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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think I’m really ill?

16 replies

wish198131 · 14/04/2018 15:23

Sorry for the double thread. I am due to go out to see family soon and wanted to put my mind at rest?

I have been feeling flutters in my heart lately and I wake up catching my breath through the night.

I bought an Apple Watch to monitor my heart rate. Just looking at the results over the past hour and my heart rate is constantly changing. Is that normal?

I am sitting on my bed and have been since I started monitoring. The rate is jumping from 77-84 and back down again within the same minute. It’s changing about 10 times a minute. I’m worried now.

I spoke to my partner and he said it’s normal. Is it?

OP posts:

SluttyButty · 14/04/2018 15:42

See your Gp, there's a few things that can cause palpitations.

Didiplanthis · 14/04/2018 15:50

Reasonable to check it out but 77-84 Is pretty normal.

Musicaltheatremum · 14/04/2018 15:51

Your heart rate doesn't stay the same over a minute. 77-84 is a normal variation as your heart rate speeds up and down as you breath in and out. (Sinus arrythmia). By all means see a GP next week but if you're otherwise well don't worry. Try and go off and distract yourself and see if that helps. It is a horrible feeling though so sympathise with you.

Fuckoffunicorn · 14/04/2018 15:53

You posted in chat too where I also responded. You sound very very anxious which often manifests in heart palpatations. Make an appointment to see the GP and discuss your issues but it’s unlikely you’re really ill

RatRolyPoly · 14/04/2018 16:00

Not a medical sort, but the sporty sort so have a fair bit of experience with heart rate monitoring; I think you'd be fine to go to the doctor's for flutters if you felt the need (although reading between the lines of your post I would suspect anxiety...), however your variable heart rate sounds normal.

In my experience of heart rate monitors, they work by telling you the "rate" of each beat. So for example they measure the time between each two heartbeats and work out how many times your heart would beat in a minute if the time between every single pair of beats were that length. Unless the next beat is exactly the same length of time later, you will naturally get a slightly different numerical value.

This is normal - we're not machines, our hearts are not perfect metronomes - if you take a slightly shallower breath one time your heart may beat again a little sooner, of if you blink or twitch, or any number of reasons really!

Obviously big changes - whole skipped beats for example, or extra beats - that's different. But then you get much bigger numerical differences than what you're describing

Sorry for the long post, hope that helps!

SoyDora · 14/04/2018 16:01

Yes it’s normal.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 14/04/2018 16:03

I wear a Fitbit and my heartrate changes like that all the time, I'd say it's perfectly normal. I do get palpitations sometimes and they don't register on the Fitbit at all (though the heartrate monitor on my phone can see them).

I don't think there's anything physically wrong with you, but I do think you should see your GP for anxiety.

junebirthdaygirl · 14/04/2018 16:06

You don't say your age but palpitations are sometimes part of perimenopause and menopause. And can come from drinking too much coffee or coke. Just to rule those out.

Floottoot · 14/04/2018 16:12

A few years ago, my heart started racing for hours on end, up to 130bpm.
I went to the GP, who referred me to cardiology. I had a scan and a 24 hour monitor, which showed my heart was healthy and the racing was unexplained - probably hormonal and anxiety.
I',m sure your small variation is nothing to worry about but talk to your GP if you're concerned.

Nousernameforme · 14/04/2018 16:15

I get the flutters they can be caused by all sorts anxiety, wind, anemia the list goes on and on mostly they are harmless but it might be worth booking in to see the gp and if your anxiety is becoming a bother bring it up then as well

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 14/04/2018 16:17

I'd agree that you sound anxious and that 77 - 84 is a normal variation within a minute.

But also; if your Apple Watch detects abnormal heart rate activity, it will tell you. Mine has, on a few occasions! Maybe that will put your mind at rest, a little.

Lovemusic33 · 14/04/2018 16:19

Yes it’s normal. The palpitations sound like anxiety attacks, I get them and it’s manly when I first wake up.

silverbirches · 14/04/2018 16:20

Have you been having a lot of drinks with caffeine in? Coke, coffee, Red Bull etc, even tea has caffeine in it.

Boooommm · 14/04/2018 16:39

Some medicines can cause palps. Well worth getting in touch with your GP

DingDongDenny · 14/04/2018 18:35

I've been getting this lately and they were caused by a B12 deficiency, had other symptoms as well

I think it's important to get it checked out, even though it's probably nothing

Playdow · 14/04/2018 18:43

Sounds like anxiety to me, plus the more you concentrate on something the more you seem to notice it and become anxious about it. I know because I used to get really bad anxiety and take beta blockers to calm myself from my imagined heart attacks. Although since giving up alcohol, coffee, late nights, smartphones and slowing down in life. I haven't taken beta blockers or felt anxious for well over a month.

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