Hi, I had an ablation about 2 years back. Not on any meds. I get occasional palpitations and it resolves in 5-10 minutes. But for the past 2 days I have palpitations through pit the day. Never had this many palpitations.
I was told palpitations are not harmful but I am concerned because of weird feeling in the chest.
Is it normal or has anyone experienced the palpitations all the time. Do you take medication for palpitations
Thanks
Padma
Palpitations just means that you are aware of your heart beating. What is important is to know what it is doing. Are you ware of how to take your own pulse and if so is it regular, missed beats or somethng else.?
Yes. My pulse is around 75. My Bp is 122/77. I have some skipped beats.
Palpitations and the like can be very unsettling. I go months with none at all then for some reason I can get a full week of them.!!!!. The EP told me they are harmless and that I would probably always get them or be aware of them at times and not to worry.
Iv tried all sorts to ease them and find that they just end up going away on their own.
Best wishes. Ron.👍
Palpitations are ectopic beats that arise either in the bottom chambers of the heart (PVCs - premature ventricular contractions) or the top (PACs). The latter are the ones that can, in some, give rise to AF.
Both types are often "benign" because they don't lead to anything worse; but sometimes they can be a sign of other things, such as AF. They are certainly disconcerting when they happen even if they are safe. I gather that it's been shown that everyone has them at times.
I would ask your doctor. I get them daily and sometimes multiple runs of them with mild tachycardia (90-120bpm) and when that happens it's not that different for me from having AF in terms of making me feel somewhat breathless and weak.
Steve
Hi Poluneeru- certainly if you are dealing with hours and hours of intense ectopics then this can certainly feel alot like afib and frankly perhaps even worse if the ectopics are severe. Though as others have mentioned, ectopics (pacs and pvcs) , are generally thought of as being benign by medical professionals. Though this is not necessarily the case if the ectopics are continuously severe and in the 1000s to 10000s a day for weeks/ months on end. Probably best to discuss further with your medical team if ectopics are severe and continuous.Some people have good success with reducing ectopics with mild to moderate exercise, breathing exercises, magnesium and potassium supplements, acupuncture and stretching/ yoga. If severe health professionals can prescribe betablockers and antiarrhythmics and possibly even ablation in very challenging cases.
I have had periods of them nearly every day for 18 months now even though my afib has been quite well behaved over that time period. Sometimes i will have 10s to 100s a day which is disconcerting but liveable - at their peak was over 10000 a day and that was far more challenging as this felt worse than an afib episode.
For the most part though ectopics can wax and wane on their own. And are certainly not always a precursor to afib. Keep safe
I have had ectopics for 3 years, really started about 8 or 10 months after the ablation when I had a long run lasting days. I had much shorter runs. I have never linked anything to them (I understand everyone gets ectopics but in most they are not noticed). I am pretty sure mine do me no harm so I just ignore them . I can go without a long run for weeks or even months. I am fairly sure raisng your heart rate stops them but they can come back later. They don't stop me doing anything , but if the missing (actually extra) beat occurs more frequently than one in 20 normal beats, then the accompanying fluttery feeling can be irritating. What I do believe exacerbates them is worrying/ fretting about them. Worry is fear, fear starts you off into " fight or flight" mode. And you release adrenaline. Adrenaline acts on your heart. You can fight a wolf or run away from it, you can't do either with your own heart so the adrenaline is no use. Not medically trained just my theory based on me. I was worried originally when I got the fluttery feeling of ectopics that it was AFib returning, the "oh sh@t" fear. So sometimes I still check myself. I take my pulse left side of neck 1 Inch ish below the rear corner of the jaw. You will feel the "missed " beats. Count the beats between the missed beats. Are they regular? If so it is very probably Not Afib. So no need to worry! I accept you may need some reassurance from you medics, so discuss it with them . I spoke to me EP about them at my 12 month post ablation follow up. I was not much concerned by that time anyway, I described the symptoms and he was not concerned either, did not suggest any investigations so I have not worried since.
I must state I was fit, healthy and had no other comorbidities at that time, and my EP knew I ran 4 to 6 miles a couple of times a week. If you have other issues they may affect you.
There are some excellent replies here already. I have had ectopics exclusively for many years and then afib in the recent past, having had a PVI ablation just three weeks ago. The ectopics post ablation where much worse which I found quite challenging but they are starting to subside, thankfully, though they are still present. I have historically tried to aggressively suppress them with meds. This worked for many years but no longer does. I just can't tolerate the high dosages of beta blocker required. I reached a point where the sides are worse than the affliction.
The BIGGEST issue with the ectopics has been my reaction to them. The anxiety and perseveration had threatened to derail my quality of life. If I can be mindful of my mood and stay centered when in the midst of a difficult run of ectopics, I find they are meaningless and entirely benign and they resolve on their own (for at least a little bit). If I get caught up in worrying and resisting them then they wreak havoc on my. mental health and behaviors. It's been a personal struggle but it is possible to move forward in spite of them and enjoy what you are doing.
One thing you can likely count on is their transient nature. Your uptick in frequency may be meaningful or it could just be a blip/response to some stressor. Maybe worth a blood panel to rule out the usual suspects? (electrolyte disturbance, thyroid, etc.). I hope you find some relief and that it turns out to just be a passing storm.
Thank you all for all the helpful tips to manage the ectopics. I went to see my EP. He said he will put me on holter monitor. My doctor recommended magnesium supplement to help with ectopics. Has anyone taken Mg supplement. What is your experience on it.
I believe magnesium supplements (taurate or glycinate) have reduced my ectopic burden to some degree in the past. At times have also been on flecainide and that i belive has controlled them to some degree (though by no means are they gone). Everyone can be so different though. Glad you spoke to your ep and getting a holter monitor - sure it will show that your episodes are decreasing in intensity. Keep safe
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