Fluttering feeling!

[GM1987]

I’ve not really posted for a long time, I just sit observe & read a lot of the comments that are relevant to my own experiences, however I constantly get bout of fluttering feeling in my chest like a little vibration which the cardiologist say is just ectopics that I can feel!? I’m not convinced but I’m no specialist, they are more frequent since my ablation in early 2022. Does anyone else get this feeling or am I just that special. 🙄

[BobD Volunteer]

Ectopics are a common side effect of ablation . They are quite benign though I admit they can be annoying. Focussing on them does make things worse. If they are ectopcs you are feeling then try the slow deep breathing exercise. Use diapragm not shoulders and slow to no more that six breaths a minute for at least five minutes.

If you do not believe your EP then why not buy a Kardia and make a record of what you are feeling to show him.

[GM1987 in reply to BobD]

I have a loop recorder fitted surely that’s more advanced than a kardia?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to GM1987]

Then no doubt you will have the answers soon.

[mjames1]

A "fluttering" feeling in the chest could be anything from ectopics to atach to afib to aflutter.

I'm assuming your cardiologist has concluded they are ectopics, based on ekg's and examination? That said, if you're not convinced, invest in a home ekg device like the Kardia 6L, because the story is always in the ekg and the Kardia will generate an ekg while you feel these flutters and you can then share the ekg with your doctor.

And yes, a lot of us get that feeling, but it may not always be for the same reason.

Jim

[Ppiman]

I would trust your doctor, as that is what I get, and they are, most often, ectopic beats or palpitations (i.e. the feelings but without the ectopic beats).

I use my Apple Watch or a Wellue AI monitor to show what is happening.

Steve

[Singwell]

Yes, I do sometimes. Actually I think mine is due to having a hiatus hernia but sometimes I track an ectopic. Do you have a smart watch or device such as a Kardiamobile that you could use to find out for sure? It's not good to be feeling anxious about it.

[marcyh]

Are these regular beats or irregular? Ectopics and atrial flutter are two different things. According to my electrophysiologist, ectopics (irregular) always precede Afib, although ectopics may not always result in Afib. Flutter is a cluster of fast, even beats, or thumps, as I call them. I reported mine to my EP just before my second ablation. He demonstrated with his finger in fast, even taps. "Is this what you feel"? Yes. He ablated both AF and AFL for me at that procedure and it is noted in his report. There are different types of flutter and mine was the common one.

I would read up on this if I were you and try to help your cardiologist interpret what you are feeling. You might check Johns Hopkins or Mayo Clinic to help gain understanding and to better articulate your concerns. IMHO, he should know better than to confuse them and he should be the one helping you determine what yours are.

Best wishes.

[GM1987 in reply to marcyh]

I had the ablation procedure done in feb 2022 to stop irregular beats that was caused by a viral that damaged my heart causing mild cardiomyopathy, that damage brought paroxysmal afib but touch wood since the I ablation had been fine, however these flutter bouts still are present? I have a loop recorder now due to an accident but that’s another story! If you read my old post you might catch a drift of why that’s in me. Anyway surely the recorder would pick anything up if it wasn’t anything but ectopics? I’m waiting to speak to my cardiologist who I haven’t seen since may 2022! It’s easier to book a trip to space