I have had ectopic beats all my life. I can remember having "thuds" in my chest when I was about 3 or 4 years old and not knowing what they were.
In my 20's I started experiencing a worsening of these and started having "palpitations" on a regular basis.
They got so frequent that my GP referred me to a cardiologist and I was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. The ectopic beats were causing this.
I lived with this for about ten years or so until it completely took over my life and I was having episodes almost every day which would last for anything up to 24 hours. For those of you who know what the "thud" feels like, the Atrial Fibrillation sensation is quite similar, only faster and lasts much longer. When having an episode of AF, I have about 3 or more "thuds" every couple of seconds without a break. It is a horrible sensation and I would much prefer to have just a few "thuds" while walking down the street.
I have been on medication for the last 7 years now. I had been on Flecainide up until this February.
I was recently taken off them though as I was feeling unwell and I felt that my symptoms had changed. The irregular heart beat felt somehow "different" to me and in order to investigate I was given an exercise stress test on a treadmill.
When my heart rate reached around 150 bpm on the treadmill, I started having ectopic beats and then almost collapsed as my heart went into a completely different rhythm. This was a Broad Complex Arrythmia and it was the worst thing I have ever experienced.
I had to go into hospital and come off the Flecainide as it was felt that this was what was causing this different Arrythmia.
I had an Electro Physiology Test done and it was again confirmed that I have Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. I have been on Bisoprolol for the last 3 months and they seem to have helped a lot.
My Cardiologist (Electrophysiologist) advised me to get back doing some moderate exercise when things settle down with the beta blocker.
I have tried to exercise but every time I do, I get the ectopic beats. (something that did not happen to me when I exercised before).
Now I am frightened that I will get another Broad Complex Arrythmia whilst exercising and am trying to avoid it if I can.