Ever find yourself wishing your docs could experience ectopics?

[DaveT81]

I had few ectopics, as I have a lot recently, before falling asleep last night. When I'm lying down, my breathing always hitches when I get these too. But last night, it felt like my heart had genuinely stopped and I actually sat up in bed gasping because I'd stopped breathing. It felt as if my breathing had stopped because my heart had 'paused for so long'. It was really distressing. They seem to be getting more aggressive and intrusive.

Had a 15 day Zio patch on recently which showed a low amount of ectopics and some palpitations and low HR during the night.

Based on that, and an echo from 2018, my doc said he wouldn't recommend any meds as, although I have slightly raised BP, my stroke risk is around 0.6%.

The point I put to him though was that, while I probably only have 150 to 200 a day, they quite often feel like a large animal has kicked me in the chest. It isn't at all about stroke risk for me at 39, it's about QOL. Because coupled with other health issues, mine is very low right now. Anything sets my heart off. 3 years on from ablation, I was hoping my heart would be off little concern to me but, if anything, it's even more.

I'm on B12 injections right now, and I'm looking at getting a potassium serum test done as I'm wondering whether my levels may be low due to the injs.

Anybody else have as rough a time with ectopics as you did with the threat of afib looming over you?

[Padayn01]

SNAP, yes having a terrible time with ectopics since June, been happening for me every day, i'm also a year post abalation. So 6 weeks prior to having these ectopics i was having the best time QOL i was walking 2.5 miles things were going great than one day i had these bad ectopics and since than they have been playing up, some days much better than others, i had a 7 day holter monitor nut have been waiting for the results since July which is ridiculous, i know we are in a pandemic but waiting almost 2 months for results is a joke. I also had a private hair analysis done which i also waiting for the results for to see what i'm i lacking in.

[DaveT81 in reply to Padayn01]

Yeah, I'm on B12 shots at the moment - self administered, out of desperation as I also have ME and need something to boost me again.

My QOL is non-existent these days. Go to work 3 days a week. Come back. Sit. Sleep. Not just because of my heart but that really is the kick while I'm down.

[Padayn01 in reply to DaveT81]

Does the B12 shots help?

[DaveT81 in reply to Padayn01]

I don't really know yet. There's been some days where I feel a bit better, then I'll feel bad again but it could take up to 6 months to notice any difference.

[jeanjeannie50]

I don't think I suffer from ectopics at all, but just once I've had the waking at night gasping for breath and that was truly awful! I honestly think if I hadn't woken when I did I would have died! It was quite difficult to get the air into my lungs quickly enough. A horrible, horrible experience and when I spoke to my GP asking if I could have sleep apnoea he almost laughed and said no you're too skinny. I am not skinny, more overweight, but I've since heard that no matter what size you are you can still have it. It may be worth mentioning that episode to your GP.

Yes, I wish doctors could experience some of what we have to put up with, they'd soon be more sympathetic wouldn't they!

Jean

[Beffohol in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I have sleep apnea and that sounds very like what I experienced before having my CPAP machine....I was overweight but my consultant assures me it is not all about the weight, and in fact many people in my clinic when I go for checks who are indeed of lean, athletic build....young and old.....this as an overweight complaint is very much an old school way of thinking ( and that comes from the professionals) If you feel you are stopping breathing at night push for an overnight at home monitor.

[DaveT81 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yeah, my doctor was reluctant to send me for a sleep study because he said I wasn't overweight. Then I saw an ENT doctor for nose problems and he said he had to send me for one to be safe because if it happened while I was under I could choke to death. They should send any patient that complains of that feeling of stopping breathing in the night, to be honest though.

[TamlaMotown]

Hi DaveT81, yes I wish not just docs but all family, friends etc should have a little taster of what we have to endure because they have absolutely no idea how bad it can be

[DaveT81 in reply to TamlaMotown]

Yeah, exactly.

Would have loved my ex-wife to see how it felt when she was saying 'but you've had an ablation now, so you can't go into afib again why are you worried?'.

[TamlaMotown in reply to DaveT81]

🤦🏼‍♀️

[Rubymurray25]

Like Jeanjeanie50 my doctor laughed when I suggested my 4 nightly wake ups and high blood pressure during these wake ups might be Sleep Apnea , I am not overweight so reluctantly the DR agreed to ask me the questions from the NHS website, I think I scored 23/24 so in fairness I was sent for an immediate sleep test, the acceptable level is below 5 ph and my score was 68 per hour, so Sleep Apnea should never be understated.

[DaveT81 in reply to Rubymurray25]

I actually had a sleep study last year. Said I had instances of sleep apnoea through the night, but not enough to say I have sleep apnoea and give me a CPAP.