Thump in my chest.

[Tenshun]

I had a real thump in my chest this morning felt it was at the back of my heart. I got a bit of a scare as I've never had this before. It's left me feeling a bit lightheaded. Definitely not AF as l checked my kardiamobile and it shows me in NSR. My oxy level is okay although my blood pressure is slightly elevated at 137/83. I don't want to go to A&E especially at a weekend and suspect they would only send me home again. Could it have been trapped wind as l am suffering at bit from that. This is from my kardiamobile and analysed by Read my ECG.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ectopic beats like this are annoying but generally benign so please don't waste your time and others by going to A and E . Slow deep breathing often sorts any problem but seriously a single one is of no importance.

[Tenshun in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. I'll try slow deep breathing and hopefully this will help.

[meadfoot]

I have these regularly - strong ectopic beats. I call them donkey kicks as it feels as though I have been kicked in the chest. Some are so ferocious that I yelp and on some occasions they have been forceful enough for me to drop to my knees. Very embarrassing. Had them for years, my cardiac consultant isnt concerned.

When I asked him about them as they differ from other ectopic beats that I have regularly he said it depends on where they hit in the heart beat cycle. Seems a reasonable explanation to me. Try not to worry. They are horrid things but not harmful I am told.

[Tenshun in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks for the information it's very interesting. As l said l have never had strong ectopics beats before and it certainly gave me a fright. Although it happened earlier this morning still feel a bit under the weather.

[meadfoot in reply to Tenshun]

They make me feel dreadful so little wonder you still feel off colour. They are nasty gritters to cope with. I cant say I have ever got used to them even after many years. I dread them but am still here to tell the tale. Best wishes.

[Singwell in reply to meadfoot]

Donkey beats! Love that - and it makes sense

[Tenshun]

Hopefully l won't experience any more of them.

[John3333333]

I caught one of these hard thumps on a 24hr Holter monitor, it was a single PVC. I only get the hard, uncomfortable thumps occasionally, but they do tend to make a dramatic entrance when they decide to interrupt my day.

[Tenshun]

Thanks John, if you don't mind me saying 'uncomfortable' is an understatement.

[Singwell in reply to Tenshun]

It sounds like a shock - that sense of internal disturbance. But oe PVC is not problematic and as Bob says - slow breathing really helps. Slow your breathing down to 6 breaths a minute for about 5 minutes at a time if you can.

[Tenshun in reply to Singwell]

Thanks for your advice.

[Ppiman]

The "thump" feeling is, I gather, the heart valve shutting with extra force caused because the volume of blood leaving the atrium has been temporarily disturbed by the mistimed beat. I understand that PVCs, which plague me at times but are benign, can occur from electrical disturbances in different parts of the heart and, depending where they originate, can feel stronger or not. They certainly increase anxiety and, with that, heart rate and systolic BP.

I would say that, assuming you feel otherwise well and have no unusual chest pain and the like, that next week you should call your GP, but that you'll be told it's "normal".

What a life we lead!

Steve

[Tenshun in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks for your reply.

[Tenshun]

Thanks for your reply.

[Palpman]

You seem to have Heart Block from the duration of the P wave to reach the ventricles or PR. Normal should be under 200ms.

[Tenshun in reply to Palpman]

Yes thats as my ECG, it states l have First Degree AV Block. I have spoken to my EP and he was not concerned about it but would be if it progresses beyond that.