Ectopic beats all day everyday and now sharp stabbing pain.

[Callie_Angelica]

Hi everyone.

Just wanted to see if anyone has experienced something similar… I’m 35 and have had palpitations since August but in the last week they’ve gotten horrific and they’re all day, everyday. I was fitted with a holter monitor on Monday and wore that for 24 hours, still waiting on results but I expect Christmas slows everything down.

Yesterday I began to experience sharp stabbing pains in the left side of my chest. They only lasted a second each, like a lightning strike. There was about 5/6 in a row. This was a completely new symptom to me and I’ve never felt pain like it, and I’ve given birth a good few times! It was the sharpest pain I’ve ever experienced.

I decided to go to A&E which I haven’t done since all this started, I just couldn’t ignore those pains. They did a load of bloods, all fine and a 10 second ecg, which I do think is pointless, because if they had have kept it on me for 30 more seconds they’d have seen a bad beat. Lastly they did a chest X-ray which was fine too.

The A&E doctor said they can’t rule out that there’s a problem with my heart here and now but they’ve done all they can in an emergency setting and since I’m already under cardiology she can’t do anything else. I just have to wait for the holter monitor results.

She did want to run more tests on my blood; potassium and magnesium, so rang her registrar and he said no, just send her home. She told me she thinks they’re ectopic beats.

The app on my phone (which is the same app that diagnosed my dad with this atrial fibrillation) shows my heart as irregular. So I know the app is reliable and I know the holter monitor will see what the app sees. I just don’t understand how it can cause these terrible pains and still be not life threatening.

I can’t ignore the beats, they’re so powerful and uncomfortable and now this new pain is just terrifying.

I guess my question is, does anyone get pain with ectopic beats? How can this possibly be normal anyway even without the pain!?

If you got to the end thanks! Any input is appreciated.

[Oldacre-girl]

Hi Callie,

Yes, I sometimes get sharp, stabbing pain in the right side of my chest with ectopics and they are frightening. I’ve had them on and off for over 30 years but it’s important you’re having a thorough check to reassure you.

[Callie_Angelica]

Thanks both for your replies. I’ll never be able to stop being scared over this crazy rhythm! How do you get used to it?

[AMcDonald]

I get intense stabbing chest pain in the centre to the left of my chest with ectopics on and off - all my tests and scans are normal. I understand how frustrating it is because they just diagnosed me with ‘non-specific chest pain’…

Taking anti-inflammatory’s like iburprofen helps for me in the short term!

[Callie_Angelica in reply to AMcDonald]

I feel better knowing that I’m not alone but honestly it’s just so frustrating that this is happening for apparently no reason! How can we just ignore the feeling of a heart flip flopping and stabbing pains. I’ve noticed painkillers do help so that’s something. Whole thing is just so bizarre to me though. Really glad I’m not alone!

[AMcDonald in reply to Callie_Angelica]

I know, like surely it’s not normal to have intense chest pain along with ectopics!? But yes you’re not alone at all and we just have to trust and listen to the doctors when they say it’s nothing to worry about - I know it’s hard though.

[Palpman]

Strange why all of us with this has it just to the left of the breastbone.

[Callie_Angelica in reply to Palpman]

Yeh it’s so odd. I wonder how many people have the same, but don’t mention to anyone because the hospital says it’s ok.

[Callie_Angelica]

Do either of you have GI issues? Like acid reflux or GERD?

[Niki_ in reply to Callie_Angelica]

I have Gerd can that cause sharp chest pains ?

[Callie_Angelica in reply to Niki_]

I’m not sure. I just know that I didn’t have these sharp chest pains until I got my ectopic beats. I’ve suffered with GERD for years and years and it didn’t cause me stabbing pain at all.

It might be a coincidence but the same month I started medication for GERD (omeprazole) is the same month I first noticed the ectopic beats. August last year. I does make me wonder if something has irritated my vagus nerve, or if my digestive system somehow puts my heart out of sync.

I’m still waiting for my cardiology appointment and it’s so stressful. I wore a holder monitor on 20th December and all day long I had ectopics.

Cardiology want to see me, but because I’m in England they’ve said “if we don’t give you an appointment by 18th March, you call us.”

My neighbour has thickening of the heart muscle and can’t get an appointment either.

These beats are really causing me so much stress and anxiety. No logic can be applied to them. They just feel dangerous even though I know they aren’t.

[Niki_ in reply to Callie_Angelica]

I completely understand!

[Callie_Angelica in reply to Niki_]

Over the last few weeks, I’ve stopped feeling most of the ectopics (they’re still there tho) but instead I have niggling pains all day on and off instead. It feels like the pains have replaced the feeling of the ectopic. They’re in the exact same place. I’m still waiting to be seen by a cardiologist after being referred last year.

Anyone had these pains? It’s been weeks of this now everyday.

[Niki_ in reply to Callie_Angelica]

I do get chest pains sometimes on the left .. but they don’t correspond with my PVCs .. they are usually sharp and they don’t last long .. I just try not to be concerned about them because I have had a normal echocardiogram and heart monitors ..many ECG‘s and all of my bloodwork pertaining to my heart is it is normal..

[Callie_Angelica in reply to Niki_]

Thanks for the reply ❤️

I am trying to just ignore them but it’s so hard. Sometimes I wonder if they’re actually in my boob, not the general chest area. Sometimes it feels like muscle pain/strain. Sometimes it feels worse when I breathe in. Sometimes it’s under my left ribs…. 🙈

It’s a mystery!

Hate it 😫😫

[Niki_ in reply to Callie_Angelica]

I have noticed the more I pay attention to it the worse I feel them sometimes if I I’m distracted on something completely different like a different health issue or some other stressor in my life I forget that I have them

I feel they’re very anxiety related and they’ve made me hyper sensitive to any little anything I feel in my body I am hyper aware of now

[Nevilledrew1 in reply to Callie_Angelica]

Were you ever able to figure out what was causing these symptoms? I’m having identical issues to you, only I’ve never been diagnosed with ectopic beats or any cardiac issues. (21 male).

-Same episodes of incapacitating stabbing pain with every heartbeat

-Sometimes it hurts worse when I breathe in

-Sometimes it’s under/behind my left ribs

Any input would be greatly appreciated as I’ve been unfortunately to the ER several times for the pains (terrifying) and they discharge me without a referral and diagnose anxiety!

[Callie_Angelica in reply to Nevilledrew1]

I finally got a cardiologist appointment, the listened to my heart and said I had a heart murmur, but they aren’t a big deal.

I then had an echocardiogram which came back completely fine.

He said that ectopic beats are normal. It’s hard to see how it’s normal when it feels so, so wrong, but it is what it is.

He said that for example your heart fills up with 300ml blood every beat, but sometimes it will only fill up with 100ml and it will realise it’s mistake, so on the next beat it will over correct and fill up with something silly like 500ml! So that’s why that beat feels so hard to us. It also happens sooner than it should. It’s really just trying to fix its previous mistake. Ectopic just means “out of place” or in the wrong place.

The stabbing pain, who knows why that happens but it’s real and terrifying that’s for sure!

[Josef1998]

Yeah also started feeling that pins and needles and stab sensation when ectopic kicks in it happens this feeling can happen in left or right chest or middle sometimes in throat i was driving and suddenly this 4 ectopics in a row came with this strong feeling u feel like ur having a heart attack for 5 seconds then u get anxiety after this , i can say that this has to do with any stomach issues gerd,ibs etc i dont this thats a heart problem hope you get well soon.