Ectopic heart beat

[Stavros58]

Two more stents fitted but have irregular hear beat most of the time. Feeling anxious particularly at night. Any thoughts on how to stop the heart jumping all over the place? My health is otherwise ok.

[SheffieldJane]

This really is a matter for your doctor Stavros, unless they have already indicated that all is well. I wonder if they would prescribe a betablocker with stents? It would make me feel anxious and vulnerable too.

[Stavros58 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for your response.

I'm on a Betablocker 1.25mg. The hospital prescribed at the last minute before I left. This was after I reminded them of my erratic heart beat. The pill seems to have no effect. But it has only been 5 days since operation so may be I'm premature with my concerns. But it does keep me awake.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Stavros58]

Do see your doctor. I am sure it will settle down though. I expect you are very aware of it being so recently fitted.

[Stavros58 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Many thanks

[SheffieldJane in reply to Stavros58]

Try some mindfulness meditation. Wishing you calm feelings. X

[Stavros58 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I'll look up what that means and follow your advice.

I'm up early as a farmer what's your excuse? In any case many thanks for your kind advice

All the best

Mike

[SheffieldJane in reply to Stavros58]

Insomnia is back. I would love to come out with you on the frosty fields and see the sunrise. Hard as it must be to leave a cosy bed. Imagine you have some wonderful communes with nature.

[Hidden]

Hi Stavros

Sorry to read you’ve having trouble with anxiety & those ectopic heart beats can be very disconcerting especially at night.

Definitely go to see your GP or at least speak to him on the phone.

My friend Sandra has had quite a few heart issues & procedures but she had to sleep in her recliner chair for a while as she couldn’t face going to bed, it was fear & possibly you may be concerned even if subconsciously.

Have more pillows & a little light, not enough to disturb you but so you’re not in complete blackness.

Try headphones with music or a audiobook which may distract you from feeling your heart beat.

But definitely speak to GP as first opportunity or even call the ward/unit if you’re concerned.

Best Wishes

MrsN

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If anyone does have any ideas that work I'm sure the medical community would be delighted to hear! So would I...

I have atrial fibrillation, originally caused by the autoimmune part of PMR. It is the paroxysmal form - so I feel it starting and am aware of it and it keeps me awake at night too. My husband has permanent a/f - never notices it. I have realised this year that if I have a PMR flare - the a/f gets worse. And that a higher dose of pred stops it - so I'm taking more, with the blessing of the cardiologist as she can't offer anything else.

You don't say what betablocker you take - but I'd suspect that is a very low dose and that they intend to titrate it up to find the dose that is best for you. I take 2.5mg bisoprolol and they say that is a very low dose. Like pred it needs to be the lowest effective dose to minimise the side effects.

[Stavros58]

I'm on 1.25 mg of bisoprolol. If this is the drug to stop the ectopic heart beat it doesn't! Not at least at 1.25mg. Though I do feel lethargic and out of breath since the operation and taking the Betablocker.

Don't notice it as much working on my farm but as soon as I sit down or go to bed it is a continuem of non stop misbeats feels like the chair / bed moves with the out of step beats!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Stavros58]

No, I don't think it has a direct effect on the rhythm, I have a different drug for that and it isn't perfect either which is why I upped the pred since that does seem to work well. But betablockers are the first line approach in arrythmias because they do suppress the electrical activity in some way depending on what sort of arrythmia it is - they work for a lot of different forms but in different ways.

You might find this interesting

heart.org/en/health-topics/...

And do tell the doctor if what you are on isn't improving things - you might need more or a different drug. I'm on 2 different drugs at very low doses - combined effect but fewer potential side effects. But it may take some tinkering about with.

[Stavros58 in reply to PMRpro]

Will do many thanks

[Grants148]

I can understand how distressing this must be for you Stavros,l have a pulse like noise in my ear and when tha PMR flares up it affects my heart and pulse and makes it very irregular.l have had heart monitors and ecg’s but it never happens when l have them,but one doctor did detect missed beats and that is why l was referred to cardiology. There are times during the night when my heart is beating very fast and l find that scary.l hope that your doctor can help you,it could take time for things to settle down after the stents.l wish you a good outcome.