I've been experiencing ectopic beats today. They are random but come and go in phases. I thought I would get the Kardia out to see if I could catch one and after a couple of attempts, I managed it.
Looking at the printout, my BPM was 68 and all the beats looked pretty normal including the extra beat which happened half way between two others.
I don't like the ectopics, although it's not as bad as AF. I think they might be stress related, so hopefully they will go away on their own.
Do the slow deep breathing. Use diaphragm and slow to less than 6 per minute.
Well do continue to monitor yourself Griffin9, having now invested in the Kardia. My AF began with just ectopic beats and then became infrequent paroxysmal AF, progressing to more frequency over time. Although there is nothing to fear from ectopic beats I know that they feel unpleasant. Try to reassure yourself that they are harmless. You might benefit from watching some of Dr Sanjay Gupta's YouTube videos (at York Cardiology), in particular 'How to read your heart monitor trace' and 'How to interpret your own cardiology readings'. There are many other videos with some sterling information and advice to help you understand the true nature of those strange heartbeats we experience.
We're always told ectopic are harmless but same as you they led to presistant a fib.
Hi,Try a magnesium supplement. Many folk on this forum take magnesium daily and get relief from ectopic.
I get them and, years back, a cardiologist who treated me told me he gets hundreds more each day than I was doing then but that they didn't worry him one bit. He told they were "benign" and that everyone gets them at some point, even youngsters. That did allay my fears but, I have to admit, the "thump" ones still catch me out to this day and make me wonder.
I think you are right in assuming they are stress related, or at least, in my case, tiredness related. As an insomnia sufferer, they are at their worst when I'm both tired and active.
I gather that there are two kinds "PVCs" and PACs", both still being, generally, benign. I was told, however, that PACs are thought to have the potential to set off afib in prone people. Mine are apparently of that kind and they might well have been what set off a few hours of trouble two nights ago since that that felt more like non-stop palpitations than anything I've had before.
Steve
They are annoying and mine come and go in phases too......it’s like busses,.....none fir ages then all come at once..grin! No seriously o go a while without them then I get say a week of them in and off.
Hi Griffin 
I mentioned at the arrhythmia clinic (now held on the telephone) that ectopic usually proceeded my regular P_AF episode and was told this can happen and to take magnesium to help. I was somewhat surprised , the clinic is usually less than enthusiastic about taking magnesium.
A while ago I doubled my daily intake of magnesium, I had been taking half the recommended daily dose expecting my food to make up the difference and the ectopic which were terrible some days causing breathlessness improved considerably .
Hi Griffin9, I started with them and had them for 2 days this week. They are a nuisance sometimes especially while I’m at work.😡 I didn’t feel tired or stressed so I couldn’t put it down to anything really.! Iv woken this morning and NO ectopics at all and I just know I’m guna free of them today. I have had a Lay in this morning though.? Extra 2 hours sleep. So maybe I was tired and didn’t recognise it.???? I roughly worked it out on a calculator that I was having around 300 in 24 hours which I thought was a lot but after reading ectopic burden stats 300+ isn’t a lot. Best wishes Ron.
Thanks Ron
I had my ablation in June and am expecting some after effects over the next few months. I had a couple of late nights and early morning starts last week, so it was probably tiredness. Note to self about going to bed on time.
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