Ectopics scaring me, lasting longer than usual.

[DoveofPeace]

This past week, for 3 days, I had almost continuous ectopics and for the first time, they even lasted all night which really scared me. I went to the A&E, the ECG was "normal" but during the 4 hours I was there, the telemetry did pick up ectopics. The doctor said there was nothing to raise a red flag and that they were harmless and not a forerunner to a heart attack. He said that Beta-Blockers wouldn't help me but would probably make matters worse especially since when I am home my heart rate is between 65 to 75 and blood pressure around 107/75. Also, lots of times during the ectopic storms, my heart rate is "normal" around 75 or 80, I think though, this makes the ectopics feel worse. I hate when I feel the long pause in my throat. My anxiety has also been extra high the last few weeks.

I didn't have many yesterday or today, but tonight, for some reason, they feel like they are trying to act up again and I am getting scared. Man, I hate these things.😢

A few months ago I did wear a 7 day monitor patch, it picked up a few PVC's but mostly PAC's. The cardiologist wasn't concerned about them at all. I want to have an echocardiogram, but, like the monitor, I would have to pay because the cardiologist and GP don't think it is necessary, only if they feel these tests are needed do you get them paid by the government. It's very upsetting, I am so afraid that there is something structurally wrong with my heart.

I will add that I do have a hiatal hernia, at times eating, drinking water, and bending can cause the skips to act up.

[Jalia]

If you can afford it then the way to give you peace of mind is to pay for an Echo. In the UK they are about £600.

I would imagine that the hiatul hernia is not exactly helping either. Do you think that yhe ectopics are related in anyway to diet? Maybe small meals taken more frequently and no late night eating could help ? I also suffer ftom ectopics and have a hiatul hernia but feel that mine are triggered by stress.

[DoveofPeace in reply to Jalia]

Last time I checked, an echo was around one thousand dollars, and even if I could afford it, the GP still has to write a letter saying he approves. It's really complicated.

I don't think the ectopics are related to diet as anything I eat can cause them, even drinking water.

I think stress and fear of them is a huge catalyst, the more nervous and stressed I get, the more they seem to act up.😢

[Jalia in reply to DoveofPeace]

I think you need to impress upon your GP how stress is having such a large impact in triggering your ectopics. I do hope they will be able to help you. Do emphasise again how you feel an Echo would reassure you.

Wishing you well

J

[DoveofPeace in reply to Jalia]

I will try again, but when I say I need reassurance, the doctor says they don't do test for reassurance 😢. I also will have to come up with the money, we're on a fixed income and it won't be too easy.

[Lbeat796 in reply to DoveofPeace]

Nasty comment from doctor

[Em1380]

I hear this loud and clear! Ectopics feel horrendous. But are nearly always completely harmless.

The only thing that’s worked at stopping them for me is exercise. Occasionally when I get them bad I’ll go raise my heart rate for 5-10 minutes, most of the time that calms them down.

I was told by my GP and cardiologist that they were harmless, I tried to continue as I was but even with beta blockers the frequency has been increasing. I’ve been back to see a different GP and they referred me for an echo.

Please don’t give up, these things are very uncomfortable and you shouldn’t have to live with that. Could you try speaking to another healthcare professional? Let them know the ectopics have been worse and are changing. And don’t be afraid to ask if an echo would be possible.

Good luck 🫶🏻 xx

[DoveofPeace in reply to Em1380]

I, too, noticed that if I do strenuous yard work or fast walking, I don't notice them, but when I stop, and my heart rate goes back down to the 60's, they will sometimes start again.

I have talked to all the health care professionals in that clinic and I get the same answers, none think my issues warrant a no-fee referral and I certainly can't afford it right now. I had to pay for the 7 day patch for the same reason, they didn't think it was needed either. Unfortunately, none of the beats that scare me didn't present themselves. It showed a few PVC'S, PACs, sme short runs. There was no AFib or any other nefarious beats. So, the prospect of having an echocardiogram was completely disregarded. This was a few months ago. So, as it stands, there is no possible way that they will refer me, it would have to be *private " and I can't afford it.

[Visigoth]

I know how you feel - I had ectopics almost all day and every day for about three months and they’re very scary whatever the doctors say. There is a way of breathing which is supposed to help - Dr Sanjay Gupta has a video on it on YouTube I think. I tried it a bit but didn’t really persist with it long enough for it to help. Eventually I was diagnosed with AFib but only after a 28 day monitor (that I paid for privately) picked it up and the medication I was given (amiodarone) dealt with that and the ectopics. I’m not suggesting you might have AFib - it feels different so you would have a pretty good idea yourself that something else was going on.

[DoveofPeace]

I have actually wondered if some of the faster irregular skips are AFib, but as I said, they've never happened when I have worn a 7 day monitor.

[revel_runner]

This sounds very similar to my experience. I have been having Ectopics for 30 years or so. They started in my early 30’s mostly after exercise. I have had multiple tests and always been told they are nothing to worry about but over the years they have become more frequent. I have tried everything I can think off to pin down a trigger or anything that would stop them including various types of Beta blocker, avoiding caffeine and alcohol but nothing seems to work. Typically I only get a few dozen a day but from time to time I start getting them several times a minute. This can go on for several days, during which time I can’t get any sleep and it is hard to concentrate on anything else. Whilst they don’t frighten me as much as they used to, when they are very frequent I am worried that they won’t go back to ‘normal’. When they do go back to normal I can’t help but worry that they will start up again. I get a lot of re-assurance from Dr Sanjay Gupta’s YouTube Videos and have started taking Magnesium supplements (based on his suggestion). I haven’t noticed much change to my ‘normal’ days, it remains to be seen if they stop or reduce those periods when the ectopics are very frequent. I do think they are better if you don’t get stressed about them but that is easier said than done.

[DoveofPeace in reply to revel_runner]

Wow, you sound exactly like me. I can go days without any that really amount to anything, but then, out of nowhere it seems, they will start again. Normally, I probably have a few a day, but on those "storm" days, wow, they're terrifying to me. It seems as I have gotten older they have increased, and the more stressed I get, the more prevalent they are. I also have a hiatal hernia, I think this causes them as well. If I eat a lot and then bend or twist, they start, also, if my kitty walks across my chest, that can start them.

I love Sanjay's videos, they sort of help, but then I start to worry that they don't apply to me as I haven't had all the tests that others have had to rule out anything serious. If I knew for sure that nothing nefarious in the background was causing these, then the videos would help a lot more.

Let's face it, I am a mess and fear is dominating me. I try not to stress, but it's so difficult.😢