Worried I might have AFib

[RemiTravillian]

If I have etopic heart beats, does this mean I also have A Fib? Can someone with A Fib tell me what an episode feels like. Recently I received a Holter Monitor and it said normal heart rhythm with occasional extra beats, so does this cancel out on me having it despite having episodes with extra/fluttering beats? Could this just be an episode of normal etopic beats or regular palpitations? Usually triggered by anxiety or after I eat certain meals. I’m 19 years old.

[alheart]

HiMy AFib episodes were where my heart would start racing like I had experienced a near miss whilst driving etc.

The only problem was it would take ages to stop which didn't help my newish AV!

I have a Kardia (simple but very effective ecg reader) so I could record the episodes

Learning to relax and ensuring my diet was correct helped (cut out coffee/caffeine & spicy foods)

Rest and relaxation also helped

So try and plot the episodes each time they happen

If no joy them speak to your GP

[Loveswimmimg]

My AF episodes were several hours of completely chaotic and irregular heartbeat, sometimes lasting ten hours and once it lasted thirty hours before spontaneously reverting to normal sinus rhythm. I didn’t need any sort of monitor to know when it was happening, I could feel it jumping around in my chest! I’ve had an ablation and although I no longer get those episodes I still get ectopic beats and short palpitations, which are not the same thing as AF. If your monitor is reading your heartbeat as regular then you probably haven’t got AF. Ectopic beats are usually nothing to worry about, but you can become aware of them and that will make you anxious and notice them more, and worry about them. You are very young. If you have no other heart conditions, try to relax and enjoy life and I bet you will soon stop noticing them. If they continue, especially after meals, note what you were eating or drinking and avoid those triggers.

[Hidden]

AF and ectopic beats are completely different things. Ectopic beats can have a role in triggering episodes of AF in someone that has the condition, but that’s as far as the link goes. With AF, the heart rate and rhythm are both completely irregular, most usually at a rate well above 100bpm, but not generally as high as in SVT (the arrhythmia I have). Episodes can last anything from seconds to days, and whilst you can just have fluttering in your chest (or be completely asymptomatic) it’s common to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness. If having prolonged or frequent episodes, it’s common to feel extremely tired after them. As I said in my other reply, and as the other two replies you’ve had so far illustrate, if you have either AF or SVT, it’s more common to be symptomatic than not. PVCs and PACs can both feel like missed or extra beats when they’re simply a variation in gap length, and can have a fluttering sensation to them.

[OAPjust]

Hi there, I sympathise with your situation. I agree with previous comments here. I was diagnosed with Atrial Flutter, similar to AF., I've only had one episode, given pill-in-the-pocket meds., only to be taken if heart races, it's never happened again. But...I did start becoming very aware of heart beats, missed beats, just general heart workings. Cardiologist stated that's very common in people diagnosed with AF. One night, when trying to get to sleep, the twittering, fluttering, weird beating of my heart disturbed me SO much, I couldn't stand it any longer. Got out of bed, dressed and hubby took me to A&E. Turned out, it was best thing as there was nothing wrong, just ectopic beats, I was reassured and since then, I still notice them, but now I've learnt to live with them and sleep has returned.

Good luck & best wishes.

[Jocastina]

I’ve only had Afib once so far as I know, in hospital a few days after my mitral valve replacement. It feels completely different to ectopic beats which I’ve had all my life - sort of funny flutters and feeling of missed beats. Afib was totally different - felt like my heart had suddenly turned into a bunch of fish flipping over and over, rippling in a very weird and quite obviously wrong rhythm. My pulse was 136 and the nurse did an ecg immediately to confirm what was happening and I was treated straight away.