----- Original Message -----

From: Kev

To: heartrhythm- AA@yahoogroups. com

Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 8:06 AM

Subject: [heartrhythm- AA] 1st Post / Bradycardia - Ectopic Beats

Hi everyone , just found this forum via a google search on this
subject,while trying to come to terms with what happened to me a few
days ago.
Briefly(ish! ) - While out at a wedding in the evening , sitting at the
dinner table I became very aware of a strong fluttering / radom
thumping sensation in the middle of my chest . I have often felt a
similar slight fluttering sensation many times before over the years ,
but I normaly just carry on with what I'm doing and the sensations
seem to pass .
These strong thumps and flutters at the dinner table carried on for
about 15 minutes and I began to feel really sick , so, certain I was
going to , erm ,...'yack ' I left the table to head to the toilet -
but only made it halfway across the room before I just collapsed /
passed out .
I must have come around a short while later , still on the floor ,
surrounded by a small crowd of people , 2 paramedics and a very
worried wife !
Sorry I'm rambling on a bit !!!
To cut to the chase - I had an episode in the back of the ambulance
where my heart just seemed to pause for a second before kicking back
into life , and while still feeling generally horrible was very much
aware of extra chest 'thuds'
I was monitored in hospital for 2 nights (I won't bore you with how
scared I was the first night !) , and my ECG showed no further pauses
but plenty of extra ectopic beats , roughly one every 8-12 normal
beats and sometimes 2 almost together.These were actual pauses and
were captured on the ambulance ECG equipment.
Anyway the hospital let me home but I continue to feel these flutters
and suffered what I can only describe as a panic attack my first night
home- I think it was the fact that nobody was longer keeping a close
eye on me and I just seemed to be waiting for another bad attack to
begin .
The doctor at the hospital said my medications for high blood pressure
and a beta blocker taken to stop migraines could have contributed to
the events , along with several other factors such as perhaps stress .
Family history of heart arythmias could also certainly be a possibility.
So really my question to anyone else with experience of these things
is how worried should I be ? I've been home 2 days now , and while I
feel better I'm not 100 % - I still feel washed out and am sure I'm
definatly noticing these thumps/flutters/ ectopics more than I used to.
I'm just waiting for a follow up hospital appointment for an
echocardiogram and a 24 hour ECG box to be fitted , but in the
meantime I just thought I'd see if you peeps had any opinions .
Thanks
Kev
ps I had no alcohol to drink all evening , though perhaps I should have !