Anyone ever awoke to irregular heart beat and/or dealt with PVC for over 20 years?

[Skylmt27]

So the story line goes like this.  Back in 1997 I was enjoying a beautiful day on Put-In-Bay island.  About half way through the day I started feeling a little "flutter" in my chest.  Now a brief side note before I get too far along is that I am pretty sure that I had noticed little "hiccups" like this before, but not that lasted all day as was the case here.  So that evening while checking into a hotel I began to get nervous that my heart was still beating irregular so we went to the ER at Magruder Hospital.  They hooked me up and that was the first time I ever had heard the term PVC/PAC.  Now incidentally when I was in high school there was a time when I was told that I might have a heart murmur, but that was not found to be the case at least not upon further check ups.  So upon returning from my trip I went to my regular doctor and I showed him my record from Magruder.  He set me up with a Holter monitor which 20 years ago were a lot larger then they are today.  What a pain that thing was. Anyway, through the years I have managed to live a pretty normal life with occasional PVC that frankly have subsided sometimes for what has felt years at a time.  But about 7 years ago I started having PVC a lot more often and I of course started worrying.  I have been a active cyclist for many years including racing and I have completed many charity rides in excess of 200 miles.  I like to think/believe that I am in pretty good shape, but I am also more proactive about my health now then I ever have been.  So here is where my situation is now.  There have been periods time in the past couple years where I will literally have PVC heart beats all day long.  I also noticed for the first time (I think) a couple PVC before the "compensatory" beat, where I think is has always just been one.  I have never felt faint, sick, light headed, shortness of breath or anything ever.  Had EKG, Holter, and Echocardiagram.  Heart doctor says I am ok to continue working out and living life.  Now here is my ultimate question, I have never had a stress test and would like to know from some people who have and just the other night I woke up to use the bathroom and my heart decided to do something new (I think).  It started to feel a flutter in my chest and when I felt my neck for a pulse it was if I was getting random heart beats that didn't have a pulse along with random beats with a pulse.  It was if my heart could get "traction".  All I know is that it freaked me out, felt different the ever before and lasted a couple minutes.  Any input to my short novel here would be appreciated.  Thank you!  

[alkile1]

Ok, I had the same thing- since age 12 and I am now age 72. In short, my answer was to take 1,000mg high quality fish oil 2x daily and CoQ10 once daily.  After a week or two my PVC went away - not kidding.  Good luck, just do your research on the internet.  

[Skylmt27]

Congratulations! That is wonderful to hear. How long ago did you start that regimen?

[matt_ks]

If I wrote up my PVC history it would read very similar to yours.  I've had them for over 30 years.  If I could go back in time I would tell myself not to worry so much about it.  Easier said than done obviously.  

[Skylmt27]

So true.  Have you found any nutrition/supplements that have been found to help you any?  

[matt_ks]

It's hard to judge because I can go several months with very few episodes and then get hit with several days to weeks of 1000's/day.  I wouldn't know if they came or went due to a supplement.  It's so unpredictable.   I take a vitamin daily and I eat a rather boring diet.  

[Skylmt27]

Ya, it definitely is a fooler when they go away just long enough to kinds be forgotten.  Have you ever gotten a top number of them recorded? And do you ever have more then one in between each regular beat? How about other rhythms noticed?

[Skylmt27]

Interesting, so to what extent have you had your heart checked? Do you exercise a lot even with the extra beats?  And do you have more then one pvc/pac in between the "regular" or compensatory beat? Thankd!

[matt_ks]

I had all the tests (ekg, holter, echo) several years ago and several ekg's since.  I don't recall the numbers.  They got lots of good data, but at the time I did not ask enough questions.  I don't exercise intentionally any more.  I wrecked a knee and they removed the meniscus, it still hurts.  I do get more then one palpitation in a row on occasion.  I should try the fish oil, I believe it helps with cholesterol too.

[Stjopa]

Those could  be a classic  case of palpitations. If the tests show that structurally you have a good heart then no worries.

[Occupant]

I know about mine for about 10 years - I am now 81 years old. I wore a 48 hour Holter monitor about 1.5 years ago. the result: 38,000/day Pvc's/Pac's. I was put on Metoprolol 50 mg and they are now down to ~25,000/day - I check them on my cell phone occasinally.

[Stjopa]

How do you check them?

[Occupant]

Using AliveCor Cardia.

[Skylmt27]

Thanks for the insight. I had a holter that showed around 1800 in 24. So with you having 38000 are there quite a few in between your "normal" beats? And do you exercise a lot? What did your doctor think about your heart?