Ectopics one after the other

[mummyofspot]

Hi there, I hope it's ok to join?

I've posted on here before on the British Heart Foundation but I wondered if anyone here could also help me.

Very brief history, I am female, aged 47 and perimenopausal (on HRT). I started having palpitations, ectopic beats around 2 years ago and had a suspected SVT in Nov 21 (suspected because they didn't catch it on ECG). HR went to 210 BPM.

I was put on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol back then and they caused me to have bad anxiety. I weaned off of them but ended up on Propranolol 80mg Slow release because palpitations came back. At the time I had a 2 week monitor, 2 Echos, numerous ECGs and was told that apart from the ectopics and palps there was nothing wrong with my heart.

Everything has been ok for the past year (still having infrequent ectopics but weren't bothering me much) and then on Thursday I had many many ectopic beats. They were coming all the time and I caught 4 in a row on my apple watch ECG. This went on for about 8 hours. 4 in a row and then normal heart beats. I took a 10mg propranolol tablet (which my dr said was fine to take as and when needed alongside the 80mg slow release). They died down in the end but it has happened again today. My son came home and said he had a detention and the ectopics started (sometimes 4 in a row). This is totally freaking me out (the ectopics, not the detention) which is obviously a vicious cycle and making them worse.

When I take an apple watch ECG is shows my usual heart beats and when I feel the ectopics the ECG shows longer heart beats that look the same as the normal ones but wider (if that makes sense).

Anyway, So sorry for long post. I'm booked in to see my Cardiologist on Friday so will obviously show her all this information but I guess I wondered if anyone ever has ectopics in a row like that and if anxiety can cause it?

Thank you in advance 😊

[Territorial]

Your Cardiologist may give you a holter monitor to wear i had one when i had 33000 ectopics a day and never knew and only found out with a one off ECG i was fit then though..

I believe ectopics are reasonably safe as there was no hurry to fix me..

I had an ablation and have been fine for 7 years now anyway i wish you luck big hugs..

[Chriswillis]

I hope you don’t mind me asking, but did these start after your Covid vaccine, I had the az then blood clot, seizures, heart palpitation, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy,

[mummyofspot in reply to Chriswillis]

Hi there. They didn't start after the vaccine. I've only had one Pfizer. It did seem to all get bad 3 weeks after actually having covid. How are you now? Which medication are you on?

[Mugsy15]

In short, yes, millions of people have had the same experience with arrythmias and hundreds of them have discussed it on here, so you're far from alone. The main thing to say is please be reassured. Ectopics are so common that almost everyone has them, but the majority aren't aware of them, and they are considered harmless in most cases. This forum is largely populated by those who are very much aware and feel most of the lumps and bumps. They are scary when first experienced but many of us have had them so long we've learnt not to be bothered about them. In fact I had little smile at '4 in a row', as I'm someone who will often have 15 or more in a row!

Emotional stress is definitely one of the major triggers, along with such things as dehydration, sweeteners, gastric upset (especially excess gas), inflammation/illness, alcohol, caffeine and certain foodstuffs which can be specific to the individual.

I hope you can go to your appointment with a little less trepidation and that it's a positive one for you. Best wishes.

[mummyofspot in reply to Mugsy15]

thank you so much for your kind words. Wow 15 in a row, I’m impressed! Have you been told that they’re harmless? Do you take medication for them or just learn to live with them?

[Mugsy15]

I've had ectopics for decades, and developed AF more recently. Since my Ablation a couple of years ago I've been AF free, but still have lots of arrythmias of various kinds.

Mostly they don't bother me and I only notice them if I deliberately take notice of my heart or if I have a rough patch.

I've had them for all that time without them harming me in any way, so they've lost their ability to worry me.

[K1965]

Hi I was on propanol then switch to Bisoprolol 1.25. Anxiety does cause palpitations I get them most days but if I get a lot it triggers anxiety which makes them worse sometimes. Best talk through with you cardiologist to check them out. They do make your life a misery which I don’t think the medical profession understand. Hope you get some answers and peace. I can let you know that in May I completed 700 miles in a cycle across Spain and climbed 47000 feet. Had palpitation on a couple of occasions. Some days were a white knuckle ride and some were really enjoyable but wish they would stop

Take care

Kevin