Hi Everyone,
haven't posted here for a while but have been visiting & reading peoples posts. I feel for each & every one of you suffering with palpitations, unless you've experienced this yourself I think it's very hard to understand how terrifying they are.

I am currently experiencing the worst ectopic palps I have ever had. I barely had any for about 3 months then they returned & I seem to be having bouts lasting 7-10 days then they go away for about a week or so ( no set pattern ) then back again. Originally it tied in with ovulation & / or my period but now they just come when they want.

I am having around 5-10 per minute. During the 'pause' it feels like my heart is quivering. I have some runs of 3-5 ectopics one after the other so it feels like 'lurch/thud/lurch/thud/lurch/thud etc.
When they first started up again they only seemed to happen after eating or when I was at rest but now they are virtually all day. I know I am getting anxious about them & I understand that that will contribute but I just can't stand it any longer.
I'm sitting here with thuds & lurches & quivering & they are driving me insane. I want to scream with the frustration & fear.

I went to see my doctor after a run of pounding, racing palps & I told her about the increase in ectopics & she has referred me on for another 24 hour monitor. She said if they're particularly bad to go to the local hospital to see if they can ' catch ' them.
The other week I did this as they had been bad for afew days but the staff were abit dismissive & couldn't seem to understand why the doctor had suggested this. They managed to catch 2 or 3 but typically they had calmed down by then.
My GP then had to look at the tracing & he glanced at it & said yes all normal, I pointed out the irregular ones & he said just early benign beats as we'd expect.

My questions are
* I know RLR says that in a normal heart it doesn't really matter whether it's one ectopic beat  or several but can these back to back runs of 5 really be OK?
* if I don't get other signs of CAD such as breathlessness or chest pain does that mean that it's unlikely?
* how much can a short ECG tell a doctor about the health of someones heart, would heart disease show up on these or not?
* if they disappear for days/weeks/months does that mean they're more likely to be benign?
* I did some meditation earlier & they eased off but started up again after it, would that indicate they're just anxiety-related?

Sorry for so many questions but I'm feeling desperate & feel as though I have nowhere else to turn as I've been to the casualty & they didn't exactly encourage me to return if I had another bad bout & I've just got to wait for the 24 hour appt which could be months.
I have tried so hard to carry on & ignore them but they are so bad & getting more frequent & I just cannot cope with them anymore.
I know many of you suffer like this, please help me to cope with these, I am doing virtually everything I can to eliminate them but not stressing about them seems impossible at the moment.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Seffie xx

Hi Beadbabe,
thanks for replying so quickly. I really am at the end of my tether with them. I feel so angry & I know this is probably contributing.
I may not have been hyperventilating to start with but on Sunday when they started up again I know I was breathing too high in my chest & holding myself tense, so it may be that my breathing is making them worse. I know RLR talks a lot about the vagus nerve but I don't feel I have any digestive problems that would irritate it, maybe you can have digestive problems but not really know it.
I have just started taking a high quality omega 3 & am thinking about taking taurine as I have read that both of these may help with heart rhythm disorders. I know a lot of the medical profession have doubts about these kinds of things but I am desperate!
Thabks again, I have read many of your posts as your experiences seem very similar to mine & I can relate to what you're going through. I really feel for you too, I know other people just think we should just get on with it but when these are bad it is a real struggle.
Good luck with the meditation stuff, I need to start walking for exercise as I know that this can help alleviate ectopics & is one of the few things left I haven't tried.
Thanks Beadbabe!
Seffie xx

Saab,
thanks for your post, I found it very reassuring although I'm still very anxious.
Today I'm trying not to get so worked up about them & see if that helps. Last night I know I kept holding myself tense & my breathing was all wrong so I'm trying very hard to relax (that sounds contradictory!)
Yes, I do have Claire Weekes book, I use it almost daily & have found it to be a real help in coping with my anxiety, To be honest my anxiety has been so much better but then my palpitations returned & of all the anxiety symptoms they are the ones that I just can't seem to cope with.
I just don't understand why they would virtually disappear for 3 months & then come back worse than ever. All of my test results have always been OK except for the treadmill one (possible signs of CAD ) & I can't get that out of my head as I know that if you have CAD then ectopics can be a problem.
I feel paralysed by this & feel too scared to go anywhere as they are just so bad.
Thanks again, really hope RLR has the time to reply.
Seffie xx

Hi Beadbabe,
I feel exactly the same as you.
It really does affect your quality of life, I guess some people are better able to cope with these but we're all different. As they've been so bad just lately I'm seriously considering taking a beta blocker but I've always thought that these worked better for racing, pounding types of palps rather than ectopic ones-maybe RLR can explain how they help ectopics. Not keen to take these though.

I think for people who maybe aren't predisposed to anxiety any kind of benign palpitations are much easier to cope with but I have had health anxiety virtually all my life so of course no-one really sympathises( not that I want sympathy-I don't) but I just wish people could understand & accept that for me, this is terrifying & difficult to cope with.

I have always found people to be very scornful of mental health issues & the bottom line is that anxiety & the many forms it takes is a very misunderstood & mocked condition by the general population.
I know I'm a 'heart-sink' patient because I know that when my doctor sees me it's often very hard for him to help me. Most times all I need is his understanding & to be able to talk it through with someone who has the relevant knowledge but I think I've worn his patience thin & so I don't really feel I can talk to him anymore without feeling I'm annoying him.

I really try not to discuss stuff with family & friends either as I know it's boring for them. I have 1 friend who also suffers from anxiety stuff & we support each other but try to make sure it's practical help as well, not just tea & sympathy-oops! better make that water as I've given up tea!!!!
It's a daily battle but I'm determined to do all I can to get my anxiety etc under control again & learn how to live with it so it doesn't affect my life as much as it is at the moment. I am doing a lot of stuff to help it but I know it'll take time & there are still things I could do like exercising regularly.
I'm 44 btw, & have been in perimenopause for approx 2 years-not the best time for someone with health anxiety!!!!
Anyway, thanks again for your support & understanding, sorry yours are playing up too.
Seffie xx