I hope I'm not wasting anyone's time but I am really worried that my GP has missed something.
For the past 2/3 weeks I've had a fluttering sensation several times throughout the day and a random big thump once in a while which makes me gasp.
It's located at the bottom of my sternum.
I've seen a student doctor today. He did a thorough check but has no concerns, although my blood pressure is high so he wants me to take readings at home for a week.
I don't have any pain at all.
The fluttering is worse in the evening when I've had a bath or am in bed, but it is also throughout the day.
I've been Googling symptoms since my appointment and am worried it might be something to do with the aorta due to the location of the spasms (I'll attach a pic - the green circle) but I can't really go back to the GP again as he said there is nothing to concern him 😕
So, I'm really looking for some reassure if anyone can help at all...
Thank you xx
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RamElle
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you might find it helpful to phone the cardiac nurses on the British Heart Foundation. Go to their website and have a quick read of what they say (if you haven’t already) and consider giving them a ring.
Do you have any anxiety at all or stress as this can cause these fluttering feelings you have and make your heart thump
Try and take away the positives so far which is your GP thinks there is nothing to be concerned about and even though they are still a student a student Doctor has checked you over and given good advice to take your BP over a week if you find the readings are high then you can talk with your Doctor about them
Don't take your BP just after you have eaten at least wait about 30 mins try and relax 5 mins or so before you take it and take 3 readings leaving 5 minutes in between and out those 3 readings log the best reading down
Please keep of Google it is the worst place you can look things up and it does not have anyway to know your own personal health history so will always come up with the worst scenario
If you would feel it would help like suggested the BHF Nurses are really good and talking to them they will give you some good advice
Let us know how you get on x
Heart Helpline team on 0300 330 3311 Mon-Fri 9-5pm
Not silly at all, listen to your body and keep searching for answers.I was told over the years that there was nothing wrong with me until I 100 knew they were wrong..
Even a Cardiologist, after an ECG, told me that I was fine, but I told him I wasn't. He reluctantly agreed for a stress test and wrote to my GP saying that it was just to reassure me.. 4 weeks later an Echocardiogram before The stress test picked up a congenital heart defect that was by then at the severe to critical stage with less than 12 months to live without OHS
2 years on and I'm fixed and well, but if I hadn't persevered I'd no longer be around.
Keep searching for answers (but not on Google) and good luck! Joanne 😊
Hello, you are not being silly at all. Your symptoms sound a little like my SVT (my heart flutters and does big thuds). The only difference being the location you are feeling the sensation. SVT can often be misdiagnosed as anxiety or stress. I’m not suggesting you have SVT but might be worth pushing for an ECG. Never feel silly when it comes to your health.
According to my own experiences your chest fluttering and occasional thump may be no more than ectopic heart beats which I have had for years with so far no ill effect.
It does sound like ectopics ( Palpitations) but because of your concerns the doctor should have arranged for you to have a holter monitor which re cords yoru heart rate over 24 hours. I would get an appointment with a different doctor and ask for one. There's no reason why you can't go back to the GP
Thank you, everyone.I really appreciate all your help and advice.
I do suffer with some health anxiety but these palpitations and random thuds happen totally out of the blue when I'm not even thinking about it, which makes me think they're not anxiety related. I could be wrong, and almost hope I am!
I'm going to take my blood pressure readings over the next week and then make another appointment either for further reassurance or to ask for monitoring.
Push for a Holter monitor, squeaky wheel will get the oil so don't be shy to just keep asking. I will sit on the chair in the doctor's office and keep politely asking. They have other patients, they're not going to let you sit there forever
Definitely not silly! Took me years to finally find out what was causing my heart flutters and thumps, ventricular Tachycardia I'm on verapamil 40mg because they make me light headed aswell when it happens. In my case I do have problems with my aorta because of congenital heart disease ( you can read my bio) might not be the case for you but definitely just keep pestering the GP about this and I agree holter monitor would help I've had so many Ive lost count. Wish you all the best and hope you get some answers soon x
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