Irregular heart beat, any positive (or other) stories?

[StupidBody]

So NC for this as it feels too personal...

My heartbeat has been funny over the past few days and I have been feeling weak, clammy and really tired.

Yesterday I went to a private GP (been unable to get an appointment with my own GP) and after taking my pulse, he put me on and ECG and then told me to go to the A&E.

Spend last evening there, ECG, x-ray, blood tests and then sent home with a letter to ask for an urgent referral to a cardiologist.

AIBU to be scared? I have three children and lost my mother when I was little, so am trying very hard to keep calm.

Anyone with a similar experience? I just feel so helpless. I am a BMI about 22, walk and swim regularly, don’t smoke, don’t really drink, there is just nothing I can change :(

Happened to me. It lasted for a couple of days. It’s happened a few times over the last two years, but in the end turns out to be caused by vomiting, the increased pressure causes it. I’ve got meds to return me to normal rhythm. It’s frightening, when I first found out about it I was horrified and scared but I feel so much better about it now.

Have you any idea what’s causing it?

Or what it is?

Thank you so much for your reply UpandDown.

I guess it could be vomiting if that could cause it? Otherwise I have no idea. I have been under some stress, DCs schools, DH diagnoses with serious illness, but I thought I was managing everything.

Did it end by itself for you or when you got the meds? I am on day 4 of irregular heart beats now.

Hi @StupidBody I was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat at nine years old. The Gp Referred me to Great Ormond Street where I spent a day having numerous tests. I can honestly say this has never impacted on my life and have never needed medication for it. I am now 60 years of age, have had three daughters and over the last 10-15 years have taken up running 5-10k regularly. Occasionally I am aware of it by experiencing minor palpitations etc but other than that I am still extremely fit. Hope this helps.

Similar age, lifestyle and symptoms here. After staying in hospital for a week for tests, nothing significant was discovered (minor mitral valve leak) and said that it could have been caused by some illness. Eventually self-resolved and has not returned.

Yes, my son has recently undergone investigations when he had an irregular heart rate detected during an ECG at A and E following a fainting spell. We were sent home from A and E with dire warnings that he mustn't exercise until he had been checked out by a cardiologist.

Following his referral to cardiology he had a whole battery of tests. Ultrasound of his heart, Ecg, 24 hour egg, Exercise stress test, bloods etc etc and so far all we've been told is that he has a benign arrhythmia which needs no treatment. We're still awaiting the official 'sign off' letter from his consultant(who has been on annual leave for about a month,) but from everything we've heard so far, it seems like it's nothing we need to worry about.

We have been so scared op so I understand how you feel, but this could be something completely benign and nothing to worry about. Even if it did turn out to be serious, many conditions are treatable with medication or surgery.

I really hope you get some reassurance soon

If it was really serious they wouldn't have sent you home with a referral - A and E can send you straight to cardiology and have you in an operation in a few hours if you need that. So yes it's scary, but you should be slightly reassured that you got discharged.

There are different causes of irregular heartbeats so try not to Google too much as you'll only scare yourself.

Hi Stardust, it does, thank you!

It just came out of the blue four days ago (I am 47) and the A&E doctor told me to avoid the gym until they know what the reason is (I try to do Pilates a few times a week). Great to hear that it could be possible to stay fit.

Are you on any meds at all or just letting it be?

Hi Poing, that sounds hopeful, will keep my fingers crossed for something similar.

Oh Scarlet, that must have been so stressful for you, I cannot even imagine it being one of my children (three under 12) . I am so happy it seems sorted.

Hopefully mine will be sorted too, thank you so much. Having lost my own mum, I am just terrified that something happens to me. I will try to think positive!

Thank you losinglola. That is a good point. I will try to think about that whilst waiting for my referral.

They did say they made it an urgent one, so I should have heard within 2 weeks (the receptionist at my GP practice was very kind when she read the A&E letter).

Hi @StupidBody no I have never needed medication. Obviously at the time my parents were worried but were reassured that it was just the way my heart beat and so, normal for me. Every so many beats, it misses a beat and occasionally I can be aware of this and can feel it trying to correct itself. As it was diagnosed when I was so young, it's not something I've ever really worried about and as I say, has not impacted on my life luckily. X

Both my OH and I get atrial fibrillation - a fast irregular heartbeat. WE are both on medications for it and it does not impinge on our lives. We have both had a couple of trips to A&E over the many years we have had this and they just kept an eye till it righted itself.

My DD has an arrhythmia - but not the same one as us - and she too is on medication.

Causes vary, but it is usually a small area of heart muscle occasionally sending out the wrong electrical signals.

I have left bundle branch block and at times it feels like half my heart has stopped beating. It is very scary at times but I’ve got use to it. It can be worse when I’m stressed so try and stay calm till you have had more tests to check what’s going on.

I have had this and mine turned out to be anaemia and Addison’s disease- both of which can be managed with medication. If either of them are mismanaged the irregular beats return, they show up as an abnormal ecg- I ended up having a cardiac stress test etc but all was fine. Try not to panic!

Picked up I have irregular heartbeat at a pre op. Doctors have never seemed too fussed? I got ecg during pregnancy etc as I get chest pains here and there.

Mines seems to have settled a bit. I forget the name the doctor told me, mines beats few times then stops and then big beat.

Yes!! I every now and then get episodes of bigeminy, basically every other heartbeat misses a beat so thud, pause, thud, pause for hours at a time. Never needed medication, told completely benign, though sometimes scary if I let anxiety get ahold. Almost always brought on by a stressful event, lasts for a week or so and back to normal. Had an echocardiogram to make sure all was structurally fine and then diagnosed as benign.

I have a very long history of palpitations and irregular heart beats. They didn’t happen very frequently and so I pretty much ended up ignoring them. Then one day, out of the blue my heart beat suddenly exploded and I ended up in Resus in A&E to try and get my heart rate under control. It was diagnosed as an SVT episode and my heart rate was ultimately beating at 180bpm for about 4 hours.

I was put onto beta blockers and then about 6 months later I underwent a procedure where pacing wires were inserted into my heart and they tried to trigger the irregular heart rates and palpitations in order to treat it. It turned out though that I had a really rare condition regarding the conduction pathways in my heart and there wasn’t anything they could do about it.

All that was 5 years ago now and after that initial episode I was absolutely fine.

However, three months ago, out of the blue I went into SVT again and my heart rate went through the roof: it was about 170bpm again. Paramedics came out to me but thankfully I didn’t need to go to hospital that time as my heart self regulated back into normal rhythm after about two hours.

I had my cardiology review last week actually and he basically said that the condition I have is nothing to worry about particularly and it isn’t life threatening etc, it just means I may have episodes of palpitations and crazy fast heart rates.

I’m not on beta blockers anymore (I came off them about 4 years ago following the birth of my first child) but my cardiologist has said that he will give me some again, not to take on a daily basis this time, but just to take one tablet as a one-off if I suddenly go into SVT again as it should return the heart back to its normal rhythm.,

I know its not easy ,but don't worry and keep away from dr Google.
My children who are now adults and dh all have this and other heart problems. Once you know the cause things will be easier. My family are all on medication and two have had surgery. ( one was out of hospital in a matter of hours)
I think keep away from the gym and whilst it can be a shock cardiology is one of the fields which has came on so far .
My family all work and travel a lot .
If you need me I am here

Thank you all so much for sharing your stories. It seems that it is not that uncommon and that something can be done about it if needs be. I am keeping my fingers crossed for something benign or something a pill can help. Just so strange that it came at 47!!!

It is a good point to try not to panic. When I was told by the GP to go to A&E, he did an additional check of my blood pressure and it had raced up. I will see if I can do any breathing exercises maybe.

I have all three children next week, but we have swimming courses in the morning, so I should be able to just let them watch some film in the afternoon to get a bit of quiet time...

Cryalot, I didn’t know that cardiology was that advanced, that is reassuring!

You are all being so incredibly kind, thank you so, so much. It is really so helpful to hear others stories. I was feeling quite alone earlier x