Apologies for leaping straight in, but for around 12 days I have been experiencing what I believed to be breathlessness from a possible exposure coronavirus after a holiday in Spain. I thought that I might have a URTI or a bit worse. I have been doing breathing exercises and breathing really deeply and well. But these episodes were getting worse, if anything. I have taken my pulse in a lazy way by only counting for 15 seconds and multiplying by 4, but I noticed that I skipped a beat within that 15 seconds today and my breath changed as it happened. In the last 20 minutes though, I have felt it skipping more often with corresponding worsening breathlessness. It has settled down a bit now.
What should I do?
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If it is just a few skipped beats these are probably ectopic or out of place beats and everybody gets them. Once you focus on them it seems that they get worse so try not to.
Try deep slow breathing (try to keep below 6 breaths a minute) and make sure you drink lots of water.
If you have been exposed to covid 19 then please call the NHS line for advice.
Thank you, I probably have during 5 hours in Malaga airport 3 weeks ago. Ok I’ll call them now. Thanks again
Hello Icicles, we know how you feel, I think everyone is becoming more and more sensitive to any changes occurring in the way they feel. You need to remember that virtually none of us on this forum are medically trained therefore we cannot offer specific medical advice but we can help to reinforce what is well publicised within the public domain. The initial symptoms for the Coronavirus we are told are a persistent, dry cough, a significant fever which you do not need a medical thermometer to ascertain and now they are suggesting the loss in the senses of smell or taste. From what you have said, these symptoms do not seem to apply to your condition. To my knowledge, breathlessness on its own is not registered as a symptom of the Coronavirus .
BobD has commented on the issues rated skipped beats etc. The only thing I would add is that given what we are all going through at the moment, it is really is not surprising that the addition stress, strain and fear we are facing has an affect on the way the heart functions. In your case, I see that you have thyroid issues and this too can have an impact on your heart.
By now, you may have spoken to the NHS and if so, it would be helpful for us to know what they had to say. Follow Bob’s suggestions about trying to keep calm and pursuing deep breathing practices, and hopefully your fears regarding the virus will be satisfactorily resolved. Hope this helps, you are not alone......
I was extremely relaxed about the possibility of having coronavirus and looked forward to being immune. I had no symptoms, but having spent several days in Malaga as the virus hit and lockdown started, I was sure that I had had it and was delighted about the possibility of being immune.
As I began my 7th day of isolation the breathlessness arrived and I thought that I was starting a chest/cough symptom of coronavirus. Again I was delighted to have it out of the way. I had noticed a 2degree increase in temperature during the first week but no other symptoms. As it continued into the 3rd week since we returned I was a bit fed up that it hadn’t turned into the chest infection I had expected. I have been doing breathing exercises and huffing and coughing exercises as I was waiting for the mucus (apologies) to arrive, but it didn’t.
My friends were nagging me last night and today, ‘get that checked out’. I took my temperature 35.6 and took my pulse-60, but I noticed at the 15 second mark, a skip. And as the skip happened my breathless feeling happened. That was a shock, I could feel my heart pounding, but I hadn’t imagined that I was skipping a beat. I messaged my friend, she said, post a question to AF. Thank you BobD for replying so quickly. NHS111 said go to A&E, my friend said speak to your surgery. I called the surgery and went down. The nurse who did the ECG said that I had a ‘ventricular flutter’ and showed me an ‘extra beat’ I was having. ‘Better than AF’ she said.
The doctor said, ‘this is common...if you have one or two a day you just reset...if you are having more than that you notice and then you focus on it and it gets worse...why does it happen...when the body has been under physical stress...it can happen after pneumonia for example...I’d like to see it gone in two weeks...if you collapse or keel over or anything more serious happens let me know’
I feel relieved, I got the impression that he did think that it was related to a possible coronavirus infection. But that I would get better, though not if I focused on it. I’m going to relax and do more relaxing and relax more. And breathe.
I think the point you raise about getting it and benefitting from possible immunity is interesting but of course, we cannot place an order for how the Coronavirus will affect us, hence the 3600 + deaths in the UK and growing!! Not a risk I would take at my age......
the deaths are shocking and the rate at which they are increasing is entirely to be expected when enough wasn’t done to test, trace, isolate and treat from the beginning. I am terrified for many people in my life who are vulnerable, but if I only have to worry about not being a vector, I am much more use to others. I didn’t mean to sound reckless or naive. I am truly grateful to have somewhere to come to ask questions when I don’t understand. It was a very scary couple of hours for me and I thank you for being there and interested enough to help out xx
I read somewhere that China found that abou 16% of Covid19 patients found that their hearts became out of sync. Sorry can't recall the technical term. A yway they needed an electric shock to restore the natural rhythm.
Is your temperature still normal - about 37C? If so, you’re unlikely to have an infection.
It sounds as if you might be over focusing on what are pretty much normal things. Given the heightened nervous state we’re all in these days, that’s to be expected. My own heartbeat “skips” frequently and has for much of my adult life. It’s been worse lately, too. There have been times when I’ve become very anxious about it when I need to keep reminding myself it’s been like that for years.
If you do have raised temperature and also a dry repetitive cough, phone 111 for advice.
All true and good advice but we need to remember that some people have few or no symptoms. When the blood test (if.) becomes available you may be able to get a test to check if you have had it.
Could it be Pollen? Pollen High in Ramsgate kent at the mo so I wear a dust mask, just been for a 4 mile bike ride , age 77 with af and Sinus Bradycardia but feel much better since taking vit c and zinc effervescent tabs in water .
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Flutter and Heart beat
Sound of heart beating.
Alternating heart beat
Heart Palpitations (skipped beats)
Heart does a quick double beat 
