Constant palpitations - freaking out a bit - stomach issues?

[inigomontoyahwillcox]

I'm onto day 3 of virtually no sleep as I've been having regular palpitations (ectopic beats) when I lie back or down - like up to 8 a minute. I've suffered from occasional palpitations in the past (with the very rare run of them), but never have I had days and days of them like this, and I am freaking out a little.

I've had a bad stomach for the past 3 nights and been finding it difficult to eat as it just seems to sit in my throat/stomach like a rock (and the makes a very sharp exit one way or another an hr or so later!). I am on PPIs for reflux (don't have a hernia as recently had an endoscopy which only showed gastritis). Throwing up does seem to stop them for a while. Could all this be causing them?

I'm currently on iron tablets to treat low ferritin/anemia.

I am EXHAUSTED as the only relief I'm getting is by standing up or sitting bolt upright ... which isn't conducive to relaxing or getting to sleep! And even that isn't working as well as it initially was. I mentioned them to my GP on the phone on Friday as she called about my iron tablets and she said "anemia only increases your heart rate, it doesn't give you palpitations" (really?) and told me to get back in touch if they got worse. Well, I don't know if I'm catastrophising or I should be worried, but they're showing no signs of letting up.

I'm supposed to be traveling to see friends tonight, having a meal and staying in a hotel (my late birthday celebration) - everyone's paid (non refundable) for their hotel. How TF can I go like this?! I hoped I'd be OK by now and it would have passed.

Try some rehydrate sachets. Your potassium and magnesium levels could be low if you have been sick and that can cause palpitations. But also get checked out at gp. Hope you feel better soon

That sounds horrible. Have you tried some breathing exercises to try and regulate your breathing and relax more? You might be getting slightly stressed about it, knowing you're meant to be going out tonight etc, and exasperating the situation. Breath in for 5, hold for 5 and breath out for 5 etc.

As your GP has said, get back in touch. A bunch of people on the internet won't know the answer better than your GP.

I understand that, I do, obviously I can't get in touch until next week and it will probably take a couple of days to speak to her as they've got a new online triage system which they state will be dealt with up to 72 hours after submitting.

I take magnesium daily anyway but I guess my potassium could be low. Will see if I can get some, thanks.

Been trying breathing/meditating etc. for days with little success unfortunately - in fact when I breathe in deeply it sets them off.

I go through phases of non stop ectopics. I have had them investigates with a monitor which I wore for a week but the GP assured me they were benign.

They seem a lot better recently ( we're worse when I was going through the menopause) But I certainly feel they can be connected with stuff I eat. I definitely get them more if I have indigestion and I think this is connected to the Vegas nerve which goes down through near the stomach.

There is a really good you tube channel by a Cardiologist called Sanjay Gupta ( York Cardiology) and he has done a few videos on ectopics. One thing he recommended was magnesium taurate supplements. There is also a really good breathing exercise that I use which seems to calm them down. Basically you breath in for 5 seconds then out for five seconds ( so 6 full breaths a minute) and you keep this up for around 5 mins.

Thanks Knotty - I'll take a look at him. I already take magnesium taurate as I do get the occasional ectopic and it certainly reduced them to very occasional. This is something else though. I'm sorry that they happen to you too, can I ask how many you get a day?

Have you been investigated for the palpitations before?
I have a diagnosed arrythmia. Palpitations and spikes in heart rate always worse when I have an infection and I've just had flu. I had a telephone review with Cardiologist last week and he's not at all concerned.
They tend not to be interested in ectopics, DS27 has them and has been told to ignore.

I've had these every single day for past year. Waiting cardiology apt.. since October, no word. Monitors / ecg not showing any probs.. I'm sure it's perimeno & take magnesium too - no noticeable effect. Mainly get at night.. The only thing that stops them is a couple of glasses of wine!!! Which is clearly not a road I want to go down every single night. I feel your pain. How old are you? Could yours be hormonal?

Fairysilver** I was investigated for them a few years back when I was recovering from a massive pulmonary embolism, had a monitor for 24hrs, showed a few ectopics including a run of about 3 or 4. But they signed me off saying all OK.

Purplerain100 I'm sorry you're suffering from similar, they really are the pits. Im 45 so perimenopause could be a factor. I gave up the booze about 6 weeks ago as I started getting a really high heartrate for a few hours after I'd drink anything accompanied with some palpitations - which I put down to the anemia. It just wasn't fun anymore.

Yet another night with no sleep because of the pauses and thuds. I'm at my wits end, And I've got such a busy day tomorrow 😭

If your doctor can’t find a heart issue I’d say it’s very very likely going to be hormonal. I am now on HRT but I had awful heart palpitations. PCOS or perimenapause may well be the cause.

I was like this and it was virtually every beat. It was horrible. Had a monitor, cardiologist and am now on medication for it which completely stopped it. Good luck 🤞🏻

Eugh you poor poor thing, I've been on propranolol (beta blockers) for migraines for over a decade - you'd have thought they would prevent these, but clearly not.

You're right - I really need to get this checked out and see if some form of HRT (that I'm allowed to take - had a pulmonary embolism back in 2018 so I know I need to steer clear of a lot of hormonal medications) will help.

Youre describing all the symptoms I had with uncontrolled Graves' disease or hyperthyroidism. Have you had thyroid levels checked?

I had my TSH checked in January and it was normal.

This could be me writing your post.

I have them every day. Sometimes worse like yesterday.

I take magnesium at night and propanalol in the morning for migraines. Neither help for the palpitations. I'm waiting for the results of my ecg from early January and will get that tomorrow.

After reading your post I think hormones could be the cause and will ask my gp when I speak to her.

It's all very worrying when it happens isn't it?

It sure is @pensionconfusion - I'm really sorry these are happening to you too. When I was in A&E yesterday I was sat very close to the booking in desk (wasn't intentionally eavesdropping, I promise, there was nowhere else to sit!) and overheard 4 other women checking in with palpitations.

If you're having vomiting and diarrhea, you might be loosing electrolytes, thiw can make you feel as you are describing try and get replacement electrolytes powders from a pharmacy or follow this recipe, stir together and sip, keep in a fridge for a week
: www.raisinggenerationnourished.com/2014/12/diy-electrolyte-drink/

Ingredients
1 ½-2 cups water
Juice of ½ lemon
1/8 to 1/4 tsp real sea salt Himalayan salt, or Celtic sea salt
2 tsp raw honey local if possible, or THIS is a good brand

I'll do that - thanks. I was hoping they'd check that when they did my bloods but they didn't, so I'll give it a go. I do still have a bad tummy so definitely could be a factor.

So I managed about another 1hr 45 of sleep - gotta get up now and go to work 🥱