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[Cassie]

Hi Ladies, I know these are very common in our age group, although I have had these pesky little "extra beats" for as long as I can remember. Have had all the tests, ECG's, echocardiograms etc, and was told by a cardiologist,  they are benign pvc's. They disappear for days then come back, often after I have eaten and go thump thump pause thump and I have the urge to cough, it feels like a tickle in my chest. Anyone else get this?

[Peri2022]

Yup, I get these. Started 4 months ago. I’m 45 on HRT but have increased dose to see if it will help. Had a 2-minute ECG at GP (normal) and was then referred to palpitation clinic…which was declined. Not really sure where to go from here but many of us seem to have this issue! Just trying to be very zen about it in the meantime (not always easy). Upping my Estradot seems to have made them a bit more muffled / less noticeable although still there.

[Penguin]

Cassie I get these and have also been told they are fine. Interesting what you said about the urge to cough, as when I cough on purpose they go away. Does that happen with you too? I'm sure I read somewhere that coughing can stop them, but I don't understand why and I can't quite remember where I read it 🤷‍♂️

[Cassie]

Hi Penguin, yes coughing stops them, but I get the urge to cough its almost like a tickle. I have googled and apparantly its fairly common, something to do with the vagus nerve but I am pretty clueless about heart functioning etc. I think they are def meno related, mine seemed to become more apparant when I decreased my gel down to 1 pump. 

[Penguin]

Hi Penguin, yes coughing stops them, but I get the urge to cough its almost like a tickle. I have googled and apparantly its fairly common, something to do with the vagus nerve but I am pretty clueless about heart functioning etc. I think they are def meno related, mine seemed to become more apparant when I decreased my gel down to 1 pump. 

Yes that's it, you've reminded me, vagus nerve irritation!!! Can cause a lot of weird things apparently. I first got them high up in my chest, higher than where my heart is, and it frightened the life out of me, like anything health related and unexplained does!

[Penguin]

Hi Penguin, yes coughing stops them, but I get the urge to cough its almost like a tickle. I have googled and apparantly its fairly common, something to do with the vagus nerve but I am pretty clueless about heart functioning etc. I think they are def meno related, mine seemed to become more apparant when I decreased my gel down to 1 pump. 

I think the other thing related to that is to drink very cold water when they happen as that also shocks the vagus nerve too. I haven't tried that though.

[Cassie]

They say also bear down as if you are having a bowel movement, havent tried that one yet 

[Cassie]

Any other ladies get the urge to cough with Ectopics/PVC's?

[Penguin]

They say also bear down as if you are having a bowel movement, havent tried that one yet 

It's interesting, with both those suggestions, coughing and bearing down, it involves a contraction of your muscles.

[Cassie]

Well the heart is a muscle isnt it