More bad episodes of ectopics

[Gillie12]

Good morning, further to my last post I am still suffering badly from bad episodes of bigeminy, (ectopic every other beat) going on indefinitely. I was put on slow release propranolol Tuesday 80mg every 12 hours. I thought it was working until last night but the problem came back in the night with a vengeance. I phoned 111 to ask if i could take an extra 20mcg of nornal propranolol but the dr said it would be far too much and I should go to A&E. I explained they would only refer me to my GP so I didn't go. He said if palpitations go on for longer than 15 minutes you should go to A&E but this isn't what he dr said in A&E the other night, who said it was safe to put up with it even though it would make me feel rough! So much conflicting advice. Know you all have had similar advice but I need a little support to try to work out wht o do for the best? I am unable to go to work today again which bothers me in itself of course. Thanks Gill x

[CDreamer]

Hi Gillie

- sorry you are having such a rough time. it becomes very difficult when you get such conflicting advice, I have certainly been there.

I think, in your position, I would seek an urgent appointment with your EP as in my experience they are the only people who understand the difficulty. At least they are interested in arrythmias were as most doctors don't find Arrythmias of interest or very knowledgeable.

111 can be helpful but will always err on the side of caution and A&E, (speaking from recent personal experience) are only going to treat if you are only in 'in immediate danger' - I wasn't even monitored last 2 times I went, once sent by my GP).

That means you are left with some stark choices-

- put up with it

- do something to change it i.e. Be proactive in what you can change to help yourself, be knowledgeable and be proactive in pushing for help and support from specialists.

For now if you are feeling 'rough' and can't work then I guess you need to stay home and rest.

Having not seen your previous posts don't know your background but I have found I have needed to be my own investigator and try various options to improve my recent Arrythmia episodes, with some success which I put down to adjustments in nutrition.

Best wishes CD.

[Gillie12 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I agree entirely with what you have said. After 45 minutes in a call queue to my GP I now have a second consultation with my dr this week in addition to A&E and 111. I am going to ask for a private referral now to an EP I last saw a year ago. He referred me for all kinds of tests including an MRI scan to establish apart from my prolapsed mitral valve my heart was structurally ok. As the ectopics are arising from an area which is difficult to perform ablation on he suggested I kept taking propranolol but up to 160mcg a day. This was ok until recently but no longer seems to be effective hence very troublesome arrhythmia.

Like you I am always lookng for ways to resolve it myself.

Sounds like you are quite positive in trying to find a cure but feel for you having to do this rather than this. I hope you continue to find things to alleviate the arrhythmia.

Thank you once again

Gill x

[BobD Volunteer]

Adding to what C Dreamer has said. with all of which I agree, I do understand how you feel as I have had long periods (several months) of similarly irritating ectopics. The breathing exercise advise by Dr Gupta which I think I have already referred you to and often mention has proved invaluable to me and many other members.

Regarding the 111 advice I may be cynical but suspect that this is as much self protection and "get this person off my phone" than any proven medical solution.

[Gillie12 in reply to BobD]

Hi bob, thank you or prompt reply and info. I have tried the breathing exercises as recommend by yourself as advised by Dr Gupta. Unfortunately it seems to exacerbate my ectopics but I think it's possible I don't do it properly or for long enough as my symptoms get so bad I can't focus.

I agree entirely with your analogy of the 111 service hence the reason I didn't go to A&E.

do you mind me asking if you take medication and how frequent your ectopics are?

I would do anything to stop this condition preventing me living a normal life. I want to go to work and look after my family, it's so frustrating and know you totally understand along with everone else on this site.

Thank you for writing

Gill x

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Gillie12]

Sorry for the delay in answer Gill but we had a death in the family last evening and things are a bit hectic right now. I do not take any drugs for arrhythmia normally other than warfarin which I will never stop but I do take two drugs for BP.

Before my last successful ablation I was prescribed propafanone and with my EP's agreement I can use this for PIP if things get out of hand. I seldom need to take more than one 150mg pill and have maybe taken five this year. I always find that ten minutes at a breathing rate of about 4 or 5 per minute usually halts my ectopics since I discovered the exercise. It can be hard to focus and train your body not to panic but I have found this exercise to be a revelation. The important thing is to breath slowly from your diaphragm pulling your stomach right down and then pushing up till your navel is almost touching your spine. You often find that this makes you cough as your start to use parts of your lungs which have been dormant for years. lol Persevere and it gets better. It took me a while to be able to maintain that slow level for that long and even today it can be tricky.

[Buffafly in reply to BobD]

I had very troublesome ectopics as well as AF when first put on regular meds and Propafenone was the consultant's choice so maybe that is its claim to fame?

[Gillie12 in reply to Buffafly]

Thank you buffafly, I am going to look up propafenone.

Kind regards

Gill

[Gillie12 in reply to BobD]

Hi bob

Thank you for your reply and sorry to hear of the death in your family. I really must focus on he breathing more when it happens as it does make sense. I feel a bit drowsy on my 160mg of propranolol a day but know without it my ectopics would be there 24/7. Thanks for info on your medication, I might look it up. I have a letter for private referral now from my dr so I will probably go straight back to the EP I saw a year ago or look some up another one or a second opinion.

Kind regards

Gill

[Gillie12 in reply to BobD]

Hi bob,

Thank you or your reply and sorry about the death in your family. I will try the breathing exercises again if I'm unfortunate enough to have another event if my pills fail. I am on 80mg of slow release propranolol twice a day now which is making me a bit drowsy but at least keeping the ectopics under control apart from the odd one or two in protest of being suppressed I think! I have a letter for a private referral, so I might go back to the EP I saw last year at London bridge hospital, although I am wondering if I should get a second opinion from another one.

Thanks again for getting back to me under difficult circumstances.

All the best

Gill

[Gillie12 in reply to BobD]

I thought I had deleted my reply to you bob by navigating away from the page, so did it again! Spot the difference!

Only need to read one

Cheers Gill

[CVSKL]

Hai Gillie, may I know how your cure your bigeminy? I suffering Pacs Bigeminy daily before and after ablation..today Is my 7 days post ablation..

[Thompson123 in reply to CVSKL]

Hi ya ,

I just wondered if you still have Bigeminy? How did you mske yikes better ? I’m 3 months post ablation and Iv have atrial Bigeminy for months now I’m exhausted.

Many thanks