Palpitations

Are you going through the menopause, or even post menopause Natsnan?, if so, palpitations can be fairly common at this time.

I get palpitations regularly, have done for years. Nothing wrong with my heart, apparently, and now I've got used to the light-headed sensation I don't worry about it.

Chances are you don't have anything to worry about, Natsnan, but it's good you've had it checked out. Hope everything's fine and it's just one of those things we have to live with!

Yes I suffered with palpitations, my heart would race or do cartwheels. I had ECGs and 24 hour monitoring which showed very little. Cardiologist put me on beta blockers and it did the trick, heart rhythm has settled.

Hello Natsnan it's great that your healthcare professionals are doing all the tests, but with luck your outcomes will be as positive as mine. I have something similar to your description, called an ectopic heartbeat, which started eighteen months ago when I was very stressed. (It 'skips' a beat about one in 4, and really pounds furiously at times). I had blood tests for thyroid, the 24 hr monitor, exercise ECG, CT scan (that one didn't work, because my heartbeat is too irregular) and MRI scan. I had beta-blockers which had no effect on the beat, but made me feel really weird. Tests all showed my heart is healthy, no artery or cholesterol problems at all. My consultant said it is entirely benign, just one of those things. GP gave me the choice of continuing the beta blockers which I refused. It is still there, but I do think it is stress related. The most important thing is to have all the tests you are offered, to put your mind (if not your heart) at rest! Let us know how you get on?

Thank you all so much. It's reassuring to hear your experiences and to know the outcome. Icyalittle, mine skip probably once or twice in a minute. I'll get it on and off for a couple of days then I'm ok for a few days before it starts again. Hopefully, I'll get the results this week and l'll report back. Thanks again.

Thank you for starting this thread Natsnan. I am waiting to have the 24 hour monitor having had all the tests you've mentioned, with similar results. My GP gave me a low dose of Atenonol in the meantime.

I feel fine but find the sensation really disconcerting.

Me too. Only at night. I think they are caused by the amlodipine as i have tried not taking for a few days and they settle. Cutting out coffee helped as well. But I really must persist with the tedious process of trying to get a GP appointment. Starting today at 8am.

And me! Sometimes I get loads of them or I can go days or weeks without any. As I was getting quite breathless too, I went to my GP and everything was normal (BP/cholesterol etc) but sending me for an ECG anyway.

It started happening last year when I was really stressed about something. (I'm always stressed about something!) I think it's this, combined with the fact I have a sedentary job that has caused it.

The occasional one I don't worry about, but I hate it when I get several one after the other. Once I get the 'all clear' from my GP I think I will make a concerted effort to get healthy.

Goodness, a lot of us in the same boat. I've been cutting out caffeine, wine and salt to see if they trigger anything, but haven't noticed a difference. Let's hope we all get some answers.

Almost 40 years ago, a young doctor detected an irregular heartbeat when I went for a completely different examination. After an ECG, I was told I had sinus arrhythmia but my GP said this was nothing to worry about. Ever since then, it has been a sign of stress and a warning to take things easy; and it occurs also when I am unwell. Quite often it doesn't happen for months but then when it does, I know something is amiss - but probably not with my heart.

Just had the results of the ecg ultrasound, all was normal. Phew! Just need to get the results of the 24 hr monitor then I can relax. Such a relief.

I get missed beats sometimes when I lie down at night. Everything stops momentarily and then starts up again with lots of beats - makes me gasp. OH (doc) says nothing to worry about - I choose to believe him!

REPORTED

I also get ectopics and like many others they are worsened by stress. Luckily for me beta blockers work well in calming them down. My experience is that they as dismissed as not being harmful. Maybe not but they are distressing and very uncomfortable.

I have longstanding atrial fibrillation and now have a pacemaker and av node ablation.

Many arrhythmias can be safely ignored or easily treated - some need dealing with. But the help is there if needs be - and it's free!

Mine was caused by stress. As I came out of the highly stressful part of my life, the palpitations stopped.

ORIGINAL POST 13 YEARS OLD!! Still a useful topic I know, but…..

Lots of old topics are being resurrected- which is good. For instance, this one.
When I am anxious or stressed, I too get palpitations.

This is very useful for me because I had palpitations for the first time in my life this year at 72. I felt silly going to the GP but did and have a doctor's note to get all the tests that GNetters have described above.
Probably I think that this was stress as others have said due to my OH having had a bout of ill health.

harrigran

Yes I suffered with palpitations, my heart would race or do cartwheels. I had ECGs and 24 hour monitoring which showed very little. Cardiologist put me on beta blockers and it did the trick, heart rhythm has settled.

Exactly the same as my DH, he had episodes of an extremely fast heart rate, over 200 BPM, which were very frightening and he ended up in A and E twice. He was put on Beta Blockers which helped but since we changed to decaffeinated coffee he hasn’t had a single episode of a rapid heart rate. He recently had an echocardiogram for another problem and apparently his heart is in very good shape for an 83 year old so the rapid heart rate problems seem to have done no harm.

Natsnan

Goodness, a lot of us in the same boat. I've been cutting out caffeine, wine and salt to see if they trigger anything, but haven't noticed a difference. Let's hope we all get some answers.

Caffeine was the problem for my DH and for his aunt in Canada wine was the problem.

You are very good, cutting out salt - I don't add it at the table but wouldn't like to cook without it and I really wouldn't want to go without cheese.

I do not add salt to anything when cooking, but have no ualms about eating it in foods - like cheese. I also do not eat salty snack foods like crisps, nuts etc. But I do this because I do not like them, not because they are salty.

I started with palpitations over 30 years ago. You have had the tests which will very likely say there is nothing majorly wrong. Millions of people in the UK suffer from this, the most common heart condition. My GP always tells me it won't kill me which I hold on to even though sometimes it feels as if it might. All the best.