Hi I have just been told I have ectopic heartbeats I have been told not to worry, but I keep getting this feeling in my stomach it rises to my neck and chest and I feel I cannot breath, this happens a couple of times a day, I try not to panic but I am so scared, I suffer with occasional AF and have been told that the worse case senario will be that my heart will go into fast AF I will have to take a tablet they gave me and if it doe not go away I will have to go to a an de so scared please help
Hello Lynn,
Sorry to hear about your health issue.
When I was 46 to be exact, my heart with into atrial fibrillation. I didn't have three beats in a row. I went to the hospital and did the Holter monitor test on me for 24 hours and the cardiologist said he had never had a case like mine. He explained that I would have to be on beta blockers for life. Up until that moment, I considered myself to be relatively healthy and busy mother of three. I certainly wasn't on any meds. I felt like a poor victim. I relied on my husband to carry things. I really felt like an invalid!... After 8 months on the beta blockers...maximum dose of sotalol/sotacor which was 320 mg per day, and feeling sleepy every day, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I joined a gym. I went every morning for one hour, doing 35 minutes of aerobics with my cardiologist's permission. After a few weeks, again with his permission, I lowered the dose of beta blocker just by 1/8. Unlike before when my doctor and I tried to lower this extreme dose, the arrhythmia came back...but this time it didn't. I was shocked...but excited! I lowered it another 1/8...and after 4 - 5 days another 1/8. No arrhythmia! On it went until after 6 weeks i was off the beta blocker completely. I went back to the cardiologist and told him the exciting news...and he said, "You will be back on them soon." I left determined to prove him wrong. I kept up the 6 days out of 7 exercise regimen...and after 3 months, I had to stop for a week because I had the flu. The arrhythmia did NOT return. I was so thrilled. Well, it's 19 years later and it still has not returned. I keep active. I NEVER drink coffee or tea (just decaf for both). I avoid chocolate and I do not take any drug with a stimulant in it...such as epinephrine at the dentist's or in a cold remedy. All these recommendations from the cardiologist, I follow to the letter. Believe me, I am very motivated to NEVER have atrial fibrillation ever again.
My daughter at age 22 was experiencing arrhthymia and I took her to the cardiologist and his question was, "Are you short of breath? Do you feel light headed when the arrhythmia occurs?" and the answer was no. He said that that is what separates those who need medication from those who don't.
My question to you is: Have you had a Holter monitor to see how often this occurs in a day? Do you feel lightheaded or faint or that you cannot get enough air? Are you sure it is not anxiety? Is your heart beating irregularly when these symptoms arise? My advice to you, Lynn is to become your own 'first doctor'. Get to know your body and its workings. Do research and always check the side effects of any medication you take...which hopefully you can avoid. (remember no coffee etc..) Consider your doctor as one you are going to for a second opinion. You want to work in consultation with him as someone who goes to him knowledgeable about your body's workings. Long gone are the days of the helpless, dependent patient. Here to stay hopefully is the informed and involved patient who has a vested interest in his or her own health.
I hope my story helps...
Sorry, I meant that I didn't have three normal beats in a row...
Hello,
I also had similar problem of PVC ( Premature Ventricular Contarction ) few years back. With proper treatment from cadiologist my problem got reduced and then got completly eliminated.
You must ensure that you do not get stressed due to this. Take proper medication and also increase your potassium diet with help of your cardiologist.
I do not think till today exact cause of ectopic beats ( PCV ) is not known, but it is mostly a benigh condition and does not cause any long term harm.
Let me know if you need to know anything more.
Best wishes,
Anil