Increased Symptoms?

[jolleyhearted]

HI All,

I was diagnosed with brief episodes of paroxysmal ectopic tachycardia (basically, a spot in the atrium triggers a heart beat causing a run of beat 5-6 beats long), confirmed by an ECG.  Also had occasional extra beats (singles).  Had a stress test and echo, both relatively normal (minor things documented that the cardiologist said not to worry about).  Anyway, this was all about two years ago now.  Over the last 6 months or so, I have had increasing amounts of skipped beats.  Today, for example, I was on the couch and for 5 minutes or so my heat was beating like this: beat - beatbeat - beat - beatbeat.  And then again this evening (both times after eating).  It is happening more frequently too.  Is this a new symptom?  Should I ask for another holter?  Should I ask to see the cardiologist again?

Thanks in advance.

[MichelleP_3811]

A cardiologist is the best person to diagnose what exactly is going on but it sounds like you are falling into some sort of bigemy pattern.  Do you know if the etopics were pvcs or pacs?  Anyways it sounds like there may be some sort of stomach ailment that is irritating the vagus nerve and thus irritating your heart.  The etopics come every other beat.  Considering this is a new or worsening symptom it might be worth a trip back to the doctor for a consult though unless you have these beats in a row, which it doesn't sound like you do, then there isn't much to worry about.  But a doctor should be the one to give you the all clear.  Also think about how what you are eating or if you are having any stomach issues and resolving that can help ease the extra beats.  Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[Avery618]

Maybe get a 3 week monitor or something and see what it shows. These types of tachycardia can become more frequent and of longer duration as time goes on. I had an SVT that was just occasional and then over a year or so became more and more frequent. Had the ablation to kill it, as it's not worth going through the anxiety these things bring on.