Ectopic beats one after the other

[mummyofspot]

Hi there,

I've not posted on here for a long time. I received such great advice when posting before and I wondered if anyone could offer any help now.

Very brief history, I am female, aged 47 and perimenopausal (on HRT). I started having palpitations, ectopic beats around 2 years ago and had a suspected SVT in Nov 21 (suspected because they didn't catch it on ECG). HR went to 210 BPM.

I was put on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol back then and they caused me to have bad anxiety. I weaned off of them but ended up on Propranolol 80mg Slow release because palpitations came back. At the time I had a 2 week monitor, 2 Echos, numerous ECGs and was told that apart from the ectopics and palps there was nothing wrong with my heart.

Everything has been ok for the past year and then on Thursday I had many many ectopic beats. They were coming all the time and I caught 4 in a row on my apple watch ECG. This went on for about 8 hours. I took a 10mg propranolol tablet (which my dr said was fine to take as and when needed alongside the 80mg slow release). They died down in the end but it has happened again today. My son came home and said he had a detention and the ectopics started (sometimes 4 in a row). This is totally freaking me out which is obviously a vicious cycle and making them worse.

When I take an apple watch ECG is shows my usual heart beats and when I feel the ectopics the ECG shows longer heart beats that look the same as the normal ones but wider (if that makes sense).

Anyway, So sorry for long post. I'm booked in to see my Cardiologist on Friday so will obviously show her all this information but I guess I wondered if anyone ever has ectopics in a row like that and if anxiety can cause it?

Thank you in advance 😊

[Tos92]

Hi mummyofspot

I’m sorry to hear your ectopics are back.

Ectopics mostly, are not always a cause for concern. Usually, a holter monitor can pick up abnormal heart rhythms and I can see you’ve had one in the past.

You are right in saying that anxiety can cause this. A apart from that, stress, diet, exercise, and the climate can also contribute to ectopics.

I would make a diary of when you get these types of ectopics and if you notice any triggers along with it. This may give your cardiologist a deeper insight as to what’s causing them.

I think it would be wise to have a repeat of your holter so perhaps suggest this to your cardiologist and see what their thoughts are on it on Friday.

Let us know how you get on.

Tos

[mummyofspot in reply to Tos92]

Thank you so much for replying. Friday can't come soon enough. I would imagine that the cardiologist will suggest another holter but I will ask too. Thank you!

[mummyofspot]

Thank you so much for replying. I've actually got tears in my eyes from your message and it's so lovely to know that you are overseas enjoying your life. I dream of a time when I can put all this heart anxiety behind me and live my life. Do you take anything for your ectopic beats? I hope you are having a wonderful time! 😁

[Sparkle71]

Hi I have similar issues to yourself. I've been struggling with Tachycardia and ectopic beats for three years now with no treatment (various test done and currently waiting for an angiogram). They happen regularly and really tire me out as they can go on for hours. Mine can happen at anytime! For me personally stress or anxiety does not seem to affect them. I'm amazed you got booked in to see your cardiologist so quickly ...I've been under one for 3 years and never met him!! 🙃 I am also going through the menopause however doctor would not prescribe HRT until angiogram done, which I have now being waiting for for almost a year! Could the HRT be worsening the ectopic beats ?

[mummyofspot in reply to Sparkle71]

Thanks for your reply. I am very fortunate that my husband works for a large corporation and we get private medical care so able to see the cardiologist quickly. She's specialises in electrophysiology so I'm hoping for some expertise!

I definitely think that hormones are playing a big part in this as this all kicked off when perimenopause started. Incidentally I didn't take the progesterone part of the HRT this month as it was making me feel really low and Dr suggested I do a month on and a month off. I'm wondering if this has put my hormones out of whack and contributing to the ectopics?

I was getting used to living with the infrequent ectopics but it's the one after the other with no break that are new and very anxiety provoking. I hope you get the angiogram soon ! Why did they say you need one?

[mummyofspot in reply to Sparkle71]

Yes I would push to try the HRT too as palpitations and heart arrhythmias are a symptom of peri/menopause. So taking it could help! x

[Yumz199725]

Hi mummyofspotI find stress is a major trigger of ectopics for me. For about a year had terrible ectopics worst time ended up in A&E. Many ecgs and heart monitors done and picked up ventricular Tachycardia so I'm on verapamil for that 40 mg. sounds like stress is causing yours. Glad you have appointment with cardiologist. Hope appointment does well and keep us updated with how it goes.

[Identiy]

Avoid all caffeine (coffee, chocolate, tea,) Caffeine has a 1/2 life of around 5 to 6 hours so a cup of coffee with 80 mg caffeine will still be present in your system in significant amounts for 18 hours. Avoid alcohol. If the cardiologist says all is okay, then discuss an exercise program with him. As you put your heart rate up with exercise, the ectopics will disappear .

It is the best way to get you confidence in your heart back .

[mummyofspot in reply to Identiy]

Hi. Thanks so much for your reply and advice. I cut out all those things 18 months ago when this all started. I also exercise everyday (I run). The ectopics did get much better for a while but for some reason have come back with a vengeance. I can handle the every now and then ones it’s the one after the other that’s frightening me 😔

[MikeThePike in reply to Identiy]

What you stated is what is stated in lots of other places but I doubt the usefulness of this advice. Remember, it seems nearly all the people who complain about ectopics here started having them at some point in their lives. They were perfectly fine the day before. So what changed? When doctors can confidently answer THAT question then we will be on our way to a cure for ectopics. I never seen any research confirming caffeine as the trigger for ectopics especially for someone who has been drinking it all their life. Also, as the heart rate goes up ectopics are expected to disappear. That's considered normal behaviour for a structurally normal heart but the heart rate must come down again and that's when the annoying ectopics return.

[mummyofspot in reply to MikeThePike]

YES! This is what is so frustrating!!! I have never ever thought about what I ate or drank until this all started. And I have been living like a saint for the past 18 months and they’re still here (and now seemingly getting worse). I was never even aware of my heart until 18 months ago. Obviously I knew it was there but never gave it a second thought! What changed over night to start this? I have now developed severe cardio phobia where I can’t even lay flat at night because I can feel my heart beat. I’ve had CBT. I’ve been told my heart is fine. Been told it’s ‘just’ anxiety. It hasn’t helped. I feel that until I get answers as to why then I will live in constant fear!

[Evaluna in reply to MikeThePike]

Mine tend to increase with exercise, though not always, so have recently had a stress exercise test on a treadmill. I had a few ectopics though not as many as I sometimes get. I was able to get above the maximum heart rate for my age (73) and was told my level of fitness is very good. After 35 plus years of ectopics and, more recently occasional SVTs, I have decided mine are totally unpredictable except if I am being monitored when I will guarantee they won't be too bad. Lol. I've had times of severe stress when they've almost disappeared. The last year they've been awful... every day and all day quite often, for no apparent reason. Cardiologists tell me not to worry but, like Mummy of spot, a few dozen a day no problem but lots of runs still scare the hell out of me. So if you learn anything new from your cardiologist many of us would be grateful for any insights.Sorry not to be helpful.

[Mlinde]

Yes, I too have ectopic beats and anxiety most definitely makes it worse but apparently, they're not dangerous, it's caused by your body's electrical system, so perhaps deep breathing, yoga or something that calms you down?

[talipia]

Well said. Likewise in the tropics right now and pretty chilled and despite the heat and humidity no change to ectopic profile. Last summer had a huge outburst of them and quite different presentation to the previous 3 decades with lots of 3 in a row' so had to see the experts and after reassurance and a slight tweak to meds ( bisoprolol now 2.5mg) have been pretty quiet since. I am pretty sure the nasty virus from China which I'd had 10/12 wks prior to last sumers outburst was no coincidence.

[JeremiahObadiah]

re the detention, a wonderful headmaster at one of my son’s school once said something like-The odd detention isn’t an issue. It can be just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Getting into trouble/forgetting homework /other scrapes can be just part of growing up and learning.