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Original poster

Sudden heart palpitations

18 replies

TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 22:45

Just some back story, I hav suffered with heart palpitations in the past, around 2 years ago. I was checked with bloods, ECG and a 24 hr monitor and was told they were benign. However I've just had a random episode, lasted around 10 seconds but it didn't feel like my usual skipped beats or thud. It was as though someone had reached into chest and was shaking my heart. It felt more like a very strong flutter. It was the strangest sensation. I do have health anxiety however I feel it's been really well managed lately and done feel particularly stressed or anxious. Naturally, now I'm in complete meltdown and convinced this is it and there qas something wrong with my heart all along!! Please can someone help yo reassure me! I'm so worried now!

OP posts:
Lostworlds · 18/06/2024 22:53

Go get a drink of water, sit down and try put something relaxing on tv. Try to busy your mind with other thoughts .
I have had health anxiety and I know how these things can build up and make you feel even worse. I find busying my brain helps to ease things.
Then I like to write down what I feel I need to do. I write a list to get it all out of my head.

What were you doing just before the palpitations? Have you had a lot of sugary or caffeinated foods/ drinks today? Are you feeling anxious? I know you say you’re feeling okay but is there something coming up that might be bothering you?

If you’re breathing okay and not having any pains then I would leave it for tonight . If you start to have any pains or feel unwell then contact 111 or A&E if you feel you need it. If you’re feeling okay then I would try forget it for tonight and maybe it might help to reassure you to se your gp tomorrow and get a check up.

Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 22:57

Lostworlds · 18/06/2024 22:53

Go get a drink of water, sit down and try put something relaxing on tv. Try to busy your mind with other thoughts .
I have had health anxiety and I know how these things can build up and make you feel even worse. I find busying my brain helps to ease things.
Then I like to write down what I feel I need to do. I write a list to get it all out of my head.

What were you doing just before the palpitations? Have you had a lot of sugary or caffeinated foods/ drinks today? Are you feeling anxious? I know you say you’re feeling okay but is there something coming up that might be bothering you?

If you’re breathing okay and not having any pains then I would leave it for tonight . If you start to have any pains or feel unwell then contact 111 or A&E if you feel you need it. If you’re feeling okay then I would try forget it for tonight and maybe it might help to reassure you to se your gp tomorrow and get a check up.

Edited

Thank you. I wasn't doing anything, I was literally just sat here and it felt like I could feel it building up and then it felt like my heart just went into a big spasm and it felt like it was just in a weird twitchy spasm. No pain. Just sheer panic. I had a coffee today that I wouldn't normally have but that was this morning. I also had quite a bit of chocolate but again I often do and im usually fine. I used to get them regularly but not like this and I haven't had them for quite some time.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 22:58

And now my heart rate just feels normal and a steady pace

OP posts:
brendafromacrosstheroad · 18/06/2024 23:01

I get this a lot and have done for years. I've had so many checks done since I was a teenager. Every single time I've been told it's nothing to worry about and it's just ectopic beats. It's uncomfortable and can make you feel dizzy at times. Mine has got worse with perimenopause

SeaToSki · 18/06/2024 23:03

Its good that it is back to normal. Can you remember what the doctors said was the medical name of your palpitations when they checked them and said they were benign?

You might have just got a bit low on electrolytes which can cause the heart rhythm to muck around a bit. Its not that there is anything wrong, its just that it needs enough minerals to work properly.

tomorrow go and buy a magnesium citrate supplement, at least 60% rda and start taking that every day before bed. Also eat more potatoes, a banana (potassium) and dairy every day (calcium). That should put you back on the straight and narrow.

Lostworlds · 18/06/2024 23:03

@TheCandidSnake I’d keep an eye on it and see how you get on.
Do you think you’d have noticed it if you were busy doing something?

Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 23:08

Lostworlds · 18/06/2024 23:03

@TheCandidSnake I’d keep an eye on it and see how you get on.
Do you think you’d have noticed it if you were busy doing something?

I would definitely have noticed because it was so strong and it's like there was a build up to it. And then a massive strong spasm type feeling.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 23:10

SeaToSki · 18/06/2024 23:03

Its good that it is back to normal. Can you remember what the doctors said was the medical name of your palpitations when they checked them and said they were benign?

You might have just got a bit low on electrolytes which can cause the heart rhythm to muck around a bit. Its not that there is anything wrong, its just that it needs enough minerals to work properly.

tomorrow go and buy a magnesium citrate supplement, at least 60% rda and start taking that every day before bed. Also eat more potatoes, a banana (potassium) and dairy every day (calcium). That should put you back on the straight and narrow.

They just said they was ectopic beats and that they were really common and lots of people have them. The cardiologist called me up for an app and he said based on the ECG and 24 monitor that he wasn't concerned. I also had a troponin and ECG last week as I had a high heart rate and missed beats but again they found nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 23:10

brendafromacrosstheroad · 18/06/2024 23:01

I get this a lot and have done for years. I've had so many checks done since I was a teenager. Every single time I've been told it's nothing to worry about and it's just ectopic beats. It's uncomfortable and can make you feel dizzy at times. Mine has got worse with perimenopause

Ahh bless you. I know mine isn't peri as I'm only 31

OP posts:
Lostworlds · 18/06/2024 23:12

It’s positive that they’ve not found any reason for it on the heart traces.
You could speak to your gp and ask what next, since the traces have come back normal then is there a suggestion with how to cope with them?
Do you feel this is worse than the last?
Has your blood pressure been checked? I have high blood pressure and find when it drops suddenly then my heart races and feels like it’s skipping beats.

Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 23:25

Lostworlds · 18/06/2024 23:12

It’s positive that they’ve not found any reason for it on the heart traces.
You could speak to your gp and ask what next, since the traces have come back normal then is there a suggestion with how to cope with them?
Do you feel this is worse than the last?
Has your blood pressure been checked? I have high blood pressure and find when it drops suddenly then my heart races and feels like it’s skipping beats.

I had my blood pressure last week which was slightly raised but not concerning apparently. I just checked my cardiolog letter from 2022 when I last had a bad episode and it says ventricular ectopic, secondary to anxiety and gastro problems..but I just find that hard to believe especially as they haven't actually looked at my heart with an ultrasound or something.

OP posts:
Lostworlds · 18/06/2024 23:33

From experience, if you have a fairly normal heart trace then they are unlikely to send you for an echocardiogram unless you’re particularly unwell. They may feel if you’re healthy and feeling well then there’s nothing to be concerned about which is positive news for you but I understand that it’s not an answer and with health anxiety life feels better when you have an answer.

Iloveacuppatea · 18/06/2024 23:43

It sounds like an episode of bigeminy or trigeminy….which is when ectopic beats roll into each other in quick succession. It feels like a bird flapping its wings. Ectopics are rarely anything to worry about, although they are disconcerting. Ask for a cardiology referral and they will no doubt do an echocardiogram which will reassure you x

Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 18/06/2024 23:45

Iloveacuppatea · 18/06/2024 23:43

It sounds like an episode of bigeminy or trigeminy….which is when ectopic beats roll into each other in quick succession. It feels like a bird flapping its wings. Ectopics are rarely anything to worry about, although they are disconcerting. Ask for a cardiology referral and they will no doubt do an echocardiogram which will reassure you x

Yes that's exactly what it felt like!! I was struggling to describe it as it was so odd! Is it safe though?

OP posts:
Iloveacuppatea · 19/06/2024 00:15

cardiologists don’t seem concerned with it or ectopics! They are more interested tachycardia and bradycardia arrhythmias. I’ve had bigeminy and they weren’t bothered at all! However get the full testing including an echo x this will reassure you x

SeaToSki · 19/06/2024 00:15

Bigeminy and trigeminey are not a problem if they come and go. You wouldnt want them to hang around for hours though!

mostly they are caused by lack of electrolytes. If you have had a recent cardiac workup, they would have noticed if there was anything else going on that they should pay attention to. An ultrasound of the heart wouldnt really show much as it looks at the structure of the heart (like the plumbing) where as you are having problems with your ‘electrics’ and that is shown on the ECG.

you could ask for your thyroid levels to be checked as they can sometimes get out of whack and cause arrthymias, but again its most likely to be electrolytes…so sort those out tomorrow and see if that calms everything down. That is the most important thing to do.

Original poster
TheCandidSnake · 19/06/2024 09:01

SeaToSki · 19/06/2024 00:15

Bigeminy and trigeminey are not a problem if they come and go. You wouldnt want them to hang around for hours though!

mostly they are caused by lack of electrolytes. If you have had a recent cardiac workup, they would have noticed if there was anything else going on that they should pay attention to. An ultrasound of the heart wouldnt really show much as it looks at the structure of the heart (like the plumbing) where as you are having problems with your ‘electrics’ and that is shown on the ECG.

you could ask for your thyroid levels to be checked as they can sometimes get out of whack and cause arrthymias, but again its most likely to be electrolytes…so sort those out tomorrow and see if that calms everything down. That is the most important thing to do.

I had an ELU blood test last week and they said all normal

OP posts:
spiggydit · 19/06/2024 18:19

I had lots of palpitations related to anxiety and the menopause a few years back. Someone then described these non problematic palpitations as the heart sneezing - which diluted the anxiety followed by a reduction in palpitations

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