Skipped beats

[Ricoh]

Hi, I know I have posted a few times now but I feel better when I know that I am not alone in this.
I was back a the er a little while ago. I was having more palpitations then normal. They hooked me up to the ekg and sure enough it showed that my heart was skipping every third beat.As I laid there it went to every sixth and then less and less. The doctor came in and was not worried at all. They send the readings out to a specialist and I guess they are not worried either because I have not heard back.
I am booked to see a cardiac specialist at the end of April.
My question is: is there anyone one else out there that gets pvs this much. Some days I will get very few and other days my heart just seems to want to stop. But I guess so far it has always kept beating.

[Degarden_Girl]

I too have PVCs and when they come in rapid succession, they can be very scary.  I do believe I have days when I don't feel them but they are there none the less.  I have found when I am somewhat dehydrated that I feel my heart beats more strongly and that means I feel the PVCs more strongly as well.  So, when I am having a day with many PVCs, I try to drink more water so at least I won't feel them so strongly.

[condoline]

"Skipped" beats can be scary, but they are usually harmless. So is abnormally rapid heart beat (tachycardia) scary - and harmless if it originates in the sinus node of the heart. I've had the gamut: the PVC's, the tachycardia, a right branch bundle block of the heart...So I went on 600 mg of CoQ10 after abruptly stopping Simvastatin (a mistake: you do not abruptly stop taking any drug without first talking to your doctor, who may or may not know the correct answer, but you can at least hope he does - or talk to your pharmacist) and the whole parade finally stopped. No PVC's, no tachycardia, nothing at all except for an abnormally slow heartbeat (in the 50's and 60's - no big deal because no discomfort) now for two months. The heart needs CoQ10 to function (the body manufactures this, but sometimes it doesn't make enough, or it is cut off along with cholesterol by statin drugs because these both share the same metabolic pathway and cutting one cuts the other) and I guess I need a lot of CoQ10. My cardiologist heartily approves of my self-imposed course of action, by the way: I would never self-"doctor" without first talking to a specialist.

[tj271974]

my first post, it does scare the hell out of ya. i just wonder why they happen they started 4 years ago, then a perscription took them away for a few years, and now they are back full power.,,, like tonight. skipped beats every few seconds it seems, and has not slowed down.

[ally614]

i have also been having my heart skipping beats i had mine about 6 years now and they bother me so bad i get depressed woundering if im going to die my heart has been doing this relly bad in the last 2 weeks it seems like it wont go a way

[Tawnian77]

Hello, I wanted to let everyone know that i have been getting skipped heart beats also. They make me feel lightheaded and tight in the chest.. my family doc sent me to a cardiologist and he is concerned. He said my heart could be damaged. I have to go for a echo stress test and wear a 24 hr. heart halter monitor. I was wondering if any of you had to do the same before you doc told you that you were ok? they have to rule out serious artery and heart problems first. does anyone else get other symptoms with them such as being light headed or short of breath. if so and your doc says nothing is wrong. see another doc. this is a scary thing and the heart is our main source of life, we need to do all we can to make sure it is healthy. a second opinion can do that. Good luck to everyone!

[kristwit]

I can't tell you the relief I have in reading these posts, especially yours Nytyngale...you seem to have the same symptoms I do.  I get so frustrated when people say "it's nothing"...okay, well, you don't have the fluttering/floundering heart sensation so I can't just relax and "get over it"...I have been referred for a holter monitor...I hope it shows normalcy, so I can feel a little better (I hope!)...hang in there!!!

[Nytyngale]

   I've known for years that my heart skips beats.  One night, a couple of decades ago, it was so bad I phoned the ER to speak with the doctor on call.  He was very dismissive and told me it shouldn’t worry me. Bzzzp. Wrong answer, but thank you for playing. The "it-only-happened-once" dizzy spell when I stood up too fast was nothing to worry about.  On the other hand, the LACK OF A HEARTBEAT is a tad worrisome, especially when it comes and goes at will, with no apparent trigger.  When the accompanying severe drop in blood flow/pressure (although of short duration) wakes me from a sound sleep (or keeps me from falling asleep), it all becomes a vicious cycle.  The palpitations are most noticeable when I'm trying to go to sleep, but since I absolutely FEEL the irregularity, especially from the chest up, as if something were pressing against my carotid artery, sleep becomes impossible.
   And it's not that I can't take a deep breath.  I can, but I choose not to because doing so triggers even more palpitations.
   My heart may skip upwards of 15 or 20 beats per minute, and then suddenly I have the heart of a hummingbird, with too many beats to count and no discernable pattern.  This lasts only a couple of seconds but, by the time it's over, my hand is on the phone in case I need to dial 911.
   I've become my own worst enemy.  I know that increased physical activity (increased heart rate) seems to be an answer, at least in part.  With more activity, I experience fewer skipped beats.  But the more my heart skips, the more fearsome I am of physical activity.  And even if were to work past this self-contradiction, the fact remains that I can't "exercise myself to sleep."  I've learned that noise can help me NOT concentrate on the heartbeat, so I sleep in an easy chair in the den with the TV on.
   As I said at the beginning, this has been going on for decades.  I’ve obviously not died, yet.  I’ve not had a heart attack.  Does this make me feel better?  No.
   Recently, I was prescribed Toprol (a beta blocker) to help with the irregularity, but my blood pressure and heart rate plummeted.  (i.e. 92/54 with a pulse of 50.  BTW: I'm 5'9" and 200 lbs.)  And I'm back to square one…

[dawn34]

I too have been experiencing PVC's that my cardiologist is saying are benign.  It's strange, if I am busy, I don't notice them as much.  When I sit down, lay down, stretch then they are more noticeable.  I am just so confused!  I have never had any problem like this and suddenly 4 months ago I started with these symptoms.  I can't help but feel that something bad is causing this, but all of my tests are coming back normal!  Does anyone feel breathless when the palpitations start?  

[melianne87]

I have experienced everything mentioned about PVC's.  I have absolutely no idea what causes them, but I have been living with them for 15+ years.  We will all be fine, I'm sure, but just reading what everyone else goes through with them makes me feel not so alone.  I don't want anyone to have them, but there is comfort in knowing I'm not the only one.  I believe being anxious causes palpitations and palpitations cause PVC's. Pay attention to what happens after your palpitations slow down.  I almost guarantee you will get at least a few PVC's afterwards.  Please let me know how you all are doing.  I know that some of these posts are old.  Take care and hang in there.  I have and I am still here!!

[bigE]

I also have this defect. I can be relax doing nothing important and my heart will skip a beat. Its scary because I will instantly have to take a deep breathe as if i am winded and my heart will start racing as if i just worked out. Is this like what everyone else is experiencing?

[Barbarella]

Also get enough rest if you can.  When I don't get enough sleep I get PVC's.  

[PghPanther]

Some tips for regulating heart beats naturally.

A handful of shelled walnuts every day......(omega 3 from a plant source better than fish....very unique and excellent for the heart).

3 to 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil........(much like above along with walnuts are the sole source of mediterran diet healthy fats)

Don't take Zinc!......it causes irregular beats.

Magnesium 250 to 500mg may help.......

Potassium can help

So can a fish liver oil caps......

Check with your doctor on the Magnesium and Potassium firs though.......

Get rid of stimulants....coffee, soft drinks....alcohol (especially red wine!)

Try to eat healthy by avoiding simple sugars and simple carbs.........

This will help rid most people of beign PVCs......

[sb786]

A while ago I was listening to my hubby's heart when he was laying down and i felt/heard a miss beat. I asked him if he felt it he said no!! He actually had 3 in about half an hour but he didn't feel even one. Even when he concentrated really hard!! He very rarely gets them and when he does it's when he is relaxing at night.
My cardiologist did tell me that the "strength" of the missed beat depended on 2 things. The timing of the extra beat and the location of the firing cell in the ventricles. He drew me a really fab diagram to show me and explained that i felt every pvc because of the location it was coming from. (I didn't really understand the diagram i was just relieved when he told me that they were not dangerous!!) Either way it doesn't make them anymore dangerous but it does mean that we feel them more!

[river1961]

Too strange about the moving to different positions huh!  I actually live in Canada but it sounds like Sherma is from the US.  

I was out reading at the library on my lunch hour (never guess about what)......anyways it was about PVC's again......I read something that said that "it is uknown why some people feel one or two a day and others tolerate 100's an hour and don't notice anything".  How in the world could a person tolerate 100's an hour and not feel a #*(&$*(#& thing????  That just seems so insane to me.

[sb786]

River1961: wow i also sometimes get them when turning my head round!! What is it about the different positions that triggers the PVCs?

Sherma: I'm sorry you're having a bad day!I won't tell you to try and ignore them like alot of people do, because if you're anything like me you will find it impossible to ignore them! When I am having a bad i just keep reminding myself that there are soooooo many others out there who get exactly the same thing and all our cardiologists tell us that they are BENIGN. I'm assuming you guys are in the US? I'm in the UK and all our docs and cardiologists have told us the same thing so they can't all be wrong!! If you don't mind me asking was there perhaps a stressful event in your life when the PVCs started?

I also have SVT which is usually triggered by the PVCs so for me its double trouble.....

by the way my email is ***@**** if you ever want to chat about PVCs!!!

[sherma]

Your not alone with this believe me.  I too have days when I don't have any at all, and then WHAM out of nowhere they start off again.  I get them with bending over, deep breath, eating and yawning also.  Mine too came out of nowhere approx 3-4 months ago.  I have always had the odd one or two PER YEAR but nothing like this, and it is totally wearing me out. I realise that I may well be fixated on them - but I too can't understand why they have come on with such a vengeance.  My cardios have all said that they are benign.  I can't tell the difference between pvc's or pac's but all I know is that sometimes it's like a flutter and other times it's like someone has punched me in the chest - enough to take my breath away.  My husband is so dismissive of them - he seems to put even more stress on me and that makes them much worse.  Guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself today as it's a bad one.  C'est la vie.

[Manhattan]

I very commonly get PVCs every third or fourth beat, sometimes every other beat, and this can go on for hours days in a row, other times just one or two single PVCs a day with no rhyme or reason. It's always the same answer from the cardiologist - completely benign and just ignore them. Instead of thinking how unlucky we are to be getting these annoying heartbeats, I think we have to tell ourselves how lucky we are to have a problem that is benign, and like Dr. Phil says (who I don't care for much lately, but still...) "get excited about your life"!

[river1961]

I can't believe you would say the "yawn" thing as well.  Same for me!!!!  I can also get them if I turn my head to far.  I thought I was the only one that got them when yawning!!!!!  Bizarre I must say!

[sb786]

When i told my cardiologist that i tend to get more pvcs when i lay down, bend over, breath deeply and yawn he said that they were all typical triggers for benign pvcs and not to worry. I can't believe how similar our symptoms are, and i thought i was the only one who suffered like this!!

[smc246]

You are so not alone!!!  I have had these skipped beats for 4 years now!  I have been to my MD and a cardio and had several tests and have been told it is nothing to worry about!  I am going to see my MD today because they have really been bothering me--which in turn causes me to have anxiety which then causes more skipped beats.  They are very annoying and I try very hard not to focus on them but sometimes they do get the better of me!!  Good luck to you.

[ReThan]

Hello, are you still experiencing this?

[river1961]

Interesting your should say about the breath deeply thing.  I am scared to take deep breaths as well because I have at time (not always) felt it skip when I take a deep breath.  I also get the skips when I lay down.

[sb786]

Some days i get 2-3 pvcs in a day and other days i get 100!! somedays i can be so active and do everything the way i used to and other days i cannot even breath deeply or lay down without triggering runs of them!! i've no idea why. I wish someone could tell us why!! How long have you had the missed beats? are they pvcs or pacs? Mine just appeared suddenly 3 months ago!!

[tperk]

Yes, that many are definitely not uncommon. I posted a few times back in December while I was having a ton of palpitations (up to 15/min at times). The last 3 or 4 weeks have been soo much better - maybe only 1 or 2 palps all day which is wonderful! No rhyme or reason why they came on so strong for a few months and have now faded away again?? If you read a-lot of these posts though, that seems to be the trend. Definitely follow up with the cardiologist and try not to worry too much. I am evidence they won't hurt you, but I know it can drive you crazy :). Good luck!