I have posted on here many times and have always been grateful for peoples interest and comments.
Basically I have had Ectopic heartbeats when I try to sleep at night for over 5 years, every single night. I have had the full works of tests from my cardiologist plus a couple of second opinions, all of which have concluded that my heart is healthy and have now actually signed me off the program, saying they now think that my ectopics are a symptom of something else but not the cause of my problems.
However I still feel the same and nothing has changed. My "palps" are definately linked to either trying to sleep or actually lying down. So could they be linked in some way to blood flow from a narrowing artery ? its a long shot but both my father and brother died from aneurysm's. My brother was quite recent of a sudden brain bleed. ? So is this something that has been missed ?
I don't know any more....just putting it out there........thanks
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Mgs333
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I used to get a couple of ectopics on most nights when going to bed. Never really bothered me as it had happened for as long as I could remember.
I was recently put on bisoprolol after having heart surgery for leaky valves. I now get far fewer of them, and the ones that I do get are much less noticeable.
One thing to consider is that when lying down you may be getting stomach reflux which can certainly trigger ectopics (it irritates the oesophagus which lies directly behind the left atrium where the abnormal rhythm impulses can arise).
Assuming you’ve had a holter, how many ectopic beats are you getting and what type are they?
I’m also assuming you know they’re harmless but they can be unsettling and annoying, especially when you’re going to sleep! You may never find why they’re happening. For most people they’re idiopathic. It’s like someone who has a lot of headache, or migraines or even an epileptic with idiopathic epilepsy. Sometimes there simply is no cause that can be determined.
We all need to support heart research through donating and spreading the word to others. The more research, the more we will find answers and treatments. Cardiology is a huge and complex area and the research money available is very, very minimal.
Thanks for your reply...Yes I have had several halters plus treadmill tests, 2 MRI's, 4 Echoes and a angiogram with calcium scoreing (107). So Ive had the works.... My ectopics are not just like dull thuds but really harsh electric shock types that actually make your heart jump. My HR goes from between 60-70 resting to 120 for about a minute....I get between 20-30 a night.
Mine get worse when I lay down aswell and literally feels like my heart is jumping around in my chest when I'm trying to sleep. Especially on my back and left side. X
IMO, in these situations, the fear of the ectopics occurring is the trigger. It has now become a learnt response. Ask your GP to give you a tranquilliser for use at night time for a week or so and see what happens
Yes....I has of full angiogram which showed a 30% blockage in one artery but the doctors ruled out it causing the problems.....I didnt need any stents to is being controlled my meds..ie aspirin and statins.....thanks for asking.
I have a hiatus hernia which I think is connected to my palpitations particularly at night . I think it’s something to do with the vagus nerve and I’m hoping if I have a hernia repair done I will get rid of the palpitations.
Stress is the major cause and even though they don't know the cause, they suspect the brain which controls the electrical system that regulates the heart beat, is the cause. Try not to worry, is all I can say, I've had them for years and they get worse when I'm stressed, including physical stress.
Sorry to hear about your ectopics. I too experience these every night in bed and often when resting. I'm assuming mine are linked to all the medication I've been prescribed post heart attack, but like you medical people seem unconcerned, can't give a reason and see reluctant to switch my meds around. Have you had a heart attack?
No heart attack.....my cardidioligist tells me after all the tests my heart is structuarally in great shape...Ive been taking beta blockers, aspirin and statins for years.
I’m sorry to hear that you’re suffering. I have had myocarditis and experienced multiple ectopics. Some people don’t feel them but I felt everyone almost like someone playing maracas in my chest. It could be “gastrocardiac syndrome” as the stomach and heart are served by the same vagus nerve. Taking digestive enzymes may help with that. I also find magnesium to be miraculous in this regard. I take it just before bed and it calms everything down beautifully. If you are severely deficient it may take a little while to build up in your system. My best wishes to you.
I have used Magnesium gluconate, ie Floradix magnesium in liquid form. Recently I discovered Well Actually Liposomal Magnesium Bisglycinate which seems good too. The ones to avoid are Mg oxide, and sulfate. Best wishes.
For what it is worth, this is what happened to me. About 15 mins after laying on my left side I would get palpitations, right side, it was after 25-30 minutes. In desperation I tried sleeping on my back - it worked. This was without an consultation with my GP but trial and error before I contacted her. Since being diagnosed with A.Fib I now sleep in a semi-upright position, but have usually slid down to lie flat by morning with no ill effects.
Thanks for the reply...Yep I understand you.....Ive tried alsorts....I sometimes even sleep in the chair in a "dozing" position.....but there is no easy fix for this......I suspect there are many "little" things that lead up to this being a "big" thing....if you know what i mean.....thank you.
I've been told that ectopics occurring when lying down in bed are from the parasympathetic nervous stimulation of the vagus nerve rather than from the sympathetic nervous system seen in excitable conditions and they are a nuisance rather than anything serious in people with otherwise healthy hearts. Since you don't experience these during exercise or exertion, your team of physicians apparently feel they are the nuisance,nonserious types of ectopic activity. Your GP can validate this during your checkups.
Thank you.....Yeh that sounds sensible....as you can imagine, I have had these for over 5 yrs and done alot of research on the vagel system and spoke to couple of "experts" who all symperthise but offer no real solutions...the usual hacks you can do to "reset" your vagel nerve just don't work.... thanks.
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Ventricular Ectopic Heartbeats
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