird come up, however a relative has just been fitted with a defib thingy for problems so am a bit over anxious just now over the whole thing. They are pretty horrible.

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grubblyplank · 27/10/2015 02:25

I'm just back from the hospital after having these over the last week. GP took bloods last week and sent me for an ECG which of course was normal as they stopped during the procedure Confused.

They have been really bothersome today and I was trying to sleep but they were just constant. I have been referred back to my GP for a longer trace so that they can look at what's happening. Sod's law that the ECG picked up nothing tonight again. Feel like a fraud!

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TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 27/10/2015 21:34

Am sorry to hear they are making you groggy. Mine were so bad last night that they were making me feel really yucky but are much better today. Yesterday, I counted at least 100 in a 2 hour period.

You might get referred for a 24 hour or week long trace. I have had both and it threw up all sorts of things. Fingers crossed they still show nothing for you.

Hope you feel better soon Flowers

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grubblyplank · 28/10/2015 21:30

Thanks Today. Mine were very frequent too-hard to catch a breath between them so I know exactly what that feeling is like! Glad they are better for you.

After hardly anything yesterday and again today, I'm even more convinced that they are hormonal. The start of them last week was the day before my period started-this ended on Sunday and they have lessened considerably over the last couple of days. I'm 44 and the last few months have been a bit odd where my cycle has been concerned, so I think I'm pre-menopausal. This wasn't even acknowledged by my GP the other day and I suppose I'm on the young side.

I was due to go back to the GP on the advice of the doctors at a&e this week, but as I already have a visit booked on 17th November, I think I will keep to that as I see no point if I haven't got any symptoms any more.

I've also started noting them down to see if there is a pattern as I think that would be more convincing with the GP.

Hope you get some answers Smile

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Ipushedmygrannyaffabus · 01/11/2015 00:08

I have about 800 or so of these a day (even though I'm on beta blockers). I don't feel the majority of them. I wouldn't worry, but I,d keep a note of any triggers and go back to your dr to see if you can identify a pattern and get a referral to a cardiologist if you have any other symptoms (dizziness etc)

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Eva50 · 01/11/2015 10:37

I'm 51 and get a lot of these. They first started when I was pregnant with ds2 (18). I can go weeks with only an odd one and at my worst had a week of constant runs of them (3 years ago now). Mine are usually worse if I am unwell or following an illness. I have had numerous investigations over the years and nothing sinister found.

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