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Original poster

Ectopic heartbeats ...

18 replies

frazzledbutcalm · 07/12/2015 10:42

I've experienced ectopic heartbeats for lots of years now. Recently they've been much worse and much more frequent. They happen every single day, many a day. I've had a 24 hour ecg. Results were 'normal'. My heart was in a stable rhythm all throughout the 24 hour period. There were frequent ectopic beats all throughout the 24 hours and 1 instance where my heart rate was 121 beats for just over 1 minute. GP says nothing to worry about, no further investigation.

Is this really normal? I'm not worried but I just don't think it can be classed as normal.

TIA

OP posts:
Whatevva · 07/12/2015 10:45

For some reason, this gets worse around meno. I often get a sinking feeling followed by a big bump in the evening.

A couple of nights ago, I woke with my heart thumping so hard, it nearly bounced me out of bed. Trying to work up the courage to go to the doctors about it.

Bookaboo · 08/12/2015 22:13

I get these too frazzled. Sometimes I'll have a good run without any, then I'll have a couple of weeks where they seem to happen all the time. There seems to be no particular trigger, just random.

Sometimes I think I get successions of ectopics, when it kind of feels like my heart is stumbling. Sometimes they make me feel faint. Cardiologist says nothing to worry about but still yet to have an ecg when symptomatic but that's really difficult to do.

From what I understand it's normal to get them, some of us just get a lot more than others! Difficult not to worry though.

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 08/12/2015 22:17

I get them too, more so than usual just in the last year. Everything I read says they're nothing to worry about but it's not so easy to keep that in mind when they feel so awful.

blatantplacemark · 08/12/2015 22:18

My DH has this and he's suffering with other symptoms too - probably relating to these ectopic beats. He feels light headed and a bit head fogged and fatigued. Came on about a month ago.

Dr has said its all normal, his blood tests are normal and everything else is just normal. But yes it's hard not to worry a bit isn't it? He's been really off colour and he's convinced it's his heart.

mineofuselessinformation · 08/12/2015 22:22

I get them too.
Usually when I'm stressed (like now!)
I had a really bad run abut two years ago, it went on for five days and in the end I went to A&E because it was scaring me...
The upshot was it was all ok. But, there are medications out there that can help it it's causing a big problem.

blatantplacemark · 08/12/2015 22:23

My DH was offered beta blockers. But they come with their own side effects which are similar to what he's suffering with now!

I've never experienced it myself - are they just scary or do they really make you feel shit?

SagaNorensLeatherTrousers · 09/12/2015 05:25

Mine can be both. Sometimes if my heart really goes into an off-rhythm gallop that lasts a few seconds I get a massive rush of "doom" or panic, and that's scary. Most of time it makes me feel a bit worn out or something, immediately after.

Sleepdream · 10/12/2015 00:15

I get them too, have had many tests and worn the machine that records everything for days a few times. Never shows anything other than the ectopic beats and sometimes tachycardia. Often wake in the night with it booming in my chest, really is frightening. But, I'm still alive after about 15 years of it lol.
Was much worse in pregnancy and when I'm due on, also if I get a shock or into a panic about something it sets runs of them off.

sashh · 10/12/2015 10:49

Everyone has the occasional ectopic, unfortunately for some people they are aware of them (most are not).

I know it's worrying but it really is normal.

The tissue your heart is made of is 'excitable', once it has started to depolorise it all depolorises, a bit like knocking over dominoes, the ectopic is the equivalent of starting to knock them over in the middle instead of the start.

What most people feel is the beat after the ectopic, the ectopic is early so there is less blood pumped (heart not full) but the one after is a bit late as the heart needs to repolorise (like setting up the dominoes) so there is a more forceful contraction.

Because of the heart tissue being like this if some of the conducting system becomes damaged, permanently or temporarily, other tissues can take over.

HyacinthBouquetNo1 · 10/12/2015 16:06

I have had heart troubles in the past, palpitations, coronary artery spasm and tachycardia. I used to get loads of flutterings in my chest, feelings like my heart had jolted or stopped and restarted, then it would race uncontrollably, it was awful. My resting heart rate was about 123 bpm. I am now on Bisoprolol and its been great, not had any symptoms now for over a year. Absolutely MARVELLOUS drug😊

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 14/12/2015 11:46

Thanks all. It seems they're very common and normal, and occasional. But mine are every single day, all through the day, I feel them even when I'm busy. Just seems so odd for it to be normal, ah well.

OP posts:
2boys1girlforme · 16/12/2015 14:56

Well GP has just called me and said it is essentially normal but a couple of abnormalities which he can't tell me if they are anything to worry about or not as he isn't the referring doctor. Have to go see her next Tuesday - hmm, worried now!

2boys1girlforme · 16/12/2015 17:52

Sorry, I posted on wrong thread, thought it was mine!

sashh · 17/12/2015 08:38

2boys

I've just posted on your other thread.

Original poster
frazzledbutcalm · 22/12/2015 09:04

Blood tests show I'm anaemic ... one symptom of this is ectopic heartbeats ... I'm guessing this may be the reason I'm getting so many. Roll on the iron tablets and see what happens.

OP posts:
Thistledew · 22/12/2015 09:16

I used to get them a lot: I would have a weeks with nothing and then several episodes in a day that might last for a minute or more. Fortunately I was lucky to find a cure. Since getting really fit I barely get it at all.

2boys1girlforme · 22/12/2015 10:14

I have been to GP this morning. Apparently the electricity is flowing the wrong way at the big 'whoosh' point. It could be nothing and just the way I was born but my ECG is being sent to a cardiologist to see if they want to do anything else.
She also said that if it was repeated it may not show anything up next time?! So now I'm wondering if it was because my bra was kept on and the leads were in the wrong place?
Any ECG'ers still around please?

2boys1girlforme · 22/12/2015 10:26

Sorry, wrong thread again!! Blush

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