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Original poster

Heart Arythmmia

67 replies

urrrgh46 · 28/11/2022 08:31

I've developed an irregular heartbeat - I can trace it beginning to just after I had covid - and will have a 24hr monitor this week. Anyone else living with this and how are you being treated? I attended A&e last week and was meant to have been monitored within a couple of days - I've now arranged my own monitoring privately as I haven't been contacted as yet - suspect they're just overwhelmed with patients right now. Anyhow, just want to know how other people cope and what treatment they've received (medications etc).

OP posts:
Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 16:18

Thanks for the recommendation!

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FuzzyPuffling · 22/12/2022 19:33

May I jump in please?

I have 15% ectopics, including double and triple beats, but because beta blockers really don't agree with me ( make me so dopey I can't function), Reynauds and kidney disease I don't take any drugs.

After a huge barrage of tests to discover this, the drs have just signed me off completely which feels really odd. Not even an annual check.up. I do feel somewhat abandoned.

Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 19:39

@FuzzyPuffling good to have you here! We're forming a nice little group! Have you seen a cardiologist? How do you get on with no drugs? Mind I've been with none up til now and I first noticed a problem at the end of March! How long have you had your extra beats??

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FuzzyPuffling · 22/12/2022 20:47

Yes I saw a cardiologist. Well, I spoke to one ( covid, y'know?) and she was very nice. As often happens with the NHS, she had no idea of my other conditions ( nemely lupus) which might be relevant, so I had to email her a photo of my diagnosis letter from the rheumatologist. Ho hum!

I do ok with no drugs, as far as I know. Sometimes I feel the ectopics and have to stop and breathe, but most I just get on with it.

Not sure how long I've had them...I had SVTs about 10 years ago ( when I did take beta blockers) and this lot was diagnosed last year when my measured heart rate dropped to under 40 ( as the ectopics weren't registering)

It's annoying that I've just been discharged though.

Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 21:00

@FuzzyPuffling could you go back to your GP? I must admit I'm not overly impressed with A&e. I presented to them about 5 weeks ago and they said - no immediate danger ie hadn't had a heart attack and didn't have blood clots but needed a 24hr ecg, which would happen in the next few days. No one has contacted me at all! I sorted out a 24hr ecg myself privately and the results (with cardiologist advice) were sent to my GP. Poor GP had no clue what was going on (I'm a new patient) and had no letter from a&e saying I'd been seen etc. can't fault the GP - really happy with them so far, which is more than I can say for my last one.

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Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 21:02

Gosh - you have a lot to contend with!

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Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 21:03

@FuzzyPuffling & @trying29 if you don't mind me asking - how old are you both? And how old when this started for you? I'll be 47 in January.

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trying29 · 22/12/2022 21:07

I’m sorry to hear about your news. I am 38 and this has been going on for a year now for me. I am also taking the same beta blocker as you but I was specifically prescribed Flecainide by my cardiologist to deal with the ectopic beats.
do you feel your ectopic beats? I often don’t but they are still there and registering on my 24 hr monitors. But it could be the meds are helping with this

snowinthesticks · 22/12/2022 21:09

I've had various arrhythmias in last 5 years. SVT, Fast AF and generally lots of ectopics.
I've had many holter monitors and EP studies.
Ultimately it's treated, and pretty well controlled, with calcium channel blockers. I also carry flecanide.
While it's scary at first I find cardiologists very reassuring and unconcerned about it.
Things that set it off.
Viruses. Any virus, tjis pre dates covid but covid certainly triggered palpitations.
Getting overheated.
High stress or shock.

LaBelleSauvage123 · 22/12/2022 21:19

I’ve had multiple ectopics for years, but when I was 50 ( 12 years ago) it started causing problems with my heart’s ability to pump blood round my body. I had a borderline low ejection fraction which they were concerned about, so put me on bisoprolol and ramipril. This reduced my ectopics from 27% to about 14% and my ejection fraction rose to 50-55% which is still on the low side but not seen as dangerous. I used to be seen yearly but now it’s every 4 years ( which personally I don’t think is often enough). They’ve never been able to agree on a cause, though an MRI showed some scar tissue which the last cardiologist I saw seemed to think was probably caused by a virus years ago. I’ve had Covid and haven’t had a check up since, but wondering if I should.

FuzzyPuffling · 22/12/2022 21:24

I'm in my early 60s. By and large pretty fit...lots of walking, bodyboarding, gardening. But I strongly suspect I am being fobbed off because of my age. The SVTs were at 52 ( oh, must be menopause related) the lupus I think from early 30s.

I asked my rheumatologist about the kidney/ heart/ lupus links, but she wasn't concerned. I feel they are connected, but what do I know? 😁 It's annoying..I should take daily aspirin ( APS, another auto immune thing..keeps on giving!) but can't because of my kidneys. It's these sort of links that make me wish someone would join up the dots.

Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 21:31

@FuzzyPuffling I'm wondering if this is peri menopause or Covid related. We're quite au faux with auto immune issues in the family as eldest son has severe ulcerative colitis. Maybe your rheumatologist can get you back to the cardiologist? Although we have found that sons gastro consult only likes to deal with that issue so when steroids were causing him severe acne she just said see your GP! I kind of feel she should have helped a bit more seeing as it was the treatment she'd prescribed that caused it!

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Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 21:31

Oh and I'm fit too - lots of walking etc and at the low end of BMI. Didn't expect to have this tbh!!

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fleur89 · 22/12/2022 21:32

This happened to my dad after he caught covid, he's having all sorts of tests now - both nhs and private. He swears there is a link with covid, he is fit and healthy, doesn't smoke or drink. He's 65.

Original poster
urrrgh46 · 22/12/2022 21:37

@fleur89 best wishes to your Dad - 1st became aware of mine 2 weeks after a positive Covid test.

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FuzzyPuffling · 22/12/2022 21:42

I've managed to avoid covid ( so far, looking after husband with immune system issues post cancer) and long may it stay that way!

I've recently moved house and the new GP seems a bit more on the ball than the old one. Or more accessible, at least. We shall see.

Hopeandglory · 22/12/2022 21:43

I have episodes of an irregular heartbeat, first noticed a racing heart when pregnant at 38, just a couple of episodes. A few years later during a very stressful time I had a normal gp appointment where she attempted to check my blood pressure but discovered that my heart beat seemed to miss the fourth beat, lots of tests later nothing found and I assumed it was the way my body processes stress. I now have odd episodes every couple of weeks where my heartbeat races but I feel so off during these times there is no way I could go to A&E as it is like walking through treacle with arms and legs feeling very heavy. As I am still here a decade plus later I have reevaluate the way I look at life and try not to worry about the little things

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