Those BL&&£$ Ectopics again!

[omits]

I've always had occasional 'flutters'. About a year ago I was out in town and nearly passed out so went to A&E. Nothing untoward found. Now I think it was a series of ectopics in a row. Recently had a 24hr monitor which showed 650 per day whereas my own random counted average is more like 1200. That's not a lot according to some but I have read more formal reports saying up to 30 per hour (720 per day) is OK. OK but mostly in the afternoon when I've stopped work for the day I get series of ectopics which 'thump' and very uncomfortable. Otherwise if they're there I do not notice them. They may last up to going to sleep later (2 to 8 hrs). I get up to 5 in a row (defined as beat-miss beat; beat-miss beat; beat miss beat). The missing beat is observed by wrist pulse which actually (I think) is a beat but it is beating on an empty heart chamber so no blood is pumped. This ectopic seems to cause the real beat period to reset hence the extra wait until the next beat. So far when they appear together I always have one beat between them (to keep the blood flowing). I am guessing if ectopics occur without a beat or two in between the dizziness will result or worse passing out due to lack of oxygen to the brain.

This is my interpretation of ectopics. Trying to spot what starts them off, exercise or food. Comment welcome.

[Malayabalaya]

Hiya Yes it’s interesting about ectopics. As you say you can’t feel a beat in between but apparently there is one. The beats are premature and cardiologists say they are harmless unless there are so many they can cause a cardiomyopathy. Lots of stuff saying they can be caused by anxiety but in my experience it’s an electrical signal problem causing ectopics which then cause anxiety! But getting anxious certainly doesn’t help. Interesting about their occurrence after food. May be related to vagus nerve?I certainly found too much alcohol can bring them on at night. I had them for 19 months while they trialled higher doses of Bisoprolol ( only suppressed the severity but not occurrence). Then Verapimil ( no good) and finally Flecainide (success-no more ectopics!). Guess everyone’s different so it can be trial and error. I do feel for you. They’re a damn nuisance. I was up to 22% on Holter. Good luck😃

[Hidden]

Hi omits, I think the hardest thing with any disturbance to sinus rhythm is not so much the flutterings and bangs, but the feeling you can't get rid of that something major is about to occur that will stop your heart.You very wisely went to A&E last time you had a bad episode and were reassured that there's nothing particularly nasty going on, and, probably there really isn't. What you are experiencing and what worries you, really is just a nasty feeling in your chest. I think it's all very badly explained to us, probably for the very good reason that no-one wants someone with an arrhythmia to ignore it, in case it is something serious, but quite honestly in the majority of cases, it isn't. As Dr Sanjay Gupta would tell us in his excellent videos on YouTube (York Cardiology), common arrhythmias are the electrical wiring in our hearts going haywire, not the plumbing. All those monitors and devices we have now, tend to make us over-think what's going on. youtube.com/c/YorkCardiology

You are being quite forensic about recording your ectopics and I think maybe you shouldn't. It feeds anxiety and can actually make you feel worse. By all means discuss a change of medications with whoever is monitoring your condition, but hide all those devices you are using and just get on with your life.

[Oldacre-girl]

Hi Omit,

Sorry to hear you too are suffering whilst trying to cope with these wretched ectopics. I totally agree with both Malayabalaya and Callendersgirl because I’ve let them dominate me over thirty years so don’t do that! I find Propranolol a very useful aid. It can be used as a “Pill in your pocket” when you go into stressful situations but I take just 10mg a day (I’m ultra sensitive to meds) and this has helped me get a lot of confidence back to exercise more. They haven’t gone away and som days I have quite a lot and feel anxious. You are starting to know some of your triggers, which is good. Alcohol even in small amounts affects me, over tiredness, anxiety and I do seem to get more after exercise. Do watch Dr Sanjay Gupta - his videos are very reassuring. Good luck.