View Full Version : Extra Heartbeats
Hi Everyone.
This is my first post.
I have been suffering for ectopic beats for the last year. I have them everyday & i can honestly say that they are totally ruining my life. Im convinced that i am on borrowed time and that its only a matter of time before one of these gained/skipped beats actually kills me. I know this may come across as over the top but these gained/skipped beats are really concerning.
I have at least 10 - 20 a day every day. I have had bloodwork carried out and ECGs and a Holter test. The bloods were apparently fine, then ECGS are always fine and the Holter monitor recorded lots of ectopics to which i was told was nothing to be concerned about. How can i now be conerned about my heart skipping or gaining a beat????
Im a 23 year old male. Overweight and smokes. I have stopped drinking and lost a stone in the last couple of months which hasnt really helped me at all as im still getting the ectopics as regular as normal.
I know lots of other people suffer from the same condition and i was hoping that someone could explain a little about the symptoms im having i think my lack of knowledge about ectopics has an impact that it concerns me so much.
Anyone willing to give me some advice and info please do so as i would be very grateful of the reasurance.
Many Thanks In advance
Sean
I think im getting these. but im not sure. i am 26 yr old male also a heavy smoker. I read that smoking can cause them.
My symptoms are this. Let me knwo if it is what you are experiencing. I dont get this everyday. But once in awhile i get them. I feel it in my chest sort of. I cant really explain the feeling. Its not pain. But it feels like a contraction or a gas type feeling. Something weird, then there is a pause, then a stronger heart beat.. so its like this .. boom.. Boom.. boom.. (weirdfeeling)..pause.. BOOM. then back to normal rythm. boom.. boom.. boom. Is this what u get?
They say that everyone gets these beats. but why are some aware of it and some arent i have no idea.
Hi,
Mine are simalar, but worse, for example during the time between me writing the topic to replying now, so a few hours, i must have had about 30 gained beats, no pain just a feeling where my body surges after the gained beats.
Its awful and is seriously making me depressed
Yeah its confusing cause everyone says they feel different things. Sometimes i have no idea if what i have or feel is the same as everyone else. I get sometimes like a jolt feeling in the chest. this happens only right when im about to fall asleep.> Its like an electric shock that wakes me up. Not really a pain more of a jolt. Im not even sure this is the heart. Or just nerves firing off
The only thing i do have which im pretty sure is the heart is that skipped beat thing.> but mine is like a weird contraction feeling ..
let me ask you. when u get the weird feeling.. is there a pause then an extra strong heart beat right after?
These really aren't anything to worry about.
I have had them for a while and have been to see the head specialist in Perth, West Aus.
It is not acctually a missed beat, but that is exactly what it feels like.
What happens is that the electrical impulse that causes your heart to beat sometimes fires off another wall of the heart causing it to contract and have a 'mini beat'.
Your heart being the clever organ that it is registers this mini beat and acctually stalls your regular heartbeat to beat at the time that it would have if the mini beat hadn't gone off.
During this small pause your heart fills a little more than normal and so has to beat hard to expel the extra blood. That is the hard thump you feel after the pause.
So really, it's just your heart being smart!! :D
I find it really interesting that so many of us with anxiety also have ectopics!
Yes that makes sense. What confuses me is that they say ectopics are normal and most people get them. If this is true why are most people totally unaware of it while others feel or are aware of some pretty profound feelings when it happens. Is it that our nerves are extra sensitive so we are feeling things most people wouldnt? Is it because people with heart disease have different types of ectopic beats?
I have no idea im just hoping that being 26 and having no family history of early heart disease puts me at a low risk.
Having your heart checked out as thoroughly as you have proves that you have nothing wrong with your heart.
I've had these ectopics all my life, but they never bothered me until I got anxiety. After that, for some reason, I always believed that my heart would stop.
But after battling this for 3 years I notice that my heart is still beating just fine.
If you think about it, we are more sensitive to everything that has to do with our bodies.
Some worry about moles that others wouldn't notice. Some worry about lumps that are hardly there.
That's what this illness is all about, worrying about stuff that's really not worth worrying about.
So with you age, your family history and all your check-ups, you are just fine.
Try to not let these things scare you and they will subside.
Take care.
"You can't yell loud enough to make me shut up."
honeybee3939
18-11-06, 11:10
Hi Sean
Take a look at these posts they may help:
Palpitations
Palpitations (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=palpitations)
palpatations (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2284)
Missed heartbeats! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3186)
sorry for being silly....but.... (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3320)
Palpitations? Reassurance needed and some answers! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3371)
Missed heartbeat question again (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3550)
IS THERE ANYMORE I CAN DO???? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3784)
ectopic heart beats (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4664)
Doc made ectopic fear worse (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4849)
missed heartbeats, still worried (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5061)
Ectopics – doc reassured
Been to doc's about ectopics (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8316)
Heart Results - ectopics and dizzyness (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8474)
Love
Andrea
xxx
Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the replies, its nice to be able to talk to people who experience the same symptoms as me.
I do try desperately to not think about them, but it seems in my mind that there slowly getting for frequent and therefore worse. Its very hard for me not to dwell on the them, sometimes i get a pain in my chest and it will set my mind thinking the worst, deep down i realise that this will be contributing to my anxiety about the whole situation and therefore making it worse.
Its a tough thing to live with and it does worry me.
Does anyone else get pain when they experience there ectopics??? Sometimes i do sometimes i dont.
"Aussies" post interested me as it makes sense. I think having the knowledge abou the problem is half the battle.
Thanks again guys, look forward to some more posts.
Sean
Hi,
Please try not to worry about them. I've have had them for over a year now and have given them far to much inportance. They are horried and scary and i have them every day, my only wish is to be free off them one day. But i know now they are harmless, just incredibly anoying. All my test are clear, like every body else who have them. Good luck!
Snoopy x
I got a string of them tonite. IT was actually after having sex. I got about four of them. Its really scaring me and i think theres something wrong. cause it seems they are happening during the resting phase of excercise.. I think thats a signal for heart trouble. ill get 1. then a couple mins later another .. few mins later another. and it happens about 3 or four times. .. Im very nervous about this .. I think i need to get the holter monitor
Under normal circumstances, ectopics are not part of changes in heart rate. Where the Vagus nerve is sensitized, however, like it is when you have anxiety, it is extremely common to experience palpitations as the heart rate changes because the parasympathetic system acts upon the Vagus nerve to slow the heart's rate.
This is what a cardiologist said about ectopics after excercise. So it is NOT a signal for heart trouble, it is absolutely normal for someone with anxiety to have more skipped beats after working out (or having sex, LOL)
"You can't yell loud enough to make me shut up."
Hi Guys,
Thanks again for all the replies, it looks likes there a few of us that have the same issues and symptoms and i think its great that this forum is available as its a great reassurance.
Thanks again guys.
Sean
x
when i get a few in the a row. it puts me into retardation mode. I spent the whole day today on google. reading reading reading reading.. CONSTANTLY checking my pulse. I thought i had an irregular rhythm for a min and paniced. Continued to read.. And i bent down to check something got up and felt a hard heart beat. and had an anxiety attack from hell. My heart started pounding and racing like a motor. I was shaking. cold with chills. Im pretty sure it wasn an anxiety attack, but even with this who really knows.
HI
MY HEART FEELS LIKE ITS BEATING AT A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR AND IM ALWAYS CHECKING MY PULSE IVE HAD MY HEART TESTED AND EVERYTHING IS FINE BUT ITS TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE IS THE HARDEST PROBLEM I THINK BECAUSE I SUFFER STRESS AND PANIC ATTACKS IT MAKES THE SYMPTOMS WORSE THAN WHAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE.
yeah i hear you. My heart went nuts last night and this morning i woke up feeling really terrible. Like death. I cant even explain how i felt. Just like weak and like i could die any second. Or that my heart wasnt working right. I got a holter monitor on now. U think these things are accurate at telling u if ur heart is ok? I mean with the damn heart there are so many fuking tests excuse my language. and it seems like unless you got 1000 tests. nothing is certain. U get an ekg. oh well u have to get it when u have symptoms.> then u get a halter monitor.. oh didnt have major symptoms. then they try to give u a 30 day event monitor.. then theres stress tests and echocardiograms. I dont have insurance right now. I dont know if i can go through with all these tests.
The thing that annoys me is not actually knowing if there is a problem with my heart. The problem is i know i have had a lot of tests and that they have come back ok, i would hope that the doctors or tests would be correct but theres still this little part of my brain that tells me to stop being stupid and realise there IS something wrong.
I find it stange that i have never suffered from ectopics until the last 12 - 18 months. My mind tells me that this means something is wrong as if it isnt why havnt i had it from bith? why have they suddenly started ruining my life now.
Its crazy, i was sat in the bath reading an hour ago and i suddenly had three bad ectopics and i felt i had to put my book down and get out as quick as poss in case i was about to have a heart attack or something. Its totaly ruining my life and im sick of searching for answers.
Where do i go from here???
Ive read everyones contributions with great interest, I have a slightly different perspective as Ive already had a heart attack. That was in February and I have since had stents fitted and all the usual tests more than once. ECGs by the hundred, 30 day monitor, I am on lots of cardiac medication. The NHS saved my life and spent a lot of money on me. I do my part now, diet, exercise & try to cut down on stress etc etc etc. The point is my ectopics started only recently and its amazing how stressfull and debilitating they can be. I get mine usually at rest and often in the evening when relaxing. Having access to a cardiologist and various trained nurses Ive been able to discuss them at length and they all agree THEY ARE GENERALLY HARMLESS. Obviously you MUST discuss them with your own Dr but even for me they recommend cutting down the caffeine, continuing with my gradually increasing exercise programme and TRYING not to worry about these little blips. Worrying will only increase the problem as adrenaline will cause them. I cant say I am winning against my anxiety and self generated stress but I know that a lot of it is in my own hands. Never underestimate what your mind is capable of doing to your body ( I have IBS as well)but that works for good as well as ill. If you can accept that its part of reaction to your Anxieties and find techniques that work for you to reduce stress you will be well on the way to get rid of the little blighters.
[8)]
Ive read everyones contributions with great interest, I have a slightly different perspective as Ive already had a heart attack. That was in February and I have since had stents fitted and all the usual tests more than once. ECGs by the hundred, 30 day monitor, I am on lots of cardiac medication. The NHS saved my life and spent a lot of money on me. I do my part now, diet, exercise & try to cut down on stress etc etc etc. The point is my ectopics started only recently and its amazing how stressfull and debilitating they can be. I get mine usually at rest and often in the evening when relaxing. Having access to a cardiologist and various trained nurses Ive been able to discuss them at length and they all agree THEY ARE GENERALLY HARMLESS. Obviously you MUST discuss them with your own Dr but even for me they recommend cutting down the caffeine, continuing with my gradually increasing exercise programme and TRYING not to worry about these little blips. Worrying will only increase the problem as adrenaline will cause them. I cant say I am winning against my anxiety and self generated stress but I know that a lot of it is in my own hands. Never underestimate what your mind is capable of doing to your body ( I have IBS as well)but that works for good as well as ill. If you can accept that its part of reaction to your Anxieties and find techniques that work for you to reduce stress you will be well on the way to get rid of the little blighters.
[8)]
Ive read everyones contributions with great interest, I have a slightly different perspective as Ive already had a heart attack. That was in February and I have since had stents fitted and all the usual tests more than once. ECGs by the hundred, 30 day monitor, I am on lots of cardiac medication. The NHS saved my life and spent a lot of money on me. I do my part now, diet, exercise & try to cut down on stress etc etc etc. The point is my ectopics started only recently and its amazing how stressfull and debilitating they can be. I get mine usually at rest and often in the evening when relaxing. Having access to a cardiologist and various trained nurses Ive been able to discuss them at length and they all agree THEY ARE GENERALLY HARMLESS. Obviously you MUST discuss them with your own Dr but even for me they recommend cutting down the caffeine, continuing with my gradually increasing exercise programme and TRYING not to worry about these little blips. Worrying will only increase the problem as adrenaline will cause them. I cant say I am winning against my anxiety and self generated stress but I know that a lot of it is in my own hands. Never underestimate what your mind is capable of doing to your body ( I have IBS as well)but that works for good as well as ill. If you can accept that its part of reaction to your Anxieties and find techniques that work for you to reduce stress you will be well on the way to get rid of the little blighters.
[8)]
But is the feeling i get really ectopic beats? I know its my heart cause it coincides with my pulse. I feel two sensations not just one. First its a weird feeling. like my heart twinges.. no pain.. Then theres a pause and a hard heart beat i can feel strongly in my chest.
I dont get how people can have these and not feel them. they are profound. Its not like im just noticing my heart skips, But i can feel the damn things very strongly.
Forums are great for general information and swapping tips but should never replace a trip to the Dr. They are best placed to assess the overall picture , where they sometimes fall down is in their realisation of how badly something like ectopics can affect you. From what you describe I would say yes they are "just ectopics" but thats not to say they are not going to frighten the hell out of you. I was in danger of developing serious anxiety problems. My cardiologist called it "over sensitivity to these normal occurences". In other words because I am so tuned in to everything chest wise I am fixated by every beat. His advice to me was to increase my exercise, I am presuming he wouldnt say that if he thought I had a problem ? What you describe is very similar to my own but a chat with a GP would be a good idea. By the by following advice from another post Ive upped my water intake a lot and found that has helped all round, better mood and less of the nasties.
Hope you get the answers you need
I just finished a holter 24 hour monitor. However i didnt feel any major palps while it was on. Figures. but hopefully this test will determine if i have a structurally normal heart or some valuable information. I dont have insurance to take a million different tests.
When you say your symptoms are simliar. Just curious. what is exactly simliar and what is different about your symptoms?
and the question goes to you too jinkus. Do you feel the same thing as me?
Hi PaladinX
The symptoms i have are occasional chest pain, lots of ectopics daily, seriously feeling like im going to have a heart attack or that something is majorly wrong with my heart. Being anxious and aware of everything that happens in my chest.
Its ruinging my life to be honest.
Hi everyone,
Blimey, we all have to live with this same problem!! I sympathise with you all, its a horrible condition to live with, that doesnt get the exposure it should do in my opinion. I hate being told there is nothing wrong with you when it obviously affects mine and a lot of peoples quality of life!!
Ive been getting them for a few years now, but still dont cope very well with them. I wont go into too much details of my symtoms as mine are the same, apart from one thing that hasnt been mentioned too much. I get an electric shock feeling occasionally as the large beat kicks in after the pause, in my chest and left arm, is this just me????
Stu
I think the shock comes from the nerves. I get the shock feeling in my chest too.. usually right before im going to sleep. But im not sure if it is related to the skipped beats. they are like two seperate sensations for me.
One question. Do you just feel the big beat. or do you also feel something before the big beat. cause im aware of it before the big beat even happens. it feels weird
hi i have had ectopics for about 3 years now i have had tests done which all came back normal yeah they can be very very upsetting i hate them so much but i notice i get them more if i sit and think about them or get stressed i wish they would go away or for me not to feel them as much but i suppose we have all been told that they are very harmless and not to worry but its not easy when they give you such a bloody scare when you get them eh xxx
i just finished the holter monitor test. and the doctor just said my results were very good.> nothing specific. I dont know if i should just drop this now, or get more tests like an echocardiogram or something.
i get them every day for the last month. my concern is how much is to much? if i get 5 every minute for 2 hours is that to much? i read post about people freaking out they get the extra beats 10 times a day , 10 times a day wouldnt be so bad. my concern is it dangerous to be getting these extra beats over 100 a day?
does any one out there get hours of these extra heart beats? and if so is it more than 5 extra beats a minute? just trying to figure out what the normal amount of extra heart beats i should be getting. most people are just saying they get a hand full a day. but what about people who get alot of them for a hour or two or three hours at a time ?i am seeing a doctor tomorrow. ill let you guys know what happens. these darn things are taking my peace of mind away. i really have to pray and just try to ignore them and keep calm because i know getting upset could make it worse. but this extra heart beat stuff is a real life changing problem.
Nothing dangerous at all with having 100 ectopic beats a day. In fact, the average person have around 250 or so a day.
Ectopic beats does not tear on your hart, it cannot bring on a heart attack, it cannot stop your heart, or develop into a more serious atrial flutter.
As long as you know for sure you have ectopic beats (and they are not symptoms of an underlying desease of some sort) they are not dangerous and are usually not treated. if they become to uncomfortable to live with however, there are medications and even surgery to relief, but at least in my country you would have to suffer enormously to even be considered treated for this condition - as they are not dangerous, just unpleasant.
Also, remember this is one of the most common panic attack/anxiety symptoms. You should consider treating your anxiety, and maybe the anxiety symptom will go away :)
Hello,
I've been experiencing the same thing. It came on all of a sudden three days ago and hasnt gone away since. I get probably 1-2 every minute or so. But they haven't gone away.. which is what is worrying me.
I went to the Dr. they did bloodwork, which hasn't come back yet, and an ECG. She said that I was having a extra mini beat in between. She also said that if i get like 6 in a row I might want to go to the hospital as this can become permanent (but it's extremely rare)
At the time of my appointment I thought that this was something that was going to go away... so I didnt ask what if it doesn't. So now im on day 3.. it hasnt stopped.. and Im not sure what I should do..
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
donnaharvey
12-08-08, 22:05
Hi there everyone,
I too have been having these wretched things nearly every five minutes every hour of every day, i have had 3 ECG, one was about 6 months ago the other two within the last three weeks all normal, i have also had a 24 hour monitor which picked up these ectopic beats and have been reassured by my doctor that they are harmless and what i am experiencing is anxiety however l am still not convinced.
scouser1959
16-08-08, 13:13
Hi Sean
Take a look at these posts they may help:
Palpitations
Palpitations (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=palpitations)
palpatations (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2284)
Missed heartbeats! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3186)
sorry for being silly....but.... (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3320)
Palpitations? Reassurance needed and some answers! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3371)
Missed heartbeat question again (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3550)
IS THERE ANYMORE I CAN DO???? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3784)
ectopic heart beats (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4664)
Doc made ectopic fear worse (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4849)
missed heartbeats, still worried (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5061)
Ectopics – doc reassured
Been to doc's about ectopics (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8316)
Heart Results - ectopics and dizzyness (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8474)
Love
Andrea
xxx SORRY IM VERY NEW TO THIS HAVENT POSTED FOR A WHILE SO HOPE IM IN THE RIGHT PLACE! I HAVE JUST FINISHED A SHED LOAD OF TESTS FOR ECTOPIC BEATS TREADMILL, BLOOD TESTS 7 ECGS AND A HEART SCAN!!! THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MY HEART CARDIOLGIST HAS SAID THEY ARE JUST ECTOPIC BEATS AND THEY SETTLE DOWN WHEN YOU DO!!!! WELL MINE HAVE SETTLED DOWEN FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL, XXX
donnaharvey
16-08-08, 18:59
Hi there,
Im new to this site and i too get constant missed/skipped beats, i have been to GP who has assured me that they are caused through anxiety and that my 3 ECG's are normal one of which i had 6 months ago the other two within the past month, i have also been on a 24 hour heart monitor the results of which were, i was suffering with ectopic beats through anxiety although i felt reassured at the time i am now driving myself crazy as i get these blasted things every minute of the day worse when i am walking, can anyone help as i am terrified i could drop at any given moment.
Donna xx
Rachey poos
17-08-08, 09:35
Hi Donna ...I get them when im walking too...the min' i set off they start ad take my breathe away, I have to stop sometimes and wait to settle my flip flop heart...but then somedays I can walk and get none! weird!
Neil Simpson
17-08-08, 12:20
Hi this is my first time on no more panic,i too suffer badly from missed and skipped beats.
They can be so bad that during the night they wake me,i am terrified that they will be the end of me.
I have had all the tests,monitors and such like,they tell me they are ectopic beats and every one gets them from time to time.
They ruin my life and the others around me,there is never a day that i do not have them.
They came out of the blue ten years ago and seem to be getting more severe as time passes on.
Can any one help with any advice?
yanksforever
17-08-08, 16:12
Neil- don't drink, don't smoke, don't take any caffeine. Oh and exercise helps. Just know that they won't hurt you or your heart!! Your heart is healthy and these annoyinging things won't hurt it.
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