ECG - calm me down

[Countuptoten]

I have been palpitations and rapid heart beat recently so been for blood test and ECG today. The nurse who did the ECG didn't make any comment if the test was ok but made a lot of umm noises and then said you must make an appointment to see the GP next week. Now convinced that there is something really wrong. Can practice nurses read ECG results? If there was something really wrong would they be raising it with GP before next week or would they have called a doctor before letting me go?

Honestly, if there was anything sinister she'd have gone and consulted a doctor or made you an appointment there and then, not just leave it to you to make one sometime last week.

If it's an consolation, I had an ECG at the surgery and then was told the doctor wanted to see me when I called for the result I was terrified. All he wanted to tell me was that might heart rate was slightly high and I should relax more! (I was pregnant!)

Try not to worry, they don't fuck around with heart symptoms, and I'm not sure a nurse could read the results properly.

*Apologies to practice nurses if this isn't the case.

last week

Duh!

Next week, obvs.

I've been having the exact same symptoms as you - but with the odd ectopic beat here and there.

Saw dr this afternoon and she said to book an appointment for an ECG. Bloods done recently for something unrelated were all fine so she won't repeat them.

Actually managed to get an appointment for an ECG just 2 hours later due to a cancellation, so went and had it done. It picked up my ectopic beats but flashed on the screen as normal ECG. I am taking comfort from this.

I think if there was anything major wrong they would have sent you to A and E, not let you go not knowing if you would even make a follow up appointment.

Oh and if you don't mind me asking, can you describe your palps? Do you know how fast your heart beat goes?

Hi guys, most of us nurses are trained to interpret ECG's and I'm sure if there was anything wrong she would have got the GP to review you there and then.

As an A+E sister I read ECG's and prescribe/administer drugs without a Dr being present if needs be.

When I worked as a practice nurse I and all of my colleagues were more than qualified so plz don't panic!

If something was really wrong, they'd have told you. My palpitations were caused by low blood calcium levels!

Thanks all I am trying to be a bit calmer now . Little noona yes it the ectopic beats that bother me the most. Can ask how often do you get them? When I am absorbed in doing something physical like hoovering I am not so aware but when I sit down I start to feel them . I do suffer from anxiety so when if it s connected. Let me know how you get on.

count

Please read this about ectopic beats.

They truly are harmless - a variation on normal. Everyone gets them, it's just that only some of us are aware.

I've been getting them for about 18 years & it took a long, long time for me to come to terms with them. They cannot and will not hurt you.

And yes, people with anxiety are very prone. If you look at the forums on that site I linked to, you'll see that it's the one symptom common to every single anxiety sufferer on there.

Countuptoten, my heart feels like it's beating very hard and very fast. The highest my heart rate has been is 123

The ectopic beats feel like my heart is flopping in my chest, it's really odd. I feel like I need to take a deep breath, and you can feel it in my pulse too.

I have some propranolol which the Gp said would be ok to take, and she said to take 2 a day. I took one yesterday morning and one yesterday evening but I think it slowed my heart rate too much - it was about 55 beats per minute yesterday.

Haven't taken any today and it's been around mid 70's, and the ectopics aren't as forceful, which is good.

Do you know what your heart rate is count?

Bettie, great link, thank you

*Hettie

Bloody iphone

Yes thank you so much Hettie really useful. My heart rate at drs was 100. My brother took the other day on an app on phone and was 80 so not so bad.

60-100 beats is considered normal. 100 at the doctors would not be unusual especially as you suffer from anxiety.
I suffer from ectopics too, don't notice them if I'm busy. I do ECG's on myself quite frequently and have a perfectly normal trace most of the time.