I have had no reply to my two quite simple questions.Will someone answer please?I asked "what is ectopic" and if paf is paraxsysmal what are the initials for persistent AF?
Initials: I have had no reply to my two... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Initials
Written by
Luludean
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
39 Replies
•
"Ectopic beats are early (premature) or extra heartbeats, which can cause you to have palpitations. 'Ectopic' means out of place. Ectopic beats happen when cells away from your hearts own natural pacemaker get a little excited (or irritable) and release an electrical signal, causing an 'extra' or early heartbeat." from the British Heart Foundation website.
I think persistent AF is just AF (with the word persistent if it is necessary to make the type of AF clear)
Thank you Carole. It must be difficult to tell what is ectopic or AF
I'm afraid I have not (knowingly) experienced ectopic beats but I'm sure others here would be able to describe them. I think people can tell the difference and I'm pretty sure that an ECG would do so.
Why not post again with a specific subject line for your question? (eg how to tell the difference between AF and ectopics) That way it will catch the eye of anyone who feels they might be able to help.
My heart just jumps around all the time. I used to be terrified but have got used to it. It is persistent AF and ablations and cardio versions have not worked. Usually I can now , with Digoxin and Rivaraxoban , more or less forget about it. I once took ,by mistake , Paracetemol Extra, the packet is the same. I ended up blue lights flashing to A and E. The other thing that I avoid is instant coffee. Long lasting virus trigger bad episodes and, I have to admit that the pneumonia jab recently really laid me low, 2 days after the jab.
Every one is different..
Ectopics are premature beats. One beat arriving early. Usually followed by a slightly delayed but normal beat.
The P in PAF stands for paroxsysmal, episodes that spontaneously arrive but go within 7 days.
Permanent AF is just ‘AF’ and that’s an episode that lasts more than 7 days.
To me, an ectopic feels like a little jump in the chest followed by a small pause then another beat I can feel which is normal but harder.
Pat
in reply to fallingtopieces
I've also asked for a description of ectopics on previous posts. This response is very clear and descriptive so thanks for that. I seem to feel them in my throat when they happen but as I also feel the trigger of AF in my throat when it does go the ecoptics are quite disconcerting at times.
My understanding is that there has been some fine-tuning in the terminology.
The more current view is that an episode lasting more than 7 days is persistent (PsAF)
When the persistent AF reaches one year, it becomes Long-standing Persistent.
Permanent AF refers to both the patient and the doctor deciding that there is noting more that can be done to bring the patient back to sinus rhythm.
As I understand it AF is just a general term for Atrial Fibrillation. PAF is paroxysmal AF Persistent AF .. where AF persists and requires normally dc cardioversion to restore NSR....is described as such. Permanent AF...where patient is continuously in AF, usually asymptomatic...and is described as such
Luludean in reply to
I certainly know I have AF ! It quite alarms gps and nurses .You get used to it.
It must be very unnerving to be in permanent AF and be very aware of it. What is your average heart rate? If you have had ablations and dccvs don't work , has pace /ablate been offered?
Thomas45 in reply to
I had Paroxysmal AF for about 20 years. In June it was discovered to be asymptomatic persitent, heart rate about 80bpm. if it persists for a year then it can be described as permanent. I'm sure it will continue. My only medication is Warfarin. I tried Rivaroxaban but I had an adverse reaction to it, and rather than try another NOAC I went back to Warfarin and bought my own testing meter.
I can "feel" the irregular rhythm when I'm in bed and my ear is on the pillow, not all the time but in certain positions of ear on the pillow, or when I feel my pulse. I've never been offered ablations, which to me do seem to be a lot of hassle at a fairly great cost to the NHS in the UK, for no guarantee of success. I'm told that permanent AF is not in itself life threatening. If you're of working age then ablations may improve your quality of life. I've been losing weight so as to put less strain on my heart. (I'm 6' 7" tall and was overweight, probably still am, but have gained 5 notches on my trouser belt.)
What was the adverse reaction?
in reply to Thomas45
Well done on losing those inches. it is hard work and well worth the effort.
Luludean in reply to
Yes it is but ! am responsible for a 98 year old never ill , religious mother, 4 over 30 year old kids and 5 grandchildren. I am SO sick of caring for others that you can not imagine.😱😱😱 honestly don't have space to fret about myself. Do get very cross when I have to pay to see same cardiologist though. However since my money ran out completely and I have to see my man on the NHS his attitude to me seems to have changed.Certainly never been offered pace oblate.
in reply to Luludean
Luludean ...I'm so sorry that you have so much to contend with in addition to AF. One of the troubles with AF is that we, particularly women, most often do not look ill and so others don't appreciate what we are going through.
I think that sometimes we have to learn to say No to other people and put ourseves first for a change .Easier said than done. I have been there.
Your cardio s attitude is not good but I have heard of others with similar experiences . I consider myself lucky in that I have been seeing the same EP regularly for the past 6/7 years and never feel rushed in my appts even though I know he has a very heavy workload.
We all have different ways of coping. Personally I wouldn't be without my Kardia device. I find it invaluable to keep a record of my normal heart trace and deviations. It makes me feel in control but of course others would call it obsessive and not for them.
Best wishes
Sandra
Luludean in reply to
Sandra ,thank you for your lovely response . I quite agree with the "woman looking fine " bit.
We might get more attention if we had a bin bag over our heads. It is either that attitude or "well at your age......."
Grrrrr. I will never go out without make up , mind you after valve repair I did not look quite as good. 😀
Sunshine89 in reply to
In reply to Yatsura, I understand that need for wanting to feel in control. At a recent first appointment with an EP I told him I would like to be able to check my pacemaker to see if I am in AFIB and when he asked "why" I didn't know so I just said, "I'm a person who needs to know". Maybe others would call this obsessive?? Anyway, I just want you to know that you're not alone in needing to know. Best wishes..
I can fully emphasise with your situation re. Caring roles. I have 86 yr old very opinionated mother with different heart condition, failing kidney's with frequent fall compounded due to alcohol abuse, 2disabled teenagers, 3disabled grandchildren, 6kids of my own, who all turn to me, work part time, husband walked out 3yrs ago. First af 10th aug thus year, get up 6.30 in the morning and don't stop till around 11pm. Absolutely no time for myself and all a struggle with EDS and osteoarthritis too. X
Good grief I will ever moan again!!! Diamond daisy.
When do you have time for yourself?
I don't
😖x
Well I am full of admiration for you!!
You must be a saint!
Lol. Well don't get time to be in trouble lol
I don't, unfortunately. I'd love to. But family are important to me
OMG...... how do you manage!!!! You are an angel in disguise. My heart goes out to you💕💕💕
Ty. N not really just no opportunity to do anything to get in bother
in reply to Diamonddaisy
A Diamond indeed!! You make me feel quite breathless !
I think I know the feelling. I'm 72 and look after my now 23 year old Godson. He has anxiety and depression problems, is unemployed and will probaby never work for any length of time. He was mugged at the weekend and lost a great deal of possessions - phone, passport, bank card, bus pass, and a change of clothes. Police were very good but it's me who has sorted him out. And then there's the 3 cats that help to keep me sane, all neutured but the male is the randiest cat I've known. Follows female cats, mounts female cats, and is oblivious to being called in for food if he's following a female cat. As a retired chartered librarian I help out at the village library which is now managed and run by volunteers, and I have compiled, and continue to update daily a website all about my village. I don't have time to think about my heart, just listen to it, sometimes when I'm in bed.
Oh my.! That is so sad about your godson. I hope he is alright. I get the "listening to your heart at night" part. That's what I'm doing too. Then exhaustion takes over. Until pain in the rest of my body takes over.
Your cats sound wonderful characters. I have a 2yr old German Shepherd, husky cross, and just taken in a 10yr old gs who was in need of a stable home, she only has 3 legs after an accident yrs ago. Both girls and have both been in season this last couple of weeks, it's been a mad house
Luludean in reply to
No, and I certainly would never put myself through another ablation. No idea what my average heart rate is, I don't do self monitoring, it would send me completely neurotic. Prefer painting, gardening ,walking and friends. Carpe diem.
When I first bought my Coaguchek meter I did test myself frequently, but now it tends to be every 6 weeks, when I receive the email from the arrhythmia nurse. But having it means I can test myself whenever I want. I did when I had a rectal bleed - which turned out to be a polyp in my sigmoid colon. Excellent service from doctor - saw here same day as I rang up, saw a hospital consultant 7 days later (that was a Monday). Had a CT scan on the following Sunday, and polyp removed a fortnight later, all on the NHS, all done within 4 weeks of first seeing the GP.
Luludean
I have experienced AF and ectopic heartbeats and did some online research. It was one of my blog posts.
Hope this gives you more info.
My ectopics are just a very hard heartbeat sometimes it feels like my heart has flipped over.
Same. I've had ectopic beats since I was 19 that's 40yrs now dealing with flutters after afib
Diamonddaisy
In some weird way, I have now made peace with the Ectopic beats and know that they only last for a while in my case. In the beginning, it was a great shock everytime I felt them.
Like Janco I have made peace with ectopic beats, when I realised they were not going to kill me it occurred to me that worrying about them was probably doing me more harm than the actual beats so now I ignore them 
.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
A Fib
I had an ablation done on 12/23, now I have no palpitations, my Dr. says I can go off the Eliquis...
Ivermectin may have improved my afib
I'm in constant afib, but still functional. Was taking 12 mg ivermectin every half month since...
AF and reaching up.
I don’t know if this really is a daft question, but has anyone had a trigger for AF when reaching...
Heart rate increase
Over time, my NSR events have lessened and been replaced by SVEs most of the time - so my Kardia...
high blood pressure
I’ve been in hospital all day today. Woke at 6am with racing heart and ectopics. Took my blood...
76 years old with A F
shortness of breath
3% Afib burden and proposed medication
