I am a 35 year old female. I developed inappropriate tachycardia after Covid infection 1, then started noticing ectopics after my first vaccine. I have had two more Covid infections in the past 2 years. I now have thousands of ventricular ectopics per day and sometimes atrial couplets too. I also have sinus arrythmia and notice my heart rate fluctuates all over the place at rest but usually not higher than 100bpm or lower than 50bpm. I am awful in hot weather, I can’t go into the sun at all. I also tend to have a bad day if I have done something strenuous the day before. When I wake up in the mornings my HR is very low (fifties) in the day it sits around 80 at rest, 100-140 when active, then 60-70 in the evening before bed. The time my ectopics are really prominent is when my heart rate is at its lowest so early morning and through the evening/night. I am not sure why this would be. I am trying to work out how I can get some relief from my symptoms. Does anyone have any information so I can learn more? I am waiting for the results of a cardiac mri. Thanks
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Jdgirl030
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Hello and welcome. As it's a while since you posted re endometriosis I'm hoping that's because your surgery was successful. Sorry to hear of your arrhythmias and many ectopics. Ectopics can be more prevalent when heart rate slow.One thing I find helps is slowing the number of breaths per minute down, I count in for 7 and out for 11. I know other patterns are also used.
Im sure others will be along to offer support. Hope results of MRI come through soon for you.
Not trying to minimize what is going on, but most of what you have written seems perfectly normal and should not be unduly stressed about. I had thousands of ectopics a day for many years without afib and the doctors said to pay no attention to them. Also heart rate normally fluctuates throughout the day and many people have trouble in the heat and for a day or so after. I certainly do. How often do you have "inappropriate tachychardia" and how high and how long are the episodes? Depending, it also could be within normality or may require treatment. If possible, try and catch those episodes with a Kardia type device so they can be analyzed by an ep. Feel better.
Hi Jim thanks for the reply. I probably missed some info out, when I have bad days I get radiating chest pains down arm and jaw/teeth. My HR can be strangely low at these times, but equally can be high. There is no rhyme or reason.
I was diagnosed with IST in 2021 when they suspected POTS. It was a table tilt test. My heart rate can shoot up from 60-70 to 110 in the mornings upon standing and make me dizzy. Some
It also happens when eating and drinking I should also add. I have read about vagal AF, and although I haven’t ever been found to have AF I wonder if this is a vagal issue.
Many people on this forum have discovered that supplementing with magnesium has calmed their erratic heart rhythm. I take magnesium glycinate capsules which I order online from YourSupplements, this was recommended to me by another member on this forum. I feel it really helps to calm my heart rate.
Here's a video made by consultant cardiologist Sanjay Gupta who works at York Hospital in the UK
Thank you for your replies. I should add that the symptoms in hot weather and recovering after an active day are intense burning chest pain that radiates down to my fingers and up to my jaw. I’ve been checked out in A&E and tests rule our heart attack etc. thanks for signposting me to the BHF I have now posted on there.
I've heard that some people with AF have chest pain. I don't and if I did I would be dialling 999. I agree with what mjames1 has said in his post to you and will be interested to see your reply to him.
A burning pain suggests acid being regurgitated into the food pipe (i.e. the oesophagus). Do you have reflux disease or a hiatus hernia? Both can mimic a heart attack. You could test yourself at home for this by taking a short course of an over-the-counter PPI drug like Nexium, but your doctor would be better involved as he or she can prescribe a sufficient dosage. If after taking this for 2-3 weeks, your burning symptoms disappear, you will know the problem is acid related. There are links between acid regurgitation and arrhythmias, especially palpitations. The other symptoms you describe could be AF or not. It would be worthwhile buying either an Apple Watch or a Kardia device as both can be used immediately you feel symptoms. The Watch (any from Series 4) needs an iPhone but is a lovely device to own. Costs aren't low of course.
Pains that radiate (that have been shown not to be cardiac related) can also be from acid, but often these are made worse by anxiety reaction to the initial stimulus. The link between the heart and the stomach, and the nerves all around that region, even those in the upper back, shoulder blades, neck, lips and face are all easily activated.
The cardiac MRI will show your doctor the structure of your heart really well and whether there are any changes to the heart muscle caused by your two covid infections. It will also give the cardiologist a whole lot of other information, so whatever it shows you can be reassured by as little escapes this, the gold standard of cardiac imaging.
Best of luck with it all. It's no fun, that's for sure.
When I lie at night my blood pressure goes low to 100/60 but I wonder if it is dropping lower than that still during sleep. I will take it as soon as I wake up. Thanks for you thoughts.
I've had AF since late 20s and I DO get chest pain which can be very uncomfortable at times. I also have low blood pressure, have endometriosis and underactive thyroid.
My AF was definitely worsened by covid and also is worse in hot weather (reduces the BP so makes for dizzy spells)and after a busy day. Plus lack of sleep and not enough fluids.
Well done for your observations. It took me a while to figure out triggers and patterns to be honest. I'm nearly 2 decades down the road now.
My husband has long covid and out of the blue has developed ectopics, worse at rest, like you. We know they are not dangerous but they've added to the fatigue and can wipe him out.
Gp and consultant both believe this to be linked to long covid, as there seems to be growing research on this.
I don't know much more to be honest except anecdotally people do seem to be noticing these experiences. Your GP should be able refer you to a covid hub as well as referring to cardiology.
My heart was doing very well before Covid and was back to normal since I had an ablation. Since coming down with Covid in April of this year (not a particularly bad case of it) my heart rate has become less stable and I also have some V ectopics, which is new. I just found out that I likely have hyperthyroidism which will be confirmed later this week but is likely from what my GP has said. I believe this was all brought on by Covid. It may be worth checking your thyroid too. Mine was normal pre Covid. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of it and that you heal fully.
Can’t offer much advice really but I know you must be feeling damn niggled with them.? I was going put a swear word in instead of damn niggled but thought better not.!!!Iv suffered with them for years and to be honest they do my head in sometimes 😡
Iv just got over a full 2 weeks worth of them and I was ready for throwing myself under a bus.
Iv tried all sorts to ease them and nothing has really helped unfortunately.😡
Someone once suggested laying on some sort of board that turns upside down.? It maybe some sort of exercise that’s practiced somewhere I don’t know.?
And it probably won’t work anyway.!!!
I draw the line at starting to hang my self upside pretending to be a fruit bat.
And knowing my luck I would probably get fast in it or it would start spinning like a fan with the G FORCE of 10.!!!!
Just remember although they can be worrying and annoying and cause anxiety they won’t kill you👍
I also started feeling ectopics after covid in early June. Cardiac mri was ok as well as echo. My EP advised to try different combinations of propronalol 10 mg 1-3 times a day only or add 50 mg Flecainide twice a day or nothing. He also told that they are like heart hiccups and harmless. He thinks that the time is needed to sort it out and if I can live without medication it’s absolutely fine because with ectopics medication is needed only if you can’t bear them.I feel ectopics usually by the end of the day, they are connected with either physical activity or anxiety. My Apple Watch shows ‘inconclusive’ ecg but now I am trying not to control it to reduce stress.
Even knowing that ectopics are harmless sometimes (often!) I feel rather anxious about them feeling bumping and pounding. Now it is nearly 2 months after covid . EP scheduled follow up appointment in 6 months.
I started propranolol 10-20 mg a day. Will see if it helps.
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