Ectopic beats

[HP2503]

Hi

I posted I here a few weeks ago about ectopic beats ( feels like missed beats!) I’ve now had some tests.

My ECG and blood tests were all normal and the echocardiogram also showed normal heart structure. The 24 hour holster recorded just over 10,000 ectopics in the 24 hrs so 10% the cardiologist said.

I’m supposed to be having a stress echo tomorrow but feel really nervous about this as I’m not a runner and they’ve told me I have to run. This is making me very nervous for if I’m pushed too much.

The cardiologist wasn’t going to do this test but I think I panicked about my heart when he told me the amount of ectopics I was having. I am aware of some of them and get runs of bigeminy and trigemini which showed up on the halter. He didn’t seem overly conversed said he would see me in 6 months as he wonders if it will settle in that time.

I just wondered if anyone else was similar to me and not taking any medication. I’m trying to breathe through them when I feel them and not to panic about them! Thank you x

[Identiy]

HP2503,Ectopics often disappear with an increase in heart rate. Do the effort ECG as hard as you can as the information gathered from it will allow the doctors to make a decisions about where they are coming from and what to do about them. Doing maximal effort for as long as you can will also give you confidence that they are not serious.

They may be as a result of anxiety, (about anxiety about having the ectopics) caffeine, asthma meds, nicotine, full stomach.

If they are considered to be a problem, medication to stop them may be given, or a procedure called ablation may be offered where the site in the heart muscle where they are coming from is cauterised . This stops them .

[Best2]

Hi HP2503 I’m exactly the same as you 24 hour monitor showed 10per cent ventricular ectopic beats seeing a EP cardiologist next week to discuss possible ablation for them as apparently it’s a high burden 10 per cent !!I suffer from anxiety which I know is making them worse !!im not aware of them but just having the monitor on was making me feel anxious so not helping with the findings ! Anyone got any tips on how to calm down during tests ? Thankyou

[HP2503 in reply to Best2]

HiIt’s funny how different cardiologist say different things. I listened to Dr Sanjay Gupta on you tube, he had recently seen a man who had 20,000 in 24 hours but was unaware - so as he was asymptotic Dr Gupta said no problems and no medication.

My cardiologist said 10,000 was kind of borderline but he wanted to monitor me and see me in 6 months. He still said my heart is healthy so didn’t want to put me on medication.

I have wondered about looking for an EP though and getting another opinion. I’m regularly in bigeminy/trigemini

[Best2]

Hi Thankyou for your reply I’ve seen dr Sanjay talking about them to I’d really love to see him but unfortunately I’m nowhere near York ! I’m going private to see a professor in Leicester it’s cost 200 pounds but worth it if I get some reassurance then I can settle my mind and hopefully my ectopic beats ! Fingers crossed and good luck to you for the future!