LONG TERM ECTOPIC - NOW MUCH WORSE - WORRIED!

[Jenni28]

Hi there, I am a 44 year old female living in the UK - I have suffered for as long as I can remember with Ectopic beats and 12 months ago I had a severely restricted artery which was stented - over the past month my Ectopic beats have increased ten fold every day and especially at night - my Dad suffered them all his life and went to sleep one night and didn't wake up and I am so afraid - I have had a heart monitor which has been reviewed and they say there is nothing to worry about I have some ventricular and atrial ectopics but they cannot say why these have increased so much - I just dont seem to be able to get any specific answers and have been left to get on with it although this is hell because I am living day to day thinking that every night I go to sleep it will be my last, like my Dad - you have different resources in the USA than we have here in the UK - any advice on how I should be pushing forward for answers in this respect - many many thanks.

[anacyde]

Do you know what it was that caused your father's death, specifically?  Did he have a particular arrythmia during his life that he was treating or anything like that?  I can certainly understand your concern.  Knowledge is power, so the more you know about your family history, the better your own chances of heading off potential problems.

PACs and PVCs truly are benign in a structurally normal heart, so that isn't something to worry about, as unpleasant as they are to deal with.  If you were having your usual symptoms when you wore the monitor, I would rest assured.  However, if you have different or more frequent symptoms since, it is a good idea to check again or even ask for an event monitor.

[Jenni28]

Thanks for your reply - no my Dad although undergoing several tests was never diagnosed with anything specific just normal ectopic beats although they really troubled him throughout his lifetime - mine are the same in their symptoms but different in their frequency, which has increased significantly - I am now going back to the Cardiologist to have a chat and see if somehow I can get some peace of mind.

[MAZZER]

I am sorry that you are suffering from these horrid ectopics, I too have the same thing, I started with them 3 years ago when I was under alot of stress, I am a 52 yr old female living in the UK. I had a 24hr monitor and a scan of my heart, both were fine, my doc said not to worry as my condition is benign.  But it is sometimes very difficult especially when I get one after the other all day long and for nearly every day.
My doc gave some some beta blockers to use if I felt they were too distressing, these do not stop them but they do seem to calm them.  I dont take them every day only when needed.
I have tried everything to try to 'cure' them, from completely giving up caffine and alcohol neither of which worked.  To be honest I didn't drink much of either anyway.  I also tried taking magnesium suppliments as I had read somewhere it could be a deficiency in this mineral but again no change.  I wont give up my quest to find a cure and will keep you all informed, I find it scary about what happened to your dad - I am sorry.  No one in my family ever suffered from heart disease so far only me.