Just a quick question for the past couple of months I have been suffering with what I believe is ectopics?! I'm due for a holter monitor in august but the ectopics have been getting so bad to the point where I feel like i cant breathe they seem to be so aggressive and I'm having one after the other they are causing me alot of distress my ecg showed normal heart rhythm with sinus arrhythmia I used to have clusters of them that would happen a couple of times in the day lasting anywhere between a few minutes to hours I had a drink at the start of June and experienced the ectopics for four hours. Recently they have been waking me from my sleep during the night and this morning I woke up due to them and just lay there for a while and it was just this horrible and constant flip flopping/ fluttering feeling in my chest that I just can not ignore I also get a thundering in my chest and sometimes I can feel like I cant breathe especially when it seems to be every single beat is an ectopic??? Just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat?? Thanks
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Staceyhunter
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Why not use the search facility where you will find lots of people's experiences of ectopics. There is also a very helpful slow deep breathing exercise which often terminates them.
Lay back and relax. Breath from your stomach (diaphragm) not your shoulders and count ten slowly going in and ten slowly going out. Push your stomach against your spine to make sure all the air goes out. Repeat at no more than six breaths a minute. (with practice you can get this much ,lower) for AT LEAST five minutes. Jobs a good un. Worked every time for me. (and many others )
Thank you so much....I will definitely practise the breathing , I was actually doing a breathing exercise which was breathing in for 5 then out for 5 which worked great the first few times I like the idea of pushing the stomach towards the spine so i will give it a bash 👍 thanks for your time
sorry to hear that, the holter will give more info as to what is happening, but sods law dictates that your heart will behave itself whilst you are wired up. This is what happened to me
Try not to worry, you recognise that the ectopics are making you distressed and that is a good start. You now need to train your brain to try and ignore them. I have managed this to some extent, but sometimes they catch me out
Yes its very difficult and this is my worry that I will have a "good day" and no episodes will be caught on the monitor. But time will tell ,, thanks for your reply
Horrible, horrible things which love the anxiety which they cause and that means even more of them. And, I agree, they hide from diagnostic traces!!!
I found the breathing exercise invaluable and usually do it for 10 minutes. Interestingly, since I changed from Bisoprolol 1.25 to Nebivolol 2.5, the ectopics are less bothersome.
I too have found that. On the changeover ie during the time when the Bisoprolol was gradually departing my body I had more but now I have been on the Nebivolol since mid May and I don't think I have had any in the last 2 or 3 weeks. And I have been quite stressed during that time because of a bad relapse in my FQ toxicity symptoms. I feel better on the Nebivolol overall. I was only taking .65 mg on the Bisoprolol as well!
I too have been having the same symptoms. I have had a heart scan which came back normal findings and had the event recorder given to me for 4 weeks to use when I had an episode. Had a letter from them on Saturday to say I have Monomorphic Ventricular Ectopics and they now want to do an exercise stress test for cardiac ischemia.
They’re pretty scary and it’s that overwhelming feeling that I’m just going to conk out any second.. Do you have any other symptoms at all? Light headedness etc ?
Really hope you get answers soon, really not nice to go through x
I've never heard of monomorphoc ventricular episodes very interesting how do they feel? My episodes last for a long time and I'm so worried about what they could be?? They just dont seem to ease up and I've had all sorts of symptoms from them i was actually up at the clinic assessment unit yesterday as i was experiencing dizziness with the ectopics and when the gp took my pulse she said it was all over the place (so scary) so when they done the first ecg it was abnormal and I noticed that it read Super ventricular tachycardia however they sent the scan to the cardiologists and they disagreed that it was SVT and that it was actually only sinus tachycardia so they done a 2nd ecg and said I was back into a normal rhythm and that apparently there was alot of interference from the first ecg....strange. so I'm now due to have an echocardiogram done. But yes I do get a lot of other symptoms too like chest tightness, lightheadedness, dizzy spells feeling like I cant breathe but I will say that I'm very anxious about them it's a massive worry. I wish you all the best x
You sound exactly like myself at the moment and I feel for you.
I was admitted to hospital over night a few weeks back, blood tests and ecgs were completed and all came back fine. However the reason for that was because I was sat waiting to be seen for 5 hours and by this time it had passed. They could see from the ECG on the event recorder given to me by cardiology that it was abnormal/deviating waveform and came up ‘please show a Dr’ hence why I went in, but the big issue as far as actual tests at the moment is being able to catch it in time when it’s happening which is where your monitor they will be giving you will be handy!
My symptoms are -
- Extreme fatigue
- Pounding / thudding in chest and a sinking feeling
- Breathlessness but more in the sense that I have a sudden change of breathing sensation as though there isn’t enough oxygen in the air all of a sudden
- Light headedness daily, this is the one thing that doesn’t seem to shift even without other symptoms occurring
- Pins & needles
- Feeling disorientated and as though my eyes cant focus
- it’s an extreme effort to even talk
- Go very clammy then very cold and begin to shake (mainly my legs) and get slight spasm in my chest
- I have had pain once going from just under my collar bone down my left arm, but all other times no pain at all.
- A feeling of constant fullness and zero appetite, I have lost 4 stone in 10 months (was previously classed as medically overweight however didn’t consider myself to be)
Are these similar to yours ?
I’m sorry I can’t be much comfort as far as giving you a bit of hope and support with answers from a diagnosis I have had as I haven’t got that far either yet. But all I can say is I really do hope you get your answers soon too. It’s hard, really hard. That feeling of no control. I feel you sound the same as myself where it has completely changed and controlling your life at the moment, we need to make every effort not to try not to let it though eh
Oh my so many debilitating symptoms just like me...wow! I get pins and needles aswell and the other morning i woke up in a clammy sweat! Ive also experienced the cold and shaking like you mentioned which usually happens after Ive experienced a fast heart rate all pretty scary symptoms, you know I think alot of it is stress?! I just want it to go away tbh others on here have mentioned magnesium have you tried any magnesium? I have and so far iam not impressed if anything when I increased the dose it made things worse however it was magnesium that I picked up at boots the favourite seems to be magnesium taurate or magnesium citrate i would probably prefer to try the oil. For the past couple of days I have also been experiencing nausea. When are you due for your stress test? I hope it's not too long for you. X
I also can’t drink alcohol, one drink and it sends me in to a frenzy for hours. I’ve stopped smoking, no caffeine, low sugars & salts the lot but still getting them.
Oh I know how you feel havent touched alcohol since the last episode I had which lasted for 4 hours! Just awful it affects your mental health aswell I have felt so drained and tired most days since all this has came about
That's very true I know alcohol makes them crazy but it lasts for hours so I'm not to sure about that one . But fingers crossed something will trigger them on the day so I know exactly what's going on I'll think of something I think spicy foods has been another one that gets them going 😖
I just wanted to say to you to please try and relax when you are having the ectopics as your symptoms seem as though you are almost having a panic attack which is understandable but makes them much worse. Do you avoid caffeine as well as alcohol as that is a well known trigger and even chocolate can be a trigger or over eating. I had constant ectopics when I was expecting my youngest child 27 years ago because of the extra strain on my body. I have had AF ever since but I manage it with healthy eating and being sensible. But like you i have had episodes of constant ectopics brought on by stress. At these times I go for walks and do anything to take my mind off them until they stop. Try not to worry and good luck. X
Thank you... I do stress and when my mind is occupied I rarely feel them. Like you I eat healthy I stopped caffeine at least 6 months ago and havent touched any alcohol since june and at the moment dont intend to any time soon 😖😖
Sorry to hear that they are a nightmare at times. Mine got sorted after changing medication and was free for 6 months, but are now back as I am going through big stress currently. Vicious circle. Keep smiling
Stacey, do you get a lot of burping when you get the ectopics? If so, it's worth seeing if gaviscon settles the burping & ectopics. Then if that works, see your Doc to see if you can try ranitidine or the various similar meds. I'd tried everything for my ectopics, but once the heart-gut connection was explained and addresed, I have been almost free of them.
Strangely I have been burping alot yes but not while having the ectopics and it is actually unusual for me??? I do also suffer from UC and my crp levels in my blood are sitting at 130 when they should be at 5 or below so pretty high levels of inflammation right now due to a flare 😖 maybe theres a connection with UC and the heart as it's all gut related?!
Hi Euve and others. Very good question. Very reassuring for me seeing everyone's replies. I had my Radio frequency ablation for persistent AF a week ago today. Was very lucky they squeezed me in early . 4 days notice, otherwise v long waiting list and prospect of Amioderone for as long as.., while I waited and possibly through the blanking period. Was a lot more anxious about that tbh, n so relieved when they said I could have it next weds.
I was very nervous walking in there though, n they were so reassuring. I had read all the risks and the stats a few times over..
So now I can report a week on that the only pain during the op was putting the venflon in my hand by the anaesthetist. Over night stay in hospital was fine. No pain there, all obs were good.
From what I have read in here everyone's recovery is different. So for me, apart from general weakness from the ordeal to the body I didn't get symptoms till 2 days later. Then the migraine set in. Was expecting that as I am prone anyways, still have one now a bit, tho it's easing I think, been waking up each day with its return, after taking Rizatriptan am, also some abdominal swelling which I still have with stomach cramps that only got significant last couple of days. Kept me awake last night a bit. Also still feeling weak.
BP went high since Friday as well, tho this am, was fine. Saw my GP about that today N she wouldn't increase my antihypertensives as she says I am still in flux.
My left atria is dilated, which gives me more risk of it coming back so I want my BP to be tip top to help that reduce, now I am out if AF, bar a few ectopics as I adjust
And would I have it done again YES apsolutely, and won't be so scared then !!
I am 54, and was pretty fit before so no question I want to get that back!!
Do let us know how u get on N how you progress.
Yo u will be in good hands
Best of luck
Wendy
Hi Stacey yes I have been where you are fit 45 years with up to 23,000 of them in a day.
A few months ago we were at an airbnb and the owner was a doctor who had his own cardiac problems. He and his wife suggested I try Magnesium citrate, not the oxide or the carbonate or any other quack stuff from the pharmacies or supermarkets, because they just flush through and end up in the toilet. The citrate is absorbed. I started on two 400mg tabs a day for a few weeks but have now reduced to taking one 400mg a day for a few months now and the improvement has been remarkable. I still get a few but the severity is a fraction of what they were before.
I take it your episodes were caught on a monitor? I take it you feel them pretty bad aswell? I was taking magnesium I picked it up from boots and honestly when I increased the dose I genuinely believe it made the ectopics worse, however iam willing to try other ones. So fingers crossed as they drive me insane!!
Another miracle cure Stacey which works every time is a dose of Gaviscon.
On New Years Day I was just wishing i could die the symptoms were so bad. I had a few drinks the night before including some of Farmer Dave's home - made plum brandy. At 4 am I got out of bed and went and had some of my miracle cure. An hour later I was back to normal. Oh, and i bet the magnesium you were taking was not citrate.
I feel your pain I really do 😂 I have sat at night almost in tears (female of course) just completely at my wits end I'm tired and i cant sleep. No definitely not citrate so I'd obviously be willing to give it a bash...and the gaviscon is interesting better get some in bucket loads 😂
Which also means that our problems emanate from the top of the stomach and are caused by stimulation of the vagus nerve which wraps around the heart and the stomach. That's why Gaviscon settled our symptoms.
I only take a dose of Gaviscon when necessary. Don't overdose on it. Do some reading of your own. Search this blog for other stuff I have put up. You will learn a lot about your condition.
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