Aa
What is the difference between...
a skipped heart beat and an extra heart beat? I got the results of my holter monitor (which I had two weeks ago) and the doctor's secretary said that the report said I had some extra heart beats. I thought they were skips, but I'm not sure why I thought that. Are extra ones worse? Also, is there a different feeling from skipped or extra ones? The feeling that I get is in the middle of my chest, sometimes it feels like it's in my throat and it feels like a big thump or tumble. It usually happens twice right in a row. Also...
1.) they seem to happen much more either while I have my period or in between periods at ovulation time, at least that's what I'm attributing them to as when I had them two weeks ago, I had my period, they lasted all the while while I had it, then they stopped altogther and now that I'm in between periods at day 13-14, they're back in full force.
2.) can cold weather have an effect on them, or cause them to just start happening?
I know that some of you guys are so used to these things that you dont' even notice them anymore but because I haven't been getting them much through the years and now they seem to be starting more frequently, it's kind of scary.
Oh and when I told the doctor's assistant that they were happening again he said to give them a call if they don't go away. Well, if they're nothing to worry about, as the doctor said, why do I have to call them if they don't go away?
So, please if any of you answer my questions, please try to answer all of them! Thank you so much.
1.) they seem to happen much more either while I have my period or in between periods at ovulation time, at least that's what I'm attributing them to as when I had them two weeks ago, I had my period, they lasted all the while while I had it, then they stopped altogther and now that I'm in between periods at day 13-14, they're back in full force.
2.) can cold weather have an effect on them, or cause them to just start happening?
I know that some of you guys are so used to these things that you dont' even notice them anymore but because I haven't been getting them much through the years and now they seem to be starting more frequently, it's kind of scary.
Oh and when I told the doctor's assistant that they were happening again he said to give them a call if they don't go away. Well, if they're nothing to worry about, as the doctor said, why do I have to call them if they don't go away?
So, please if any of you answer my questions, please try to answer all of them! Thank you so much.
Don't worry, you are not alone. A lot of us on this Forum struggle with similar problems and it is reassuring to know that their are people out there that have been there and are still okay.
I also get PSVT (Paromoxal Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) and those extra systoles/ectopics. I am 32 and have Mitral Valve Prolapse with mild regurg. At some stage the Cardio said that it is Atrial Fibrillations that you get it as a sign of MVP but I went to an Electro-Cardio and he discovered with mapping and other tests that I have these extra sinus nerves and was able to Ablate 1 of them. I still get these PSVT attacks and irregular heartbeat/miss beats (that is actual EXTRA beats) even while I am using a beta-blocker. It seems the only way that I'll be able to get rid of these extra beats is by getting a Pacemaker inplanted, but I am not ready for that and don't think it is the final solution.
I also have an Atrial Septal Aneurysm (was discovered during TEE) and with irregular heartbeat blood thickens and can form bloodclots... so I am a little bit anxious when I have this and beta-blockers doesn't work for me.
I am just extremely fatiqued all the time, BP sometimes 80/60 and that makes me feel even worse!
Sometimes I wish the Cardio would just say let's go for op, replace valve and here is your life back! I mean, the way I see it: you have to get the valve replaced/fixed at some stage, why wait until you are old and half your life is wasted because you did not have energy to enjoy it!
I also get PSVT (Paromoxal Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) and those extra systoles/ectopics. I am 32 and have Mitral Valve Prolapse with mild regurg. At some stage the Cardio said that it is Atrial Fibrillations that you get it as a sign of MVP but I went to an Electro-Cardio and he discovered with mapping and other tests that I have these extra sinus nerves and was able to Ablate 1 of them. I still get these PSVT attacks and irregular heartbeat/miss beats (that is actual EXTRA beats) even while I am using a beta-blocker. It seems the only way that I'll be able to get rid of these extra beats is by getting a Pacemaker inplanted, but I am not ready for that and don't think it is the final solution.
I also have an Atrial Septal Aneurysm (was discovered during TEE) and with irregular heartbeat blood thickens and can form bloodclots... so I am a little bit anxious when I have this and beta-blockers doesn't work for me.
I am just extremely fatiqued all the time, BP sometimes 80/60 and that makes me feel even worse!
Sometimes I wish the Cardio would just say let's go for op, replace valve and here is your life back! I mean, the way I see it: you have to get the valve replaced/fixed at some stage, why wait until you are old and half your life is wasted because you did not have energy to enjoy it!
Hi C!
You're welcome : )
Yep, and I was CONVINCED that my heart was skipping beats. It actually took me a long time to believe that the feeling was really extra beats. That still seems kinda weird to me, but I know it's true. It no longer worries me, but there were times when I would feel lousy because of the beats. I'd make an appointment, get it checked out, be told it was benign, leave the doctor's office feeling FINE, get in the car and think....WAIT, I STILL feel weird!! What a vicious cycle! I can honestly say I began to get relief when I found a compassionate cardio. When she told me she also had the extra beats, I figured it was probably OK. She really understand the weird sensations they brought on.
My daughter just had a stress echo and the tech said, "Did you know you're having PVC's?" She laughed and said, "No, but I know where I get them!" She was having them every other beat for a couple of minutes in the recovery part of the stress test. I asked if they bother her, and she said, "not really, they're just annoying." I really think she's OK with them b/c she knows I have them and I'm fine (after all these years). For me, the anxiety was much worse than the actual PVC's. I hated that anxious, panicky feeling.....Inderal (beta blocker) actually helped with the anxiety as well as the ectopics.
Connie
You're welcome : )
Yep, and I was CONVINCED that my heart was skipping beats. It actually took me a long time to believe that the feeling was really extra beats. That still seems kinda weird to me, but I know it's true. It no longer worries me, but there were times when I would feel lousy because of the beats. I'd make an appointment, get it checked out, be told it was benign, leave the doctor's office feeling FINE, get in the car and think....WAIT, I STILL feel weird!! What a vicious cycle! I can honestly say I began to get relief when I found a compassionate cardio. When she told me she also had the extra beats, I figured it was probably OK. She really understand the weird sensations they brought on.
My daughter just had a stress echo and the tech said, "Did you know you're having PVC's?" She laughed and said, "No, but I know where I get them!" She was having them every other beat for a couple of minutes in the recovery part of the stress test. I asked if they bother her, and she said, "not really, they're just annoying." I really think she's OK with them b/c she knows I have them and I'm fine (after all these years). For me, the anxiety was much worse than the actual PVC's. I hated that anxious, panicky feeling.....Inderal (beta blocker) actually helped with the anxiety as well as the ectopics.
Connie
thanks, i knew you would answer. is that what you have as well? does it worry you? i think you said that it didn't but just wanted to make sure.
C
C
When you feel a "skip" it is actually an "extra" beat. It is also referred to as an "ectopic" (extra) beat. I know that sounds weird, and you're probably thinking, "no way." But, it's true. Your heart is actually misfiring early and thus causing an extra beat. I believe the skip you feel is really what is called a compensatory pause (like your heartbeat is trying to get back in sync).
Hormonal fluctuations seem to be a common trigger for many women.
Cold weather is also a trigger for some; hot weather for others.
If you are bothered by them (and they aren't going away), the doctor may offer you a beta blocker. Some people get relief from taking a BB. For me, it kinda quieted things down. Both from a frequency standpoint and from a sensation standpoint.
Hormonal fluctuations seem to be a common trigger for many women.
Cold weather is also a trigger for some; hot weather for others.
If you are bothered by them (and they aren't going away), the doctor may offer you a beta blocker. Some people get relief from taking a BB. For me, it kinda quieted things down. Both from a frequency standpoint and from a sensation standpoint.
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