Quivering sensations

[Aegean56]

I hope you are all wellMy question :

Has anyone experienced episodic "quivering" sensations that are very brief, 10 seconds or so? I've had something similar before, several years ago and wore a Zio patch for 2 weeks but never picked up any A-fib only PACs and PVCs.

I am now 67 year old dx with paroxsymal A fib since 2012, no past history of ablation or cardioversions. Only on Metoprolol, a beta blocker 50 mg bid . Had one craxy epidode of flutter and was started on flecanide 2013. Stopped Flecanide 2020 as it was triggering concerning arrhythmia patterns .

I recently began experiencing the"sensations" again, sometimes 2-3times/day(not every day). They are NOT associated with exertion or symptoms . Just had one the last hour that seemed slightly longer maybe 20 seconds which was a bit unsettling . They don't feel like the flopping fish on a deck feeling I had with A flutter.

I think these are most likely ectopic or premature beats. The episodes are very brief, so too quick to capture on my Kardia.

Always ib sinus rhythm when I check but the sensation was so fleeting.

Of note , lately I have been a lot more caffeinated (double my usual ) and it does seem related, mostly when I am having an afternoon tea or particularly if I've indulged in a cup of coffee.

Meanwhile, I would love to hear from from the forum group and will go back to just herbal teas and nix the hot cocoa too🤣

Pretty sure I'll be investing in an Apple Watch.

[wilsond]

HelloLikely to be the caffeine ,yes. I had quivering sensations at times, as if the heart was gearing up for an AFib episode and was not quite getting into full swing!

Review in a while,give time for caffeine to leave system .

[Ducky2003]

Not sure you need the Apple watch for this, unless you just want one anyway 😊. First port of call, for free, is trying to cut the caffeine. I know it's not everyone's trigger but if you're making a link anyway, it's probably the culprit.

I know if someone has given me caffeinated coffee by mistake as I have palpitations like crazy, hence the reason I watch them like a hawk in Costa now. 😊.

[JaneFinn]

Yes, I’ve had quivering sensations around my heart like you describe, for decades now since I was young. Never any obvious trigger. I had an implanted loop recorder a few years back, and of all my different palpitation symptoms that were concerning me, I was most intrigued to find out what the quivering was! But absolutely nothing showed up on the recordings when I was experiencing it - so (unless it wasn’t set sensitively enough to pick up the cause), I had to assume it’s not cardiac! Weird!

I definitely think you’re right to cut the caffeine, though!

Good luck. Please do let us know if you find out what it is Jx

[Autumn822 in reply to JaneFinn]

That's odd..I have that awful sensation of my heart fluttering or out of sinc quivering and it's very concerning.

[Buffafly]

Apple watch seems a good idea. I have had the ‘quivering’ and found it very unnerving. It usually happened when my heart was doing what I called it’s ‘party piece’ ie very short runs of all the arrhythmias it could do one after the other, suggesting it was very overexcited for some reason. At one point it used to happen regularly when I lay down on my back going to bed. I would suspect the coffee or possibly the position you are sitting in particularly if you are a bit overweight.

I’d be interested to hear if your watch catches anything…..

[Aegean56 in reply to Buffafly]

I like your description of "overexcited" as that is exactly what it feels like, a bit of giddiness of the heart! No weight problems . Exercise regular body: walking yoga; mind : meditation/prayer and writing.

[Ppiman]

I never feel the sense of a “flopping fish” whicha few describe, so can’t associate with that feeling at all.

i would say that “quivering” is an effect of ectopic beats and subsequent palpitations, and, I find, when these occur in runs, especially PVCs, it can be unnerving.

I was recommended by two people here to get a home ECG device by Wellue that uses AI techniques and can be run for up to 24 hours if needed. That has worked well for me in capturing these rings of ectopic beats but my Apple Watch also picks them up if I get to it in time.

Steve