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Fears about ectopic heart beats and PSVT's. Doctor not concerned.
I started having these darn heart skips in my late 30's after mom had her first heart attack. I wore a 24 hour holter monitor and I only had a few ectopic beats, nothing else. Well, I had them off and on and some PSVTs (Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia)as well, but nothing major, but they scared me. I was fortunate that I never had a lot back then. After mom died from complications from vascular surgery, they started again and this time a lot more and more atrial runs. I wore 7 day events monitors , and had a couple of echocardiograms
This was when I was 49 to 54. Daddy died from cancer, and then the skips got worse again. I married a man from New Zealand and I moved there when
I was 55(I live here now)and the ectopic heart beats and PSVTs have taken a turn for the worse. I am now 68 and I live every day in constant fear of them. Every little strange best sends me into panic and I cry. I have worn two 7 day monitors once a few years ago and one a couple of months ago. I had an echocardiogram a year ago. All "normal" results. I have lost track of all the times I have gone to the ER, again, I am always discharged because all blood work and EKGs are normal. I just now had a short run of PSVTs, at least I think it was that, I am petrified of having A fib. I am sick with fear, no matter how hard I try, I can't stop being frightened. I am going to see my GP tomorrow to see if she'll refer me to have another echo done. I wasn't happy with the first as it said on one part that the image quality was only fair and poor subcoastal windows. I paid a lot for the exam, I want it done right. I should have said something earlier, but I didn't think about it. Lately, I have been having the ectopic heart beats all day and night which are horrible, they are not sustained but persistent all day. I don't know how much more I can take. That's when I really studied the echo report a few days ago and it concerns me, I am surprised that I haven't been called for another actually due to the fact of what it said about the images. Also, the cardiologist said it was "an essentially normal echocardiogram" It did show MAC-Mitral Annular calculation, but no stenosis and just very trivial MR. The aortic valve had some thickening valves, but no stenosis or AR. The rest of the report was OK. I am concerned that he didn't mention another review as it's been a year. I am so scared I can't think straight. I didn't think much about it when I got the report, but now that AI answers questions, I feel like I know more and I am doubting my doctors. I just can't stop being scared. Oh, ejection fraction good, it was 72.
I also have fibromyalgia, a hiatal hernia and costochondritis, I get sternal chest pain at times and that scares me. Again, all blood work and EKGs and time on the monitor while in the ER are "normal".
I have to have relief from these ectopic heart beat fears. I am feeling weird again in my tummy and chest, this usually precedes the skipped beats, I am scared. The doctor told me to take Ativan,but I am scared of it, I am 68 and have glaucoma and those are two things that the warnings on the drug say to watch for and to not take it. She said to cut it in 4ths, but I am still scared. I know lots of people that have these horrible heart beats take Xanax, but I don't feel safe in doing so. Beta blockers really aren't an option as my blood pressure is low normal and heart rate in the 60s to 70s even during the skips, it is elevated when I have PSVTs.
I also get them after I eat or drink water. I probably don't drink enough water due to fear of the skips starting when I do. Bending over and lying down can also be a catylist. I am a mess.😭
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@susieq1957
Thank you.
@713j You're very welcome.
@susieq1957 Hi Susieq. I am also in NZ, and by the sound of it experiencing similar symptoms. I have joined this group to see how others are coping, and how..... hope things improve for you soon.
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2 ReactionsThis is an excellent resource for multiple heart rhythm related topics. Here’s a clip from the latest podcast which might offer some clarity. https://youtu.be/ip5NMrsUU3A
@vickilf5 thank you, but watching videos like this really don't help, they actually make my ectopic worse and cause more anxiety.
OMG you are describing me exactly. I just had a total knee replacement and my skipped heartbeats are non-stop. I am in fear everyday of my life. I have had 4 ablations and they only work for a short period. I think its time the medical professionals take a long hard look at the anxiety we suffer everyday and come up with a solution where we don't have to live in fear.
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2 Reactions@sandrah2024 The fear is real, I wish doctors understood. I listen to Dr Sanjay Gupta on YouTube, he's a cardiologist who actually cares and he talks a great deal about the skipped heart beats, etc. If I lived in England I would certainly see him. His videos are very comforting.
On Facebook, I am a member of a heart group called "Skipping Hearts" they have the same issues as people do here, they share what's going on, and their fears. Almost all of them take either a beta blocker or Xanax. They (and my GP) keep telling me I should try one but I don't feel comfortable doing so. My blood pressure is too low and so is the heart rate to take even the lowest dose possible of either one. I guess they help some, patients but others they don't do any thing or sometimes make issues worse.
I hope yours settle down, it's awful living each day in fear, if only people understood. 😢
My heart skipps a lot.It sometimes skipps when I don't eat and worse after I eat.I can eat a very small amount and it goes to skipping.Ive had a nervous break down trying to deal with it.
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1 Reaction@stephenvandall This can be detected formally by wearing a ZIO patch or a Holter monitor issued by a cardiologist. Once whatever is happening is formally diagnosed (meaning named, or identified), it becomes treatable one way or another. You don't have to live with the fear, only with 'not knowing.' My dearly departed grandfather once told me that hell is real. It's a lack of understanding.
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2 Reactions@susieq1957 So sorry to hear about your situation. I'm in New Zealand and was able to see a cardiologist privately the week after the GP referred me. I feel for you living in an area where that appears not to be possible. There were a couple of things that I wondered about. Have you told the GP why you are not comfortable taking beta blockers given your low blood pressure? I was curious as to whether they were able to provide any reassurance on that. I started a few days ago on a calcium channel blocker because I have asthma so can't use beta blockers. It's made a massive difference. I was having daily EBs and SVTs that were making me dizzy and fearful of fainting while driving etc. Since starting on the meds, I've only had a couple of tiny flutters that were barely noticeable, didn't make me dizzy and lasted a few seconds at most. No side effects thus far. I wore a 7 day heart event monitor the week before getting the meds and the cardiologist said I'd had loads of SVTs every day during that week. She's set up an appointment for me with her colleague who does ablations to review things in 3 months but if I have problems before then, I can see him sooner. The other thing I wondered about was whether you had considered a video consult with Sanjay Gupta? I see that he offers them on his website to people anywhere in the world and you don't need a referral. It's about $350 NZ for a 40 minute appointment. He can't provide treatment to people offshore but it might be reassuring to talk to him, and it might inform any questions you want to put to your GP. I wish you all the best.
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