Heart skips beats with pain

[bobrisk]

My heart has been skipping beats sometimes with pain for some time now. I have had two bouts of AF but all seems OK now. I have had two stress tests and a CT scan of the heart - all normal. My cardiologist says that the pain is nothing and I should ignore it. Basically it my heart appears to stop and then thump hard. When the thump comes that is when I get a sharp pain in my chest.

[Jerry_NJ]

I think your cardiologist should take into account the impact the problem has on you - maybe he/she has, but it doesn't sound that way form your brief description.  

Has there been any suggestion that the problem is caused by something other than your heart, e.g., digestion, emotions, other?  

I think you should get an answer, and you can always change doctors (get a second opinion).  

[itdood]

Do you know what the skipping beats are?  Are they PVCs, PACs, or something else?

I know a lot about PVCs unfortunately :-(.     Their timing can mean all sorts of stuff, from them hitting really hard, or really easy.  I've had both.

If I recall correctly, if the PVC occurs late in the normal sinus rhythm (NSR) cycle, they will cause more physical symptoms because the ventricles have had more time to fill with blood.  You will feel more a thud in your chest.    If the PVC occurs early in the cycle, they will feel light.

I could have that bass akwards but you get the picture.  Timing during NSR plays a big role in how they feel and other symptoms.  If your skips are for other reasons than this info doesn't apply.