Heart palpitations. How long?

[br d]

I'm sure you all know that feeling when your heart plays up a bit, feels like it's skipping or fluttering. Mine started doing it Monday morning but I wasn't concerned, I've had it before if I've been overworking. It carried on through the day and kept waking me that night. When I started working on Tuesday morning (my work is very physical) it got a lot worse and actually started to hurt, little stabs every so often, then I started feeling pretty ill. I sat down for a while to make sure it wasn't just anxiety but I was completely relaxed and breathing normally, I just felt really rough.

I thought I'd better get it checked so went to the local A&E. They gave me an ECG and the Doc had a good listen and poke about. Upshot was they said that my heart is fine, in fact it's very strong for a man of my age but these episodes can occur sometimes and I should only be concerned if it keeps happening, then I'd have to wear one of those 24 hour monitors.

Well it's still doing it. The ill feeling wore off but as soon as I started work this morning it started going mad again, feels very odd. I know these things are quite common but does anybody else ever have it last this long?

[markbe]

br d said:

I'm sure you all know that feeling when your heart plays up a bit, feels like it's skipping or fluttering. Mine started doing it Monday morning but I wasn't concerned, I've had it before if I've been overworking. It carried on through the day and kept waking me that night. When I started working on Tuesday morning (my work is very physical) it got a lot worse and actually started to hurt, little stabs every so often, then I started feeling pretty ill. I sat down for a while to make sure it wasn't just anxiety but I was completely relaxed and breathing normally, I just felt really rough.

I thought I'd better get it checked so went to the local A&E. They gave me an ECG and the Doc had a good listen and poke about. Upshot was they said that my heart is fine, in fact it's very strong for a man of my age but these episodes can occur sometimes and I should only be concerned if it keeps happening, then I'd have to wear one of those 24 hour monitors.

Well it's still doing it. The ill feeling wore off but as soon as I started work this morning it started going mad again, feels very odd. I know these things are quite common but does anybody else ever have it last this long?

If what you are describing, skipping and fluttering and the A and E conclusion is correct,[although I would have the stabbing pain bit more carefully annualised] and you are fit, cut out all teas, coffees, chocolate, in fact any thing with caffeine in it.

Mark.

[br d]

markbe said:

If what you are describing, skipping and fluttering and the A and E conclusion is correct,[although I would have the stabbing pain bit more carefully annualised] and you are fit, cut out all teas, coffees, chocolate, in fact any thing with caffeine in it.

Mark.

Did suspect that Mark but I don't drink coffee and only have one cup of tea a day which I have skipped since this started. I don't like energy drinks either so I think my caffiene intake is already very low.
But a sensible suggestion anyway.

[LBird]

Couple of old wives tricks that might help:

1. Cough! A couple of sharp coughs is sometimes enough to stop the palpitations (works for me)
2. Ice cube under the tongue

but if I were you, I'd be making an appointment with my GP and if necessary going back to A&E in the meantime.

Hope it turns out to be ok.

[markbe]

br d said:

Did suspect that Mark but I don't drink coffee and only have one cup of tea a day which I have skipped since this started. I don't like energy drinks either so I think my caffiene intake is already very low.
But a sensible suggestion anyway.

Worth seeing a proper heart specialist to be sure; ectopic beats may be harmless but might be
hiding something else and the fact you had stabbing pain is not a good sign, though this may be tietze syndrome.
However get yourself checked out. If you are in the north west I know the man.

Mark.

[K77 CTR]

Had the palpitations stopped when you were in A&E? I'm guessing they didn't show up on the ECG and therefore have no evidence. I would be straight back to the GP and see if they can catch it on ECG or refer for assessment and a 24 hour tape.

[br d]

Thanks for advice. Been bloody murder for the last couple of hours but eased off now. If its like this again tomorrow I'm going back to the hospital.

[bosshog]

Had these for several years, and have mainly got on top of in now.
Cut out stress, and caffeine completely sorted me.

It horrible, but I never got stabbing pain, so get that checkout out asap.

[davhill]

The Valsalva manoeuvre is sometimes effective against what you describe. Google it but it's essentially like bearing down as though you're parking a big plop. Don't follow through!

[MudSkipper]

I had the same middle of last year, normal EXTRA didn't show anything so I had a 24hr monitor fitted, results showed I have a ventricular ectopic beat. Was pretty worrying when it was happening for most of the day over the first few weeks but it eased off and was only happening a few times a day after that. Doc said stress and caffine can have an effect on it.

Mines hardly played up so far this year, but I know it FB start happenig again at any time but at least I'll know what it is next time.

Get it checked with a 24hr monitor, its easy and painless and the docs will be able to see if there's anything else causing it.

[sparks_E39]

I had it last year and took an ECG test which said I was fine. They gave me a 24 hour monitor and that also came back fine. They stopped after I started sleeping more and lost a bit of weight. I'm 25. Make sure it's properly checked out, good luck.

[AF1]

I had a similar thing. Appeared from nowhere and ends up going to hospital thinking it was heart trouble. The doctor said it was anxiety caused by stresss and years of working constant nightshifts. I find holding my breath helps calm them down, still get them occasionally and even though I know what they are they can still scare the crap out if me when they happen!

[br d]

Lots of good advice, thank you.

I have to get up very early and have felt a bit run down lately, got a lay in this morning (6:30!) and definitely feel a bit better, the episodes are still happening but pretty low level. I'm going to be avoiding booze and caffiene and eating well for the next couple of weeks and see if that helps.

I run my own business which means that tons of hours and loads of stress is normally pretty unavoidable.
This issue is forcing me to have a completely relaxed weekend and I'm already enjoying it, I plan to do absolutely nothing for the next 48 hours, didn't even open my post this morning, problems can wait till Monday!

[croyde]

I had a heart attack 3 years ago but I am pretty sure that I never had what you are describing before that but have had it since and both times it has been after drinking a hell of a lot of white wine.

I normally avoid white wine like the plague as I can't stand the taste but I must of been desperate or in the wrong company.

One of the times I was on holiday on a Greek island and got to enjoy the delights of Kos hospital but they could not see anything on the ECG and the test for heart attack enzymes came back negative.

Not nice when it happens though.

[Chilli]

OP, I had these for years. I did the same as you, went and had all the checks, the monitor, the lot. There was absolutely nothing abnormal! So, after a while I just completely ignored it, and it practically stopped! I get them now and then, but I'm sure most people do . I think though, that if you wait for them to happen and almost concentrate to see if they're happening, they will happen!

In a nut-shell, ignore them, relax and I'm sure they'll subside.

[Chapppers]

Sounds a bit like my atrial flutter / tachycardia. Mine's never hurt though, but I do get a bit low on energy if it goes on for a while.

Here's a question: does it feel like fast normal beats or does it feel like half beats? Is it a constant high rate or does it feel a bit random?

[R300will]

From another thread i see you have been diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Not wishing to scare you or anything chap but it can affect the heart and cause arrhythmias so it might be worth checking with your doctor to see if it is related.

Hope you get it sorted

[NDA]

As previously suggested, go and see a consultant. Might cost you a couple of hundred, but worth it.

I would also start taking a small dose of aspirin daily from tomorrow. (A small dose...)

I had palpitations and it turned out to be something moderately serious. I'm now on moderately serious medication.

Feel free to PM me if you want to have a private natter about your range of options.

[br d]

Thanks again for more good advice.
I have regular check ups with my consultant because my Sarcoidosis is pretty aggressive so I will definitely mention this to him next visit. I have had a little eruption of lumps on my lower leg which has been a sign of increased sarcoidosis activity in the past.

[ApexJimi]

Just spotted this thread.

I have the answer - stop driving the Clio