Does anyone experience a short burst of ectopics with (what feels like) extended pauses between beats?

[John3333333]

I've started to experience an odd heart sensation. It feels like an an extended pause (prob about 4 or 5 seconds) but I can also feel some sort of weakened rhythm at the same time - like PACs. Is this just a short burst of AF? Does it even count as AF if it only lasts for a few seconds? Can a short heart disturbance cause a clot?

I know I need to catch it on an ECG to truly confirm what it is, but does anyone experience anything similar and/or can help with my (numerous) questions?

[Gillybean123]

hi there, yes mine is the same when in AF which I am in now. When it first starts sometimes I can’t find my pulse and then when I do find it it is very weak. Misses beats as well. It sometimes feels like a little mouse is tiptoeing. Then after a few hours or more it starts to settle down and comes back nice and strong. Blooming AF.

[John3333333 in reply to Gillybean123]

Hi. I only experience it for a short few seconds, but it does sound similar. I've only had one long(ish) episode of AF several years ago - I'm sorry to hear you are currently suffering from one. My cardiologist doesn't seem concerned about any SVT (including AF) that lasts under a minute and is infrequent.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to John3333333]

A famous EP at Patients' Day a few years ago stated that if it lasts less than 30 seconds it doen't need a name.

[javo123j]

You are describing my AFIB attacks which sometimes last for days. And they have been confirmed as afib by hospital

[Gillybean123 in reply to javo123j]

hi there, what medication are you on? Mine has finally settled this morning. It makes me so poorly. Lack of energy and so on. Had five episodes in the last two weeks, two were up,to 48 hours and the others were just and hour or so. I though that medication should ease them or at least it used to. Going to try and get some info.off doctor this morning. It’s like you lose days out of your life and I have lots to do.Everything has to go on hold. All the best.

[javo123j in reply to Gillybean123]

I'm on Bisoprolol and it works well for me. My attacks have been lasting between 6 and 12 days lately but my pulse rate stays under 100 so its not too bad. First couple of days are bad then I seem to get used to it. The good news is that I can go months between attacks. Good luck anyway. Hope you can get some good news once you've seen a doctor

[Ppiman]

AF can be fleeting, for sure, as I had this over a two week ZIO patch monitor (AF-like bursts). Are you able to capture these on an Apple Watch, Kardia or similar to show your GP?

Like you, I also get runs of ectopics and these feel much like AF (which I now get only very occasionally). I don't get 4-5 second pauses, though. There is often a so-called "compensatory pause" after a premature ectopic beat (PVC) which is the normal sinus pause coming in on time but, thanks to the delay, with quite a thump as the valve closes.

Steve

ECG showing ectopic beats

[John3333333 in reply to Ppiman]

Hi. I have a Kardia, but it can be quite tough catching short bursts of irregular beats. I get the odd PVC (within normal levels), which, for me, regardless what anyone says, feel very different to PACs. This is due to the 'thump' you mentioned.

I'll ask my cardiologist about the monitor you suggested, but, after reading extensively about AF, I'm starting to think that short, infrequent episodes are not something to be overly concerned about.

[Ppiman]

I never get PACs (at least according to my Kardia - in fact I wasn't sure it picked them up, even); I do get PVCs occasionaly, but much more often, I get the kind of premature beats shown on the graph above. The Kardia only labels these as "NSR with wide QRS" which is likely because I have a left-branch bundle block, too. Why Kardia rarely labels these missed beats as PVCs or whatever, I just don't know.

I'm not sure the NHS in the UK pays for the 14 day ZIO monitor, but it's worth asking. I had to pay privately, but have an insurance that covered it, thankfully.

Steve

[Ruby40 in reply to Ppiman]

Hi Steve I had a Zio patch monitor in the NHS last December after an AF attack that left me in hospital for two days. It showed I was getting missed beats nearly every day but the doctor didn't seem to think it's a problem. They took me off the bisoprol after three months and said get on with life so I am. I have been ok since but still get irregular beats most days. I just ignore them, which I hope is ok.

[Ppiman in reply to Ruby40]

Much like me. Sometimes I get a racing heart, too, for which I take a small dose of bisoprolol as needed. It's still a cause of anxiety for me, as I expect you, too, but there we are!

Steve

[Quest4NSR]

I picked up all my weirdness on my own 24 hr wellue monior, PVC Bi, Tri and couplets, same for PACs too I have the full set, havent picked up a triplet yet for PVC

[Quest4NSR]

Here's a PVC couplet I had last night

ECG