Getting used to Ectopics and query.

[omits]

When I check my wrist pulse waiting for one of those ectopics (extra beat in my case 1/3 after a normal pulse); when it occurs the pulse is missing leaving what appears to be a larger gap between pulses.

Anyone with an explanation as to the absence of a pulse when the ectopic pulse occurs?

image of my ectopic below.

Thanks.

[Palpman]

Not quite sure what you mean but when your ventricles beat when empty it will not be felt as a pulse on the wrist. This can happen when in AFib or flutter or when you have an un synchronized ectopic beat.

Sometimes I feel the ventricle pulse in my chest and it can be accompanied by a short sharp pain but nothing felt or seen on my wrist.

[omits in reply to Palpman]

Yes, I was not clear. I meant '...the pulse is missing in my wrist artery...'. So from what you say I deduce that the normal pulse just before the ectopic emptied the ventricle so the ectopic had nothing to pump. The effect though was of a missing pulse due to the larger gap between the normal pulses. Sometimes I get two in a row with one normal pulse in between. My pulse rate is always normal during this time around 70ppm. The ectopic shown I always feel as a single 'flutter' but I have no associated pain.

Hope I've understood that right.

PS, by 'but nothing felt or seen on my wrist.' I assume you mean a normal pulse rate with no gaps?

Thanks for responding.

[Palpman in reply to omits]

You got that perfectly. It's how I understand it.

[Hidden]

Ectopic beat is a colloquial term for a premature contraction, literally meaning contractions that come too early. Regardless of whether they originate from the atria or ventricles, the very nature of them being a premature contraction leads to a longer pause between the ectopic and the next normal beat, which gives rise to the missing beat sensation many people experience. There are no actual, missing beats involved, only longer pauses giving the appearance of missing beats.

[GracieOS]

Hiya, you often can’t feel the ectopic beat. I’m the same. Feels like a missing beat when you take your pulse in your wrist. It is there you just don’t feel it

[Nanaeli]

Hi! I also have eptopics and Arrythmia and my heart beat shows similar to yours on an ecg. This pic is from my Apple Watch. I’ve been told by the cardiologist that they are quite common but it’s AF that he’s more concerned with rather than eptopics. Hope this helps put your mind at rest 😊

Ecg

[omits]

Thanks for the further input. From the supplied trace I guess mine is similar to the middle one where the ectopic is just after a normal beat.

For the definition my understanding is that I do not feel the ectopic because it is beating on an empty chamber hence no blood flow from the heart thus no pulse. I also felt the artery in my neck and that also shows the longer gap between beats (which looks to me like 40% longer).

I am now going to check on a regular basis to check how many ectopics I get in 5 min periods and what time of day they occur etc. Mine seem to start up pretty random and sometime I feel really grotty (but not in the head).