Bloody palpitations can just do one

[Vinosaurus]

Morning - I HATE being awake at this time of day.

Suppose I'm looking for a bit of a hand hold/company at this witching hour. Been having nighttime palpitations (single ectopics every few minutes or so) for a week or so now (rarely come in the day) which are waking me up around 3-4 and preventing me from getting back to sleep. So have been running on fumes for a while. I've had them in some shape or form on and off for years (thoroughly investigated and no concerns) but taking a magnesium supplement made them all but disappear ... until now.

Just started a degree as a mature student which in itself has made me a bit anxious (fear of failure etc.) and just prior to that started having some speech issues (forgetting/ stumbling over words, lots of spoonerisms etc.) which set my anxiety level at high and then the addition of palpitations has put it into warp speed. To put my health worries into perspective a bit, I did nearly die of a huge post surgery pulmonary embolism about 18 months ago (which started with palpitations), and I am just about to start 3 years of 3 day/week placements at the same hospital I was in as part of my degree.

Anyway, I eventually went to A&E a few days ago when they were just not stopping one evening and checked out fine (ECG, bloods, X-ray all good). I HATE going there as feel like such a hypochondriac (I was back there a few times after being discharged post PE - was also diagnosed with PTSD which I was treated for with EMDR, which was brilliant) - but they were incredibly kind and told me that I had a free pass for life to go see them, even just for reassurance, after what happened last year. I'm so incredibly grateful for them and can't fault the care they've given me since it happened.

Went to the GP today as I am just a bit of a wreck - the palpitations plus the lack of sleep has me teetering on the edge. She's changed my beta blocker dose (taken for migraines for years but can also potentially help with the palpitations) and also told me that my ferritin stores were very low based on a blood test they did a couple of months ago but didn't bloody tell me at the time so god knows what my levels are now (!), which possibly explains my symptoms, so started back on iron supplements (was very anaemic last year as lost so much blood every month due to being on blood thinners - not on them now) . But to be honest, it doesn't help at this time of night whilst I'm lying here in the dark feeling my heart skip beats.

Sorry, this is a bit of a tedious thread - it helps writing it all down though.

Morning Vinosaurus, your story is not tedious at all, the PE episode sounds terrifying & your local ED wonderfully kind, & thorough. I experienced anxiety when I returned to university as a mature student, there were lots of contributing factors, but beta blockers & later antidepressants helped so much. Looking back, I was isolated, I moved away from home, friends & family to study. I loved my studies & don't regret it, but, I could have given more time to hobbies & down time. You're in a different position, & hopefully your symptoms resolve as your ferritin stores recover. Good luck with your course & enjoy it.

Not tedious at all. Here for a handhold

Come join us on the anyone awake thread,I normally make virtual coffee about this time but probably not the best for palpitations.

OP

Do you know if they are atrial or ventricular ectopics? For SVT you can try the ice cream trick, it won't work on ventricular ectopics but won't do any harm.

You need to swallow a big chunk of ice cream and swallow in one go.

Hand hold. Can you tell me any more about the ferritin? Did that show in bloods and did they weigh up your level against anything else that seemed low/high range, pls?

Morning, I'm laying here wide awake wishing mine would go away too 😞

My completely healthy and vibrant 7 yr old ds had heart palpatations every day for a couple of weeks, x ray and bloods all ok, turns out he was dehydrated, drank more water as prep for doing the blood tests and they went away. Something so simple caused these in an otherwise healthy child. Up your water intake for a few days and yes low iron can also cause them

Thank you both, feel like life has revolved around my health for the last 18 months, so get a bit self conscious/embarrassed about talking about it.

Now the bloody birds are tweeting - so yet another night with minimal sleep is almost over.

I feel for you op.
My mum has had this on and off through her life, she says it's a really strange feeling and made her feel anxious.
Just remember that it passed before and should do again.
Being awake in the night makes you think funny things too!
What course are you doing? Well done for doing it and facing your fears!

Sashh - they're ventricular so I'll definitely give that a go.

Longlivepenguins - so my stored iron level is about 20 (not sure of unit of measurement), apparently they only report as abnormal below 10 (hence it not being flagged) but GP said they'd just had a seminar with specialist in iron deficiencies who told them that symptoms were possible below 100 and highly likely under 50. And as the test was a couple of months ago it would have dipped even further. I have had some recurrence of the symptoms I had with full blown anaemia (hair loss, pica, that very specific type of exhaustion etc.). Everything else was within normal range.

Obtuse - your poor DS (and you, it must have been so worrying). Who'd have though dehydration would have had that effect. I'll definitely up the water intake.

IdblowJonSnow (that did make me laugh 😆). Yes nighttime does magnify everything doesn't it. I'm studying Operating Department Practice - have had 3 weeks of induction so far and into placements this coming Monday, exciting but somewhat terrifying.

Heart arrythmias suck. Its amazing how something so simple can just completely mess with your sense of calmness and rightness. One other suggestion, make sure you are getting enough of all of the electrolytes in your diet, so magnesium (well done taking the supplements) calcium, potassium, sodium and chloride. I foimd that having my period wrecked my levels every month.

Also, have you seen an electrophysiology cardiologist? They can often ablate ventricular arrythmias.

Vino

I doubt it will work for ventricular, but it might.

SeatoSki - I'll look into the other supplements, the magnesium helped so much until recently (anxiety? iron levels?) m. My 24hr monitor (about a year ago now) was assessed by a electrophysiologist who was unconcerned at the time. I just want to get back to where I was a month ago - minimal palpitations and had learnt to ignore the ones that did happen.

If your palpitations have increased, it might be worth going back to the EP specialist. They tend to work on a basis of number of minutes of ‘events’ a year. Under the magic number, you can ignore. Above the magic number, they will consider intervention as it can wear out the heart muscle over time. Also if you are getting more couplets and triplets of PvCs, then that should also be looked at properly. Have you come across the Kardia from AliveCor (they sell it on amazon). Its an amazing little device for 100 pounds that lets you record a basic ECG on your phone. Ive had one for years and when I emailed my cardiologist the recordings it captured, he was able to diagnose me and I got it fixed with an ablation. It also gives you peace of mind as it will give you a topline diagnosis and tell you if it looks normal or unstable (seek treatment) which is nice when you are worried about arrthymia in the middle of the night

Thanks SeatoSki - you seem to know your stuff! Have you ever heard of an app called Preventicus? I've used it for a while now and it's very accurate if used correctly. Peer reviewed studies on it and all that malarkey. I use it when I'm worried and it does indeed pick up the individual ectopics.

I think I need to wait and see if they go once my iron levels are sorted too.

Thanks for the suggestion of Preventicus, will try it out and compare to my Kardia. I have been living with arrythmia amongst other heart conditions for 30 odd years, so have a fair amount of personal experience and research. I hope the iron supplements help, but if they dont, please keep on at the doctors.

he was able to diagnose me and I got it fixed with an ablation

An ablation is for SVT, not for ventricular events.

FFS - been lying here since 4 tonight, as has been the same every night.

Am now in tears of frustration, utter exhaustion and fear, whilst DH snores happily away beside me.

Palpitations are coming thick and fast today/tonight. I've got an iron infusion booked for next week, just hope it makes a difference.

If anxiety is contributing to the problem you could try this book
www.amazon.co.uk/Dare-Anxiety-Stop-Panic-Attacks/dp/0956596258/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&keywords=dare&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1568440329&sr=1-1

Thanks for the recommendation. I've read read a few books, meditated, gone on retreats, had various forms of therapy, tried drugs (been for years and still on beta blockers) etc. The amount of money I've thrown at anxiety (and depression) is ridiculous.