DickETicka

Well that's a bit of a mouth full isn't it !!

I never questioned years of occasional light headedness and dizzy spells when standing too quickly (usually after tying laces etc), I just put it down to getting older (I'm still only 43), anyhoo, about five years ago I noticed that when I was relaxed in the evenings, especially when lying on my back, that I skipped beats , aaagh .

So I immediately made an appointment and went to the docs, who said it was nothing to worry about, happens all the time to young fit people (I excercise regularly, cycling upto 100 miles a week), so I relaxed, cut out ALL cafeine including chocolate and things returned to normal.

However, there's more, early last year, symptoms returned with a vegeance, to the extent that I could gaurantee dropping beats if I laid on my back. It has now got to the point where I know when the dropped beat is going to happen, and I feel, what I can only describe as a lump in my throat followed by the thump in my ear.
So back to the docs, who this time hooked me upto a 24Hour ECG, sure enough, when relaxed, dropped beats.

I was diagnosed with the above mouthfull in April, again, the consultant said not to worry, it's common in young fit people, the only treatment is a pace maker , but he'd only recommend one if I started having Syncopic episodes (blacking out), or if I still have them to age 45.
I haven't had a blackout yet, but my resting heart rate is between 55-60, I'd better not get any fitter , but I'm not too far off 45.

My problem now is, that I am now feeling the skipped beats all the time, probably 1 every 10 mins, even now typing this i've noticed 2 or 3, so should I just carry on and ignore them, am I putting myself at risk, I'd rather not have a pace maker, but I don't want to exasperate the problem.

It would be great to here from similar folk

Thanks for reading

Dick