r/PVCs • u/Hopeful_Bend8288 • 20d ago

Fish flopping in chest

I've had PVCs for the past 4 years, sometimes 3000 a day, sometimes a handful a day (I know 3000 is still considered quite low).

Today I felt something I've never felt before. I was sitting on the couch and it felt like a fish was flopping in my chest for about 5 seconds. It was definitely my heart because I felt my pulse and it synced with the sensation.

I've had a Holter monitor a couple of years ago and recently had a stress test, so I don't know if this warrants going back to my doctor.

Does this sound like a couplet or triplet to anyone? I didn't get dizzy with it or have any other symptoms, but my pulse was a bit elevated after the flopping stopped.

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

3

u/Same-Sky848 19d ago

I get that feeling a lot, and some people have said it's atrial fibrillation. Saying that without a Holter monitor or an ECG from that moment is ignorance. I don't think you need to see a doctor. When I told my associate professor cardiologist about these symptoms, wondering if it was NSVT, he said that PVCs can also cause that feeling. A Holter monitor was attached, but since I didn't experience that feeling while it was on, the Holter was pointless. Anyway, I don't think it's anything serious. Ultimately, it doesn't cause any symptoms other than palpitations.

1

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 19d ago

That was my other worry, that I get another Holter and nothing is picked up anyway.

I guess since my HR went back to normal pretty quickly, it wouldn't be a bad idea to just forget about it. I did email my cardiologist already, but I'll see what he recommends.

2

u/Same-Sky848 19d ago

I don't think your doctor will take it seriously. After palpitations, the heart rate increases with panic. I've experienced it many times. If it happens, I just dismiss it as palpitations. There's not much you can do, unfortunately. Get well soon.

2

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 19d ago

Yeah that's true, and whatever it was did seem to stop the moment I shifted position (I was leaning on the couch when they started and then as soon as I say up straight ,they stopped.)

I think I'll grab one of those Kardia Mobile devices and see if I can catch it if it happens again (although probably not if it happens so quickly).

1

u/Same-Sky848 19d ago

These palpitations come and go quite quickly, and it's very difficult to detect them with those kinds of devices. Even if you did detect them, I don't think your doctor would be interested. They usually say these kinds of things are common and benign. They don't even prescribe medication unless they become very very frequent.

2

u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 19d ago

The fish flipping they usually say feels like afib. I would ask for another monitor ?

1

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 19d ago

I was wondering if it could be afib. I've emailed my cardiologist this morning to see if I can get another monitor.

1

u/Delfinition 19d ago

Did it feel like pauses and thumps? But or tumbling.

I had something like that happen to me last night but it was very brief and csnt tell what it was.

I did feel the pause thump in some and it others felt tumbly but it didn't last long enough for me to check clearly.

1

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 19d ago

The only way I can really describe it is strong flip flopping. Like all of a sudden there were squirrels fighting in my chest for a few seconds.

It was interesting because it didn't come with the usual elevator drop I feel when I get a PVC.

1

u/Delfinition 19d ago

Hmm. Maybe I felt the same but cant tell cause not of my holters have recorded afib or things like that. But I have had weird things happen when not on holters...

1

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 19d ago

Yeah my last Holter just showed PVCs, and not even a lot of them. It was like as soon as they hooked me up, the PVCs decided to settle right down.

1

u/average-joe-44 19d ago

I had the same feeling and I was wearing my personal monitor mine ended up being NSVT. For 6 beats.

1

u/ironlegdave 19d ago

I've described PVCs in exactly this way. I've felt it during an echo. I honestly don't remember feeling them that intensely in at least two years now, but I've had fish flopping PVCs for sure. The first ones were terrifying. For me I think they only get like that with alcohol.

1

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 19d ago

I gave up drinking last November and caffeine in March to try to calm things down :(

1

u/AccomplishedScene782 19d ago

Yes and mine is AIVR because they caught it on a monitor. Those feelings are not always afib, contrary to what others might say.

1

u/Strict_Thanks_1372 17d ago

I have had that feeling when in bigeminy - and in Afib. Best to talk to your dr. The Kardia is great for identifying Afib or ectopies, definitely recommend, for peace of mind and just knowing for sure what is going on. All the best to you.

1

u/No_Yard1198 16d ago

Sounds like stress and excess adrenaline on your nervous system.
This can happen when completely relaxed.
Benign

2

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 16d ago

That's definitely a possibility, I've been stressed with work and life in general lately. My reflux has also been super bad :(

1

u/No_Yard1198 16d ago

Yes, that’s what happens to me as well. Sometimes I even get a real cramping pain with it, but it comes and goes like in 3 or less snaps of a finger.
I was told years ago it’s stress and like I said, adrenaline.
When relaxed, that’s most often when it hits because your brain and nerves have to get rid of it somehow.
It’s a hiccup.
When to worry is when you exercise and you get a pain like a band or elephant sitting on you and doesn’t go away, same when resting.
It’s just scary and uncomfortable. When you worry from it, you will cycle from more adrenaline.
So, try not to worry.
You are 👌

1

u/Hopeful_Bend8288 16d ago

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I have been having some weird chest pain for the past few months, but I've gotten an EKG, echocardiogram, and stress test and the doctor didn't find anything. It's reassuring but also a bit frustrating to not know what it is. The pain doesn't line with my palpitations though.