Irregular heartbeat PVC and how I fixed them

[aaronsinclair]

Hi all.

If you have PVC's, you'll know how the symptoms can begin to affect your daily life.  I experience anywhere from 100 to 800 PVC's each day and can get pretty depressed some days.

Since 2004 I've been on numerous prescribed medicines, stopped coffee, cigarettes and alcohol and sex (just kidding), all in an effort to reduce or remove the symptoms of PVC's.

I don't want to get my hopes up but 2 days ago I went to the chemist(drug store) and bought some vitamins from the health section. One of the supplements I choose was coenzyme q10  (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10)

I've taken these for the past two days and my symptoms have disappeared!  I have had ZERO PVC's since Thursday.

Coenzyme Q10 is simply a vitamin supplement and readily available over the counter.  

As I am not a medical specialist I cannot recommend this as a treatment, but if anyone can ask their doctor and then try this I would be VERY interested to know if this has any affect on their symptoms.

I look forward to hearing back from fellow PVC sufferers to hear if this is cure that works for others.

[fearfactor]

I'm willing to try it!  How much Coenzyme Q-10 do you take per day?

[aaronsinclair]

There was a choice of 30mg or 60mg, I chose the 30mg and am taking 1 tab - 3 times a day

[Carrie41]

I tried it and it didn't work for me.  I am too desperate to find a way to get rid of these.

[michael in atlanta]

Despite taking CoQ10 150 mg/d I was having frequent pvc's - sometimes at the rate of one or two per minute. I found that taking 2 calcium/magnesium pills per day (1000 mg calcium/250 mg magnesium) helped slow these considerably.

I have a significant load of calcium in my coronary arteries - this may have something to do with causing the pvcs.

By the way, several years ago I found that I get pvc's when I become dehydrated. Drinking more fluids solved this (for a time at least).  

[aaronsinclair]

Hi Carrie,
That sux that it doesn't work for you. How long did you take it for, what other medication / suppliments where you taking??

I'm sure you've tried many things, one way I deal with PVC's when they get really bad is to do some breathing excersises, these really do help.  http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/docs/deep_breathing.doc


Does Coenzyme Q10 Help PVC'z?

1 x Yes, fixed them completely.
1 x No, didn't work for me.

[Carrie41]

Hi Aaron.  I took it for probably 6 months or so hoping that it woul get rid of my PVC's but no no avail.  I have tried everything but just can't get rid of them.  I wish there was some magic pill that a person could take and I would take it.  I have been on beta-blockers as well but it still didn't stop the PVC's.  It may have stopped the fast runs of NSVT and SVT but I still had the PVC's.

I am currently taking Ciprilex for my anxiety about my heart (10 mg) a day.  I still get the weird beating around every day but the Ciprilex has taken the edge off.  I am totally obsessed with my heart and the weird beats it does it has just taken too much of a toll on my life to try not to get a handle on it.

The EP doctor I saw said that the beats were no big deal but my reaction to beats was the big deal so I am trying to deal with that.  

I have read about the magnesium/potassium imbalances as well but I haven't tried taking it.  I do however take a multi-vitamin but it doesn't seem to make a heck of a lof of difference either.

[aaronsinclair]

My sympathies to you Carrie41.  I know how much of a big deal this can be, espc. if those around you don't understand what it's like.

The two supplements that I am currently taking are

Magnisium 600Mg / day
CQ10 90Mg / day

I have been on literally 6 or 8 different medications and my joke about impotency was a half truth - some of those medications cause a cure worse than the disease.

Hang in there...

[va_tony]

I asked my cardiologist if coQ10 would help reduce episodes of afib I suffer and he replied " the only thing coQ10 will give you is expensive urine". On the other hand my GP swears by it and has me taking a multivitamin with a hefty dosage. Doesn't seem to be helping, unfortunately

The chemical name for CoQ10 is ubiquinone... named after 'ubiquitous' because it is found everywhere --- in most foods--- and our bodies are literally awash in it. But there are apparently cases where patients have a deficiency, especially within the heart tissue.  I think in those cases, the supplements help.  However, if you don't have this imbalance, taking coQ10 will be ineffective in controlling arrhythmia.

Here's an abstract of a medical study that shows that coQ10 was very effective in preventing one type of induced arrhythmia in dogs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2423628&dopt=Abstract

[Pepperliveson]

Anyone who takes a statin may have a deficiency in CoQ because statins not only inhibit the production of cholesterol by our bodies, they aslo inhibit the production of CoQ.  I take 120 mg of CoQ a day but still get PVCs.  I really wish they would go away but they are here to stay.

[kellykdawn]

Ok, I am new to this website and I cant begin to express how thankful I am to accidentally have stumbled upon it!! I have not been officially diagnosed with PVC's, but I am 100% sure that this is what I am experiencing.  I have had these on and off for years and thought I was going insane!  I just want to post this website on a huge billboard so the whole world can see it!  

[grgkirton]

Guys,
One thing you need to know.  Not all CoQ-10 is the same.  You need to use Ubiquinol, NOT Ubiquinone.  Ubiquinol is a newly designed C0Q-10 that has 8 times the absorption rate as the older Ubiquinone.  The Japanese patented this about 12 -18 months ago and you can't find it everywhere.  Here is where I get mine.

http://www.lef.org/newshop/items/item01252.html#Super-Ubiquinol-CoQ10

I just started with PVC's about 3 weeks ago.  Went to the cardiologist and he said not to think about it.  Kind of hard to do.  I started taking 2  CoQ-10 (2X50MG per day).  I only started this 2 days ago and either it works or my mind thinks it works!!  Don't care.  So far today, no PVC's.  That's how I got here, was looking for others experiences.  I know that CoQ-10 provides energy to the cells within the heart, so figured I would give that a shot.  

Life extension is good stuff.  Did a bunch of research and found 3rd party analysis that says consistently rated at 8-9 out of 10 scale.  Not the best, but best for the money.  GNC is rated 4 on 10 scale.  Centrum rated 1, thus the comment, expensive urine.  Bad quality vitamins do no good.  

So far, am having a really good day.  Give it a try.  
Good luck,
Bill

[mnjohn]

I have had these for 15 years and have not died. I have runs of them, hard ones, wierd beats, panic attacks, anxiety ect..... and am still here. I am 31 years old now, take toprol xl, and xanax. I gave up on wasting my short life on trying to get rid of something that isnt going to go away, and isnt going to kill me. So I live life to the fullest, before its over, and before I realize all Ive done was waste the whole thing worrying about pvcs. If youve had all the tests (ekg, echo, ect.......) and its normal, please move on, or before you know it, 5 more precious years are gone and you spent a god chunk of them worrying about these things. And look, your still alive.

[gretchen73]

I wanted to comment on this subject...my fiance has had the same kind of problems for awhile now, have been to numerous heart doctors, that put him on paxil.  It took a nuerologist to order a TEE test, which is an endocardiography of the heart.  (go down your throat and look).  After doing all the other tests, stress tests, ultrasounds, etc......it was this test that found a hole in his heart that he has had from birth.  (he is 36).  But, the neuro also found that his blood count has been down.  White and Red blood counts.  So...i did a little research, and have found that when your blood counts are down, (which could be anemia), we do not know yet, havent been to that doctor yet to find out!  
  But anyway....when your blood counts are down, it will cause you to have PVC symptoms, hard time breathing, all that "good stuff"....which my fiance has been having.  And his symptoms got considerably worse after an "episode" at work, that the neuro thinks was a stroke, caused by the hole no cardiologist in Missouri could find!  But no doctors could figure that one out when he was hospitalized after that incident--go figure!
They ignored his low blood counts, didnt think that he needed to have a TEE test because all his other tests came out fine, and couldnt figure it out.  But found from some pretty major scarring on his brain, that he had a hole in his heart!
  But you might want to look at your blood counts.....we have been through hell since May trying to get answers, and couldnt get any from multiple cardio doctors.
And MAKE sure you have a TEE test done!  you can do every other test, but that test shows all the nooks and crannys in your heart...all of it!  We wasted so much time and money doing all these other heart related tests...and all coming back negative!  
I also read that you should be eating a diet high in iron---spinach, radishes, liver, etc, my fiance has been on it for a month and his symtoms have been a little more mild.
We are crossing our fingers that when he gets the hole fixed, that he has had since birth, that it will help alot!
But keep pushing, if you can, and see as many doctors as possible, i think now days, it just comes down to finding one that cares, and isnt afraid that he will get sued if he is a little more aggressive in finding the problems!  

Good luck

[curleymoe]

nice to see a help site for pvcs . i,ve had them for 20 years . now 63 .  they come and go and when you go for months without them you think they are gone forever but they usually come back and cause you some sort of stress even though you know what they are . o.k. forget the ******** , we all know what they are . over the years i,ve been diagnosed with low b12 levels in my blood so i take a 1200 mg of b12 daily and have increased the amount of filtered water i drink daily . even though i still get pvcs , they have been reduced in numbers and for short periods of time , mainly because i just go on doing what i'm . i still hate them but hopefully i can go on for another 20 years . drink healthy and eat healthy , read labels , give up processed foods [ as much as possible ] and enjoy your journey , one moment at a time .

[heyyouthere]

WOW I am at a stand still here, 3 days ago on Dec 10, 2008 these pvcs started never have I ever experienced such a thing. I am a very healthy person or so it seamed   . I went to the hospital and did the stress test 160 beats per minuets on the treadmill and no pvcs they layed me down in a bed waiting to go back to my rooms and I got heart burn and the pvcs started. as many of you I am having them from 1 to 10 a minuet and my mind is ready to leave me. I just can't figure this one out. I have been praying like no tomorrow is coming and will do so for all who have this thing and I ask the Lord Jesus to have mercy remove this thing from us all. your new friend Charley

[Capt_payne]

I've read your comments and thought I would chime in with my experience. I am: White male, age 49, 5'11 175 lbs. Very athletic and do a daily cardio routine of 40 mins of running on the beach.  Resting pulse 60.  I've had PVCs all my life. Every day, singles, runs - you name it.  Actual diagnosis was at 19. Seen 6 cardiologists. Had every exam/test there is and must get my FAA class 1 medical every year and have thrown PVCs during my FAA EKG.  The FAA could care less that I drive a Boeing 747-400 for a living and have PVCs. My personal physician could care less - he has them and has since his medical school years.  Everyone has them - it's simply a matter of frequency. Do this: Keep a healthy diet. Do not smoke. Exercise (cardio) 3+ times per week.  PVCs aren't going to do you in, but worrying about them just might as the stress you're putting yourself under taxes the body terribly. THAT is your biggest danger.

Captain Payne

[VELAJE]

THANK YOU FOR THAT POST!

I get PVC's when I have reflux gas pressure and anxiety.  I've had several different test done as well.  All have come out GREAT! - All The Doctors have said. "they are harmless" Dont even think about them" " just ignore them" -it's hard ignore them when you're having them.  Reading post like the one you just wrote is AMAZING!  Thank You Captain!

J

[jmcacdon]

I have been having these for the last 3 years. They seem to get better and then start up again.  I have had all the tests and doc says there is nothing to worry about.  Well, I can't seem to help it,  they still freak me out!  I am now trying meditation and yoga to try to calm my mind about this.  They cause so much stress for me that I have stomach problems as well. I am 50 years old, female and in good shape, physically.
I have tried Co Q10, taurine, omega 3 fish oil, prozac, xanax and who knows what else to try to stop these things. I have not tried beta blockers, but that may be next.
I wish I could just relax as I know these won't hurt me...

[drphil66]

I am now 66 years of age and in good shape,  my body is 50, but I have been having PVCs for 40 years off and on, they come and go when hey want and yes they are bothersome and still make me wonder whats going on.  I had anxiety or panic attacj=ks for almost 20 years thinking at any moment I was going to drop dead.  Chest pains of off and on for years and still do.  To this day if I had a real heart attack I wouldn't know it at it's seemed like I've had them all my life.  I hate to say it but  I wasted a lot of years of my life worrying about my health and thoughts of dying of a heart attack. Finally about 15 years ago I decided that I'm tired of worrying about it all and decided life is to short and just live every day the best you can.  Some of us are just meant to have pain of some sort or something happening in our life that is disruptive all the time.  Then when we finally do get a good day of no pain or anxiety it really feels good, lucky are those in life who don't have all these crazy symptoms. I didn't really have a diagnosis for PVCs until about 5 or six years ago when I went to the doc for a normal physical and he found my blood pressure a little high.  That's when I told him I was having skipped beats on a pretty regular basis.  That's when he explained they were PVC's and said that atenolol which I guess is a beta blocker would help to lower my blood pressure, increase contraction muscles of the heart and slow my heart beat from a resting rate of about 75 to under 60per min and probaly eliminate most of the PVCs.  All of this was true and I am still taking 50mg  of atenolol 1 to 2x daily.  I can have what I call missed beats 15 times a minute.  Someone mentioned deep breathing exercises and they do help to get the heart back into sync.  I was told by a very smart physician many years ago that if you are doing deep breathing you will eliminate anxiety, feelings of stress and regulate your heart to the point where it is almost impossible to have a heart attack. My physician like most the rest say the PVCs  won't hurt you and some feel them moe than others and everyone has them.  When you think that most peoples hearts beat more than 115,000 beats a day, I think it's allowable for it to miss a few strokes every now and then.  The yoga and deep breathing should help the PVCs , but if it doesn't try the beta blocker, as it will also save your heart 30 to 40,000 beats a day and maybe make it last ten years longer than the average person. Also when you alone in your car try screaming and yelling for this thing to get out of your body. Just say your not going to take it anymore.  Good luck, DRphil66

[JimmyABG]

You explained prett well what i have been going thru for the past 20 years, I;m 41 now, and past coulle years have been really really bad in terns of "heartbeat skipping". Sometimes i feel i wont wake up next morning.. I have had EKGs/ECGs and what not, but nothing found as everyone else. Sometimes it goes away on it own for a few days and i feel like i'm the most happiest person in the world, and it may have been fixed due to this and that. But while i'm enjoying my "short lived" feeling and talking to myself how good it is, it comes back.. and then i'm back to square one. Thinking again now what? i guess this is how it is and this is how i have to live the rest of my life. (not sure how long though)

[RebeccaJeeper]

Wow, I am actually glad to have found this forum here! I am 30 and I started having PVC's last March, and I just cannot get rid of them. I can completely relate with those of you who describe it as taking over your life and driving you insane! I feel them every time they happen and there are times when it is just over and over again for what feels like days at a time....I am also a Registered Nurse, so of course I imagine the worst, and I get so stressed out over them. I have been to the ER, been to my primary Dr. about this several times...labs are fine, holter is fine, chest xrays fine, etc...they all tell me it is a benign arrhythmia and that I am fine. But I don't FEEL fine!! I am in decent shape otherwise and have no trouble exercising....but these PVC's just make me worry that I have some underlying condition, or that I am going to flip into a serious arrhythmia and die! I am just glad to know that I am not the only one who has these! I just always wonder why did I just start getting them one day, out of the blue? Also, nothing seems to actually cause them that I can find...I have tried to see if it is related to caffeine, alcohol, exercise, etc, but they seem to just occur with no rhyme or reason!

[Drkars]

Are you still having them or did you find anything that helps?

[salbacore]

i somehow feel my pvc and gerd are somehow related. i been having pvc  on and off for 20 yrs.when gerd was present. now i been having pvc every day for 6months, some days worse than others. i have no other stress other than pvc. i normally try to ignore them and it works most of the time. on bad days when they are continuous it runs my life. seems they are here to stay this time. before they would come n go but now i only had a handfull of good days the last 6 months. i never even knew what they were till i found this website.i asumed it was stomache related . god bless/

[raybond]

Hi everyone.  I am REALLY surprised that no one has talked about MSG.  My pvc's have been with me for 40 years.  With ME pure and simple they are caused by MSG.  Most of the time it is added to food, both packaged food and restaurant food.  If I cook at home and use natural ingredients NO pvc's!!!  As the years pass I have become more and more sensitive to it.  There have been times I have had pvc's for thee weeks 24/7 until I found the food that was causing it.  I work out and discovered that protein powders and bars combine the aminos to form mono sodiums and can trigger pvc's.  
Type MSG in your search engine and you will not believe how MSG is NOT disclosed in foods, renamed as other things.

[pinky795]

Hi all, I had been having PVCs for years, sometimes for weeks on end.  Nothing seemed to help.  I read the posts on here and decided to try a combination of two things I had seen repeatedly.  I take 400 IUs of natural Vitamin E and 60 mg of CoQ10 every morning with a glass of orange juice when I wake up.  This combination seems to have completely stopped them.  I no longer live in fear of them daily like I did before.  I do get them occasionally, but nothing like before and not nearly as scary.  

[skeptic65]

I developed PVCs several years ago and I too took Co-Q10 to get rid of them. Just as others said in this thread, they just vanished within a day after I started taking Co-Q10. What is even better, I took Co-Q10 only for about a month and PVCs haven't come back. I have been practically free of PVCs for the last five years.

Skeptic

[Dubfun]

I am 54 years old and began having symptoms related to AF (atrial fibrilation when I was 37.  I have exercised regularly (walking, running, resistance exercises) all of my life because I enjoy exercising.  I was also a competitive distance runner in high school and college.  I've only missed exercising for maybe a week at a time if I had a bad cold or the flu or was on vacation.  I also have a healthy diet, so overall I would say I have had a healthy lifestyle; no smoking and very mimimal consumption of alcohol and do not consume caffiene.  3 years ago I had to have ablation surgery to eliminate the AF after medications no longer worked.  In the 3 years following surgery, irregular or skipped beats have gradually increased in frequency.  I wore a halter monitor for 48 hours and documented the times I felt the skipped beats.  My cardiologist saw no evidence of AF but did say the symptoms were caused by PVCs.  He also said that they were nothing to worry about and many people have them or don't feel the irregular beat even though they have them.  Unfortunately, I, like many of you, feel the skipped beats.  They occur at random times seemingly for no reason.  However, during times of physical or emotional stress they seem to happen more frequently.  Or, they seem to be position related such as bending over and standing up to fast, lying down on my left side or on my back, etc.   Also, if I wear tight clothing around my abdomen or have pressure of some sort on my lower abdominal area, this seems to increase the frequency.  After reading many of the comments posted here, I have concluded that many cardiologists and medical science in general does not have a definite solution to the PVC/PAC problem.  I know we are all told not to worry about it, but as has been said before, I wish they could be in my shoes and feel these irregularities.  Taking a beta blocker (metoprolol) does seem to have some minimal effect, but doesn't always work.  As far as anxiety is concerned, for me that is not a problem. So I'm back to square one.  As of now I am trying to find an alternative solution (vitamins, Coq10, et.) that will work for me.  I guess I have to trust the doctors for now and believe that this is not a big problem.  I will take some of your suggestions and see if they work for me.  If there are any medical professionals reading this, could you give your opinion?  Also, do any of you know if there are any detrimental physical health effects  caused by PVC's or PAC's?