In spring of 2019, my heart palpitations started getting much, much worse, out of the blue. Stronger, and much more frequent, and much longer lasting. I used to only get the odd palpitation for a few seconds, then I would be fine, and I had no other symptoms back then (years ago). Now, I have other symptoms like chest tightness and excessive sweating and easily out of breath, and I feel as though my heart flutters are now with me all the time. I suffer heart flutters most days, off and on, all day, and any exertion at all makes them worse, even just going downstairs into the kitchen. last week, i cut the grass, and i made point not to overdo it, but the next day, my heart was a MESS. i couldn't even stay at a support group i attend sometimes, because it was that bad. i had to go home and lie down. I am suffering these nearly every day now. Doctors tell me I'm fine and I just have to live with it. They won't even consider ablation or anything else. My beta blockers used to work better, but either my heart is worse, or the beta blockers just don't work anymore. I can't live like this anymore. I really can't.
Anyone else feel like this? And what have you done? How can doctors write this off as nothing when I am suffering so badly. paramedics think there is something going on, as my ECGs are never normal anymore (inverted s and t waves), but doctors ignore this entirely.
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dani777
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Hi dani, I'm so sorry you feel like this. Can you ask your GP for a referral to an EP....electro physiologist ie cardiologist specialising in heart arrhythmias etc. If you are able to you could ask for a private referral ( £250?) which, given how much you are suffering , would be money well spent. You can't go on like this and need some extra support.
You may get more response to your post if you post this on the AF Association site which h I notice you have used in the past . It's much more active.
In the meantime have you let your GP know about the chest tightness ,shortness of breath and sweating? These symptoms should be taken seriously. If you haven't already done so then I suggest you do so today. Do let us know how you get on.
I am so sorry that you are feeling like this.l agree with the other posters,you need to see someone who will listen to your concerns.Even if your palpitations are benign in that they aren’t going to shorten your life the effect that they are having on your quality of life isn’t benign and there are things that can be done to address this.I am with Tesza,l would suggest paying for a consultation with a sympathetic cardiologist who can suggest a way forward for you.Don’t allow yourself to be fobbed off,the impact that this is having on you is too important to be ignored and do let us know how you get on.
I can't really comment on what's best for you, but my experience with ablation was very bad. So I would think twice before trying to persuade any doctor to go down this route. It instantly made my ectopics much much worse. I didn't have any on the day of the procedure, and now its thousands, all day every day.I have tried magnesium and other supplements ( cardiodefence with D Ribose etc) which have reduced them significantly.
I do understand how you feel. I had four months of that in late 2020/early 2021 and that was enough for me. I felt terrible and could hardly do anything. In amongst all the ectopics I had about six episodes of paroxysmal AF and once that was diagnosed and treated, the ectopics stopped as well. My quality of life went from appalling to good. I was so desperate that I paid to see a private cardiologist who put me on a rhythm control drug that is very toxic but very effective. I was put on it for the AF but it was the ectopics that were destroying my life. Doctors never seem to understand how bad they can be just because they’re benign. I tried beta blockers once but felt even worse. If you can possibly afford it I would pay to see an electrophysiologist, pay to have a 14-28 day monitor that will really show what’s going on and then discuss your options. It may be that a different medication could help but that would be a question for the expert! What I would say is that no ecg or holter monitor, even 72 hour ones, ever picked up what was really going on with me but the 14/28 day one did (it’s a patch rather than a device that you have hanging on you so much easier to wear).
I understand your pain. I've been having heart palpitations since 2017. My quality of life has depleted. I went to see a cardiologist who said I have panic/anxiety along with high heart rate. He put me on Cardeziem and I'm here to say it all went downhill from there. I'm having the exact same issues as you with my heart. However, I'm 52 and think menopause is contributing with my heart problems. So I think things will get better with me and I'm learning to breath and not panic because it makes everything worse. I've seen both electrophysiologist and cardiologist and they both say all is good with my heart. I would like to recommend you see your Gynecologist for menopause test. As women our hormones plays a big part in aging. So don't give up, keep fighting.
I used to have PAF and lots of ectopics. A non specialist doctor, on one of my many stays in hospital recommended a low dose anti depressant. He felt the anxiety and depression was amplifying the PAF and ectopics. 50mg of Sertraline made a difference to me. It reduced my symptoms and my feeling that I couldn’t live like I was. Several years on I have an ICD and am in permanent AF. My physical health is worse but my mental health is better.
Dani, I'm also so sorry to hear you are feeling this way, both physically and emotionally. My palpitations and flutter got worse last year and led to daily bouts with my avnrt. I decided to get a referral at all costs to a cardiologist who got me on the right track, and I also have an electro physiologist helping me now as well. Hang in there, and get to a cardiologist as soon as you can. My primary did nothing for me but offer suggestions. I had no idea a primary physician, at least mine, knew so little about the heart and it's workings. My cardiologist ran the proper tests and got me straight with proper medication. Don't hesitate to get a 2nd cardiologist opinion if the 1st doesn't work out. The Most important thing is that you Know things are not right, no matter what they tell you, and you must stay strong and get to the right help. It is out there, and they can help figure it out and get your quality of life back. Best of luck, and update us when you can. God bless!
I had cardioversion 10 months ago and, so far, the arrhythmia has ceased. Quick and painless.
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