Heart skipping a beat/chest flutters

[funkyrobot]

Have had an issue with my chest/heart for about 5 weeks now where it feels like its stopping for a second, missing a beat and then 'plunging'. I've been to the docs and had an ECG, which apparently hasn't shown anything of note wrong. I've had a bit of blood taken today for about 8 tests. My blood pressure has also been checked and it is on the high end of normal.

Has anyone experienced this? It's very, very unnerving! It feels like my heart stops for a second, someone punches me in the chest and then it carries on as normal. I haven't had any other symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath etc. I'm just worried about this problem and it gets me down.

I think I'll ask for a 24 hour ECG next. But, does anyone have any advice about this? Thanks.

[HarryW]

Stress perhaps, next time it happens make a conscious decision to relax, see if it abates.

[funkyrobot]

HarryW said:

Stress perhaps, next time it happens make a conscious decision to relax, see if it abates.

Thanks. My fiancée thinks it is stress related. My gp and two nurses I have seen say the same. However, it's a horrible feeling and it starts a spiral of worry. I am an anxious person and I don't cope we'll with things like this.

I was feeling my pulse earlier and it was as if my heart stopped for a second, missed a beat then carried on. Don't like it

[LeoSayer]

Too much coffee / sugar / sweeties ?

[funkyrobot]

LeoSayer said:

Too much coffee / sugar / sweeties ?

Could be. I drink a lot of tea at work so probably have too much caffeine. Actually, I had a pint if coke in town a few hours ago with my tea (food). That could have triggered it

[kev b]

How much caffeine do you drink?

[funkyrobot]

kev b said:

How much caffeine do you drink?

On a normal work day, at least 6 cups of tea. I have coke when I'm out as I don't drink. Thing is, I've been drinking tea and coke for years and have never had this problem before. Well, I've had it every so often but not like this about 40 times a day.

[sunbeam alpine]

Cut out the caffeine and it will probably go away.

My wife used to get this. We only drink decaf now and she hasn't had a recurrence. Tea seems OK. She doesn't drink coke.

[Seti]

I went through a very stressful period last year and had exactly the same. As soon as things got better it stopped.

[rob0r]

That sounds word for word identical to what I've got, my doctors have labelled it palpitations. Mine have never gone away after they first started which was over 6 years ago. Some days I notice it more than others but it happens all the time, hangovers are particularly bad for it. Apparently its stressed related, and I feel stressed (for no real reason...) pretty much 24-7.

[funkyrobot]

sunbeam alpine said:

Cut out the caffeine and it will probably go away.

My wife used to get this. We only drink decaf now and she hasn't had a recurrence. Tea seems OK. She doesn't drink coke.

Yes, that's a good place to start. I'm not sure if caffeine helps this problem as I get it when I haven't had anything like that. May stop the problem being so pronounced now.

Did your wife get the whole chest thud thing then?

[funkyrobot]

rob0r said:

That sounds word for word identical to what I've got, my doctors have labelled it palpitations. Mine have never gone away after they first started which was over 6 years ago. Some days I notice it more than others but it happens all the time, hangovers are particularly bad for it. Apparently its stressed related, and I feel stressed (for no real reason...) pretty much 24-7.

I've read about palpitations. It's as if you are having a heart attack, isn't it. Most bizarre feeling. Can't believe you have had it for that long. Very annoying thing. The scariest part is when it feels like your heart stops for a second!

I feel for you chap.

[V8A*ndy]

Don't want to worry you and i'm sure it's just stress related but have a look at this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_ventricular...

[funkyrobot]

Seti said:

I went through a very stressful period last year and had exactly the same. As soon as things got better it stopped.

Thanks. I don't feel particularly stressed, but I do suffer from IBS and that is linked to stress. I guess I'm just an anxious person and I'm stressed even though I don't realise it. I do think about things a lot and have been told that I always have to have something to worry about.

[Piersman2]

Condolences OP, it would appear that for you tomorrow really will be the end of the world.

[V8A*ndy]

funkyrobot said:

Seti said:

I went through a very stressful period last year and had exactly the same. As soon as things got better it stopped.

Thanks. I don't feel particularly stressed, but I do suffer from IBS and that is linked to stress. I guess I'm just an anxious person and I'm stressed even though I don't realise it. I do think about things a lot and have been told that I always have to have something to worry about.

Really sounds like anxiety to me. I suffer badly from this and get terrible palpitations.

[sunbeam alpine]

funkyrobot said:

sunbeam alpine said:

Cut out the caffeine and it will probably go away.

My wife used to get this. We only drink decaf now and she hasn't had a recurrence. Tea seems OK. She doesn't drink coke.

Yes, that's a good place to start. I'm not sure if caffeine helps this problem as I get it when I haven't had anything like that. May stop the problem being so pronounced now.

Did your wife get the whole chest thud thing then?

Yes, and she felt very weak. Stress doesn't help either - and she does get quite stressed sometimes (mostly my fault!).

[funkyrobot]

V8A*ndy said:

Don't want to worry you and i'm sure it's just stress related but have a look at this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_ventricular...

Thanks, just read that. I'll see what my doc says

[funkyrobot]

olly22n said:

DOCTOR.

The doctor is aware.

[funkyrobot]

V8A*ndy said:

Really sounds like anxiety to me. I suffer badly from this and get terrible palpitations.

Thanks. Hope it is just that.