HEART BEAT INVESTIGATION

[fiftyone]

I had a heart monitor strapped round me for 24 hours to investigate my heartbeat. The doctor suspected I suffer from atrial fibrillation. The result came backing saying I have a very rare 'VE'. What does this mean? What is VE? Please explain in simple language without all the background theory. Thanks.

[helvella Administrator]

There is NICE guidance:

Ventricular extrasystoles (ectopics):

If underlying heart disease is suspected from the clinical assessment and/or ECG, or

If extrasystoles are frequent or ventricular tachycardia (VT) is suspected.

cks.nice.org.uk/palpitation...

There is a short but seemingly useful page on the topic. It ends with the paragraphs below but I do think it sensible to read the whole article:

Ectopic beats frequently don't require any treatment other than simple reassurance. People may experience them in patches before they gradually fade away after a few weeks. If they persist and become particularly uncomfortable or intrusive, a course of antiarrhythmic medication may help. It is conventional to start with a betablocker. If this is ineffective, or side effects occur, an alternative in people known to have otherwise healthy hearts would be flecainide.

A tiny minority of people have ventricular ectopics that are so frequent that they acount for 25-50% of the total number of heart beats. This may eventually place some strain on the heart muscle. It is sometimes appropriate to perform catheter ablation to try and abolish the ectopics to protect the heart.

oxfordheart.org/ectopics/45...

Lots, lots more if you look around. seems like it is a favourite topic for heart people to write about.

[shaws Administrator]

I had constant palpitations and investigations but when I stopped levothyroxine so did the palpitations and I haven't been in an ambulance since.

Of course, please do not stop your levo on the off-chance this might work for you. It may not and you might find yourself in trouble.

[bantam12]

Ectopics are so common and considered normal unless symptoms are extreme.

This Cardiologist has some very good videos on heart problems

m.youtube.com/watch?v=HySnR...(Not working as expected?)

[Marz]

How are your levels of T3 ? The heart is very sensitive to thyroid hormones AND needs good levels of T3. When I was T3 only - I knew when my body needed more - I would have a funny heartbeat

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Very important to test vitamin D and magnesium

Low vitamin D, common when on Levothyroxine, is often linked to low magnesium as well

Magnesium is essential for regular heartbeat

As Marz says, low FT3 common with Heart issues too

How are B12, folate and ferritin levels too

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels lead to high FT4 and low TSH

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[fiftyone in reply to SlowDragon]

I had no idea I had a rare ectopic hearbeat, until this 24 hour monitor test. I get no symptoms or problems or anything like that. I swim, walk, climb etc. no problem, all except for when I was prescribed pseudoephedrine and I went into atrial fibrtillation. I am worried that my GP is going to use this 'rare' ectopic heartbeat as an excuse to lower my thyroxine dose.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to fiftyone]

My heartbeat steadied completely when went strictly gluten free and addressed low vitamin D, low magnesium and low B vitamins

Now on Levo plus T3. Tested positive for DIO2 gene.

Low FT3 doesn't always show in tests if you have DIO2 gene. It's pretty common gene variation - approx 15% of thyroid patients test positive

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to fiftyone]

Have you asked Gp to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 yet?

Or as you have had higher dose reinstated....suggest you get full private testing of thyroid and vitamins in 6-8 weeks

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[fiftyone in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you for that, re the vitamins. I take Bcomplex and know that my B12 if okay. I know my folate is okay. But when I asked why my ferratin wasn't checked as well, my GP said it wasn't necessary. I didn't know how to answer him, although I gather that folate and ferratin are both essential, I couldn't find the right answer, though I do know from my last ferratin test last year that it had dropped down to 67. I didn't want to complicate our consultation any more. I was just glad he'd agreed to reinstate my thyroxine dose.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to fiftyone]

You can get just vitamin D tested via NHS postal kit £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

Low vitamin D is extremely common with hypothyroidism, especially Hashimoto's

[Rmichelle]

Hello there I have ectopic beats, they are a pain in the neck but I try to ignore them, I too had a monitor which diagnosed them cardio said they were quite normal but to go back if they are troublesome..which I may do.

I find mine are more prominent which a dose change but my frees need to be higher so could be that.

Don't worry and carry on as best as you can.👍🌟

[mourneadventurer]

Prudent to check T3 and reverse T3 alongside the other usual thyroid panel as a baseline. I use ReMag and ReMag lotion and ReMyte (Botanicahealth) to normalise electrolyte balance. Then figure out why your electrolytes are out of sync. Invivo GI Map Test is excellent.