How do I know when skipped heart beats are dangerous?

[iAmEllen]

Over a week ago for absolutely no identifiable reason my heart started skipping way more beats than usual.  I can go hours with none and then have several hours where I'll have 2 or 3 a minute.  It's setting me over the edge.  I don't know if it's dangerous or not.  I went to the ER the other day and they basically didn't care at all and just had me take Ativan and sent me home.  Today I panicked and called the paramedics who came and did a 12 lead and they said normal sinus with one ectopic and so I didn't go back to the ER.  I had a normal echo 3 years ago.  I already don't eat caffeine or sugar.

Please reassure or sympathize with me.  I'm going insane and have no idea what's causing this out of the blue.  Why would they suddenly increase for no reason whatsoever?

[bzmama]

Well if your loosing your mid so am I.  I am also 53 and have had many 13 children,  I have had palpatations before and they scare me and now I am having them again, I am sometime light headed and feel strange.  They say all my blood work came back great and all the shaky feeling and heart pounding and then later skipping is maybe anxiety.  I am adopted so I don;t know my mom's history but I thought if we were in post menopausal we were better. LOL

[Andreaskye]

I am going to echo everyone's relief at having found this board and seeing that I am not alone.
I am a 41 y/o LVN, my job is to actually educate elderly homecare patients with chronic conditions but I have spent the last 2 months convinced I am going to die.
I exercise regularly, am only slightly overweight (was once morbildy obese but lost it all over a period of 10 years), I differ from you Guys in that I do smoke and drink coffee until noon. I know, not good but anyway...
That being said, I do 30 minutes on the elliptical maintaining a pulse of 140 feeling great at least 3 times a week.  I wake up feeling fine, the PVCs start mid afternoon to evening. Sometimes causing dizziness, slight chest pain.
I have always had them now and then but so much worse lately with no lifestyle changes.
Then the whole outstanding check up at the Doc thing so many of you go through too. My EKG-perfect! My labwork- got a congratulatory call at home from my Doc on that. "Some people have these."
It does not make it any easier to deal with. My deal is no longer the panic when they happen but being tired out mentally and emotionally after they go on for hours.
I do also suffer anxiety and this has been very heavy for an extended amount of time, on top of that I am one of those people who keep it inside. Probably the sole cause of the worsening lately.
Anyway, I am reading all of you Guys stories and information and trying to reformulate a plan.
Thanks so much for sharing.  

[bmbm111]

i also have them for sometime now my blood work is fine eco cardio is fine
i cannot function myself please try to deal with it. i am on the road away
from my family and i think i am going to die every night . you are not alone
stay strong

[jimmycat1384]

I don't guess they will allow e-mail adresses to be posted, but for everyones
information, I have been suffering from skipped beats for over forty years.
They began when I was twenty five and I am now sixty six. Been to all
kinds of Docs with no solution. I believe mine are caused from some sort
of intestinal or stomach problem. So, lets just hang in there!

[jimmycat1384]

f you have the skipped heartbeats. I would like to discuss with you by
e-mail ***@****

[Amella]

I am 80 years old and have been suffering from PVCs for the past 10 years.  I feel for all of you; I thought I was alone.  Thank you for sharing your stories.  I don't feel as crazy.