Hi I'm an 18 year old male, yesterday I suffered what felt like a series of skipped heartbeats followed by a rapid pulse. I ended up calling an ambulance, the paramedic took me to A&E and they caught quite a few 'ectopic beats'. they tested my blood and gave me a chest xray and they said that everything was alright. I went home, and I continued to have them on and off. I eneded up going back to hospital and they did same thing, ecg and bloods then sent me home. they just told me that i'm seeing a cardiologist soon and having an ultrasound of my heart. How am I meant to live like this?? they feel horrible, my whole body jolts when I have them and they give me a horrible feeling that makes me cough. I can't do anything, can't relax or do any basic daily things. I'm so worried these are going to ruin my life or even worse; kill me. I have had 3 whilst typing this up. After every ectopic I feel I'm convinced that my heart is going to stop.
I'm going crazy, what caused them? I hardly ever drink, don't consume any caffeine, don't smoke and I have a healthy diet accompanied by plenty of exercise.
I have lost 3 stone intentionally, I don't know if this is related?
Additional info: I'm on 1.25mg of bisoprolol because i used to get a rapid pulse, but I never used to get irregular hearybeats.
Someone please talk to me, I can't even think straight, I'm just worried about the next ectopic beat 
p.s. are there any dietry triggers? apart from caffeine? i.e. chocolate or sugary things?
Hi. I know exactly how you feel. It is pretty tough to live with, but they do come and go. Some days I get lots, other days hardly at all. Ectopics are very normal though. Most people get them... The lucky ones don't notice them. When you felt the rapid pulse, it could have been SVT. This is a benign rhythm that only occurs after an ectopic. Have you had that before?
You said you've lost quite a bit of weight (well done by the way). Have you increased your exercise?
An ultrasound is a good idea as it will rule out any structural issues. Try not to worry though easier said than done). They will subside. I find a walk around the block can help.
Avoid coffee, tea (even decaf has caffiene). Avoid dark chocolate and very sugary things too. But remember to have a life! Feel free to ask me any questions. I have had heart problems for about 6 years now so I've experienced most thumps and bumps. Sarah
I have ectopic beats every day......when I was about 17 I had svt......heart rate went up to 250 bpm. That's controlled but now I have ectopic beats. Sometimes every half a minute or so. It's easy to worry but I have been told 'live with them'. Sometimes they are particularly troublesome and sometimes they aren't present. I know how you are feeling. Please try not to worry. I don't have caffeine at all and still get them. I find I get more after a big meal, or if I lie in a certain position.
I do kind of put up with them now.....
thank you for your reply, I don't know whether the rapid pulse was me woring myself up or if it was SVT, I haven't increased my exercise levels that much.
I don't understand how they are normal though 
because it feels like my heart is stopping. I've put my hand on my chest and actually felt my heart stop like 3 times in a row. it's making me so anxious, I don't get upset easily but it's actually making me want to cry. I'm having them like every 30 seconds right now. I don't know what to do
Thanks for your reply Donna, did you go to hospital? I find it difficult to take it in when people say oh 'they're normal' and 'ignore them' I can't ignore such a powerful sensation. Do you have any tips on how to cope with them?
Getting worked up will make them worse. So please try to relax. Do something I try and take your mind off them. The pause you feel is totally normal. What happens is that there is an extra beat in the heart which throws the normal rhythm out. The pause is the heart compensating for the extra beat. For example... Imagine an empty plastic bottle underwater... It fills up... Then if you squeeze it the ether comes out and then once you stop squeezing it the bottle begins to fill again. If you squeeze it again the same happens... But if you squeeze it and then squeeze it again before it fills it takes longer to fill again. That's the pause. Your heart won't stop. I promise! Try and sit in a different position. Keep hydrated and they will probably go. The worrying will not be helping. I know from experience.
I've been to hospital loads of times. I've only just accepted they may always be here. Try not to focus on them. I find shifting position sometimes helps, coughing sometimes calms them down. I was told exercise can help to reduce them. It's not your heart stopping..it's just being a little erratic. Worrying = adrenalin = more ectopics.......
I've had a few while I've been writing these.......
Sometimes mine come together like a drum roll, hearts are funny things.
Donna
I'm guessing there's no treatment for them? like a certain medication or anything?
I'm really scared because I've never had them like this before, I used to have like one once a month. but for some reason since yesterday they're non-stop.
I'll try doing some light exercise soon, thank you again for your reply donna. It helps talking with someone who's experiencing the same thing
I take bisoprolol for mine. 5mg a day, but still get them. However they are less noticeable. I'd go and see your GP and get referred to a cardiologist. There are other medications that may help.
Thank you again for the reply Sarah, my main worry is that it'll pause for too long and that I'll collapse or something. I read somewhere that PVC's can lead to VF wich is a dangerous rythm, I'm just scared of this. I hate to be dramatic but it's only been a day since I've had them properly, and my life is already changing. I find it difficult to do the simplest of things because I'm scared it'll aggrivate them
It won't hurt to see your gp. There may be other medication. I take verapamil but this is for the svt. Obviously no effect on ectopics. Take care and keep us posted. We always here.....ectopics too.....lol
Stop googling it......I've spent years convincing myself I have every heart condition known. It will make you worse.
I might ask my GP for a stronger dose of bisoprolol just in case, I'm already going to see a cardiologist but the date hasn't be set yet. It's very reassuring knowing that there are other people out there with the same thing.
That's a very familiar feeling but how you cope with this is in your control. You can't control you heart, only how it affects you. Don't give yourself a hard time. You are understandably worried. To go from a PVC to VF is very rare. Only if you have structural problems which an ECG usually picks up. Almost half the population get PVCs and they are only the half that go to the doctors! VF can happen to anyone, like cancer or being hit by a bus. Don't ruin your life worrying about stuff that's out of your control. It doesn't help you. I bet they will be gone tomorrow.
I'll try not to, everything I find on google makes me feel worse anyway
Thank you Sarah, that knocked some sense into me. I've had plenty of ECG's and all they picked up was an irregular rythm and a few ectopic beats. The doctor said it wasn't life threatening because I wasn't having any pain or dizziness.
I really hope so
I'll discuss everything with him, I hope he takes me seriously. Doctors never take me seriously for some reason. I will, and thank you again for your replies, you've calmed me down a lot!
