Ectopic Beats / PVCs / Arrhythmia

[Louisethemum]

Hi all - apologies in advance, this is a long one. Begging for advice or reassurance!

I’ll start by saying, I have contacted my GP twice now. He has requested a holter monitor for me, but I expect the waiting list is awful right now. I contacted again last night via webform telling them how badly things had progressed so hoping someone will call me soon but at the moment some people are waiting over a week for a call back. I just wanted to make it clear I have sought medical advice.

Okay - so I have always had ectopic beats. Diagnosed when I was around 20 by a cardiologist after I’d been through a very stressful time. I didn’t bother with a holter monitor and took him at his word. They did settle down as my life did, although I’ve always had flare ups, like when I started Levo for thyroid disease 3 years ago.

Fast forward to now, I am 36 and just over a week ago, they went absolutely nuts. Lots of palpitations, despite a fairly slow normal heart rate, so no tachycardia.

This time I bought the FibriCheck app, similar to the Kardia , and the NHS do use this app for patients to monitor their heart condition using your finger & camera on phone. I started measuring my heart and although the rate is always normal, it more often that not indicates an irregular heartbeat with (doctor scrutinised) results saying frequent ectopics, beginimy episodes, and even the odd possible Afib detected. These spates of flutters and poundings can last hours! Anything can set them off: eating, sitting a certain way, lying down, reflux etc. So at rest, I’m currently a basket case.

My Fitbit is also returning weird results in the Health Metrics area such as a breathing rate of 9! I don’t think this is accurate, but I know it’s calculated by a small increase in heart rate after an inhale or exhale…I think my heart rate may also be all over the place when I sleep which is the reason for the wonky results! My heart rate variability has also returned readings of 147 this week! When normally it’s 30! Low variations in oxygen levels so no sleep apnea.

Generally I’m feeling anxious, exhausted, irritable and a huge amount of brain fog. My thyroid levels were tested a couple of months ago - all fine. There’s no reason I would be anaemic as I don’t have heavy periods and a varied diet.

I am just sat around worrying all the time! I’m terrified there’s something really wrong. Can anyone help??

Thanks if you made it this far x

This was me about 6 months ago, I don’t have heavy periods either and eat healthily but I went to donate blood and they turned me away as it turned out I was anaemic. I had no idea. I started taking a prenatal vitamin with iron as we were ttc and quite quickly the palpitations stopped. 3 months pregnant now and never had another palpitation, can’t believe it as they were so bad before and I was really worried. Not saying it’s the answer for you but I’d have your iron levels checked just to be sure

Thank you @Huffle will ask the GP. I had my levels done in April / May time and I presume they were fine (never saw the results but was told all fine) I’ll ask GP if my levels were borderline or anything though or if they can do some more. I’m desperate for it to be straightforward as you can imagine. Really glad they have resolved for you & congrats on your pregnancy!

Anyone else have any experiences??

I have the same problem, ectopics, bigemny, trigeminy, and paroxysmal fibrillation ! I was referred to a consultant who arranged for me to have an MRI scan which showed slight dilation of left ventricle. Have been on a Beta blocker for ages. Perhaps ask your GP for a referral.

If they ever call me I will 😔 I’d be worried about beta blockers as my resting heart rate and blood pressure are low side of normal. @thereisonlyoneofme did yours start suddenly too? Glad they resolved / helped you with it x

Sufferer here too. I work as a cardiology secretary so I know quite a bit. I am 34 and relatively fit and healthy. Get palps all the time, bigeminy, trigeminy and they are all benign ectopics. Used the Kardia monitor at work for a few days (sounds same as your one) and it will say ‘possible a fib’ but this isn’t… my consultant I work for told me it can’t detect ectopics so it just says it’s that! He personally looked at the ecgs each time and it’s just ectopics. I had a cardiac MRI as I have private insurance and I actually have mitral valve prolapse that has caused scarring and fibrosis in my heart causing these ectopics. I did a holter and a exercise test and these confirmed the ectopics but nothing dangerous.

Anything can set them off… eating, drinking, standing up, sneezing! I am now on 80mg betablocker (I didn’t have a high resting HR either) and they’ve stopped! I might get one here or there but so much better.

I can’t tell you yours are benign but I bet they are and they’re sooooo common! Push via gp for an echocardiogram to check the structure of your heart and I bet this will be fine and will reassure you. I found with reassurance, even though I have actually got an issue with my heart they improved so much!

Good luck x

@SarahJeffers341 thank you so much for taking the time to reply. They have been awful today. I have just phoned my GP and begged the receptionist for someone to see me today and she has made me cry 😢 I tried to go to A&E earlier in the week, but it was standing room only, with ambulances queuing to get in, so I left. Asked GP to see me and still no call back. I just feel desperate. I am not one to waste the NHS precious resources but I feel so ill with it. I’m so fatigued today with crushing headache, no appetite and constant bigeminy all day. So glad you feel better!!! It gives me hope xx

[quote Louisethemum]@SarahJeffers341 thank you so much for taking the time to reply. They have been awful today. I have just phoned my GP and begged the receptionist for someone to see me today and she has made me cry 😢 I tried to go to A&E earlier in the week, but it was standing room only, with ambulances queuing to get in, so I left. Asked GP to see me and still no call back. I just feel desperate. I am not one to waste the NHS precious resources but I feel so ill with it. I’m so fatigued today with crushing headache, no appetite and constant bigeminy all day. So glad you feel better!!! It gives me hope xx[/quote]
I’m so sorry you’re suffering so badly. I would have whole days of them when I was certain it was something awful and I was going to die and I work at the hospital so should know better!! I really hope you can get some reassurance soon! Sending love x

Oh you poor thing 😞 I can totally sympathise with you as a fellow sufferer.

Mine started at 18 years old and over the years I too have had flare ups. During pregnancies they have been a lot worse and I can now recognise some triggers (such as alcohol and stress). BUT they can also happen at any point which no warning at all which causes me extreme anxiety.

I've had previous tests such as echo and holter but I'm actually awaiting another referral to cardiology as my heart has been playing up. I also take bisoprolol every day to slow my HR.

Anyway, if I were in your position then I would definitely be asking for an urgent GP appointment - if that won't work then you could try A&E at a different time? They will not tell you off for wasting time if your symptoms are not settling - trust me, I have been there and they even said to call 999 to capture it.

X

I’ve had problems with having episodes of tachycardia since March. I’ve had umpteen ECGs at the GP surgery and have been put on Bisoprolol. They referred me for an urgent 24hr tape however I’m not due to see the cardiologist until January 14th.

I’ve had to stop driving because when my heart goes fast, up to 158bpm, it makes me so dizzy I can’t see. DS2 is a CCU outreach nurse, so has told me there’s no point in going to A&E, he used to work there, unless I get really bad chest pains or really breathless.

I’m sick of it tbh. I just want to feel well. I sit in my chair watching TV or doing a bit of crochet, next thing my heart is going ballistic.

It seems like we have had similar experiences 😔 I put in a web request for an urgent GP appointment last night, explained all my symptoms and no one called me 😢 I phoned the GP surgery at 2pm explaining my symptoms and how ill I felt begging a GP to call me & the receptionist couldn’t have cared less, and still no one called me ☹️ I don’t know who to ask for help. A&E isn’t the place in this climate and yet my GP doesn’t think my symptoms of constant ectopics, bigeminy and dizziness, flushed face, crushing headache & extreme fatigue is worth seeing me. Hoping to see someone or at least speak to someone tomorrow 😔😔

Thank you for taking the time to reply xx

@Louisethemum

It seems like we have had similar experiences 😔 I put in a web request for an urgent GP appointment last night, explained all my symptoms and no one called me 😢 I phoned the GP surgery at 2pm explaining my symptoms and how ill I felt begging a GP to call me & the receptionist couldn’t have cared less, and still no one called me ☹️ I don’t know who to ask for help. A&E isn’t the place in this climate and yet my GP doesn’t think my symptoms of constant ectopics, bigeminy and dizziness, flushed face, crushing headache & extreme fatigue is worth seeing me. Hoping to see someone or at least speak to someone tomorrow 😔😔

Thank you for taking the time to reply xx

Hi did you get get to the bottom of it? I'm going through the same thing and I'm so scared x