Working and huge amounts of possible Premature Ventricular contractions

[hippyloubylou]

I need some advice. A couple of weeks ago after being in a huge amount of pain due to something else completely, my heart changed its rhythm. It does a couple of normal beats then a big thud, constantly . I managed 2 days at work before I ended up at A&E as I was weak, dizzy and had a tight chest. At that point they said to go home and come back if I was dizzy or tight chested??? But I already was!! I spoke to my GP who immediately signed me off work and arranged for me to have a 24 hour ECG. He said not to do anything strenuous. I've been checking my heart trace through my Fitbit at random times and this weird extra bump is happening around 20 times a minute, so over 17000 times a day. My ECG appointment has come through for 4 weeks time. My sick note runs out in a week. I work in a supermarket, mainly on the till (but I also have ME and fibromyalgia). What go you think I should? Am I supposed to be still being restful until that appointment? I am still tight chested and weak. Any advice gratefully received. Thankyou

[honeybubs]

hello, sorry you are suffering it happened to me when something happened like passing out - up the hospital but they kept saying nothing wrong just low bp and anxiety. I only had anxiety because I knew something was wrong and they kept sending me home. Keep pressuring your GP for an Echocardiogram! If you can pay privately to see someone then do it. You know your own body and tell them that don’t be fobbed off until they’ve done lots of tests and found the cause.. That’s my experience anyway. They eventually found what was wrong with me and I’m being treated after a lot of years. Especially if you haven’t got blocked arteries and veins I personally think it takes longer to get a diagnosis as that’s the first thing they look for. Mine was just my heart not my arteries you see. Best of luck and don’t give up until you get answers. X

[hippyloubylou in reply to honeybubs]

I'm glad you're finally getting the treatment you deserved. Were you able to work before you were treated?

[honeybubs in reply to hippyloubylou]

I couldn’t work full time so went part time for a while but that was difficult as I was having pre syncope’s at work s and I’ve had 2 long stays in hospital over last year. Decided to retire I’m 65 now. Haven’t got a private pension but my government pension kicks in next July when I’m 66. My husband has a good job and is well so we can manage. I look after my 94 year old mum who lives a few roads away from me so that keeps me busy it’s a job in itself. Let us know how you get on you’ve got to keep pushing them to get anywhere. A&E are marvellous if you go with anything life threatening and you are given the best treatment there and then but not so good when they can’t diagnose you straight away and you don’t look seriously ill. That was in my case as for a long time as it was either not having an episode whilst there and looking too healthy! I’m slim and always do make up and hair before going anywhere so didn’t look ill enough but that’s just me I’m not going to put it on. A private cardiologist I saw end of 2022 said there was nothing wrong with me as he had looked on NHS hospital records in front of me and said there’s nothing wrong with you! I still kept my cool and asked him to please at least do an echocardiogram as I believe something has changed and I feel more ill. He was being paid! He reluctantly said ok and I had the Echo. My husband couldn’t come with me on this occasion for the results because of work but I was ok and well prepared for good or bad results. The cardiologist couldn’t look me in the eye! I knew then it was bad news. He was very careful with his words explaining things to me. Results were Heart Failure with Bradycardia EF32% heart function! I had more tests and last August had to have a CRT-D fitted which is a Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy Pacemaker with Defibrillator. I’m on heart tablets as well. Entresto, Dapagliflozen & Bisoprolol, and Atorvastatin as a precaution. They’ve let me stop Aspirin and Famotidine which is good as my arteries are clear. I’m doing ok at the moment but now seeing an ENT specialist as I’m losing hearing in my left ear and get loud distorted noises in it which is very annoying so I will be having an MRI in a few weeks to find out what is causing it. Don’t give up!

[hippyloubylou in reply to honeybubs]

Golly it's a good thing you kept pushing for help. Were you able to transfer from private back to being on the NHS? Good luck with the MRI and hope that helps find a way forward for you.