Hello and a little peace of mind hopefully

[No Imagination]

Hi Everyone,

I've just registered on this fantastic site although I first visited it during the middle part of last year. Like all of you I guess I've had a few problems (bigger in my own mind than they probably are in reality).

Anyway I have a question for anyone who can help me really. After seeing a specialist a couple of years ago I was told I have extrasystoles. They are the typical (or what I know to be typical) pause then bump where the heart reacts to the slightly bigger gap with a harder beat to pump the extra blood out. I used to get them very rarely - once every few weeks - but now they occur more frequently. However since last summer I have noticed a different feeling which is more like a muscle spasm and they are probably more frequent that the other type.

What I want to know is if people have had one 'type' and then developed another 'type' and if I need to go back to see my specialist regarding these newer ones? To be honest I don't want to go back - the specialist was great but if there is no issue with these newer ones then I just want to get on with things really.

Having read the forums I know people have these things themselves and far more frequently than I do but I just want to know if they are one and the same thing but feel different or if they are likely to be something new entirely that needs investigating.

I'd also like the chance to say just how helpful this forum has been to me already. It might not be much comfort to those of you dealing with various problems but your stories have genuinely helped me to keep things in perspective and to deal with things a little better.

Probably gone on long enough now. Any help would be greatly appreciated and once again hello to everyone on the site.

N.I.

[NervousNellie]

Hi N.I. and welcome to NMP!

I have had all "types" of palpitations. Just last night I had a run of them that really freaked me out. Usually I just feel the flip-flop or flutter, but this time it was a really hard flutter that felt like it wouldn't stop! I've had loads of ECG's done. When I was sent to the hospital by my GP back in October for a fast heart rate, they had me on the cardiac monitor for over 5 hours while I was having a ton of skipped beats/palpitations. They sent me home with a diagnosis of anxiety....lucky me!!! Originally when I started having "palpitations", I think they were actually muscle spasms. I never felt them in my pulse. I think I talked myself into having actual palpitations because now I can feel the skipped beats when I check my pulse.

When you have these, does it feel like it happens on your chest wall? Or does it feel like it comes from the same place as your extra beats? If it feels like it's on your chest wall, then it's most likely muscle spasms.

If it makes you feel better, go ahead and check with your doc. They obviously know your cardiac history and can probably ease your mind.

[kestral]

i get the muscle-like twitches when i wake and it feels my heart is going faster than my pulse. im due to have a 24 holter test next month and maybe that will answer my concerns.

[No Imagination]

Hi Nellie,

Thanks for your reply. Yeah it pretty much feels like it's from the same area and perhaps more importantly the 'fright' aspect is the same as what I'd call the normal palps. To be honest if I can avoid going back to the docs I will as stupid as that probably sounds. My own feeling is that if I'm continually going back to doctors then I'll never get past the anxiety issues I have and as I've made some real progress in the last few months I'd consider it a backward step. The normal palps I get are uncomfortable as you and most people in here know but I'm actually fairly ok with them now. It's the just the newer ones that have me puzzled as much as concerned simply because they are different. Having had an Echo and I Ekg's? I know my heart is structually sound so presumably I haven't suddenly developed a serious problem. I was just hoping someone here had something similar.

Hi Kestral,

My spasms seem to happen at random times although so far they are still not too frequent. I had the 24 hour holter test and perhaps predictably had no problems that day. Hope your results gives you the answers and peace of mind you are looking for.

N.I.