Butterflies in the heart

[Profound15]

Not wanting to tempt fate but my afib has been ok recently but last night I had an episode of what I would call butterflies in the heart. I’ve had it before but it seemed to last an age but realistically probably 30s. I got up in the early hours to go to the loo and cam back to bed. I lay on my left side and then the butterflies hit me. I got all hot and sweaty but on checking my pulse it appeared that I was still in SR and not overly high. Sat up and did some deep breathing ( as per Bob’s advice) and it all settled down. Needless to say I couldn’t sleep after that. Anyone any ideas what it might have been. I suspect just palpitations. Thank you

[Hidden]

Hi Profound,

Look, I'm not a medic, just a sufferer but I'd suggest a minor hit of Atrial Flutter at worst, or palpitations at best. But, that said I have on one occasion had full blown AF after a period of night time sleep, sleeping on my left side.

As my AF appears to be Vagal Nerve in origin I really believe my previous nights evening meal may have settled inappropriately in my gut thus upsetting my vagal nerve, thus triggering AF.

Hope this line of thinking helps.

John

[Profound15 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Yes my afib is vagal nerve stimulated as well. I’m hoping it’s just some palpitations. Might invest in a kardia pad just to check these things. Problem with the kardia is the event might have finished by the time I take a reading.

[Dangerousdriver in reply to Profound15]

Worth getting a Kardia to be honest. Great bits of kit and can ease your mind, plus allows Dr’s to help diagnose you at check ups and build a history. I send mine to my cardiac nurses who file them away and respond with their thoughts of what happened. I also have the Apple Watch that whilst not accurate is always on my arm and has also caught events that you can save and send to medical professionals.

[Hidden in reply to Profound15]

I forgot to say that increasingly in the last 6 weeks I have been having more and more food related problems and am planning to consult a Nutritionist to get a fix on food that is causing the problem. Pure guess work at the moment but I am deeply suspicious of preservatives/additives in sauces used in cooking.

When it all goes wrong I bloat like a balloon, almost like being attached to an airline pumping up car tyres at a garage. Very painful. Heart then proceeds to bang and thump like its trying to break out of Alcatraz ..... exactly what happened the night I woke up in AF.

All that said I have often in the early days of AF described my heart as ..... squadrons of butterflies having a dogfight in my chest, or, a bag of worms wriggling away in my chest.

I don't have a Kardia but use another brand of handheld device to monitor my ECG. Which it certainly did on the night I woke up in AF, and confirmed by my BP monitor.

John

[Dangerousdriver in reply to Hidden]

Think I had the same this morning as well. A bout of flutter when I woke up! Now I feel shattered and with the butterfly feeling in my chest.

[Dangerousdriver]

I had exactly the same this morning! Not pleasant at all is it! Like you I’m vagal nerve affected, and I’ve noticed arguments, stress etc can all trigger me.

Even subconsciously which is worrying as you can’t control subconscious thoughts!

Hope you feel better though...

[Profound15 in reply to Dangerousdriver]

Thanks dangerous. It’s a really horrible feeling and like you could be caused by stress subconsciously. Since the afib hit me I’ve completely changed my diet and do not overeat. I’ve also gone teetotal which I think really helps. I’m also drinking Rooibos tea which does help calm me down a bit. Trying not to think about being stressed causes me stress. It’s a vicious circle. This morning now although I’m tired I feel ok but I’ve been out and about. It’s when I sit and relax is when the ectopics kick in unfortunately. I might just invest in either the kardia or the Apple Watch

[heartmatters1]

I get similar symptoms ‘fluttery butterflies’ in the chest area - most of the time I put it down to trapped wind, as when I move/sit up the wind comes up & it goes off. I do get quite a bit of indigestion & heartburn, and as we know it’s all connected to the vagal nerve and can cause flutters/palpitations etc. Well that’s my theory & it stops me panicking when it happens. Can’t lie on my left side for long either 🥴