Near constant palpitations?!

[TheWorminLabyrinth]

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>

Isn't it just the absolute worst?!

I had a terrible episode last night, again, I was off to A&E (that's the GAD).

I am looking at booking a private GP appt. to be honest. I can't afford it, but I can put it on the credit card.

I have been putting alllll the stuff together...who can relate! I'm 44, but this started about 4-5 years ago. My periods used to be 28 days on the absolute dot. Now, they are every 23 days and last 1-3 days max. My hair is falling out in absolute clumps. My anxiety (already have GAD) is through the roof. Dizzy all the time. Emotional and then angry enough to put windows through.

To add, from a personal POV, my mum started meno when she had my sister at 40 and was through it, literally completed, last period, job done, by 46. My older sister started at 39 and was done by 47. Sooo...the pattern is there. However, the GP is still saying "it's just anxiety, go for a walk".

Call NHS 111 for advice. You’ll likely need blood tests including your thyroid x

I've had the thyroid - all clear, but thank you - that was my first thought too!

Updating more for myself, because it helps me to 'speak' about things.

Ended up in A&E Monday evening, until 4am. 3 ECGs. Multiple missed/extra beats caught on ECG and also same caught on my wrist pulse. Referred now for echo and 24 hour ECG. Also referred for full bloods. Had full bloods on Wednesday and results came through today - everything normal except high white blood cells and high neutrophil count. I am not ill at all, haven't been unwell in months, so feck knows what the high WBC is about.

A&E discharge letter listed (as one of three potentials) "arrhythmia due to potential structural heart disease", so spiralling about that.

I don't think it's been mentioned, but I have had this when I've had too much to drink.

I don't think alcohol improves palpitations, I know you said you don't drink caffeine (and so probably don't drink alcohol) but just in case you do

I do drink, but it's (at most) once a week and when I do have a drink it's the low alcohol (less than 5%) wine and I have a few glasses. So, I don't think it's that.

I used to drink a lot more in the past, and I did get palps then but it's been years ago and I know the difference between 'had too much to drink' palpitations, and what I have been experiencing now.

I get extra beats and sometimes it really ramps up for no apparent reason. I was getting them all the time and went to A&E - the beats did show up on ECG. I had an echo and a monitoring device for a few days. I saw a cardiologist who was reassuring about it. They prescribed some pills (beta blockers possibly) which I didn’t take. But I decided to start HRT instead. This has settled things down for me. But it’s good you are getting a 24hr ECG to properly investigate.

Thanks for replying.

They haven't been as bad for the last couple of days. Still having them though.

Have managed to spiral myself into a state about it all. Googling high white blood cell count and the link to heart disease/heart failure. Have had a really forceful pulse yesterday and today. Not the missed beats problem but I can visibly see my hands moving in time with my pulse, which isn't fast, just very hard for want of a better word. I am convinced there is something seriously wrong with my heart. No word back about 24 hour ECG or the echo yet and the worry about what will happen in the meantime is overwhelming

Shameless bump as I am in a state of panic tonight :-(

How are you doing?

Not great! Thank you for replying - means a lot 🙂

How are you doing OP? Palpitations are horrible. I suffer from them. Had a scan and I have a small murmur which they think it's related too. Unless you suffer from them you don't realise how scary they are.

I know it's easier said then done, but don't Google what's been written. It will cause your anxiety to be worse which will affect them and make them worse. x

Thanks for replying.

I've been googling absolutely everything. It hasn't helped - i'm either absolutely 100% about to die, or 100% fine and it's anxiety and perimenopause!

I don't know if I want to get the echo asap, or I don't.

I've been absolutely gawping over my blood results and it seems my iron is low. Although, you'd think i'd be prescribed something from the GP....

I'm spiralling on the white blood cell/neutrophil thing, but from (again) googling, my results are borderline high, not "worryingly" high. I just find it so bizarre because I am not ill, haven't been ill, no reason for high WBC. They were also high when I had my last episode of health anxiety in January this year - convinced I had a DVT - went to A&E - told, yes, you have one, slightly elevated d-dimer, here take this blood thinner right now and come back tomorrow for an ultrasound. Went back for the ultrasound and....all clear. Nobody explained why my d-dimer was raised or why my WBC count was raised...

Hey OP
You’re not alone - I’ve been suffering for several years, (I’m 51 now). Mine started after my last COVID booster, but also coincided with perimenopause, so could be either or both that caused them.
I also have GAD and know how debilitating it is. The stress levels in my life over the last two years have been so bad I sometimes wonder how I’m still here.
The palps come and go; sometimes they stop for days before returning with a vengeance. I have had numerous ECGs and Holter monitoring done, which has shown up the numerous missed beats, but because my heart rhythm is normal, not much is done. I also catch the irregular rhythm daily on my Apple Watch. I was prescribed Propranolol, but had to stop it as it gave me bradycardia, (my heart was dropping as low as 47bpm…still getting the palps though!). HRT didn’t help and just made my anxiety worse.
So at the moment I’m just living with it - I’ve started thinking lately that it might all be linked to my terrible stomach issues - I have IBS, Diverticular disease and awful reflux. I’ve read that this can irritate the vagus nerve, causing the irregular beats. My GP was dismissive when I mentioned it though.
Anyway, the reason I’m up is because they’ve been so awful and thuddy this evening - I’m currently in the bath to try and relax.
I do hope you get an answer - it’s horrid when everything is just put down to anxiety. Hope you are able to sleep.

I'm really sorry to hear you've had a hard two years. Would it help to talk about it? No pressure if not.

I'm very good at telling other people it's fine - because I know (99% of the time) that it is. Have your bath, relax, it doesn't matter what time it is - there are people up all over the place working and just doing stuff so don't do the "it's late, i'm the only person alive" thing - because you're not.

Chocolatecoveredshitpig - propranolol didn't do me any good either. It worked - i.e., it did what it is meant to do, but the sheer panic (thanks GAD) of that feeling of the heartbeat slowing down meant I never took it again!

Also, your username is ace 😂

I told the (amazing, and also really hot) A&E doctor that I wouldn't take it if he gave me the box, with the leaflet inside it. He made me take it in front of him. It worked but I spent HOURS with my fingers on my neck taking my pulse...

@TheWorminLabyrinth - bless you, it’s a long and boring tale, mainly regarding my teenage daughter’s poor mental health and neurodiversity, then just when I thought we were starting to turn a corner, my husband started to lose his memory. Currently waiting to find out if he has early onset dementia. He is signed off work on half pay so I’m having to pick up the slack. The palpitations started before all this though, so who knows? The constant stress doesn’t help!
I’m glad you like my username- I got it from a podcast. I do find listening to either audiobooks or podcasts helps a bit, as I have to concentrate, rather than just letting it wash over me like music. This seems to help me to stop fixating on whatever my heart is doing.
In bed now, hopefully going to get a few hours sleep 💤

I hope you get some sleep.

I can't comment on teen kids but it sounds difficult. I hope you, and your daughter, find a way through.

We are also waiting for a memory clinic assessment for my husband - the neurology consultant thinks he has vascular dementia - he had two massive strokes in 2023 and has been absolutely fucked since.

I don't think we realise, sometimes, how much the stress can build. I know, just from my own POV, that I sat in A&E telling the doctor that I didn't feel "any more stressed than usual".

I'm sorry you're going through this. I notice I sometimes get these the morning after a few drinks but very briefly.

It may be peri, but it's worth being aware of the link between COVID infection and heart problems and stroke. It's a vascular disease. One infection however mild can trigger issues and leave you at heightened risk of developing heart issues or stroke for years afterwards (latest research says up to 3 years but that's only how long they've had to carry out the research thus far). https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/what-does-coronavirus-do-to-your-body#fastheartcovid

This could also be relevant for your husband and his vascular dementia. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44400-025-00034-y

This is information that should be common knowledge but the public health system in the UK prefers to bury its head in the sand, thus building up a bigger disease burden.

As COVID is at its highest levels in England since last winter, please take care to protect yourself from further infection to avoid further damage. Hospitals/GPs are hotbeds of transmission so it's highly recommend to wear a FFP2 mask if you are in a healthcare setting.

Bit weird to try and attempt to ram covid fear in...I think we're over that.

It's not about fear. It's about knowing what the consequences of unchecked infection are.

If you already have heart issues, it makes sense to protect yourself from further infections given the very clear, evidenced link between COVID and cardiovascular problems.

Resurrecting this for a handhold as I am having a really bad episode of missed beats tonight, for the last 2 hours. Obsessively checking my neck and I can feel them in my neck pulse, it's horrendous. The pause after the "double beat" is awful. I am debating A&E again although I don't know why.