Ectopic Heartbeat

[Theophania]

Ok so I have found out that I have an ectopic heartbeat today... It only took 6 hrs at the hospital :hair: They told me that it was nothing to worry about and are organise for me to have some thing that I wear around my neck for 24hrs to monitor my heartbeat to see what its doing.

I am still freaking out about it though. It is getting really regular and is leaving me feeling breathless and exhausted also I see spots sometimes after 'an episode'.

Has anyone else had this in pregnancy? Will it go away soon or will it stick around till I have bubs or after?

The doc told me to take it easy, no heavy lifting and when I get up from sitting/laying down I have to do it really slowly.

It is such a freaky feeling in my chest every time it happens I am waiting for my heart to stop :o

[Theophania]

I feel so alone :laughing: The docs told me this was really common..... I am starting to think maybe not :confused: I have tried on a medical forum as well and no one else has replied..... Now I am freaking out :dizzy:

[Urban Tumbleweed]

Not sure whether it is the same or not but when I was pg my heart felt like it skipped a few beats occasionally. Was a weird feeling, it didn't stop but it kinda went a bit crazy for a couple of seconds... I remember feeling a bit breathless from it.

Still happens sometimes now even though im not pg...

[ImNotJustAnymum]

Hi there an ectopic beat is one that occurs spontaniously from a different part of the heart than it normal should... they are in fact very common and can often make people feel a bit breathless or out of sorts when it happens.. and some people dont even notice them. they sound like they will put you on a holter monitor this can monitor your heart beating for a 24 hours period so they can see how frequent the ectopics are occuring and if they are occuring in multiple- eg 2 or more ectopics in a row. If the ectopics are occuring very frequently or in multiple and you are very symptomatic people can be put on durgs to suppress them but im not 100% but I think pregnancy can be a temperary cause of 'heart palpitations' and often the symtoms dissapear when bub is in the world...

good luck - take your doctors advice to relax and take it easy... and wait and see what the holter monitor reveals.. i know its hard but they really are a common thing but no less disruptive and worrying to your life because of them:hugs:

[Theophania]

Thanks for the replies ladies.... I spent most of the night tossing and turning and worrying whether I should call the hospy because I had non stop palpitations and was really short of breath but I didn't want to look like a hypochondriac :o At one stage the feeling in my chest didn't let up at all for at least an hour. I just hate being scared that my heart is going to stop at any second, but I know it is probably all very normal and ok I just have to go with the flow I suppose....

[florence]

I feel so alone :laughing: The docs told me this was really common..... I am starting to think maybe not :confused: I have tried on a medical forum as well and no one else has replied..... Now I am freaking out :dizzy:

I suffer from Ectopic heartbeats all the time- even when I am not pregnant.
I have had it checked a few times and have been told it's harmless.
I am still alive. :D

[Theophania]

I suffer from Ectopic heartbeats all the time- even when I am not pregnant.
I have had it checked a few times and have been told it's harmless.
I am still alive. :D

That is reassuring :laughing: Did you ever second guess their judgment though? I mean I am at the moment but that's because I didn't feel like they listened to me and I tried to tell her it wasn't just a little thing in my chest every now and then but something that is happening at least 4 times in an hour and like last night can be constant for at least an hour.

Is that what yours is like? It is so hard to ignore it when it is happening.

[florence]

Yes, I did second guess but I have had halter monitors, ECG's and ultra sounds and they have all come back clear.
Apparently, it's quite common but by jebus it's scary when it's happening to you isn't it?
Ectopic beats are actaully extra beats (although it feels like your heart is skipping beats) and most people get them but just don't notice them. Clearly theirs aren't very severe. How anyone doesn't notice them is beyond me!
They are more common during pregnancy due to the increased blood volume we have during pregnancy.