Heart palpatations and Afib

[Lils111]

I've been having heart palpatations for about a year now. My smart watch regularly tells me I'm in Afib and I have an app that records my watch ECG. Of all these, I've had 91% abnormal results, with a PVC burden of 23%. I've had a 6 day holter on and should recieve feedback from this next week. I'm struggling so much with my symptoms, I feel like my chest is tight and I'm always breathless. Has anyone else had a high burden of PVCs and been given treatment for it? Has it helped? Not sure if anyone can read watch ECGs but I've attached one just incase. Sometimes I know it can be misdiagnosed as Afib.

Thanks in advance.

[Tos92]

Unfortunately, we cannot give medical advice and reading ECGs would be a part of that. Although I do not have AFib, there are medications which can help with lowering your heart rate and maintaining it at a stable level. I take a calcium channel blocker called Verapamil which can help reduce/lower fast heart rate. Most of the time, medications seem to help with abnormal heart rhythms.

There are other members with AFib and other heart rhythm disorders. I hope they will be by to share their experiences. Try not to worry in the mean time. The holter is a good test to have and it should have hopefully picked up on those arrhythmias that you have been experiencing.

It is also good to know your triggers. For me, intense emotional events and stress really triggers my heart rate. If you can keep a log of what may be causing it, you can also present this info to your cardiologist.

All the best.

Tos

[wilsond]

There are several options if you are diagnosed with AFIb or A Flutter. AFib is an irregular pulse,usually fast bit not always. Flutter is a fast rate regular rhythm disorder.AFib treatment is usually a rhythm control drug such as Flecanide, often as a pill in the pocket to start. AFib often progresses to mire frequent episodes, then Flec.is taken as a daily maintenance dose.

If that doesn't hold,then ablation procedure is considered.

AFlutter is resistant to meds. A betablocker sometimes works to keep the rate down.

Ablation is 95 to 99% effective though.

I had both until last year and ablation done.

SVT is also effectively dealt with same way ( goddaughter aged 12 had it done a month after me last year)

Good luck .

BTW head over to the AF Association on Health Unlocked. More specific support there. X

[Alixia]

Hello Lils, sorry to hear about your symptoms. The heart monitor that the doctors gave you will be much more accurate than your smart watch at diagnosing afib and palpitations. It’s frustrating that you have to wait a while for the results, though.

There are medications and procedures that can help reduce these symptoms. I tried bisoprolol, but eventually had an atrial ablation instead to treat my afib and PVCs. It has been successful so far.

Do you have a family history of heart issues?

[Deejay62]

Hi I have persistent Afib and my breathing when moving is terrible, but I have lots of other things going on.

I think you should wait on your holter results because that will tell your doctor and you what exactly is going on with your heart then your doctor can take the necessary steps. I know it’s stressful waiting, but also remember stress makes these thing worse. At least your doctor didn’t fob you off with the anxiety word, but instead arranged a holter test for you.

Try not to worry and let us know how you get on. All the best.

[jayjay10000 in reply to Deejay62]

Hi there I told my doctor around 3 weeks ago that iam experiencing alot of fluttering with my heart ❤️ First thing he said was " How are you copping with your Anxiety" I think I need to change doctors surgery but it's finding one who will listen. I have been waiting since March 2023 to see the cardiologist consultant for the first time, how iam feeling at the moment is not very steady on my feet, stomach tightness since the 26th October,2023, chest tightness for months now. I can't live like this much longer

[Deejay62 in reply to jayjay10000]

Hi You can ask to see another doctor if you can’t change your surgery. If you’re feeling very ill you should phone 111 or go straight to a&e but be prepared for a long wait, take some water with you. Maybe a&e can fast track you

Seeing a cardiologist at the moment takes ages these days even us who are long term diagnosed are lucky if we see them once a year, although I’ve seen mine twice this year but my heart, lungs and kidneys are all fading.

I hope your appointment comes through soon. All the best

[Engineer46]

Lills, welcome to the forum!

According to the Apple Watch ECG that you posted, your heart rate was 64bpm, so you certainly don't need to take medication to reduce your heart rate. The ECG appears to show a period lasting over 20 seconds where there is a PVC every third beat and this is what you probably experience as palpitations. This pattern is often described as "ventricular trigeminy" and can arise for various reasons. However, other than the PVCs, your heart rate looks fairly steady and not "irregularly irregular" as it would be when an ECG shows Atrial Fibrillation. AF also usually causes a high heart rate above 100bpm.

I would ignore the watch's AF diagnosis, but do show the print-out to the doctor when your holter test results are discussed with you, so that you can see whether the two ECGs are at all similar - I suspect that they will be.

As you rightly said, the Apple Watch isn't at all perfect at interpreting its ECGs but they can often be useful at capturing events that occur rarely - and that never happen at the doctor's surgery!

Best wishes,

Paul

[jayjay10000]

Hi there, I can see by your ECG that you are experiencing heart rhythm is out of place, you need to show your doctor this ASAP. I have been experiencing alot of heart fluttering over the last 3 days and I have chest tightness for a while now it's making me feel unwell. Doctors don't care.

[Lils111]

Thank you for all your responses. I went back to my GP and he sent me to A&E as my symptoms were getting worse. I arrived there at 2pm and had 4 separate ECGs, they were all abnormal and my pulse was jumping from 37 to 98 in seconds so they admitted me. Had a heart scan and all was structurally fine, so they've prescribed me Beta blockers and told me to wait for the cardiology appointment about my holder, hopefully I hear from them next week! Beta blockers have helped a tiny bit but make me feel so dizzy too.