Ectopic beats

[ForeverFat24]

Does anyone else have ectopic beats and can actually feel them? It's like an extra beat I can feel between beats if that makes sense but feels lighter and less obvious. I had a 24hr heart monitor in dec 2022 and they said ectopics which are normal even though though every other beat was an ectopic beats. I've developed this horrendous cardiac anxiety on top of already debilitating health anxiety. I've only recently started being able to feel them. They don't feel like the heart palps I get with anxiety though. I'm getting quite worr iws so just looking to see if anyone else is similar, for reassurance I suppose.

I hope I can reassure you a little when I say I have had ectopics since I was in my 20s (I'm in my 60s now!). I used to be terrified by them. Developed full-on 'cardiac neurosis' - was convinced my heart was going to stop at any time. There were times it was all I thought about!

I still get the ectopics, especially when I lie down on my side to sleep, and if I have or have recently had an illness (particularly covid. I measured something like 15 an hour one particularly bad post-covid weekend.) They feel as if my heart stops for a second - then rebounds with a really strong and startling beat, out of time. Unpleasant but honestly you do learn to take no notice of them.

In all those years, I have never had a heart attack (which I worried was so imminent, 4 decades ago!) or any other heart-related conditions. I have had a few ECGs including one recently, and structurally there is nothing wrong with my heart - I no longer worry about them at all, they are just part of me.

I hope this is at least a little reassuring, bless you, I honestly know how horrible a time it can be when one is worried about them - dreading them - fearing what they may mean. Of themselves, they mean - nothing.

I don't know if it helps you at all, but it helped me when I was told the heart is 'just a muscle'. Not really that fancy. It keeps on and on and on beating even if the signals go a tiny bit awry at times.

Yes I have them - used to be able to really feel them when they started when I was pg with my first 16 years ago, especially if it I also had palpitations - it would feel completely crazy, I was sure I was going to die! Also happening between every beat. Many scans & checks and was told it’s not dangerous or a worry and I guess they are right as 16 years on I am still absolutely fine. I don’t think they are as persistent now as I don’t feel them as much as I used to. Also got bad cardiac health anxiety which I sadly never have quite got past but do manage mostly.

Thank you so much for your reply. I also ruminate a lot on thoughts of my heart could just stop at any time..it's bought on terrible anxiety but it helps me to know that you have the same experience and you are fine so thank you!

Thank you so much for your reply. Mine started when I was pregnant with my DS and the months afterwards. I've never had any scans just ecgs but they say my heart is fine but I still worry as the beats can be so unsettling. The cardiac anxiety is horrendous. I spend a lot of time worrying and thinking about what if my heart stops etc. it's terrible but helps me to know that there are others with similar experience and they are fine.

Believe me, I totally get you, I understand that completely. I was right there where you are.

It's going to be ok, your heart is fine and strong. Whatever triggers that simple muscle to do its job misfires sometimes, but your heart still keeps right on doing its job.

(I have also had HA so I know reassurance doesn't always work... but hopefully it will help a little.)

I have this too. I have POTS and tachycardia and was taking beta blockers but they took my HR down to 48 and I started getting loads of ectopics which was really scary. Like one a minute for an hour or so and they made me feel lightheaded. But the GP wasn't bothered and said it was only a problem if they happened continuously, like every beat.

I'm booked in for another ecg in a week or so but in the meantime I decided to stop taking the beta blockers. Now my HR is way too high! It goes to 130 when i stand up. But it's less scary than feeling the ectopics all the time. I have to wait another 2 months to see my cardiologist.

@ApplesinmyPocket I'm so glad you said you get them when on your side - me too! Especially lying in bed trying to go to sleep. It made me wonder if there is something structurally wrong with my heart but I had an echocardiogram a few years ago when the POTS started and it was normal.

Heart stuff is so scary.

I've often winder d if I had POTS and I get other symptoms too but I can't say for sure whether they occur alongside these beats or whatever. I asked my GP about it and he basically laughed me out the room.
It's so scary. I waste so much time worrying about it.

I take a very low dose of beta blocker which has stopped the multiple episodes of ectopics I was having every day.

Yes I have them. Try taking a magnesium supplement! It made a huge difference for me. I read about how ectopics can be caused/made worse by magnesium deficiency.

https://www.youtube.com/live/zEYlYNmvT-A?si=rcQQyW7rO-FjAaMU

Also watch this video. It's by a cardiologist who makes loads of videos about ectopics, palpitations etc and he is SO reassuring. Look on his yoitube channel too and watch some of the videos. It really helped me to calm down about mine.

Yes and I have undergone lots of ECGS, Holters and heart stress tests to make sure I'm ok. Cardiologist said I just have to live with them.

They are much more noticeable if:

Drink any amount of alcohol
Drink any amount of caffeine
Dehydrated
Not had a good night's sleep
Stressed
Anxious

I've packed in booze and caffeine and I feel so much better for it.

Just wanted to reassure - yes and Dr said its fine in uk. Had holter and they said it was fine even though sometimes I was genuinely scared they were wrong and I'd not wake up in the morning and I'd lay cuddling the kids in fear of falling asleep. It's been for 6 years like this.
It used to be more frequent but less so now. Once my pulse went down to ridiculously low while abroad and I felt awful and scared so I went to a private cardiologist. He did a whole load of tests and echo and bloods with a phonecall the next day - all is good, I won't die from this and I should cough and continue with my day knowing I'll be fine. To be honest, since having this information it's made me much more relaxed and it feels I've had the ectopic beats much less too. Knowing your heart is fine and strong by having a scan means you can rest easy tbh.

Which beta blocker are you on? I have 1.25mg bisoprolol but I seem to get more ectopics on it than off it. But I hate the tacchycardia when I come off it! I feel like I'm stuck between either taking it and feeling lightheaded and with frequent ectopics, which make me anxious, or not taking it and feeling wired with tachycardia, which also makes me anxious. I can't win!

@ForeverFat24 I know this is a slightly old thread, but I found it while searching for threads on this as I also suffer from ectopic beats. I started having them in my late 30s and would get them every so often. A trigger would often be lying down to go to sleep. I did see a cardiologist and was told there was nothing wrong with me. I am now 50 and have hardly had them in recent years but they suddenly came back with a vengeance a few days ago! I have been unwell with a virus so it may be related to that.

I've also found that being dehydrated makes them worse.

Sorry for the delay in replying. I take Nebivolol - just half a tablet so 3.75mg I think, once daily. Without it my heart rate is over 100 at rest and multiple ectopics but with no cause found for ether. The tablet does the trick so only the occasional episode now, maybe one per day.

@Boombatty hi I'm just about to start bisoprolol 1.25mg next week and wondering how you are on them, do you get many side affects? Like any breathing issues? Do you avoid caffeine, alcohol and chocolate?
I was told to avoid them once I start the bisoprolol, I've been put on them for benign ectopics and fast heart rate, I have asthma so cardiologist put me on a low dose TIA

I feel so much better on them. No issues at all. I wasn't advised to avoid any of those things but I don't drink caffeine anyway. Chocolate doesn't seem to affect me thankfully! I've also drank alcohol with no issues but generally try to avoid as it exacerbates my reflux/gastritis. 1.25mg is actually a very low dose. My cardiologist said if I'm having a tricky day I can just take two.

I’ve just had them show up on a24-hour ecg and they were deemed benign by a cardiologist. I’ve had them for as long as I can remember- def since my 20s - and I’m in my 50s. They can make me feel lightheaded but being dehydrated makes them a lot worse.

@Boombatty Thanks for replying, good to hear your feeling much better on the bisoprolol..hoping I will too and don't get any side affects, I was told to expect to feel very tired

I don't feel tired, just less hyper! And no longer feel like I'm constantly full of adrenaline when my heart's going really fast for no reason!

I get them. Had them a couple of years now. I've also had episodes of AF though for which I had a cardiac ablation. I take Bisoprolol 1.25mg. I also take over the counter Ferrous Sulphate for low ferritin the GP said wasn't low enough to treat, and they've reduced massively.