Arrhythmia or ectopics?

[HashisKate]

Hi there, im hoping for some help. Im popping over from the thyroid uk forum, as I am a 36 year old woman who was diagnosed with Hashimotos 3 years ago. Medication and blood results currently stable.

I have always suffered a lot of ectopic beats, particularly in times of stress and anxiety (I have a rather, at times, crippling anxiety disorder.) However this last week they have been a lot worse. So bad, in fact, that I decided to invest in the FibriCheck app, primarily for reassurance. I should make it clear here that I have contacted my GP and am on the list for a ‘tape’ or holter monitor.

The FibriCheck app did at first give me reassurance - although my readings were irregular probably at least half of the time, they were amber, mild irregularities like frequent ectopic beats and bigeminy episodes. My heart rate is rarely fast, although has seen an increase of around 5bpm to resting heart rate since this began.

In the last week I have had a few, red readings on the app that have been reviewed as possible AFib. These are usually immediately followed by readings of frequent ectopics, Altho can occasionally get to red readings in a row.

This has made me really anxious and I think I am stuck in a viscious circle. I guess my big question to you guys, the experts, is, does it sound like AFib? Or just lots and lots of ectopics.

I’m really worried about it and know that waiting lists are at an all time high, so I guess I’m looking for a hand hold whilst I wait.

Just to add that even in these supposed AFib episodes, my heart rate is usually only around 85 and is almost never elevated, except once when I was having a panic attack. My resting is usually 62-64 but at the moment is 69-70.

Any information, advise or kind words you could give would be greatly appreciate. Many thanks

[MCB2017]

Hi! I know you posted this 9 months ago but this is exactly the situation I am in now! Did you ever get it resolved?!

[HashisKate in reply to MCB2017]

Hi there

About 5 weeks after the awful situation started, it finished quite abruptly. However lots of ectopics remained.

I’ve just finished a 2 week heart tape and results are SVT! However, this doesn’t explain all of my symptoms so have been referred to cardiology. I believe that I definitely have an ‘electrical issue’ but am only a tiny bit closer to getting it resolved, 9 months on 🙁

[MCB2017 in reply to HashisKate]

It’s so infuriating! Glad you have got at least somwhere closer to some answers. I’m in menopause and suffered really badly with ectopics then went on HRT and they stopped, however they are back with avengance. Like you the Fibricheck gave me some reassurance to start mostly shows as normal even though you can see the ectopics in the graph. Then last 2 days though I have the amber warnings with what looks like flurry’s of ectopics for the whole reading. I’m booked in at my GPS but not for 2 weeks it feels like quite a wait!

[HashisKate in reply to MCB2017]

Yeah the wait is bad 🙁 it was the same for me. The GP did nothing but offer some propanalol and refer me for a heart tape. She would only do it routinely and said in order to get an urgent referral I’d have to collapse or have a heart attack 👍🏻 Even having found an arrhythmia on the heart tape I had she’s incredibly dismissive. In one breath telling me I have to go to A&E and in the other trying to deter me from seeing someone in cardiology telling me the wait will be months and months. It’s tough going because it feels awful and to me it felt like an emergency. I guess it wasn’t, but it was 5 weeks of hell and ongoing issues. I hope yours is resolved quicker than mine!

[MCB2017 in reply to HashisKate]

I’m really hoping so too 😩 I’m hoping the change in HRT will sort it out, my GP seems to think it’s down to that. We will see!!!