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[Nik2502]

Hi

I woke up on Tuesday morning with the worst palpitations. Straight to GP and had an ECG which showed ectopic heartbeats. He told me it was common in up to 75% of menopausal women, gave me beta blockers and sent me on my way.
I’ve now got myself terrified that I’m going to die. My health anxiety is awful.
It’s all I can think about, Google and look for answers.
I’m just looking for some reassurance really that I’m not alone!
Thank you in advance.
Nik x

[jaypo]

Hi there, I suffer from HA too but I've had palpitations for years,sometimes my heart feels it's going to jump through my chest,also missed beats etc. had ecgs etc all ok,it really is fairly common 

[Dierdre]

Also had these on and off for years. Had ecg's and all ok, doctor assured me it's common and nothing to worry about. Alcohol, caffeine and anxiety are usually triggers and I had them for about 6 weeks after covid.

[Nik2502]

Thank you ladies. I know I’m being irrational. I just have to get my head round the feeling! X

[Rabbit1977]

I feel for you. I own my own Omron blood pressure monitor and recently it showed the irregular heartbeat symbol. I too am worried about dying and have been distraught over the symbol, which has never shown previously in the 12 months I've had the device. I'm wondering whether a low battery life might have something to do with it, but every time I google, it says battery life plays no part and that I could be having a heart attack. I'd like to see my GP but you just can't get an appointment where I live. The more I think about it, I have been getting occasional discomfort in my left arm, but now can't tell if this is all just in my head.

Sorry to hijack your thread. I hope you are doing better.

[Nik2502]

I feel for you. I own my own Omron blood pressure monitor and recently it showed the irregular heartbeat symbol. I too am worried about dying and have been distraught over the symbol, which has never shown previously in the 12 months I've had the device. I'm wondering whether a low battery life might have something to do with it, but every time I google, it says battery life plays no part and that I could be having a heart attack. I'd like to see my GP but you just can't get an appointment where I live. The more I think about it, I have been getting occasional discomfort in my left arm, but now can't tell if this is all just in my head.

Sorry to hijack your thread. I hope you are doing better.

Hi

I totally understand you. I ended up in A&E yesterday but they couldn’t find anything wrong. I think I’m making myself much worse.  It’s a viscous circle of anxiety and palpitations. I’m sick of being a woman!

Nik x

[jaypo]

Aww Nik so sorry to hear this,you poor thing but you're correct about the anxiety and palpitations,it really is a vicious circle but when they happen just keep telling yourself there are MANY women who have these,try some deep breathing exercises, I usually do the tapping method,both hands on any part of your body and alternating taps whilst counting to 4 ,it really has helped me,not always but sometimes 

[Nik2502]

Thank you Jaypo. I’ll try the tapping. I not great at breathing exercises as I find them hard (stupid i know)

I’m speaking to my GP later for advice and see if I can get some health anxiety counselling.

Nik x

[Penguin]

I feel for you. I own my own Omron blood pressure monitor and recently it showed the irregular heartbeat symbol. I too am worried about dying and have been distraught over the symbol, which has never shown previously in the 12 months I've had the device. I'm wondering whether a low battery life might have something to do with it, but every time I google, it says battery life plays no part and that I could be having a heart attack. I'd like to see my GP but you just can't get an appointment where I live. The more I think about it, I have been getting occasional discomfort in my left arm, but now can't tell if this is all just in my head.

Sorry to hijack your thread. I hope you are doing better.

I found out from someone on here that you need to have BP monitors calibrated every 2 years (at least!) Or they can show inaccuracies. How long have you had yours and have you had it calibrated? Worth checking....

[Rabbit1977]

I feel for you. I own my own Omron blood pressure monitor and recently it showed the irregular heartbeat symbol. I too am worried about dying and have been distraught over the symbol, which has never shown previously in the 12 months I've had the device. I'm wondering whether a low battery life might have something to do with it, but every time I google, it says battery life plays no part and that I could be having a heart attack. I'd like to see my GP but you just can't get an appointment where I live. The more I think about it, I have been getting occasional discomfort in my left arm, but now can't tell if this is all just in my head.

Sorry to hijack your thread. I hope you are doing better.

I found out from someone on here that you need to have BP monitors calibrated every 2 years (at least!) Or they can show inaccuracies. How long have you had yours and have you had it calibrated? Worth checking....

No, I didn't know they had to be regularly calibrated. I've had mine just over 12months. I caved in last night and went to Sainsburys to buy new batteries to see if it made a difference, and low and behold no irregular heartbeat icon. Still worried though - never know if my symptoms are down to perimenopause or something more sinister. 

[Kathleen]

Hello Nik2502

I just wanted to add that I had a lot of palpitations earlier in my menopause journey but they stopped and haven't returned.

They did worry me but I assumed they were hormonal and didn't have any investigations. I occasionally get a delayed heart rhythm beat but my nurse practitioner says that this is also typical for the menopause.

I hope this is helpful and I wish you well.


K.
 

[Nik2502]

Hello Nik2502

I just wanted to add that I had a lot of palpitations earlier in my menopause journey but they stopped and haven't returned.

They did worry me but I assumed they were hormonal and didn't have any investigations. I occasionally get a delayed heart rhythm beat but my nurse practitioner says that this is also typical for the menopause.

I hope this is helpful and I wish you well.


K.

Thank you Kathleen x

[JoannFran]

Hi Nik2502

How you doing?

Have you had a look at dr Sanjay Gupta on you tube. His videos helped me massively.

I’ve seen a cardiologist many times recently and she said she sees so many peri/menopausal women with palpitations/ectopic beats/racing heart etc. she said it’s very very common at this stage of life!

If I could give you a bit of advice it would be to not spiral and not obsess over your heart. I did this and ended up  causing myself so much anxiety convinced there was something wrong with my heart (I had every cardiac test and all was good).  I went on propranolol and this made me almost lose my mind and gave me awful side effects.  I’m now 2 weeks off of propranolol and starting to get the racing heart/aware of heart beat symptoms back but I’m determined not to spiral.
anyway that’s probably not a great deal of help but thought I’d give you my story in the hope that you know you’re not alone xxx

[JoannFran]

Also there’s a really good video on the tube called ‘heart palpitations in menopause - are they normal’ heather hirsch. And a cardiologist explains what happens. It’s very reassuring xx