Change in heartbeat after second Pfizer jab

[BasinHaircut]

Had my second jab about 5 weeks ago.

I am usually a regular gym goer and yogi. Throughout the summer I haven’t been working out much, a session here and there rather than 4-5 times per week.

On the rare occasions that I’ve done some exercise, I have had a significantly harder heartbeat. I can feel it, I don’t know whether it’s beating faster than normal but it’s deffo pumping harder as I can feel it when I’d never noticed it previously.

Last night was the third time I have noticed it (I’ve probably only worked out 4-5 times). Just wondered if anyone else has had this and if they have been seen about it and what’s happening now etc.

Thanks

@Allwillbefine, did you receive any treatments? Was it just rest and pain relief?

Two Australian news reporters, Denham Hitchcock and Georgia Clark, as well as Network Ten staffer Hannah Scott and the ex husband of Aussie radio host Jackie O Henderson all had myocarditis or pericarditis after Pfizer. This is just people high profile enough to make the news in Australia, and all in the past 5 weeks.

I'm sure someone will be along to say "So?" but I find it a bit odd considering its said to be so very rare.

Thanks @Confused10101

Yes not an ideal situation to be in. I’m sorry you feel under stress.

I’ve actually just downloaded an app on my phone called FibriCheck. I’ve done a few tests and a few of them have registered possible irregular heartbeats and say they will be reviewed by a doctor on the app within 48 hours. Will see what that says.

A Kardia device is good for doing mini heat traces. Better than a fit bit I would say.

Thanks so much to the people who commented on my post. I'm glad I seem to be on the right track.

I'm definitely finding that deep relaxation helps. In fairness, it's been a shockingly stressful year, so I imagine almost everybody could do with a bit of that.

Bfrazzled: again, I can't quote you (still haven't worked out why), but regarding the point about mass vaccination with leaky vaccines: thanks for being one of the rare people who can publicly accept that our knowledge is evolving, and who is willing to re-evaluate their own position in response to that evolving knowledge.

With everything that has come to we're feel like I've been taken for a ride by the official narrative (escape variants, side effects dismissed, waning protection,etc), which is why I'm now speaking out about it in rather blunt terms.

(Which is all a roundabout way of saying "sorry that I was too blunt when putting my point across previously").

@ATieLikeRichardGere

Thanks *@Confused10101*

Yes not an ideal situation to be in. I’m sorry you feel under stress.

I’ve actually just downloaded an app on my phone called FibriCheck. I’ve done a few tests and a few of them have registered possible irregular heartbeats and say they will be reviewed by a doctor on the app within 48 hours. Will see what that says.

It’s quite a good thing this app. Some of my abnormal reports were checked and they decided they were ok but others have been confirmed as tachycardia and “frequent ectopic beats”. At least I’ll have something to show the GP.

My app is now showing me that I have “possible atrial fibrillation” which is a bit scary.

@ATieLikeRichardGere Is it possible to talk to a real life gp? Impossible nowadays but wondering if you can call and book an appointment? I’ve not used this app so I don’t know how it works but would think someone needs to check you in real life to make sure everything is ok?

Thanks @Confused10101. The app seems to be legit and FDA approved etc. It seems a bit crazy because it uses your finger over your phone camera to get a read on your pulse, but I’ve compared it extensively to the readings on my pulse oximeter and they are consistent. Apparently you can also connect it to a Fitbit. It then incorporates an algorithm to detect irregularities. I’m sure it’s not as good as an ecg but still better than nothing. I think I probably should call the GP today. The app is telling me to do so “as soon as possible”.

@ATieLikeRichardGere please do get it checked as soon as possible- better be safe

Will try the app, as I have noticed weird things going on in the few days since my jab - twinges in the heart area, no constant aches but sudden and quick and noticeable enough (I had a few in the night and it woke me up - almost like someone pinching my heart). Who knows.

@NearlyAlwaysInsane could I ask if this was after your first or second jab?

I went to the GP and I’ve been referred for an ECG so will see what that brings.

Hope everyone else is keeping alright.

@ATieLikeRichardGere how are you?

I’m alright! Thank you for checking, I appreciate that! My ECG is on Tuesday so no developments on that front as yet. Symptoms basically the same and app is saying the same things. I’ve actually tried to take fewer measurements today not to create more stress for myself when I see the amber and red warnings. But for some reason when my heart rate slows at night that’s quite a predictable time for issues to appear so I checked just now and indeed I’m getting another warning!

How are you getting on @Confused10101?

This thread is really worrying! I’m already so anxious about these issues and feeling increasingly like they rushed everyone into having these jabs because there was literally nothing else to manage COVID.

The motto seemed to be “vaccinate them all now, worry about stuff later”. Well now it’s “later” and I’m terrified that more info is going to come out saying that these vaccines are indeed pretty dangerous

Glad you are being checked out @ATieLikeRichardGere

As an update on my situation, I had an echo last Saturday and then was fitted with a 7 day ecg monitor which I removed yesterday. Frustratingly, I didn’t have a significant episode of the palpitations all week, then had one last night (still going on now) after the monitor had come off. I had some milder stuff going on through the week but what seems to be the case is that as well as being brought on by exercise, takeaways seem to do it too so at least I’m able to report that back.

I am now waiting for an exercise ecg and then back in a couple of weeks for results.

@nevergoesaway they’ve given so so many doses of this vaccine now that I think we can be genuinely confident that heart issues are rare, though they do exist. Also whatever I have might have nothing to do with the vaccine - I can’t be sure. I respect everyone’s choice but I would personally still get the vaccine, because for an average adult the covid risk will be higher. Individual risk calculations of course could be different - such as when you’ve had a reaction to the first dose or if you have certain other medical conditions. But I don’t think you should worry about this. It’s tricky and I thought about not posting here and causing worry but I would also like to be able to talk about possible side effects. One way to reassure yourself might be - although maybe not depending on how your anxiety operates - to compare adverse events from the vaccines to those seen with for example for paracetamol, of which there are many, but we still use it liberally.

@Confused10101 I feel that’s very typical that the thing doesn’t happen during the test! How frustrating! However so far every medical person I’ve spoken to on this has said it’s understood that cardiac stuff is like this - often difficult to capture the events which could be serious but happen only once a month say - and that’s why symptom reports are important. Of course even if you didn’t get your usual symptoms the ecg might have captured something. My issue is also brought on my exercise and big meals actually. Suppose this does make some sense as these things are expected to raise your heart rate. Hopefully the exercise ECG is going to clarify what’s happening as well and then you can be treated. Do you know if they saw anything on the echo?

@BasinHaircut

as well as being brought on by exercise, takeaways seem to do it too so at least

Takeaways? You don’t suffer with reflux do you?
I get awful acid reflux and it causes palpitations!

No they didn’t give me any feedback on the echo at the time so I have no idea yet.

Yeah I can see why exercise and big takeaways might cause similar reactions so fingers crossed the exercise ecg does what it needs to do and if anything is happening they can spot it.

@Toria84 no I don’t suffer from reflux at all.

I had palpitations after covid (probably, no tests back then) in the first wave. Almost taken to hospital but convinced the paramedic not to because my bpm had gone down to 98 by then (I had no way to get back from hospital in the middle of the night - taxis didn't want to pick up from there for obvious reasons). A 40 something colleague was off work for 6+ months with heart problems after covid and is only back part time now.

If you are wfh etc. and can avoid catching covid ever, then I can understand being nervous about the vaccine. Otherwise I would suggest you get it, especially if immunity wanes over time.

[quote ATieLikeRichardGere]@nevergoesaway they’ve given so so many doses of this vaccine now that I think we can be genuinely confident that heart issues are rare, though they do exist. Also whatever I have might have nothing to do with the vaccine - I can’t be sure. I respect everyone’s choice but I would personally still get the vaccine, because for an average adult the covid risk will be higher. Individual risk calculations of course could be different - such as when you’ve had a reaction to the first dose or if you have certain other medical conditions. But I don’t think you should worry about this. It’s tricky and I thought about not posting here and causing worry but I would also like to be able to talk about possible side effects. One way to reassure yourself might be - although maybe not depending on how your anxiety operates - to compare adverse events from the vaccines to those seen with for example for paracetamol, of which there are many, but we still use it liberally.

@Confused10101 I feel that’s very typical that the thing doesn’t happen during the test! How frustrating! However so far every medical person I’ve spoken to on this has said it’s understood that cardiac stuff is like this - often difficult to capture the events which could be serious but happen only once a month say - and that’s why symptom reports are important. Of course even if you didn’t get your usual symptoms the ecg might have captured something. My issue is also brought on my exercise and big meals actually. Suppose this does make some sense as these things are expected to raise your heart rate. Hopefully the exercise ECG is going to clarify what’s happening as well and then you can be treated. Do you know if they saw anything on the echo?[/quote]
@ATieLikeRichardGere so sorry I missed this post! You’re absolutely right, I was just having a very anxious moment the other night, and al normally pretty logical. As you say they’ve given millions of doses now and the vaccine is generally incredibly safe.

I hope you’re doing ok, and whatever is going on with you can be dealt with easily 🥰

So glad to find this thread. I'm in Australia and had my second Pfizer jab just over 2 weeks ago.

I've had prickling/feeling of being poked around heart and in left arm, sudden onset of anxiety at random times, head aches, dizziness, fogginess, waking up after a full night's sleep groggy and like I've had a sleeping tablet (even though I should feel refreshed). I just don't feel quite "right".

I've had an ECG, blood test and chest x-ray - all were clear. I'm considering whether to pursue GP's offer of referral to Cardiologist. However my gut tells me there is nothing really serious, or much that can be done. I just hope this doesn't go on for too much longer.

@StrongLegs post made so much sense though. I will definitely try some techniques to reset my bodies "play dead" response.

Good luck to all of you awaiting tests/results etc.

HI @Scarzo,

I'm really glad that my post helped. I totally get what you means about not feeling quite "right". My head is still woozly after 5 months so that I still can't drive, and I still have trouble with anxiety and pins and needles all over. My heart beat is also still odd, though apparently nothing to worry about medically.

I hope that doing lots of relaxation helps you. I worked really hard at it for a week, felt great, and then went on a massive bender of house cleaning and garden-fixing which absolutely typical of me. I really need to stop and relax, but I'm utterly rubbish at that. I'm just sitting here wondering how to actually stop and just rest for a bit, and remember that everything is basically okay now. It's hard to really get into that place though.

I realised that I am quite deficient in B12 and iodine too, and I'm trying to fix that. Vitamin supplements and a lot of different foods don't agree with me, so that is always a bit of a challenge.

Good luck there and I hope you feel a whole lot better soon.