Ectopic beats general questions and possible paranoia.

[Plumpy90]

Three days ago, I (male aged 32) had chest pain and a squeezing sensation.I was taken to an accident and emergency where they gave me an X-ray, blood tests, and an ECG.

They said my heart function is normal, but I have an ectopic beat.

My question is: can all of these tests that I had rule out an oncoming heart attack?

As in one that hasn't happened yet?

My pain hasn't gone away; it has changed, and I'm concerned with every instance that I'm having a heart attack.

Any help or information would be appreciated, as Google is not helping me at all, and I'm quite concerned.

[Pjh1002]

Hi, it's always wise to get chest pains checked out, which you have done. I'd say ectopic beats are very common in most people and are generally harmless.

Whilst it's important to seek medical advice, it's worth acknowledging that anxiety can play a massive factor.

I went through a terrible time last year of racing heart, chest pains, dizziness, amongst a whole raft of other awful physical symptoms. It went in for months and I was sure there was something medical going on. I ended up at A&E several times convinced I was having a heart attack.

Fast forward to now, it's been a tough journey, but I'm doing a lot better and can realise all my symptoms were brought on by anxiety and panic attacks.

[Natty-J in reply to Pjh1002]

Hi what did u do to combat the anxiety ? I myself are going through this at the moment and I can't see a way out x

[Happyrosie]

you can’t rule out a heart attack - no one can - but what you can do is look at your lifestyle and diet and makes them as good as you can.

The website of British Heart Foundation is a good starting place to see what in your life can be changed to help yoirself..

[Winter4519]

Not a medical expert I would suggests that you talk with your doctor about your concerns. If the pain in your chest occurs again I would got straight to A&E without questions. for them to give you the all clear. Wish you well

[Plumpy90]

Thank you all for your replies.I called my GP earlier and the clinician advised that because I came back negative for a heart attack at the A&E it's not an emergency but they'll call me within the next fortnight to arrange some kind of appointment.

I called this thread "general questions" and forgot my other question I was advised at A&E that my ectopic heartbeat could be caused by my fluoxetine and I should maybe come off of them.

So my other question was: How long (after quitting fluoxetine) would a person have to wait for side effects of fluoxetine to go away?

Thank you all again for your kindness.

[fishonabike in reply to Plumpy90]

you could ask a pharmacist about how long before side effects go awaymy experience of stopping fluoxetine was that it was best for me to do it gradually, it took me almost a year as i reduced very gradually, but it varies from one person to another - you might find this helpful, but see your GP about it - do not just stop:

rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health...

[Stuartc100]

Fellow sufferer here, been on a whirlwind with ectopics myself the last 2 years, anxiety does play a massive part in them and sadly it feeds off the fear. ive had my heart cleared (just had the last test result back for ct angiogram all clear) so for me we/i think mine are gastro in origin (i have a hiatus hernia and GERD)

The problem you are going to have coming off the fluoxetine is it might increase your anxiety, they put me on citalopram to try and manage the anxiety only 15mg.

A massive part of getting the whole under control for me was being able to rationalise what was going on and ruling out things (hence all the heart tests i had, ecg, holter, echo and ct angiogram) these all help settle my mind, but its taken 2 years back and forth with the GP to ge here, hoping to get ref to gastro soon.

[theonethatgotaway1]

Hey there. Yes. The tests can definitely miss out on something suspect. ECG for example only takes a short screen shot of your rhythm. Sure, it would cancel out a lot of major problems but it certainly can miss out. The blood tests can rule out anything major but it's not always 100%. Follow up blood tests are usually needed after the initial ones to detect any changes.

Xray can cancel out anything major. Chest infections and such.

What you can and probably should do now especially if your still experiencing chest pains is to chase up a 24-48 hour monitor to wear at home from your GP.

Ideally a heart scan is needed to really see what is going on but they probably won't send you for one unless they think is needed.

What other symptoms are you experiencing? could it be aniexity related?

I've had both and both can causes chest pains. Heart failure, heart attack and aniexity can cause all sorts of sensations.

[Windmill6]

Hi sorry you are suffering ectopic beats,they can be disturbing. I am much older than you at 65,but my ectopics were due to an undiagnosed hormone condition. Were your blood tests normal?

Mine was written off as anxiety when an excess of hormone was the cause.

In my case my potassium was extremely low and sodium high.

Best of luck,hope you find the cause.

[Dollywow1999 in reply to Windmill6]

Since id found my endometrium in my uterus too thick and now the hysterascopy dnc found me as having endometrial adeno carcinoma grade 1 now i go to see a gyno oncologist next week and in the past 7 months was much bleeding some blood clots and i was wonderingbwhat hormones of mine are way out of whack coukd this be causing me to have more angina like attacks???

[Windmill6 in reply to Dollywow1999]

Hi, I was having strange symptoms everything seemed to be out of whack.I was waking up with panic like symptoms at around 5pm, still do most days. I was a confident person at work ( as I'd done my job along time too)but was starting to doubt my abilities and feel alot less confident.

Turned out I had very high levels of aldosterone and cortisol.

On medication for it now, but years of searching for answers.

Good luck with the gynaecology appointment.

How is your blood pressure?