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Palps/Bending over

Does anyone know why bending over at the waist brings on PACs or PVCs?  Seems like almost every time I bend over to pick up something off the floor I get a burst of PACs when I stand up.  It is freaking me out.  Also happens if I sit or lay down too quickly.  Please help.
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Avatar universal
It's very common but I don't know the reason.  Hopefully someone else will.
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Avatar universal
its because of the change in blood flow and volume in your body... When standing up the heart has to work harder to pump the blood throughout the body, when you bend over, the upper body is at or below the heart level, so gravity does the work for the heart in this case., and bending also bends the blood vessels inside your body, so there is more blood in the lower part of the body. When you stand up, gravity becomes the enemy, and is pulling the blood towards the lower parts of your body, and your heart has to pump harder to move the blood through the vessels.. It sounds complicated but its a simple concept. This is also why people have increased pvc's after eating. Blood flows to the stomach and intestines to help with digestion, this shift in blood flow has an effect on the heart, making it work harder, which is why some people experience pvc's during this time.. Alot of these questions have already been addressed.. If you want to take some time and look through the archives, you might learn alot.
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Avatar universal
Why did it take 35 years for this to start happening?
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Avatar universal
Just wanted to let you know you are not alone.  I get that "flip flop" feeling of the heart too when bending over.  Not always, but frequently.
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Avatar universal
Who knows why, finetilthree.  Most of us never know why our palpitations begin or flare up.

My grandpa who is in such great shape that he still bikes 60 miles a day is 80 years old.  He started having PVCs for the first time in his life last year.  They did a cath and every test they could think of any found absolutely nothing.

Seems to largely be a mystery for most of us.  Frustrating for sure.  How old are you?  Hormonal changes and menopause seem to trigger them sometimes.  Mine can go crazy during PMS.
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Avatar universal
I am 35 years old and this started 8 months ago after I had my third child. Now it happens every single day and I am just at the end of my rope.  I want my old life back and I am completely at the freakin end of my rope.  I want to be able to run with my kids and fall down playing in the grass with my kids and run with them on my back and chase them up the stairs screaming to their bedrooms and just feel normal.  I feel like my life is ruined.  Everything I once enjoyed is over.
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Avatar universal
Pregnancy either changed the anatomy of your heart or your hormonal state changed afterwards.

I know how you feel though.  Tons of people here do.  They can be totally miserable to live with.
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Avatar universal
What do you mean changed the anatomy of my heart?  Why didn't they find anything on echos/ct scans/xrays/etc?  Do you think I will die?
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170935 tn?1225371076
i feel exactly like fineTilThree. i never had these stupid missed beats before, i've been managing to lay down, bend over sit down quickly etc and never had the missed beats before, why did the change in blood flow and volume not trigger pvcs before?why has it taken 27 years for them to happen? There must be something else that has caused them, it's just amazing that no-one has a clue what!!!
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Avatar universal
Nice to know someone is in the same boat as me, although I certainly wouldn't wish it on anyone else. Can you figure out anything major that changed in your life that coincided with this ****?  The only thing I can attribute is my third childbirth.  I wonder if my heart is permanently damaged from it.  My tests have all been mostly normal and they say this is all benign but no one can tell me what happened to my heart to cause this.  I am in some major depression here and I guess I better find a good shrink since no one can fix my heart.
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Avatar universal
Of course you're not going to die from this!  I just mean that pregnancy slightly changes the size and shape of your heart in a way that is minor and totally benign but enough to cause it to behave a bit differently.
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170935 tn?1225371076
i'm sorry but i find it so hard to believe that your heart has become damaged through childbirth!!! i've never been through it but it just doesn't make sense. please don't think your heart is now damaged. if you're really concerned get another heart echo done. Tomorrow i've got an appointment with a very good cardiologist and i'll ask him for his opinion for you.
I wish i could figure out what is causing the missed beats, they cannot just appear out of nowhere in healthy individuals. A lot of people just accept them and try differnt heart meds with little success. i have a friend in canada who i email on a regular basis and he has kissed goodbye to his missed beats by treating his indigestion which he found was his trigger. Another person who i met on the net believes that her missed beats happen when she is dehydrated only. Its a matter of finding your own triggers no matter how stupid they may sound to your docs.
Truth is there are somethings docs can't explain and just find it easier to blame it on hormones, stress, anxiety.......which is just a load of ****

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Avatar universal
I think I have already had 3 echos, maybe 4.  I am suffering so much and I have had every test known to man and no one can find a reason.  Please let me know any thing you find out. Thank you again.
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Avatar universal
i find it so frustrating when people are making themselves suffer needlessly.. Just because someone recently starts feeling pvc's, doesnt mean you havent been experiencing them your entire life.. Every single person on the face of planet has pvc's.. If they where deadly, there would be no human race. If your other cardiac workups are fine, its time to move on.. If you obsess yourself with WHY only now you feel them, you're wasting alot of life you will never get back. You will never know why.. its time to accept and move on.
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124876 tn?1189755833
Collegegirl...it seems you have come to terms with your palp condition or lack thereof.and that is wonderful but not everyone has been able to do that. We are ALL individuals here with individual issues...I have seen alot of snappy comments from you here lately and as a PAC/PVC sufferer myself, sometimes it is WAY easier said than done to just accept. It is a daily struggle for me and I totally sympathize with finetilthree. I have had several tests done that came out negative and I STILL also find it hard to believe that there is no explanation. I am on medication and seeking the help of a psychologist which I am hoping will make a difference. But, when you have kids, and a husband and a life, you want to live every minute of it not feeling like you are about to die. And that is how most of us feel when these episodes come on. All I'm trying to say, is to please be a LITTLE more sensitive to the folks on here...They are after all on here for reassurance and support.
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124876 tn?1189755833
Girl, I am right there with you. I can bend over, reach for something or turn a certain way and boom..there they go..and it makes it so hard to focus on anything else. I have a 3 year old son and I love the **** out of him and my husband and I want to be here for them as long as possible and be a happy well adjusted adult while I'm at it...but these things make it VERY hard....well, I have a message in to a psychologist for an appointment.  I think that it's time that I get some help with this.  I have had 3 echo's, countless ekg's and holter monitor's blah blah blah and I have also seen 3 different cardiologists because I never believe what they tell me...and they all tell me they are benign...and I too have such a hard time accepting that...that is why I am going to try counseling. That has to be my next step..Maybe you should consider the same..if you have the means to do so, it may be just what you need...start the New Year off right...don't let these things get you down...Hey, also...take notice of other triggers...chocolate..caffeine..smoking..alcohol..sugar...that time of the month..stress...
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your comments.  I have an appt. scheduled with a counselor so hopefully things will get better soon.  I hope things go better for you real soon too!
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97628 tn?1204462033

College girl is saying things that are true, to try and help.

If you do a Holter monitor on anyone randomly off the street they will have PAC/PVCs on it. Some people are just sensitive to their body and feel them (or think they do). To not be able to acknowledge this at first is normal, but if it goes on and on it is, indeed, a shame.

It's like being determined one has stomach cancer because one occasionally has heartburn.

A cardiologist can't do much to treat a person who does not have a cardiac condition, this is not surprising.

To say it's "amazing" that no one can predict when you will be sensitive to your own body's functioning is specious thinking. Why doesn't the GI know in advance what time of day you'll get a little bit of wind and need to burp or have a little stomach cramp?

Heart is a dramatic word, but it's really a workhorse organ.
It's either showing itself healthy or it's not.
Everyone gets pauses sometimes.

I hope everyone feels better soon.
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124876 tn?1189755833
I'm very happy to hear that.. good for you...I'll be praying that all of us who suffer from the palps and the lack of acceptance of them...will have better luck in the coming year...!!
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Avatar universal
It is sad what you are putting yourself through!  Collegegirl is right on the money.  The only thing I can say is that you have yet to find a doctor that you can believe.  Listen to what the medhelp doctors always say:  if you have had all the testing, and multiple times in many cases, and they are all negative, it is time to find a doctor that you will listen to and BELIEVE!  And believe me, I DO know how it feels!  I used to worry, but never let it affect my life, until one day, a cardiologist took my hand, and stated very clearly, *you are NOT GOING TO DIE from these PVC's*.  And I BELIEVED him!  And I ignore them.  Even after I did get heart disease!  (but not from the PVC's)  Put yourself in my shoes:  idiopathic or familial dilated cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, NSVT, AIVR, SVT of 3 different kinds, and the real kicker....INABILITY to implant an ICD when 3 cardiologists determined that I needed one!  (congenital malformations and a looooooooong story!)  I walk around each day anyway with a positive attitude, knowing that I am doing all that I can and let the rest go, knowing that I will not die one second before God wants me, and He is in charge!
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61536 tn?1340698163
I haven't read the whole thread, but I've got the general idea.  I also developed a major symptom increase after the birth of my second, and there's no identifiable reason except that the symptoms seem to coincide with hormonal shifts now.  My OB is going to send me for some bloodwork to see what might be out of whack from a hormonal standpoint.

The bending, I have always gotten palpitations from that, even before my children were born.  Pregnancy places a high demand on the cardiovascular system, it enlarges the heart ever so slightly, and nothing about your body is ever 100% the same after you give birth.  This doesn't mean it has changed for the worse (I'm sure those with stretch marks and a couple extra pounds will disagree ;) but it sure can bring stress and worry with it.  It doesn't mean you're damaged, it just means your body responds to things differently.  Unfortunately, this can mean a high level of anxiety for some people.

I think the counseling thing is an awesome idea.  I hope you can find one that focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy instead of dosing you up with medications.  CBT is one of the most effective treatments in people who have the type of anxiety you're going through (I speak about CBT both from my college education in this field AND as someone who went through what you're going through).  It works.  Definitely ask about it, first thing in the door.  There are also some really handy workbooks out there on the topic as well.

Have a safe, happy and healthy new year...and enjoy your family!  Don't be like me and realize too late that you missed the whole first few months of your new baby's life because of being consumed with fear.  I did, with my first child, and I will always have regret because of it.  I so sincerely wish you the best, as I know exactly what it feels like to be in your situation.
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170935 tn?1225371076
hi all,
just been to see my cardiologist to get results for my 24hr ecg tape. doc said i had 54 pvcs in 24 hours.. he doesn't seem concerned at all he says everything else is fine but i can't help worrying. 54 seems like alot to me and i'm back to square 1 again thinking that something bad is going to happen to my heart. has anyone else had that many in 24 hrs?
i'm so worried and scared am i just being paranoid for no reason? :(
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21064 tn?1309308733
To put things in perspective (maybe), I have had pvcs for over 25 years and 5000 - 25000 a day for many years. I have three grown children (pvcs before, during and after all 3 pregnancies), and I'm still here.  PVCs are benign....I'm not sure what you are afraid of???  Oh, they are definitely weird and feel funny, but they won't hurt you.  Think of them in the context of getting a sinus headache or a migraine.  They feel awful, can be scary, but are benign.  In the setting of a structurally normal heart, they will NOT hurt you.  Try to figure out what you are afraid of...that might help.  I also like the idea of counseling if you find that you can't get past the anxiety.  The anxiety will take its toll, while the pvcs will not harm you.

Hey, this could be a great New Year's resolution....

Good luck everyone and have a wonderful New Year!

connie
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97628 tn?1204462033
4 is definitely not a lot. My teenaged son had 1600+ on his Holter. He also had a moderate sclerosis on a valve and mild cardiomyopathy and even he isn't on medication because he doesn't need it.
He doesn't worry about it at all. His biggest concern is he will have to waste an afternoon at another doctor's appointment any time in the furture.
A worl colleagues 9 year old daughter just had an ablation for WPW and just wants to play soccer.
You're just fine.
Helpful - 0
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