Am I going to die? Terrified for my life

Question

Just a little background about me, I’m 24 years old with a history of occasional PVCs. They almost always happened at rest, until last year. I noticed very time I would really exert myself or work out I would get PVCs at a high HR. I went to my cardiologist and he had no worries. Then they got worse, I started having frequent PVCs with short runs of v tach anytime my HR would go above 100 BPM. My cardiologist did a echo and holter and said I have a structurally normal heart and there is nothing to worry about. I am taking a low dose beta blocker because the symptoms of the PVCs were unbearable and I still get them when my HR goes up, just not as much. My question is what would cause exercise induced PVCs in a young healthy 24 yr old female? I don’t smoke or drink, I am overweight but am very active, at least I use to be. These PVCs have burdened me to the point where I am thinking about planning my funeral. I have read that exercise induced PVCs and recovery PVCs increase risk of sudden cardiac death. I get both recovery and exercise or should I say tachycardia induced PVCs. Does anyone have any clue as to why I have gotten these all of a sudden? I use to be very active when I was younger and never felt PVCs, only when I was resting. I am terrified there is something going on with my body that the cardiologist hasn’t found. He doesnt want to do an ablation because he feels like it’s not necessary. I am beyond scared to the point where I barely leave the house and when I do I’m very anxious. Yesterday I was lifting a bunch of groceries into my house and BAM, I started getting PVCs and recovery PVCs with increased HR. I do have anxiety but I have had anxiety for years, I would think my PVCs would’ve showed up then when I was having panic attacks and my HR would get up to 170. My cardiologist thinks I have some type of autonomic dysfunction but is not worried in the slightest about my heart despite having tachycardia induced PVCs, recovery PVCs, and episodes of v tach. He believes I’m just a worrisome young adult that has an easily irritated heart. This is my second cardiologist that has told me this. I just want to see if anyone else that is young that has been through this and if they have suggestions. My doctor has told me to exercise but every times my HR goes up I get runs of them and I am scared to death. I don’t want to die but it looks like exercise induced PVCs and recovery PVCs are a big indicator of heart disease in the future. Both of my grandfathers have had major heart attacks and CAD but they were both lifelong smokers and drinkers so I’m not sure if that played a role. I know I can’t change my genetics but I so desperately just want to live. I want to have a normal life and children but I am so scared all the time I am crying right now just writing this. If anyone could please just help I am so desperate

paomm · Answer

Is the VT sustained?  Has it be caught and confirmed on a Holter monitor? If yes, how often does it happen?

Jendowb · Answer

Not sure if this will help but your thread sounds familiar...

I've recently been diagnosed with a condition called RVOT-VT, I get palpitations all day but just PVCs rather than a run, but then I get sustained VT during exercise or morespecifically, after I do an intense set of e.g. Burpees, my heart jumps into VT and my heart rate jumps and holds at approx 240-260bpm for up to 5 mins before dropping to a more normal rate. I've had PVCs for approx 15years, but VT during exercise for approx 4 years. I only started getting investigated this year though as had ignored it for ages, but they took me very seriously when I went this time.

It's important that if you have something like this that's it's diagnosed and managed. RVOT-VT presents itself initially the same way that a more serious condition called ARVD/C presents itself and I've been told they need to rule out ARVD in the first instance, this was done for me via an MRI scan. 

Whilst a structurally normal heart experiencing VT is 'benign' it can cause issues and some people induce a reversible form of cardiomyopathy! Keep pushing, read up about RVOT-VT specifically search for 'idiopathic RVOT-VT' and see if that sounds familiar. 

I've found just having a diagnosis has made me feel so much more at ease, knowing that I'm not crazy and not making it up. 

Also, I would add that I went to the docs about my palpitations about 4 years ago, my GP fobbed me off saying I just had anxiety. It's interesting how many People with palpitations 'have anxiety' and I've found out that the condition can create the anxiety, rather than the other way around, as palpitations create an anxious feeling, which in turn make you rationalise it by blaming the feeling on anxiety, whereas it's just your heart acting up. 

Hope this helps.

anxiousalways93 · Answer

Also when your heart rate is elevated you’re more likely to have PACs rather than pvcs.

anxiousalways93 · Answer

I wish I could post a screenshot on here. I read on a forum that a doctor said PVCs after exercise are only a concern in patients who have coronary artery disease. Which is NOT you! We’re in the same boat. Im the same age as you are and I suffer with pvcs and pacs. I just had an ECG done a week ago and it was normal. My doctor told me I have to stop living my life this way. You can’t let them win because once they do they will take over your life. The past year or so I have been worrying about these nonstop to the point where I couldn’t eat or sleep. 

Also I think you need to take solace in that doctors have told you that you are fine. If they aren’t worried you shouldn’t be either. But I know that’s easier said than done! Seriously. They are scary but if a doctor says you’re fine at some point you have to believe them. 

Also I have a question for you, what do your runs of VTach feel like?

MacShakespeare · Answer

I'm not your age but we've very similar in every other way. The fact that you have anxiety (like me) wildly complicates the cardio landscape. THAT is the biggest problem here. It is very unlikely you're in actual danger. But I know how that sounds when youre scared. Get a second opinion from a completely separate cardiologists office. A "normal" life is tricky for people like us but it can be done.