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Original poster

Stressing about palpitations

28 replies

JSPorter · 04/05/2018 17:47

I used to get them very infrequently over the years but in the last week I’ve had them daily and lots of them.
Random flutterings that go into my neck and make me want to cough. Nothings changed that I can think would cause them. I do drink coffee and Diet Coke but no more than normal. They really frighten me. I often get runs of them and if I feel my pulse at the same time I can feel it skip a beat then resume to normal

Saw the GP earlier who hasn’t done much. Said my resting heart rate far too high and given me a beta blocker to help with the palpitations.
Booked in for bloods and ecg but not til the 16th to rule out any issues with thyroid or the heart. I’ll be worrying like mad til then.
Anyone had similar who can reassure me ?

OP posts:
Original poster
JSPorter · 04/05/2018 17:47

I’m 29 and otherwise healthy if that makes a difference!

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 04/05/2018 17:50

Stop the coffee and the diet coke.
That is one thing you can do while you wait for the investigations.

Bloomed · 04/05/2018 17:51

They'll advise you to stop caffeine. Do you get reflux?

BrigitsBigKnickers · 04/05/2018 18:12

Ok so I have had this for about 8 years since I started the peri menopause ( am now 53 and haven't had a period for 5 years.) Had a halter test for a week and doctor confirmed that I was having quite a few ectopic heart beats but that they were benign- nothing to worry about blah blah. Had all sorts of other tests- heart is fine.

Went back after a few months and said I couldn't bear it. Some days it went on for hours- nearly always after I had eaten something- and it made me feel really quite light headed and dizzy. Worse when I was tired and that was often as the bloody things kept me awake!

They were quite scary and this obviously made me anxious and guess what?-that made them worse too- I just couldn't bloody win!

So eventually the GP put me on beta blockers which were miraculous to start with but after a few months the effects seemed to wear off. I tried avoiding caffeine and alcohol took all sorts of supplements but nothing made much difference.

I would sometimes go through a blissful few weeks where they subsided but then came back with a vengeance until...

I went on a low carb diet. No sugar no refined carbs, bread or potatoes.

And it stopped.

When I lapsed and went back to normal eating the ectopics were raging again. So now I am back on it and feel great- lost 11lb so far and no funky heart beat or wobbly legs. Sleeping great and aches and pains seem to have improved.

Sounds miserable but actually I am never hungry and after a few weeks stopped craving the sweet stuff. I actually think it's the no sugar/ refined carbs which makes the biggest difference for me.

Any time I feel slightly tempted by something sweet, I remind myself of how god damn awful the wonky heart beat makes me.

Might not work for everyone but I know this is the trigger for me.

Original poster
JSPorter · 04/05/2018 18:38

Yes am going to try cutting out caffeine. I’ve only been drinking one coffee a day since they got bad though and it’s made no difference so far

Thanks Brigits reassuring to know it may Be nothing !

OP posts:
wineandsunshine · 04/05/2018 18:49

I've had them for years, (I'm 35). They get a LOT worse during pregnancy, a week before period, if I have heartburn or stress.

I have learnt over the years by cutting all caffeine (even tea), no alcohol - boring!, regular exercise, vitamin B12 supplement, and gluten free diet....I know some of that probably sounds extreme but it's worked and I do get the odd few but they are a lot better.
I hope the beta blockers do work OP, if not push to see a cardiologist and get checked over for peace of mind and reassurance x

MasonJar · 04/05/2018 19:53
explain how some foods, and drinks, can cause palpitations.
MasonJar · 04/05/2018 20:43

Any time I feel slightly tempted by something sweet, I remind myself of how god damn awful the wonky heart beat makes me.

Brigits - your experience is so similar to mine Smile.
I'm forced into sticking to a stupidly healthy diet because anything else sets my heart off. Much as I'd love something unhealthy and delicious it's just nor worth it because the food/drink would be gone in a few minutes. Then I'd have to face hours of racing pounding heartbeat and be too distracted to do anything except wait for it to go back to normal.

Sillybilly1234 · 04/05/2018 20:53

I had the same. Diagnosed ectopic heart beats. Stress related.

Told by doctor to try to reduce working hours, start meditating, told to exercise more, calm down. I have stopped shouting at the TV and other road users.

Feeling much better and hardly have them now.

They do sometimes crop up if the kids super stress me out or I feel that work is getting on top of me.

They said I would need to go on beta blockers if I didn't reduce my stress. Didn't fancy that.

Definitely make sure you are properly checked out though.

SeaToSki · 04/05/2018 21:04

Start taking the full recommended daily dose of magnesium immediately. Palpitations are often increased by low levels of magnesium. Also make sure you are eating a banana every day (potassium) and a reasonable amount of salt (sodium). Low electrolytes are also a common trigger.

If you can afford it, go on amazon and buy a Kardia. Its about 100 pounds. Its a sensor that you stick on your phone. When you download the app, you can do a very reasonable ECG right there. Record one of your episodes and take it into the GP, or save it for the ECG appointment. Alternatively you can choose to email it to the Kardia cadiologists and they will read it within 2 hrs and give you a diagnosis you can take to your GP. They charge about 10 pounds for this service. I was recommended the device by a top cardiologist. It is well regarded by the profession.

If you ever get chest tightness or chest pain or get dizzy and lightheaded while having an episode, go straight to A and E. If you faint within 10 mins of an episode, call an ambulance. If you notice your ankles and /or hands getting puffy or swelling, go straight back to your GP and insist on an urgent cardiology referral.

Original poster
JSPorter · 04/05/2018 21:24

Thanks so much for your advice

OP posts:
MrSlant · 04/05/2018 21:29

Not a long term cure but when I went through a phase of them I googled and found out a big hearty OMMMMMMMMMM (like a yogi) stopped them in their tracks every time. Better to find out how to stop them in the first place but I found that it took a lot of the anxiety out of having them once I knew how to make an episode stop. Eating a heart healthy diet with lots of potassium rich foods and low sodium has, so far, stopped them recurring.

Original poster
JSPorter · 04/05/2018 21:52

Great tip! Will give that a try. Since taking a propranalol I’ve only had one!

OP posts:
moggiek · 04/05/2018 22:27

The most common cause of palpitations is anaemia, which your GP is going to check for. In the meantime, try to include as many iron rich foods into your diet as you can.

BrazzleDazzleDay · 04/05/2018 22:48

Propranolol does this to me, I take it for a tremor. I've just a few minutes ago said to my husband that I'm getting a lot of palpitations this week, my blood pressures getting too low on them.

When I took individual doses I.e 10mg 4 times a day the palpitations, racing pulse rate were a lot worse. I switched to slow release 18 months ago and they have been amazing until the last week or so.

BrigitsBigKnickers · 04/05/2018 23:40

I was prescribed the slow release propranolol but it just wore off after a few weeks.

Occasionally, even with the low carb plan I occasionally feel a bit wonky and find that one beta-blocker will have to desired effect.
Currently take about 1 a week.

Those who say acid reflux/ indigestion seems to be a link- I also found this. Apparently the Vagus nerve can be irritated by gastric reflux which can send the heart into an odd rhythm.

Breathing exercises can help- the cardiologist mentioned above on YouTube ( he is fab by the way) describes a technique which I find useful sometimes-
breathe in for 5 seconds then out for 5 seconds. So 10 breaths a minute. Keep this up for 5 mins and it definitely helps to slow the heart beat and straighten out the wonky rhythms.

MasonJar · 05/05/2018 08:46

I can stop the racing heartbeat almost immediately by lying completely flat. Not much use if I'm out and about shopping or working though.
I think lying down and stretching out eases the pressure on the vagus nerve, caused by food, bubble of air etc.

Original poster
JSPorter · 05/05/2018 09:30

Propranalol helping so far - have only had two palpitations but tend to get the most of them from lunchtime through til the evening for some reason so we will see!
Can’t help but think me constantly worrying and waiting for one to happen is making them worse!
Thanks for all the tips- nice to know am not the only one who gets them and that they can be easily dealt with

OP posts:
Original poster
JSPorter · 08/05/2018 19:11

So I had the ecg - both have shown incomplete right bundle branch block. Doc not bothered by this and not referring me on for anything else other than to wait for my blood results .. I’ve googled and am now a bit concerned! Surely this is not good with these very frequent palpitations I am getting.
Has anyone else had this ?

OP posts:
wormery · 08/05/2018 20:01

I havent had palpitations but know people who have, if the dr has diagnosed a right bundle branch block are they going to refer you to a cardiologist.

Original poster
JSPorter · 08/05/2018 20:15

He’s not referring me - just said wait for your blood results

OP posts:
Original poster
JSPorter · 13/05/2018 08:16

Have been referred... c*ping myself a bit...
Dr I saw had terrible bedside manner, didn’t reassure me at all- he wasn’t worried about the incomplete branch block thing but was concerned about t wave inversion in 2 of the leads. Another Gp who checked it said it was fine so I don’t know what to think.
No idea how long I’ll have to wait for cardiology appointment.
Funnily enough the palpitations are ok now on beta blockers, only had 1 or 2!

OP posts:
SteamTrainAlong · 10/02/2021 12:50

@JSPorter I know this is from a while ago but did you sort it out. I'm going through the same now Sad

Louisethemum · 30/10/2021 21:55

Hi, anyone still active here? I’m going through this too. Near continuous palps, scaring me to death. Anyone?

whereisthekey · 30/10/2021 21:59

cardiologist made me ensure I was drinking 2 litres of water before 12pm every day .. that did make a big difference to mine, although needing the loo a lot is annoying!

I also can't have normal tea coffee of coke as the caffeine sets them off within minutes.