Ectopic Beats

Hi all,

I've not posted for a while and hope you might reassure me.

I have had a cardiac Ct Scan and everything ok, but I still seem to get an ectopic beat whilst drifting to sleep or on early waking. Its not painful, just uncomfortable and frustrating. I doubt I can do much more investigating although I am awaiting the results of a 24 hour ECG monitor. This might show something, but again it might not as most of the time I feel ok. I think I am at the point of just having to live with it as I am already on a beta blocker - so should I stop worrying and just get on with life?

Any tips from those of you who live with this daily? How do you cope?

Many thanks,

A

[EMBoy]

Hi,I'm told that ectopic beats are nothing to worry about as they are quite normal. Most people don't feel them, but some of us do. I get a lot of ectopics, and can feel my heart beating most of the time, but that awful thumping in the chest sometimes drives me crazy, especially when it keeps me awake at night. Sleeping on my right side or sitting up can help, but I really haven't found a way to prevent the feeling and am just learning to live with it.

[Hidden in reply to EMBoy]

Thanks for replying. I think I'm just going to have to live with it and see if I can work out triggers. A

[RailRover]

I have had the odd ones for over 40 years. They seem to come and go. Since HA in 2019 and triple bypass in May 2021 I have had quite a lot more of them. One spell a couple of months ago went on for weeks and they would be present for hours at a time with one every few minutes or sometimes double ones. Now they have died off again. HA was from blockage of RCA which apparently is responsible for supplying blood to the region of the heart that feeds the electrical impulses, so this may well be a factor. Cardiologist recommended magnesium supplement tablets which seems to work for some people.

[Hidden in reply to RailRover]

Thank you. I'm just frustrated. I think I am finally starting to just accept it as the norm for me and just live with it. A

[Qualipop]

I had ectopics for years. MOnitor, ECGs and stress test all failed to pick them up until one day they left the electrodes attached after a stress test and I suddenly had a long run of them and they were able to see just where they came fro. I was told they were completely harmless. I still get them occasionally and try to just ignore them. Good luc finding out. It can be difficult.

[Hidden in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you. I'm just frustrated as would love to get at least a final diagnosis. However I realise how difficult that may be. I think I am finally starting to just accept it as the norm for me and just live with it. A

[Qualipop in reply to Hidden]

When they are intermittent, it's really difficult for the docs to catch them but don't give up. IT took me ages but then I was lucky. It's like taking your car in with an occasional fault. You can almost guarantee it won't do it .