Anyone else only get ectopics when resting? like you don't get them when your moving about walking etc?
Ectopics/When do they happen? - Atrial Fibrillati...
Ectopics/When do they happen?
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Padayn01
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Much more likely when resting as your heart rate is slower and this enables the heart to slip in an extra beat or miss one.
Pete
Like you Padayn01 I get them when I am resting. They can sometimes feel really powerful and so off putting. The last two days have been particularly uncomfortable. They get so bad I sometimes think it is something worse than ectopics!
How have you been? How’s your granddaughter? Yes for the last 4 weeks they have been happening everyday done days better than others but I’ve just switched to mag taurate to see if that helps I’ve also had a 7 day holter monitor so waiting in results of that
Yesterday I would have said doing ok! Then this morning went into AF, took a PIP not so bad now. The ectopics are driving me daft sometimes make me feel quite breathless!
My granddaughter is doing really well thank you. She was 21 in February and has been doing so well she applied and was accepted at University, so proud of her.
How are you surviving lockdown!
So glad about your granddaughter now she’s doing ok would you consider your 2nd abalation? My lockdown been ok apart from these bloody ectopics driving me crazy they got so bad I had to go A&E got discharge within 2 hours saying ECG fine speak to your cardiologist
I went for the 2 nd ablation in February, I was so poorly following that one and took ages to recover to any form of normality. My EP said that if she has to do another she will put me out completely. I don’t think that will happen. It’s strange isn’t it that most people are fine then others like me struggle. I would never put anyone off them though because I do think they are good for most.
Oh gosh you sound as though you are going through a terrible time at the moment, I do hope your results are ok. Let me know won’t you. Take care xx
Worse after exertion. Can't walk up the 3 flights of stairs at home. Have to stop halfway to wait for the ectopics to diminish. At times it feels like my heart will just give up on me.
Oh no that bad do they play up when you are moving?
We are all different!
Me too
Why you think that is?
I have no idea. Just what hearts do. I think I’m going into AF every time as before taking Bisoprolol that’s how my episodes would start. But since Bisoprolol I’ve not had AF. But I wait every time for it to visit me. They showed up on my holter had 55 runs with the longest 18 beats. So it’s just something I’ve accepted 😟. Along with other things my heart is doing. Hope yours settle. But I get your concern.
Can you just explain the runs on your results and 18 beats please? Thank you for your concern I wish we all found a way to keep our hearts at bay
I’m not sure but that is what the letter stated. So it was the result of the Holter monitor. It showed AF as well brief episodes. The echo showed a few more problems with my heart. I was offered an ablation but I declined as family are going through enough and I’ll consider when this all gets worse as one day I’m sure it will as I age even more. .....deep joy.
So far physically I’m ok. So will see how it goes.
But..... the more you worry the worse it gets so I just try and ignore it. Boy is it hard. 🙄🙄
I feel your pain trying to ignore it is almost impossible especially for me as my anxiety I can’t control, sorry to hear you decline ablation I had an ablation 11 months ago with a slight improvement
I had pericarditis when I was 29 and they found mitral valve problems so it’s probably the cause of that that started AF. So missed beats extra beats long runs of ectopics are all the electrical faults in the heart. Some symptomatic some aren’t. But I’m still alive it could be so much worse. Best of luck with your tests.
Thank you really hope things settle down for all of us
Yes. It’s a pain in the bum. I get told .... oh everyone gets palpitations 😡 which they do. But not like AF. Have to smile eh?
Yeah there palpitations and than there our kind of palpitations
What do you take for your AF
25mg metraprole and mag taurate that’s it at the moment
Do you take an anticoagulant?
No I have a 0 chad score cardiologist did not recommend any for me
Ok well I suppose they know best. Good you’ve had a Holter monitor so you will know more about your naughty heart.
Good luck.
Thank you and please keep in touch good to know I’m not alone
Ok let me know how you get on and you will never be alone on here as so many of us are all going through the same. It can get depressing I get that totally. Good days bad days the climate is rubbish too.
Deep breathing and counting really helps. All sorts of good advice on line to help you relax.
Have a rant whenever always someone will answer you.
Hello Padayn01. We've chatted before.
Would like to suggest a proton pump inhibitor PANTOPRAZOLE (Protonix).
Been on it for two weeks and the ectopics have virtually disappeared.
One tablet (40mg) one hour before food.
Definitely worth a go !!!
What are they?
• in reply toPadayn01
They are to protect your stomach from all the nasty medicine and can also help with acid reflux.
They are not for AF or ectopics and should not be taken long term
Padayn01• in reply to
Thanks for this Mike
Proton pump inhibitor PANTOPRAZOLE (Protonix. Pantium, etc) discourages the production of stomach acid. I was not aware that I had any stomach acid issue (no unusual symptoms).
Been taking one tablet (40mg) one hour before food for two weeks and my life has changed for the better: virtually no ectopics.
The usual caveats apply: "I am not a doctor and best check with GP".
All I can say is that I want to hug the doctor who suggested it !!
Wow and how bad where your ectopics before?
I had ectopics even when I was a student fifty years ago, mainly due to late nights and university pressure. In February 2018 Afib and my life was going downhill.
Reduced foods rich in purine (Uric acid), magnesium tablet every day, drink 10 glasses of water, lots of fruit and vegetables, adequate salt intake for electrolytes.
Normal BMI, lowish blood pressure, lowish heart rate.
I can't believe my last two weeks. No much more I can add...
My last experience of eptopics was when I had covid-19 but I've also had them post ablation(s) for a time.
Certainly more noticeable on resting when the HR had been up due to walking/exerting.
Yes. I recently had to transition to Amiodarone from Flecainide and in addition to now frequent afib, I find I’m feeling irregular heartbeat when I’m lying down (which unfortunately means bedtime).
Hi Padayn
Yes sadly I suffer from ectopics which mainly occur when at rest/relaxing and usually after some form of exercise or exertion and is accompanied by left sided chest pain which can often last for days not helped with the anxiety that goes with
By way of background I previously had A/F for a number of years 3 cardio conversions and two ablations all of which were unsuccessful in rectifying the problem
It was not until a few years ago discovered that I had a congenital heart disorder Anomalous Venous Drainage that has since been repaired following open heart surgery
Since then the Ectopics started and have got worse and the left sided chest pain more frequent and I am on the usual drug cocktail of Bisoprolol (increased recently ) Flecanide and Apixiban
I have despite Covid lockdown been recently fitted with a Holter monitor undertaken C/T angiogram and an MRI all of which despite the ectopics running in the thousands both atrial and ventricular been advised that results are reassuring in that I have no coronary heart issues. I cannot apparently have another ablation as the ectopics are multi focal
I have followed Dr Gupta a cardiologist who contributes to this site and tried the breathing exercises and Magnesium Torate which doesn't work for me (diarrhoea !) without success although his explanation of the chest pain was very informative
I have been advised by my GP after previously sending me to A and E the left sided chest pain could be reflux or musculoskeletal neither of which I think it is
I have tried to control the anxiety but like many others I am now at a loss as to how to alleviate the ectopics especially the chest pain tiredness and exhaustion that follows but thankful its not resulted in full blown a/f yet
Good luck with your symptoms
Hi mate I suffer only when resting .
My eptopics are the type we’re my heart stops a couple seconds then thumps back into action and the stopping causes a wave of anxiety and the thump is annoying . I went through a tough time with it as it was preventing me doing anything as they were always there and I could have loads of episodes in one go . I was to and from the doctor with them only to be fobbed off more or less as my doc is useless but In the end found that I was having ‘ ventricular eptopic beats ‘
I was on 10mg of propranolol 3 times a day but in fairness they were still there and more so in the day whilst driving in work and at night (so relaxing) I went back to doctors and told him these 10mg are not helping , I was put on 80mg of propranolol (slow release) which I take after tea or before , usually about 18.00pm and they have virtually disappeared mate , I get nothing in the day and after I get home most nights nothing but the odd day after work after relaxing they appear but as soon as I take my pill they go . I enjoy a drink socially and a coffee but no more than normal and was told alcohol and caffeine can irritate them (wether this is proven I’m unsure) but to be safe I have 1 coffee in the morning and decaf throughout the day if I fancy , with alcohol I may have a beer with my tea and weekends couple pints late afternoon and seems fine . Although wanting a skin full of beer I’m unsure how that would work , maybe leave tablet that day . But yeah the propranolol 80mg slow release has helped massively and I can live again without them taking over , the tablets you’ll feel effects of at first but nothing strange and that only lasted a few days and tablets started improving the symptoms after a few days gradually getting better . Although there still there slightly and I am going back to docs soon to find out why and if there’s anymore they can do as I’m only 39 and these came on suddenly 12 months ago.
Drop me a message any time dude always willing to chat/answer any questions . Nothing worse than thinking your alone with it.
Danny 👍
Hello Danny that’s very kind of you I’m only a year older than you pal my story is I got diagnosed with AF in Dec 2018 and had an abalation Aug 2019 things were going really well until 5 weeks ago the ectopics have been happening every day I’m waiting on results of 7 day holter minister currently on 25mg metraprole which helps a little but not a lot just so annoying they are horrible and ruining my life as anxiety increases so bad with them
Sorry to hear that mate I thought/read the ablation helps if targeted to the correct area , but if your having evidence of them happening in a pose to going to docs/a&e and then finding nothing then that would be worse , at least some evidence will help and aswell with the past AF they should find why etc. Just mention to your doctor you’ve spoke with some one with the same issue and if it’s safe for you to try propranolol the ones I take are (Bedranol SR modified release propranolol 80mg)
I was suffering mate really bad with em shit myself off the lot and now I hardly have anything at worst I have 1 bad episode and if I take the tablet within 45 mins I’m fine . Although I take mine at night 18.00 you can take in the morning and the pills take 2 weeks to be at full benefit to adapt to your body .
Yeah nothing worse .
Yeah just so frustrating this bloody AF just when you think you got a good pattern going than bang out of no where these bloody ectopics keep happening
I feel your pain dude honestly. A lot say beta blockers are bad and they make you breathless etc and I was unsure and they’ve been a huge help to me massively I was having anything from 50+ a day and now I can have days weeks with nothing and it’s hot to be because of these pills , without them i was suffering ....
I tried magnesium but didn’t do much really so I stopped , I will say though no caffeine helps loads and I was surprised at how much the same decaf is to regular . They say worrying about them makes them worse but you cannot help thinking as your always waiting for them to happen almost egging them on .
I will say that medication is the way forward mate as without the root cause mended they will happen over and over , beta blockers on all research I’ve done are fantastic tablets which slow the heart down enough to prevent them and at a benefit stop the heart working to hard , mine were only happening whilst relaxing and these tablets slow down the heart rate and if that was a bad thing I’d be worse but I couldn’t of asked for better .
Try some slow release what have you to lose see how you get on honestly .
Good luck .
As I said message any time mate 😎👍
Also when you feel one happening and you know another is due hold you breath and push slightly with your chest until you think it’s past as this will stop it happening . Madness I know but it works
I have had most of my life started when I was pregnant. I have tried all Sorts to be honest with varying degrees of success! I have had times when I didn’t have years ( when I was at my best weight) I don’t know if this is a coincidence! However cut a long story short I was told I was badly deficient in vit D and started taking 400 mg A day. I recently upped the dose to 1000mg a day. Within two days my ectopics stopped almost entirely!! I have had three v small ones in neatly 3 weeks! When you have been used to probably having many a day it feels like a blooming miracle tbh!
I feel my ectopics mostly when I'm at rest.
I've worked out that mine are caused by stress (I have an autistic teenage daughter and some days can be full of stress) The other trigger is when I am fighting an illness , often getting ectopics, bigeminy or trigeminy several days before symptoms make themselves obvious. It's like an early warning system.
My ectopics were much much worse when I was taking a beta blocker though.
Like others have said, I think it's because the heart is beating slower giving a bigger interval for the ectopics to happen
Padayn01• in reply to
Are you off the beta blocker now than?
• in reply toPadayn01
Yep, stopped two years or more ago. Life is so much better without them, I can actually walk up the stairs without feeling knackered 😁
I still get ectopics, but a lot fewer. I've had them all this week , again stress related and not getting enough sleep. It's been horrible and half expected AF to kick in but yesterday they disappeared and heart has been calm since.
I also take magnesium taurate, cod liver oil , vitamin C and vitamin D supplements. Not sure if they help but don't think they can do much harm and bit D seems to be a good idea at the moment
I hope you can get yours under control.
Padayn01• in reply to
How many would you get a day roughly ectopics?
Now?
On a good day I'll feel 5 to 10. When I'm stressed or ill it's in the hundreds
Padayn01• in reply to
5 or 10 wow that’s low on a good day mine always in the hundreads but on a good day I can get hours where I get none
Hi Padayn, Propranolol may help with your anxiety as well as the ectopics as it is prescribed for the condition. If you are less anxious the ectopics may reduce. I take it
Oh thank you is it different from metraprole than?
I was originally prescribed Propranolol for anxiety connected to my heart antics when the medics insisted it was all down to anxiety. When I was finally diagnosed with AF my cardiologist changed me to Bisoprolol & I hated it because the palpitations were much worse & the anxiety felt worse so I requested to go back to Propranolol.
He said he wanted to make me feel better not worse so agreed to it even though it’s not a drug of his choice.
Been on it for probably 5yrs or more now & not had another AF episode since April 2018.
I don’t want to rock the boat. If it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it so I’m happy for now on Propranolol
Yes!
I'm having them at the moment been 24 hours and they still havent eased up they are driving me mad. I had about 4 hours sleep last night and then woke up to my heart having a fit so had to sit up. I think it's because your resting hopefully they will ease off soon.
No not taking magnesium I was diagnosed with afib at 35 just came on out the blue and 2 years ago had a ablation. Was on blood thinners and beta blockers but now just beta blockers. I have ectopic beats on and off but its lasting longer this time 
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