Really worried about irregular heart beat

[joeg]

Dear Doctor,

I'm 32, male. Four months ago, I felt sharp chest pains. I was panic for worrying about having a heart problem.

I went to see my doctor, and every test (EKG and X-ray) came out normal. He told me it was anxiety, but he would schedule me
for a stress test.  But I was still worried.  After about 2 weeks, I started to notice having early heart beats, at some time, I had about one early beat after every 5-6 normal beats.  I then went to see a cardiologist.  He also heard the early beats, and scheduled me on a Thallium and Echo tests.  Both tests
came out OK.  The report says there was RARE PVC in stress test as part of the Thallium test.  Though I did see many irregular heart beats on the screen during the Echo test, but the Echo test report didn't mention it. Why? After the tests, the cardiologist told me I should not worry about it, even though sometimes early beats may happen more freuently.  Now, after about 2 months, I have noticed I have more frequent early beats, every day, especially at night. Sometimes, there is an early (sometimes like skipped) heart beat in every 1-2 normal beats and that happens 3-4 times in a row. Whenever I have those early
beats, I would feel fluttering my chest. I am really worried.  

My question is: should I worry about those early beats even the doctors said my heart was normal after the Thellium and Echo tests?  There are times the early heart beats are much more frequent than the time I did those tests, so the tests may not catch everything. Is that possible? Do I need to see the doctor again?

Thanks a lot!

J

[Jacobus]

I took amiodarone for one month for PACs and PVCs.  Although it worked at first, at the end of a month it was no longer working, and the side effects were kicking in.
I used magnesium, 1000 mg a day, and the arrhythmia went away.  Honestly, I don't much care if it is psychosomatic or whatever; it works for me.
Sundown Essential Magnesium which provides magnesium as an oxide and gluconate works well.
Spring Valley Natural Magnesium with Chelated Zinc which provides magnesium as an oxide doesn't work for me.

[MennieBeats]

I don't know about baldness, but cancer my be caused by vestibular damage in some instances.....

THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg) 1985 Jan;64(1):1-8
Immunopathology of the inner ear.
[Article in German]

Arnold W, Altermatt HJ, Gebbers JO, Pfaltz CR

It has been shown in animal experiments that the production of autoantibodies against inner ear components is associated with morphological and functional changes of the inner ear. The human endolymphatic sac releases secretory IgA into the lumen. Its epithelium contains (intraepithelial) lymphocytes, whereas lymphocytes, plasma cells (IgA, IgG) and macrophages occur in the perisaccular region. In this manner, the inner ear has its own immune system, which can possibly react independently of the systemic immune system.
____________________

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 1987; 49(5): 225-233
Experimental immune system of the inner ear.

Harris J P, Tomiyama S.

The experimental evidence that establishes the operation of a distinct inner ear immune system is presented.
___________________________

Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1997 Jul; 117(4): 501-504
Autoantibodies in inner ear disease.

Soliman A. M.
The present study was conducted to determine whether patients with inner ear disorders produce antibodies that may be pathologic to the inner ear or result from its damage.

[MennieBeats]

VESTIBULAR AUTONOMIC REGULATION
CUTTING-EDGE INFORMATION

[arthur]

Just remember the ole saying, "... just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean there's no one trying to get you..."

[cuteyNca]

OK I KNOW U HEAR THIS ALOT BUT IM REALLY AFRAID. SAT NIGHT I HAD A FEW DRINKS HAD A HANGOVER SUN. NO PALPS. MONDAY MORING I STARTED GETTING THEM PRETTY BAD THEY SETTLED DOWN BY THEMSELVES AND A KLONIPIN. TUES. WHEN I WOKE UP I AHD THEM SO BAD EVERY 2 AND 3 BEAT I CALLED 911 AND THEY CAUGHT THEM TOOK ME INTO THE HOSPITAL AND DID ALOT OF TESTING. CK CAME BACK NORMAL SO NO HEART ATTACK BUT THEY CAUGHT OVER 2000 OF THEM IN 5 HOURS. THEY SETTLED DOWN A LITTLE WHEN I WAS HOME. I HAVE BENN HAVING SOME TODAY NOTHING BEFORE I DID MY 2MILE EXERCISE PROGRAM AND THEY STARTED UP  AFTERWARDS. OK I AVE HAD PVCS ALL MY LIFE BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. IM 33 IN GOOD CONDITION EXERCISE ROLLER BLADE TRY TO EAT RIGHT. NO CAFFINE AND I DO SMOKE ABOUT 5 CIGS A DAY. I HAVE HAD EKGS, STRESS TEST WITHAND WITHOUT THALLIUM ECHO AND 5 HOLITORS WHICH MY LAST ONE WAS GREAT NOT A SKIP. SO WHY NOW OUT OF THE BLUE I HAD SURGERY ON THE 21ST OF JAN ETOPIC PREGNANCY DIDNT HAVE A ONE THRU AND AFTER SURGERY? OK THEY DID MENTION MY POTASSIUM WAS A LITTLE LOW THEYGAVE ME A FEW PILLS. IM AT MY WITS END THEY SCARED ME AND I NEED TOKNOW WHAT TO DO KNOW. GO BACK TO A CARDIO OR MAYBE A SHRINK..OUT OF ANSWERS IN CALI...DAWN...P.S. I HAVE 4 KIDS THAT NEED ME AND I DONT WANT THEM TO FIND ME DEAD.. WHEN DO I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT A CHANGE THEY SAY A CHANGE IN WHET I HAVE HAD THE WORST.

[arthur]

It sounds like your PVCs (or PACs) have increased to the point they bother you a lot.  I am not a medical doctor, but if you check out these posts you'll find that most would recommend you find an EP (a cardio specializing in electrophysiology) and have yourself checked out by him/her.  It would appear you have enough data accumulated, so just ask your cardio for a recommendation to an EP for further evaluation.

If all that's cooking here are skips (I get 0-6 / min every day), then you need to figure out if you can live with them, use meds or qualify for an ablation.  Again, if all else is normal, then skips won't kill you, but they will annoy you...to the point of getting an anxiety or panic attack, which makes things worse.
It's easy to say take it easy...I know...so get advice from an expert (EP) and go with it.

Good luck...