Need your support/wisdom (ectopic heartbeats) :-(

[Rosemary349]

Hi everyone

I've had ectopic heartbeats on and off over the years, but in the last 7 years it seemed that they'd calmed down.  I still got the odd 1 or 2 here and there, usually just before my period, but that was it.  

Then New Year's Eve, out of the blue I was woken up by them.  I brushed it aside because I'd been unwell and hadn't been eating properly a few days before.  Also when I ate something they settled down.  I called the doctor the next day and described them to him and he said they are nothing to worry about.  He knew my history, I've had a holter and event monitor 6 years ago, results were normal, and I had a stress test back then and it was normal (just a basic one).

So in the last two weeks I've noticed my period was late and then in the last week I've had strong and noticeable ectopics.  My period started yesterday at last and I thought they'd calm down.  Up to a point they have, but still there.  I've also got a 'wiggling' feeling in my legs on and off.  I've had a slight sore throat and wondering if I've just got a bit of an infection which has triggered them.

Anyway, a young/new doctor at the surgery has arranged for me to have an ecg on friday.  I'm really panicky about the whole thing.  It's been a week now of these ectopics.  They seem to calm down at certain times of the day then start up again.  I think it's hormonal, I'm 46 and approaching the menopause obviously at this age....

The only thing I can think of that I've done differently is that I have taken some Agnus Castus daily for about a week.  I've always taken this, but about a week ago I bought a completely different brand and the dose is significantly higher.  I didn't realise until today.  So instead of taking my usual 28 - 52 mg (what is said on the box), I've been taking 294mg.  Agnus Castus influences female hormones and it is my hormones that often triggers ectopics...

Anyone think it could be this?  I'm hoping it is because it freaks me out when I can't explain them.  For the last 4 years I've always been able to explain them to myself if they happen and as a result, I've learned to avoid the triggers and haven't had much trouble with them.  I was just getting my confidence back

Some people in the heart disease community know me from years ago, 7 years, when I posted that my dad died suddenly of a heart attack while I was in the room.  :-(  I cope, but I've never really got over it and so these ectopics are freaking me out.

Any advice, experience, etc is welcome.  My pulse is normal and regular apart from when it skips.

Thanks  :-(

[Rosemary349]

Also can anyone offer their opinion on George Eby's research showing reduction in pvc's, pac's and pauses with L-Arginine and Taurine supplementation.  I tried this at a low dose a few years ago and it seemed to stop my pvc's.  At the time I was convinced that it worked, where nothing else had.  I'm concerned to try it again because ......well because I'm nervous about everything atm!  Taurine in energy drinks has been thought to cause arrythmias so wondering if anyone has checked out George Eby's research, etc.  thanks.

[Rosemary349]

Can anyone just let me know if some of these symptoms are typical of ectopics?

- 'hungry' feeling around naval area which is triggering ectopics, especially on movement (can feel movement more in stomach as if feels empty and that feeling seems to trigger ectopics.

- after eating (eating just to calm it down not because really want food) the ectopics seem to calm down, but at the same time eating can trigger them too.

- just want to sit really still and if I did I think they'd calm down

- unhealthy fatty food like eggs, butter, milk, etc, seem to calm the ectopics, but low fat foods like porridge made with water, poached salmon and vegetables etc, seem to not calm them very much.

I'm beginning to wonder if I should reintroduce full fat milk into my diet, and eggs.  I am vegan apart from fish.  Most of my food is extremely low fat as trying to be healthy, but I think I eat enough calories and am in fact overweight at the moment.

Thanks for any thoughts, I really appreciate any help.

[Rosemary349]

I forgot to mention, there's a 'wiggling' feeling in my legs around the same time that these ectopics occur....my GP said that was bizarre and unlikely to be medically significant.

[Rosemary349]

Interesting that eggs have high levels of cysteine which help the body to make taurine.  Weird how I often seem to think these sorts of foods will help, I often think of eggs....but I avoid them because of cholesterol.  Maybe I should listen to my body and not theories.

[Rosemary349]

The skipped beats are definitely being triggered by eating, but not only that.  Also triggered by sugar (immediately it enters my mouth almost).  

Last night I took less zoplicone because when I mentioned to a cardiologist that I regularly took zoplicone he looked over at a nurse and raised his eyebrows...So last night I lowered the dose and today the ectopics are a little less.  But it could also be whatever caused the 'spate' of them is less, because last week they were very powerful and very frequent.

[Rosemary349]

achillea - THANK YOU, I appreciate it.  I just worry because the time when nausea, elephant on the chest and being drenched in sweat happens, is critical.  My dad died.  I know people can be saved but it seems there's no preventative screening for a lot of this, I'm in the UK by the way.  It just seems backward logic to me that people wait until the problem is critical.

But I realise I have an anxiety issue and I will take on board what you've said.  I don't understand these current ectopics, they're a different pattern for me.  Thanks again.

[achillea]

I remember your account of your  father's death.  What a traumatic thing to have to deal with!  And that is the point:  your personal fears (unfounded as they are, given the tests you have had) may very well be related to post-traumatic stress disorder.  I strongly advise seeing a professional about this rather than spinning the wheels about medically trivial symptoms.

[Rosemary349]

achillea, thanks for the advice.  Really appreciate you responding.  I have taken your advice on board.  :-)

[achillea]

It appears that your heart has been repeatedly tested and found healthy.  As you've been told, your ectopic beats are harmless.  Annoying and disturbing, but harmless.

In general, in healthy people like you, no one really knows what causes ectopics, so looking for causes is generally pointless.

It is known that once ectopics appear in a person, they tend to recur.  The message there is 'Learn to deal.  They will probably be back.'

You also mention weird flutterings and spongey feelings here and there in your body.  These things are usually medically insignificant--except that they do indicate a general hyperawareness of bodily sensations.

Focusing on this kind of thing will drive you nuts and louse up your quality of life.

The important thing is this:  Can you do your normal stuff?  You don't suffer from chest pain that feels as though an elephant is sitting on you?  You don't have nausea and are not drenched in an icy cold sweat?  

Then your heart and body are OK and fully functional.  You are healthy in that way.

What next?  Address the real problem by seeing a therapist who treats anxiety.  Believe me:  You will feel better and get back a productive and meaningful life.

[Rosemary349]

My ECG was done today and gave back a normal sinus rhythm.  No ectopics occurred during it and I'd had my beta blocker medication 45 mins before.

I've got a Cardiology appointment...

How to interpret those results so far?  Thanks to anyone who responds  :-)

[Rosemary349]

Just to add.  All was fine this morning until I ate a chocolate biscuit around 3pm and almost instantly that the first bite melted in my mouth, then the ectopics started and were quite frequent for about 20 - 30 mins.  

A problem processing sugar??

[gethprime]

It could be a number of things that cause the ectopic  beats. Like stress being one of the most common causes, vague nerve issues, etc. Sometimes when I eat large meals... Well not large in actual size but things like burgers and other large portions of food can trip my pvcs n palps. Though mines have significantly decreased in terms of being felt. But in my opinion stress is one of the top 3 causes of ectopic beats.

[gethprime]

Vagus nerve I mean.  Stupid auto  correct lol

[Rosemary349]

Thanks gethprime...I think this is linked to my hormones, I usually get a few ectopics before my period starts, but in the last two months it's been a prolonged wait for it to start (of about 7 days late) and then prolonged while it's happening....and this has coincided with frequent ectopics.  As I'm 46 I am most likely approaching menopause.  If I am, this is the first suggestion and I hope it's not a sign of what's to come for the next few years....ectopics feel dangerous even though we're told they're not.  I feel like if I went running right now with them, it would trigger them to do something even more chaotic.

[gethprime]

Ectopics are not usually dangerous if there isn't an underlying factor(s). They're usually benign with normal legs,  stress and echo/ultrasound. But those tests are as reliable as the docs doing them

[gethprime]

Stupid auto correct I meant ekgs not legs lol

[gethprime]

Yes cardiologist would most likely set you up to do a stress test, echo/ultrasound of your heart and the carotid artery to check for blockages. That's what mine did. Yeah I had pvcs pop up here and there but that's normal because my 85 percent target max of my age was around 180 at 155 bpm or so. At that rate there is bound to be a few that will show up. When my HR went back down to normal around 80 or so,  I hardly had any pvcs. However a month and a half ago I was like you and a lot of others and I was racked with worry getting ectopics for hours a day. Now I hardly get them. And them ones I do get aren't as bad as they were a month ago. Turns out it was stress induced. Ppl will have an ectopic. Some will feel it some won't.

[Rosemary349]

Thanks gethprime, today's been a bit easier, and strangely the fluttering under the skin has eased off too.  I don't think the two are related, only as far as it might be an infection, like shingles or something as my legs have had odd feelings too (the last time they felt this way I had labyrinthitis, so might have had a bit of a flare up).....I had my carotid arteries checked last year with an ultrasound during some other check and they were clear.....not looking forward to any stress test as I haven't been fit since being on the beta blockers.

[Rosemary349]

Anyone?  The weird thing about these ectopics is they don't feel the same as usual (although they meet all the descriptors for an ectopic heartbeat).  I've also been having a 'fluttering' - this will sound weird, but in my right breast.  This is not heart related, it's more under the skin..............just wondering, I've been around my mother who's got Shingles.  Think it's possible I've got something like this and it's triggered all these ectopics?  When the ectopics start up there's also a 'spongey' feeling in my legs (not weakness, a sensation only).....the only other time I've had this sensation is when I've had labyrinthitis in the past.  Just wondering if a viral infection might have triggered all this, but if it has it's mild enough that I don't know what it would be.