Well I've just seen the cardiologist and after lots of conversation, an examination and some tests, he's said that it was "More of the same".
By that he means the palpitations are ectopic beats again, but...... and here's the interesting bit......he said he believed them to have almost definitely been triggered by the covid vaccination!!
The timing of their re-occurrence, the manifestations of them, together with the extreme fatigue (much worse than usual) and the breathlessness I'd experienced on exertion, were exactly what he'd been witnessing in many of the patients he'd seen post vaccination and he said this was actually proving to be a really common reaction.
For anyone interested, my ectopic beats manifested as follows:-
- missed beats
- rapid beats
- an intermittent'thudding' feeling
- a strong pulsing sensation sometimes felt up left side of chest and into neck/throat
Also:-
- a bruised sore feeling in chest
- total lack of energy & weakness
- poor appetite
So..... in the words of that well known Christmas Carol.... 'all is calm, all is bright' again. Phew!
Hope my experience has either reassured or at least provided some helpful information for some of you.
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Kendrew
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I was already on a beta blocker to help the ectopic beats but as they've diminished again there's no change in my usual treatment or any additional treatment. For my own personal situation he would have increased the beta blocker had I still been experiencing uncomfortable palpitations.
Absolutely. I now know I wasn't experiencing AF, SVT, Myocarditis or heart failure and alarming as the ectopic beats felt, there was a more benign reason for their re-emergence.
How did he say to deal with it? My problem seems so far to be controlled by raising the pred back to 10mg from 7mg so just been to the GP who agreed it was too coincidental NOT to be the vaccine and it was very interesting.
She was very sympathetic - believe me, up to 16 hours of a/fib a day is not funny!!! Especially when you live on your own - cooking a meal is a most unpleasant experience!!!!!!
Not sure if this was for me but if it is, he's not recommended any new intervention because the ectopic beats have all but disappeared again now and I'm feeling back to my normal.
I was already on 40mg of propranolol daily, which had kept the ectopic beats under control up until post vaccination so I'm just continuing that regime again.
Good to hear the doctors are now agreeing/admitting that the covid jabs are affecting the heart in many people. Thanks for posting, and glad you're feeling better.
Thanks for posting this, I have been sitting here all afternoon worrying about these exact symptoms, just four days after my last booster!You have made me think, and yes I can now remember feeling like this after an earlier vaccination.
It was a full two weeks before mine significantly began to subside and they became quite frequent and intense before they improved. Obviously if you have a significant escalation of symptoms, have trouble breathing, feel faint or dizzy or develop chest pain then always seek medical advice.
The anaesthetist I was discussing it with says it isn't just Covid vaccine -they see similar things in ICU patients with pre-existing arrhythmias all the time
He was of course the genius who thought everyone with a UK passport would be automatically entitled to an Irish one so I’m not sure I’d rely on much he is saying…
Thanks Kendrew . Glad everything went well with the cardiologist and thanks for the feedback which is really reassuring for those of us who have been suffering similar symptoms post covid vaccination. Cathy
As an aside to this, which you may as already know, my GP showed me how to test for the irregular beats yourself. You simply take your pulse & can feel the extra or missing beats. I found this is really useful, & check if not feeling well if the ectopic beat is 1 in whatever beats. They have been as bad as 1in2 which I found out from the ambulance people when I spectacularly fainted in our local cafe
This is very interesting. I notice a very occasional breathlessness, can feel it building for a few seconds, heart races, then need to cough and everything back to normal. Hadn't thought of covid jabs, just had no 6 so shall monitor. Thank you xx
I have annoying frequent ectopics too, when I had the holter monitor on I was having 1400 in 24hrs. I was horrified but the cardiologist said they aren’t significant unless over 4% of your heart beats! No worse with the vaccinations luckily.
Glad for you, but sad if it means a lot of people will be unable to gave future vaccines, or are recommended not to have them. It will give the anti vacc people something real to shout about. Sadly, that will lead to more Covid cases & fuller hospitals etc etc. My beliefs only, you understand!! Hope you stay OK now! S x
I think this is why most medical professionals are denying any link between the two, but my cardiologist was very sure of the connection. In my case he said the ectopic beats won't cause any harm....they may just feel a bit alarming and uncomfortable whilst happening.
I will still continue to have boosters when offered them, as the alternative of becoming seriously unwell, or worse, is not worth taking the risk. If I know what I'm experiencing is a post vaccine reaction and harmless then I can put up with it.
I also now know what changes to look out for that could suggest something different may be going on.
Good for you, glad to hear you would still get the boosters! You’re well informed & sensible, sadly, that can’t be applied to all! Plus some people just want to blame anything on the vaccine, but haven’t looked into the matter as you have. Hope you continue to improve! S x
I definitely think that we all have difficult decisions to make from time to time and sometimes the choices we opt for aren't necessarily the ones we want to engage with.
I was always adamant I'd never take steroids...... until I needed them and there was no other sensible choice!!
Difficult decisions are much easier to make if we're as informed as possible, look thoroughly at the pros and cons of each option and understand all the consequences of each possible choice.
I agree…during 8 chest infections that didn’t respond to antibiotics (in the four years prior to PMR) I was offered oral steroids or hospital (where it would have been steroids & IV antibiotics anyway!) After putting on a stone in weight, suffering dreadful side effects, I vowed no steroid would ever cross my lips again. The professor of a local large lung unit said, after many tests & discussions, that avoidance was the only way forward, so we are in lockdown for 2 months each winter, at least! Then came the diagnosis of PMR. I was gutted. I told the Dr I’d take anything but no pred. He said there’s no alternative. I stuck to my guns for 2 weeks, then gave in, hoping the diagnosis was wrong! 3 years later, I’m 2 stone heavier (plus the stone from earlier years). Yes, low carbs, & don’t overeat. Pred has been responsible, at high doses, for two near breakups in our marriage, one that’s been idyllic for 42 years. I turn into a different person above 7mg, that nobody could live with, I struggled to live with myself. My doctor has referred me to a rheumy for other diagnoses, he thinks for 3 years we may have been going down the wrong path…if it turns out I didn’t need steroids…! But the likelihood is that I have additional problems, not that it was wrongly diagnosed! Already ‘picked up’ osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, essential tremor, hypermobility, bone growth on muscles, spinal tumour (benign), sciatica, recurring vertigo, tonsil stones, & a few other minor items! Just in past 3 years. But now I’m in a year long wait for a rheumy & warned by the rheumy dept that I may not see the guy that I’m referred to (who has specific background & interests to deal with this). I guess I write this for all to read in case there are other people, like myself, who truly loathe steroids, & who wonder why they are in a ‘sickness collection zone’ right now!! Please take care of your heart, & have a joyous festive season! S x
I'm so sorry your experience has been such a difficult one Pixix. I've had my share of steroid side effects but have been fortunate in being able to 'manage' most of them effectively with appropriate interventions. I did put some weight on but have managed to lose it....although weight distribution is now different!
The only way that I personally could deal with the situation was to finally accept that I need steroids at the moment and they're my allay, not my enemy, in overcoming this condition.
I do hope that things improve for you and I wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas too. ❤️
So glad for you. I am due for an echocardiogram a few days after Christmas. The cardiologist told me that the episodes of ventricular tachycardia that showed on the holter monitor are just a string of PVCs (another name used here for ectopic beats) very close together. I feel the same as you when I have them and after a while, it wears you down emotionally. It gets frightening when it won't go away. I have noticed that if I walk outside going to dentist appointments, shopping, they sometimes go away. But soon return. This is the worst and longest it.has been. It does not help when the odd nurse or doctor says I should just relax like I am causing the problem. I would be very relaxed if I didn't feel this yucky. Maybe it is the shots. I was never this bad until I got them.But maybe it's Prednisone or PMR. It's a mystery.
I understand completely. I always find it so frustrating when I've had a quiet period and then another episode kicks off. Being busy takes my mind off them so I don't notice them as much, but inactivity such as relaxing on the sofa frequently can be a 'troublesome' time.
I know certain things can trigger mine now, but sometimes they've re-emerged for no obvious reason...even more frustrating!
My known triggers are:-
- caffeine (in tea & chocolate too)
- alcohol (drink very occasionally)
- stress or anxiety
- intense exercise (not currently!)
- over indulgence eating wise
- spicy, hot foods
- and covid booster now to be added!
My palpitations have subsided again now but I have had periods of up to several months in the past when they've just been constantly 'there' on and off each day.
When they're happening, despite knowing what they are, I still find it extremely alarming, particularly as it feels like the heart isn't quite firing on all cylinders and might stutter to a halt at any moment.
I agree that they are very 'wearing' and I can feel both physically & emotionally drained during the times I'm experiencing them. They're uncomfortable and unpleasant but I just try to remind myself in these moments that they're not harmful. Not always easy though!
You just made my day. I have been having this for several months now, longer than ever before. Just knowing someone else has episodes this long at a time makes me feel a bit hopeful. Thanks.
Just seen this Kendrew. Sometimes an ectopic beat occurs because the place of firing is different to normal. Seems to give a slight double beat normally. Always bhad a strong heart because of exercise. I have had this all my life. The heart just stops for a pause then thumps back in. Quite enervating. Never really thought about it till it was pointed out to me in tests during this condition. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
Yes....my cardiologist explained the same...and even drew me a diagram to illustrate what happens! 😄
I too (up to my polymyalgia diagnosis) have always exercised but was told that sometimes a sudden period of engaging in more intense exercise can also trigger ectopic beats. This happened to me quite a few years ago when I started training for something and 'upped' the level of intensity. I already had a history of them occurring but this triggered yet another quite long period of experiencing them again.
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Can’t blame pred this time; it’s something else.
Update on my GCA diagnosis 
Update on my PMR journey
return of GCA 
