I am new to the group and have been struggling for over 15 years with what has been diagnosed as having low blood pressure and VE’s and SVE’s. As the years have gone by (I am 48) the symptoms seem to get worse, more episodes, lightheadedness, anxiety and the fear of impending doom…to the point that I now have PTSD too. Aside from going to work, I basically do not leave the house.
About 18 months ago, I got covid and had one of the worst episodes of ectopics in my life, since then whenever I get ill with a virus the ectopics go to another level. My cardiologist said that I need to ignore it, but I am struggling with coping with them. I am taking bisoprolol and midrodine.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar or can anyone give me any advice or guidance please?
Many thanks
Written by
Laroux75
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Hi. I don't have the low blood pressure issues and, my, they must be hard work for you; but, I do have many ectopic beats along with occasional AF itself. My cardiologist has said that the ectopics could be reduced or stopped when I have an ablation for my AF. Has yours not suggested an ablation is a possibility? It does depend upon where the ectopics arise within the heart, I gather.
I can re-iterate that you have nothing to fear from them, though. The feelings you describe (of impending doom, for example) are hard to bear, especially when you're out, it's true, but there are ways to defuse these and to stop the fear rising to the levels where this awful feeling arises. Have you had any kind of counselling to help you do this?
A virus can do strange things; as can anxiety. When I started with "missed beats", many years ago, I had no obvious anxiety episodes with them; they came later and out of the blue. Not till my mid 60s did I get a diagnosis of an arrhythmia, which was called atrial flutter, for which I was offered an ablation. The specialist I saw for that told me that what had previously been diagnosed as anxiety attacks were more likely brief episodes of arrhythmia, but, if so, I shall never know.
A book by the late Australian doctor Claire Weekes called "Self Help with the Nerves" is recognised, still, as being unsurpassed in the ways it helps people with anxiety, despite its age. I can fully recommend it.
Thank you so much for the reply. It helps to hear other people are going or have gone through a similar situation. In the beginning I was also anxiety free but they kept suggesting it was all anxiety. The anxiety only came in the last few years.
I really appreciate your advice on the book, which I will be ordering.
I hope your situation is ok and you are doing well.
I have terrible ectopics. I actually have had an attempt to ablate them, along with SVT. They were unable to get them ablated, but my EP will try again, if needed. The thing with ectopics is that they aren't a rhythm that is going to harm you, but it is a quality of life issue. You have to really look at your percentage of burden. Mine was up near 20% average, with 30-40% at night, so that is a different story. See if you can get a monitor that breaks down the percentage of burden. Because at that point, it can certainly affect your quality of life and put you more at risk for things down the road.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. I really appreciate your advice and I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow, I will certainly be asking the question about the monitor. Thanks again.
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