Skipped heartbeats for 15 years. Fed up of them!

[JackOne]

I have had "skipped heartbeats" for many years. I am 33 now and I first complained to my doctor about my irregular beats when I was 18.

I've had numerous ECG's, echo's etc. Diagnosed as begin and no medication required. Wasn't really told what the cause was just that some people have them and have to live with them.

I have skipped heartbeats almost daily. Some days less, some more. I've had them last days at a time in the past. It has ruined my quality of life, but I just live with them.

But after so many years they take their toll I am lay here now having multiple per minute. They're the ones that really thud in your chest too. I can mostly ignore them but they're still scary.

I thought as time went on they would improve but it seems the opposite. I fear they're going to turn into afib, or some other condition.

Anyone had them for a long time? How have they affected your life?

[jointpain]

Hi had them all my adult life, still do, and with a resting hr of 30 they were really noticeable! In the past two years my hr resting rate has gone up to 42 so less noticeable now. doctors never addressed the cause, just give me a flu jab as I am "cardiac" which is what I was told when I asked why I was required to go in for one when I wasn't a pensioner! I am now 61. One and only good thing from my heart rate increasing is I don't feel faint on standing up too quickly.

[Polski]

Many people find taking magnesium helps - See posts on the AF Health Unlocked site for details. Also Dr Sanjay Gupta from York, UK has done some very helpful videos on this, and related, subjects, including details of a breathing exercise which helps - Slow down your breathing to about six a minute (takes practice!), breathing in for a count of six and out for more (eleven if you can).

[JackOne in reply to Polski]

I've seen a lot of the videos by Dr Sanjay Gupta. He is great.

[hairyfairy]

Iv`e had the occasional skipped beat since I was 15, but in the last 20 years theyv`e become more frequent. Once it was so bad that I went to my local casualty department. The did an EKG, & the doctor kept pressing on my stomach & the skipped beats would increase when he did that. They didn`t seem concerned & sent me home.

[JackOne in reply to hairyfairy]

I have the same sensation when pressing my stomach. It actually increases them. And also had lots of A&E visits. They always send me home.

[Sha-ami]

Hi Jack.. I have this problem recently. Heart fluttering.. Ectopic heartbeat.. Palpitation heart rate raised up for no reason. 2x on holter 24 hours monitoring.. My heart rate was recorded until 140 bpm.. I have the same concerned as u.. We don't want it to develop to another stage. Last january was the worse.. I almost fainted. I start to do more reading. Then realised it all started because of my unhealthy life. I start to restore my electrolyte after done some blood works. I need to restore my iron, magnesium, vitamin D, B complex.. Additionally I add fish oil. After I have done the next blood tests my electrolytes are now normal and balance. I just continuing eating fish oil. Almost everyday I walked about 1-2km, breathing exercise. The biggest triggers are the foods and the way I am eating. I try to avoid caffeine, peanut, dairy, starchy food, gluten, processed food, any acidic foods to take care of my digestive system. More vegetables and fruits(but not sour one) & enough water. The ectopics (skipped beat) reducing until at one point it disappeared! Buy it comes back if I don't take care of my food. When wake up in the morning it is important to stretch like baby.. Not directly stand up.. When woke up I take sometimes to sit.. While standing I am taking few seconds before walking - this help me to avoid palpitations.

[jameshobby]

Hi JackOne,

I share your pain, I’m 53 and have had them for 40 odd years. I’ve tried everything to sort this including an ablation but no luck. Dr tells me all’s fine but it sometimes doesn’t feel that way. Had a holter monitor and got about 2000 PACS and PVCs, that’s a lot but not enough to do anything apparently. I just take verapamil and carry on. For no apparent reason some days are good and some bad.

I don’t worry any more but it can be frustrating. I figure if it was serious I’d have been dead long ago so happy days!

Chin up,

James