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Ectopic and Super ventricular beats on ecg

16 Replies

I've recently had a copy letter from consultant following on from a 24 hour ecg. The letter says as expected that it showed sinus rhythm throughout but it also makes mention of a record of 1 ventricular beat and 10 supra ventricular beats. Clearly these are not a problem however I wondered - do we all have these 2 types of beats in 24 hours or are people with an AF problem more prone to them. Just curious. Plus if anyone knows they get them are they aware of them?

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16 Replies
meadfoot profile image
meadfoot

I have ectopics and Svt and wow do I know about It when it happens. X

in reply to meadfoot

Meadfoot. Thanks for your reply. How do you differentiate between your ectopics and SVT? ie the sensation you get in your body as opposed to what you call it.

Finvola profile image
Finvola

Yes - both PVC's (ventricular) and PAC's (atrial) with sickening regularity! Apparently everyone gets them but we who know our hearts' rhythms too well, are more aware of them. If you enter ectopics into the search box at the top right you'll find dozens of threads and posts about the dratted things.

in reply to Finvola

Yes I noted that after I posted! Have had a look but in particular I am interested in how people describe the sensation rather than what they call them if that makes sense.

Finvola profile image
Finvola in reply to

I feel PVC's differently to PAC's but both make me feel breathless, empty-legged and unwell in varying degrees depending on their frequency. Quite often a PAC is followed by a few fast beats and wobbling.

I know exactly what you mean about training your brain that it isn't AF but ectopics for me are nowhere near as debilitating as full blown AF.

in reply to Finvola

Yes totally agree AF very clear and different for me. I know when I go in AF and when I am out again. When I get AF I often get a rumble sensation in the throat south to north. Now I often get a little flicker in throat as though its trying to blow but it doesn't thank goodness. I wondered if that was an ectopic beat or not. Or the SVT. I guess I was trying to work out from what others experience if that was one of them or not. Thanks for your reply

Finvola profile image
Finvola in reply to

With me, quite severe gut trouble always accompanied AF and slight nausea came sometimes with regular beat fast SVT. That flicker could be an ectopic and a single one is difficult to catch. I usually feel my carotid pulse when ectopics are about. Have you thought of investing in a Kardia? I find it useful to record anything worth my cardiologist looking at.

in reply to Finvola

Yes thought of Kardia and may consider. Interesting about the slight nausea I understand. I am very good at monitoring what is going on. I think perhaps what I aware of is the ectopics and I just need to train my brain that although the sensation is similar to getting AF that AF is not around the corner. Will take a bit of adjusting to after 6 years of AF I guess.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Apparently these are quite normal (up to 200 a day I was told ) for everybody. As I always say, we AF-ers are a bit over sensitive to our heart's vagaries.

in reply to BobD

Yes indeed in my case not just over sensitive to the heart. I think the sensation I get with ectopics/SVT is the same or very similar to when my AF fires so I am having to train my brain to tell me that it isn't the same post ablation.

Had ablation coming up to one year ago now..... other than high heart rate still I was feeling great... got back to running, lost two stone then out of nowhere I’ve experienced these every day for last 3 weeks or so... worryingly more when I exercise which apparently is not a good sign.... I’m having my stress test next Monday which I’m absolutely dreading due to these and what may be found

in reply to

Thanks for your reply. Would be very interested to know the sensation you fell when you have them. Good luck on Monday I understand you feelings on that.

UScore profile image
UScore

I get them occasionally. I had a period where I was getting them every day, for a few hours at a time, then I gave up caffeine and they all but disappeared.

I had another set recently, starting at about 4 am and going on all morning. I'd had no caffeine but I felt quite gassy, lots of burping and a bit indigestion-y. I'm convinced that was the cause of them.

I carried on with my day, because they don't cause me too much trouble. I don't get anxious or worried about them, they are mildly bothersome; kind of like hiccups, but without the embarrassing external noise.

However, they didn't go away, and started to get more frequent, to the point they were getting quite distracting. Then I went into AF.

This is the only time that's happened to me. I had considered them quite different things. Does this happen to anyone else?

in reply to UScore

Your description - like a hiccup is exactly what info I was asking others get so thanks for that. I seem to be having them more recently so again my brain is conscious that it might be building to the AF coming back as you mention but if they are just ectopic and common place and just that I am more sensitive I can perhaps try and forget about them. Time alone will tell.

UScore profile image
UScore in reply to

When I first noticed them, I didn't even realise they were heart related. I kept having this sensation like a bubble or wave rising in the centre of my chest. I assumed it was stomach related rather than a heart thing.

It was only because I'd had AF I thought to check my pulse, and realised it felt like I'd skip a beat every time the wave happened. I went to the local Minor Injuries Dept during one set of them, and they confirmed ectopics.

Individually they are no trouble at all. When they get really frequent, like 3 in a row, I find them very distracting and a bit unpleasant, but I can't say I feel dizzy or sick or anything.

But having them turn into AF the other day was something new! I don't like that progression.

in reply to UScore

I don't like that progression for you either. Sorry to hear that. The first time I had an almighty bubble up was when I first had AF so that is why I get the feeling these little one's are preliminary the AF building up again. However until it happens I will tell myself its ectopic one's and they are NORMAL. Good luck with sorting yourself out.

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