Skipped or Pause in Heartbeats

[Willard]

I have had numerous bouts recently with atrial Fib And have been in to see my physician. My physical went very well but he did detect a slight murmur and said I have a breathing arythmia. Meaning when I breathe my heart rate slow and speeds up! I have had an appointment with a cardiologist and he listened to me and thought it was a benign sort of thing! I am having a holter monitor put on tomorrow for 24 hrs. and thursday I'll have an echocardiogram done. My symptoms are sometimes a fast heart rate for me 90-100bpm..maybe 110. I experience missed beats or a pause in beats..right as I write this I'm getting 2-3 pauses per minute or so. I get tingling sensations in my arms and upper chest area. The feeling is scary as it happens alot at bedtime feeling a little like tightness or a muscle tightening in my left shoulder in the front. I have been able to put up with these episodes but they really bother me and sleeping is almost impossible.Can sleep deprivation make these worse? I have stopped all caffiene and alcohol...but still continue to have these almost daily..maybe more than once daily. What do you think I should do if all the tests come out negative? Should I proceed with more tests? Thanks for any input you can give me..

[Mike]

Doug, I am 38 ,on asthma medication, blood pressure medication and am experiencing the exact same type of heart beat. It's been going on for about 10 months now. It is at it's wosre when I eat. My doctor has changed my meds a few times. Each time it goes away for a few days and gradually comes back. I'm going back soon, if I find anything that works I will post it. I read the many meds that are prescribed for blood pressure are also prescribed for this.

[Ian Hawke]

Most of these missed beats or Ectopic beats, you do not have to worry about these.

[Doug]

I just turned 38 years old and for about a month I've been feeling these really strange beats, almost like a pause with a slight feeling of euphoria and then a really hard beat; it seems more prominent in the vein on the right side of my neck.  Does anybody know if these "beats" can be controlled by medication? I'm currently on medication for blood pressure and asthma.  It's good to find this column and to know that there are others who understand.

[Deana]

Hi Ian, Carrie, Mike: I was diagnosed with SVT's (supraventricular tachycardia)last month.  My cardiologist recommended an ablation which I had done.  This is a procedure where they send radiofrequency waves directly to the extra pathway that is causing the SVT's.  I haven't had any tachycardia since the procedure which I am grateful for, but...all of a sudden I'm feeling these skipped beats.  I was told I would occasionally feel these for about three weeks after the ablation, but it is very frequent and you can't help but worry about them.  I opted for the ablation because I didn't want to take medication.  I would have the SVT's about 2 to 3 times a year, but they seemed to be lasting longer.  I have mixed feelings though, because I'm dealing with these PVCs or PACs everyday!  This is the first time in this forum for me, but it has been comforting to know other people have these annoying heart rhythms also.  

[Ian Hawke]

Hi everyone, well today is the 24 Dec 1999 and im still having these missing heart beats, ive been told that they are called Ectopic beats.
I would love to know how to stop them or even calm them down, is there anyone that can help.
The funny thing is that i can sleep fine, but when im awake i get at least 2 to 3 missed beats in one min and it realy does my head in, so if there is anyone with the same problem please come back to me.
             Many thanks  Ian.
  If you want to email me you can at   ian.***@****

[Mike]

Wow, I didn't raelize so many people were suffering from the same kind of irregular heartbeat as I am. I get the pause and then the forceful beats also.In my case it seems to happen when I eat, especially a good size meal. I must eat very early or I cannot sleep. It also seems to be directly connected to my blood pressure medication. Earlier this year the irregularity was so unbearable I lost 40 lbs because i could only eat very small meals or risk being up all night. At this time mt doctor lowered my dosage of mecication and I noticed a terrific improvement. Unfortunatly it is coming back, though not nearly as severe. Ian,I now what you're going through, and my quality of life has suffered also. I'm reasonably sure my problem is medication related. Both Ziac and toporol seemed to cause it, or at least make it worse, though I am only speaking from my experience. Deep breaths really help with the panic attacks. Good luck all.