Skipped heartbeats?

Question

I'm 27 and started getting some skipped heartbeats last year during my pregnancy with my 1st son. I saw a cardiologist who did an EKG, holter monitor, and Echocardiogram. He says not to worry that skipped beats are common and nothing more than a nuisance. He says everything else is normal.

I'm really trying to believe him but I don't understand how after 26 years of normal heartbeats I'd all of a sudden get "skipped beats". I also don't understand how its normal and not a sign of somehting worse.

I have 2 boys under 2 yrs. old and worry all the time about not being around for them and that the skipped beats are a sign of something horrible but the dr. has missed something because I"m young.

I'm open to the possibility of me just being neurotic and a worrier...but really, can someone explain how "skipped beats" are normal?

I also had gallbladder surgery last year and since then it seems that I get skipped beats after a meal when I'm digesting....could that be related?

Answer 1

I think what you are describing is called "Premature Heartbeats". I can't really explain it. I do know it is common. See the links I provid to learn more. Check the 3rd one for sure.

Heart Rhythm Society - Home Page
http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/default.asp

Heart Rhythm Society - Signs & Symptoms
http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/signs_symptoms/default.asp

Heart Rhythm Society - Other Symptoms of Heart Rhythm Disorders
http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/signs_symptoms/other.asp

Good luck.
Terry

Answer 2

you are being neurotic. you have had skipped beats all your life. the difference is when you had a fetus pushing on things, you FELT them, ordinarily you don't. Everyone, at one time or another has a "skipped" beat. It isn't even actually a skip, but a premature beat that doesn't perfuse. In medicine we call them PVCs, for premature ventricular contraction. It doesn't mean a thing.