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Original poster

Near constant palpitations?!

114 replies

TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/10/2025 19:25

Has anyone had this? I've been having them for months and months now (probably more like a couple of years on and off) and honestly i've put it down to perimenopause (i'm 44). The last few days they have really ramped up and start almost as soon as I get in bed and last for 1-2 hours. Fluttering, weird feeling in throat, occasional absolute thumps in the chest, then I seem to fall asleep and all normal again in the morning.

For some reason this evening has been worse than they have ever been before. Started around 5pm and haven't stopped since! I am otherwise fine, (I do have severe anxiety and health anxiety so I am obviously working myself up into a state now) but am torn between trying to ignore, and then looking to get a GP appt. in the morning, or going to A&E!! I think I want talking down <wibble>

OP posts:
PoppySaidYesIKnow · 01/10/2025 19:27

You need a 24 hour monitor. I had three hundred episodes in the 24 hours but they weren’t anything worrying !! I was prescribed beta blockers and now barely get any episodes.

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 01/10/2025 19:29

Meant to say, make an urgent GP appointment and they may be able to run a quick ECG there and prescribe the beta blockers. They are horrible - you have my sympathy.

SliceofTosst · 01/10/2025 19:31

I get this quite a lot too. Also thought it was just another delightful menopause gift!

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Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/10/2025 19:31

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 01/10/2025 19:29

Meant to say, make an urgent GP appointment and they may be able to run a quick ECG there and prescribe the beta blockers. They are horrible - you have my sympathy.

Thanks for replying!

I won't be able to make an appointment until tomorrow morning as my surgery have the annoying online form system, which is closed online at the min. I stupidly googled it and it basically said go straight to the "ER" if they've been going on for hours.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/10/2025 19:33

SliceofTosst · 01/10/2025 19:31

I get this quite a lot too. Also thought it was just another delightful menopause gift!

Haha, yes me too! I think it's how long this episode is lasting that is scaring me, I can quite literally feel every missed/extra beat and it's at least 10 per minute.

OP posts:
VoltaireMittyDream · 01/10/2025 19:34

I had this a few years ago! I went to A& E convinced I was having a heart attack.

Turned out in my case it happens as an after-effect of Covid, or a Covid booster. My heart is always fine when they check it, just a bit fast and thumpy and squeezy.

It does linger for a while though.

I also discovered, while trying to work out what was causing this, that I had low ferritin - which can also cause physiological anxiety symptoms. Might be worth getting ferritin levels checked and taking an iron supplement.

Treeleaf11 · 01/10/2025 19:34

Yes I had this. Turned out to be Atrial Fibrillation. Am taking tablets for it and hasn't happened for a year.

HannahHamptonsGloves · 01/10/2025 19:34

Have you tried some of the breathing exercises for palpitations? I think there's one where you exhale hard after holding your breath that's meant to help.

Inthebasement · 01/10/2025 19:35

I have this constantly too. I had it when I was younger just after having kids and assumed it was hormonal. Im in peri now and assume the same. Its frustrating and tiring, but I havent got round to going to the drs about it because getting an appointment is a nightmare.

Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/10/2025 19:39

VoltaireMittyDream · 01/10/2025 19:34

I had this a few years ago! I went to A& E convinced I was having a heart attack.

Turned out in my case it happens as an after-effect of Covid, or a Covid booster. My heart is always fine when they check it, just a bit fast and thumpy and squeezy.

It does linger for a while though.

I also discovered, while trying to work out what was causing this, that I had low ferritin - which can also cause physiological anxiety symptoms. Might be worth getting ferritin levels checked and taking an iron supplement.

I wondered that, although I do take liquid iron, floravital I think it's called...I think it's herbal so not sure if it's doing anything!

I am going to try to arrange a doctors appt. - I just worry about being dismissed with anxiety. I know for sure that my anxiety is contributing but these are very real symptoms.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/10/2025 19:41

HannahHamptonsGloves · 01/10/2025 19:34

Have you tried some of the breathing exercises for palpitations? I think there's one where you exhale hard after holding your breath that's meant to help.

Thank you - I have looked some up but i'm in too high a state of anxiety at the minute to breathe properly. I will definitely try them if this eases off though.

OP posts:
Crinkle77 · 01/10/2025 19:45

Iron deficiency can also cause palpitations. Get to the doctor and get some blood tests.

LargeChestofDrawers · 01/10/2025 19:46

Yes, I had this - went on constantly for a whole week. I didn't know what it was back then, and went to the GP, who sent me for an ECG a week later, but by then it had calmed down. I'm now on HRT and it hardly ever happens. Is definitely to do with perimenopause.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 01/10/2025 19:50

I had this and was told menopause, stress, anxiety.
I later ended up in resus in fast AF and subsequently needed an ablation.

WhoWouldBeAWoman · 01/10/2025 19:50

I've had this in and off for many years, and I had a heart murmur in my medical history. I had a 24hr holter (mobile ECG tracing of my heart) which caught 1episode. I've also had 2 ECHOs that were fine. I'm like you and I get either the fluttering feeling in my chest, or a big thump that stops me in my tracks. I'm peri now and, for now, the palpitations haven't started up again. I find too much caffeine, sugar and alcohol (especially all 3 in a relatively short space of time) kicks things off big time. So I'm mostly caffeine free, and can't eat too many Haribo at once.

Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 01/10/2025 19:50

LargeChestofDrawers · 01/10/2025 19:46

Yes, I had this - went on constantly for a whole week. I didn't know what it was back then, and went to the GP, who sent me for an ECG a week later, but by then it had calmed down. I'm now on HRT and it hardly ever happens. Is definitely to do with perimenopause.

Oh the joys of womanhood! 😳

It has calmed down a little now. I think "talking" about it helps take the mind off it!

I will definitely be getting online first thing tomorrow and making an appointment.

Thanks everyone x

OP posts:
CharlotteLightandDark · 01/10/2025 19:52

Yes I had this, am 46 so also peri. Was prescribed iron and B12 and now it’s much better.

setcolorthemeGoth · 01/10/2025 20:04

If you an afford it, get a Kardia monitor, as it should pick up the palpitations and you can then show the result to the GP (it will even make a PDF of the trace for you in the app). It's only about the size of a credit card and you put your fingers on it and it will pick up skipped beats and so on.

A GP used one in a consultation when I had some weird irregular beats going on, but having my own was a godsend as it stopped me feeling like I had to pay lots of attention to the palpitations, if that makes sense - I let the Kardia do most of that. It's worth getting one even if you go and get checked out in person tonight or tomorrow.

It's important to know that it won't tell you if you're having a heart attack or not, as it just doesn't measure the right things for that - but it will show skipped beats and it will also tell you if you've got atrial fibrillation which would mean you should see someone urgently.

I think an Apple Watch might do something similar, depending on version.

summerday25 · 01/10/2025 20:11

I had this severely to the point I was in and out of GP/A&E for a year. First time it was really bad I went in via ambulance, convinced I was having a heart attack as my heart rate also rose to the high 180’s. A few months ago my GP told me, after yet another blood test, that my ferritin was 5. After two weeks on ferrous fumerate I was a different woman! They had put it down to poor mental health too. I have recently had a 48 hour holster and heart scan too which you could ask for, to reassure if nothing else. Feeling your pain tonight as not had time to go to the GP and get more tablets so my heart has been chaotic this week. Ask for bloods too, specifically your ferritin levels. Hope you feel a bit better soon

Dublassie · 01/10/2025 20:29

Had them really badly earlier in the year . They have disappeared since I started HRT !

Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 02/10/2025 18:02

setcolorthemeGoth · 01/10/2025 20:04

If you an afford it, get a Kardia monitor, as it should pick up the palpitations and you can then show the result to the GP (it will even make a PDF of the trace for you in the app). It's only about the size of a credit card and you put your fingers on it and it will pick up skipped beats and so on.

A GP used one in a consultation when I had some weird irregular beats going on, but having my own was a godsend as it stopped me feeling like I had to pay lots of attention to the palpitations, if that makes sense - I let the Kardia do most of that. It's worth getting one even if you go and get checked out in person tonight or tomorrow.

It's important to know that it won't tell you if you're having a heart attack or not, as it just doesn't measure the right things for that - but it will show skipped beats and it will also tell you if you've got atrial fibrillation which would mean you should see someone urgently.

I think an Apple Watch might do something similar, depending on version.

Thank you - unfortunately they are out of my price range. Couldn't get an appointment until 14th October so looks like i'm putting up with this for a while longer!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 02/10/2025 18:04

summerday25 · 01/10/2025 20:11

I had this severely to the point I was in and out of GP/A&E for a year. First time it was really bad I went in via ambulance, convinced I was having a heart attack as my heart rate also rose to the high 180’s. A few months ago my GP told me, after yet another blood test, that my ferritin was 5. After two weeks on ferrous fumerate I was a different woman! They had put it down to poor mental health too. I have recently had a 48 hour holster and heart scan too which you could ask for, to reassure if nothing else. Feeling your pain tonight as not had time to go to the GP and get more tablets so my heart has been chaotic this week. Ask for bloods too, specifically your ferritin levels. Hope you feel a bit better soon

Thanks for replying - I did wonder if it was this but I don't have any of the other symptoms, other than fatigue...

It's so bizarre how they are only kicking in late afternoon. Exact same pattern today. Started around 4pm and haven't stopped since.

OP posts:
summerday25 · 02/10/2025 18:24

TheWorminLabyrinth · 02/10/2025 18:04

Thanks for replying - I did wonder if it was this but I don't have any of the other symptoms, other than fatigue...

It's so bizarre how they are only kicking in late afternoon. Exact same pattern today. Started around 4pm and haven't stopped since.

Show quote history

I also think anxiety has a lot to answer for, low ferritin can also cause anxiety mind! At my worst I couldn’t move off the sofa and had to leave my fantastic job. Ask for a blood test just in case as you never know. Hope you’re ok, it is scary when it’s happening. I tried meditation on Spotify too which did calm me a bit.

setcolorthemeGoth · 02/10/2025 18:48

TheWorminLabyrinth · 02/10/2025 18:04

Thanks for replying - I did wonder if it was this but I don't have any of the other symptoms, other than fatigue...

It's so bizarre how they are only kicking in late afternoon. Exact same pattern today. Started around 4pm and haven't stopped since.

Show quote history

Could you try a change of diet? I don't mean to something weird but just different - like if you always start the day at 8am with tea or coffee and always have a carby lunch at 1pm, could you cut out all the caffeine, drink more water and have a much lighter lunch?

I suspect low ferritin affected mine and I know caffeine does, and also coffee both caffeinated and decaffeinated.

Original poster
TheWorminLabyrinth · 02/10/2025 18:57

setcolorthemeGoth · 02/10/2025 18:48

Could you try a change of diet? I don't mean to something weird but just different - like if you always start the day at 8am with tea or coffee and always have a carby lunch at 1pm, could you cut out all the caffeine, drink more water and have a much lighter lunch?

I suspect low ferritin affected mine and I know caffeine does, and also coffee both caffeinated and decaffeinated.

Show quote history

It doesn't sound weird! I will try anything at this point. I am once again on the verge of going to A&E but that's the anxiety taking hold.

I don't drink coffee and only have one cup of tea per day, which is in the morning, I don't drink energy drinks or fizzy drinks so I don't think it is caffeine related..

OP posts: