Ignoring ectopics: I get probably 1... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Ignoring ectopics

16 Replies

I get probably 15,000 ectopics per 24 hrs and so far I haven't managed to fade them out like I can my tinnitus. They are mainly a problem when I am sitting down or trying to get to sleep.

I find it impossible to ignore them and they keep reminding me I have a heart problem. They have only become a problem recently. I have had an ablation for AF.

Can you ignore your ectopics?

16 Replies
Naomi63 profile image
Naomi63

I used to get them a lot for months after my ablation. They are very disturbing at night time but I was able to ignore them during the day. I don’t get them hardly at all over a year after my ablation now. 15000 seems like an awful lot! I also have tinnitus. My main problem at the moment is chronic pain underneath my rib cage on my left side.

SnoopyJ profile image
SnoopyJ in reply to Naomi63

I'm also having chronic pain under my left ribcage as well. The only med that I take is Xarelto to prevent stroke and have Afib episodes occasionally with few symptoms. The pain occasionally seems to be in my back on the left side as well and I've had an ultrasound and X-rays done with no resolution. I often wonder if it's the result of the medication as I didn't have this before taking it.

Naomi63 profile image
Naomi63 in reply to SnoopyJ

I’m in the middle of getting a diagnosis for this. They have ruled out cardiac issues. The suggestion is that it is muscle or nerve damage from the ablation for AVNRT. (I think that pain that radiates into the back could be nerve related. I also have that if I’ve done a lot of exercise. ) I have been advised to use a TENS machine. I’m going back to my GP to see where do I go from here. Would a physiotherapist help, I wonder?

SnoopyJ profile image
SnoopyJ in reply to Naomi63

Tried physio therapy but it really didn't help, am thinking of going to a chiropractor, or maybe trying accupuncture.

Naomi63 profile image
Naomi63 in reply to SnoopyJ

Could you try a different medication? I feel like my pain is a muscle spasm and that is also one of the side effects of your medication. I’m not in any meds so will keep searching for an answer or something to try.

SnoopyJ profile image
SnoopyJ in reply to Naomi63

I've read online that the other anticoagulants seem to have similar side affects. I'll discuss options with my doctor. Thanks for the thoughts Naomi.

stevie11 profile image
stevie11

I got 33000 a day yeah i was uncomfortable short of breath and found it hard to sleep..

Since the ablation 5 months ago, my ectopics are down to 1200 per day and you know what i do not feel any better..

You've had an ablation and have 15000 wow well you need to get some more medical advice..

Naomi63 profile image
Naomi63 in reply to stevie11

How do you know how many you’re getting? Are you using some kind of monitor?

in reply to Naomi63

Hi. I get one every 2nd or 3rd pulse beat at the wrist. So I calculated 25 x60x24 in NSR. Actually that is 36000 which can't be true so maybe they are reduced when I am on the move. Yup a monitor would be the only way to be sure. Thanks

stevie11 profile image
stevie11 in reply to Naomi63

Holter monitor picks all that up i assume..

I had a successful ablation for AF in 2005 but eventually started getting ectopics. I too get many, many thousands in a day and it was unbearable. I have been put on rhythm control drugs which are keeping them at bay, so might be worth asking about this. But I'd say this was definitely a decision for my EP/heart rhythm specialist.

in reply to

Which drug helps your ectopics? I'm hoping Biso will help me when it starts working. Maybe I will need a higher dose. Will see GP again. Thanks

in reply to

Disopyramide works for me but obviously we're all different so what works for me is probably not relevant. Just making the point that I have had success with a drug, in fact there are a couple that work on me to differing degrees.

Hope you get a solution as I know how uncomfortable can be. Mine were just constant, all day every day. You couldn't really take my pulse. So we really had to try something.

meadfoot profile image
meadfoot

I guess it depends how intrusive they are which is c!early the case for you. Where i feel ectopics in my chest area varies, when they feel higher in my chest they feel the worst.

I asked my EP why I feel them in different areas of my chest and he explained that it was where they happened in the heart beat cycle, I found that reassuring.

I sometimes have big kicks which feel like something has literally kicked me in the chest i call them donkey kicks and they make me take a physical step back they are so powerful.

On occasion i have ectopics around 20,000 recorded on a monitor in a 24 hour period. If I have them for several weeks i feel awful, at those points i eventually take my pill in the pocket flecainide to settle them as instructed to do by my EP, he says in my case they can flip me into af or svt so nip them in the bud.

We are all so different i think I would speak with your cardiac medic for advice if they are troubling you. Best wishes.

in reply to meadfoot

Thanks for that meadfoot. I will see if she thinks an extra Biso would be OK if they get really bad.

Thanks everybody that's been very helpful because you have confirmed my suspicion that above a certain level ectopics are going to need meds or ablation. But I did discover something else that breathing exercises are meant to be done without using the chest muscles

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