headache with PVC's

[underinformed35]

Does anyone else get headaches and vision problems with your pvc's? Are they related?

[Anil566]

I have bad PVCs and I do get headache with PVC. I also get blurred visit sometimes.

[2210485]

Metoprolol seems to have a good effect on headaches, even without a significant reduction in pvc burden.. Based off anecdotal experience.

[FQd_over2011]

I met with the electrophysiologist today, and she told me my pvc's are 36,000. I don't even know what that means. Can you all help me out? I have episodes where I get very dizzy, cant coordinate walking. Usually I make it to the floor before I fall down. My BP drops to 50/30 and off to the hospital we go. One ER Dr said it was long QT. Eelectrophysiologist says no. I know what pvc's are, I just dont know if 36k is high and what to compare it to.

[zlynz70]

I get PACs, premature atrial contractions.  Have not had them for 2 years. Now they are back, weird they usually come about in November.    I get pale  in the face and headaches. real weak and sometimes get dizzy.   do you?

[crazybeats333]

Not so much high energy anymore since these bloody things.  I rather like having more laid back life than running around like a chicken with my head cut off :)  Life's too short to get that messed up in too many things on the go.  it's about stopping and smelling the roses :)  I see life through rose-colored glasses LOL  Most people think I'm a bit of a dreamer LOL.

What I have noticed tho is if I "try" and exercise or it is a more fast paced day (ie. if my heart rate is up) I am much better.  I have been reading that this does happen in lots of people with PVC's (slower heart-rate = more PVC's).  I am aware of them regardless of what I'm doing (yes I do still get them when my heart rate is up, but holy moly, not NEARLY as much as when I'm relaxing).

So since trying to find out what causes them, I had decided to try caffeine...wouldn't you know it, I have more regular beats when I've got caffeine in my system...too bad I don't ENJOY coffee LOL!  I've tried cold remedies (since right now I've got a cold, it's convenient)....no PVC's...heart rate is up.

when I say heart rate is up, I mean I have a "normal" HR.  since these have started, i've noticed HR's of 48 - 52 bpm on average...yes I know I'm fit, but I'm definitely not an athlete by any means lol.

Anyways, what I guess I'm getting at is if I at least have a normal HR the chances of me getting episodes are mighty slim....and if I do have them, they're isolated (one here, another one a few hours later..no biggie...I can handle those), but if my HR is below 60 I tend to get the episodes like crazy...

Ok, will ask about the echo & stress test :)  We'll see what the doc says!
Cheers!

[MichelleP_3811]

You might not have stress but are you a high energy person always on the go go go?  The more manic my life, fast paced and crazy busy running around I am doing whether stressed or not will cause my pvcs to ramp up.  I don't think it is so much stress persay but the adrenaline that triggers them to be worse.  I am not a doctor and have no medical basis for knowing this but I kind of suspect based on my own experience that the more erratic my heart rate the more pvcs I will get, meaning the changes in beat rate over short periods of time causes the heart to become a little off kilter so to speak giving the pvcs a chance to jump in.   So the slower more steady my movement through life the calmer my heart is and vice versa.  Even happy go lucky people can have the pvcs if they are the type that were shot out of a cannon from birth.   It is not the stress or anxiety about life causing the problem but simply rushing through it and all the adrenaline from that type of living creating the opportunity for the heart to act goofy.  So basically I am trying to work on my breathing and not letting it get shallow or fast when I am busy and it seems to help calm down the amount of pvcs I get.  So even though you are laid back do you bounce around your world a lot?  Well anyways, when you go back for you appointment I would still ask about a stress and echo test just to make sure all is structurally fine with your heart.  

[crazybeats333]

PS to that last post....anyone know if there are food allergies that can cause them?

[crazybeats333]

thanks again Michelle!
well, I know for certain I've had bigeminy & at times completely erratic ( Normal, normal, PVC, normal, PVC, normal, normal, normal, PVC, normal, PVC, normal, PVC, normal, normal, PVC, etc...no rhyme or reason).  Totally shuts me down when that's happening...fatigue, short of breath, nauseated, lite-headed.
So...I'm up for anything really at this point.  If BB's work, GREAT!...and for me to say that is strange...I am SO anti-medication LOL  Au naturel is my usual route :)
Anyways, sadly, triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, drugs, smoking, lack of sleep, stress, etc don't really apply to me :/  otherwise I'd take steps to avoid.  But when you're clean, hydrated, healthy weight, and have the least stressful job in the world (not to mention a laid-back mindset...thanks to my faith :)) it's kinda hard to find the triggers.  
I'm thinking next step for me if nothing is done or nothing shows abnormal, I'm going to seek out a Naturopath or Homeopath...maybe some accupuncture.  :)
Will keep you posted & thanks so much for the info & support!  Very appreciated!

[MichelleP_3811]

Unless they catch a lot on the holter it is not likely they will do anything but try to reassure you that you are not in any danger.  It's not that they so much want to brush it off it is just fixing them is tricky and difficult so unless you are having so many you can't function the most they will likely do is offer you beta blockers to see if that helps.  Then we really just have to find our own triggers to try and alleviate the symptoms.  Stress and stomach issues being the biggest factors.  That said, if you haven't had your heart fully evaluated I might ask for an echo and stress test just to make sure your heart is functioning fine.  If it is isolated pvcs they are nothing to worry about.  That doesn't make living with them much easier but at least you found a place where you are not alone.  There are a lot here facing the task of dealing with them on an ongoing basis.  Well good luck with the doctor and let us know how it went.

[crazybeats333]

Thanks Michelle!
Well, the Holter didn't catch anything so we did a 72 hr one..and I know it caught something this time :D...also did an EKG and I felt a PVC at the time!  YAY  lol :)
blood tests fine (no thyroid issues, no anemia or iron deficiency)
I have to make my follow up appt now for the 72 hr holter.  Let's hope that it's not brushed under the rug like many docs seem to do.  
Do I ask for Stress test?  Echo?
What do you think I should push for?
Thanks for the help!

[MichelleP_3811]

Just to forwarn you ablations to correct pvcs have mixed results and a fairly high reoccurance rate.  I know it is frustrating but stressing about them is likely making them worse.  For me my stomach has a large component.  If you have acid reflux or any digestive troubles the vagus nerve can get irritated and send signals to the heart causing it to act up.  Have you had a work up of your heart?  EKG and Stress test?  You should definitely have those done to make sure your heart is structurally fine and not the cause of the pvcs.  If those test come back normal my docotor intended to try beta blockers first because the pvcs generally tend to come and go.  But once I cleared up my stomach issues my pvc which were as bad as you are feelign them now cleared up quite a bit.  I still get them everyday but they are much more managable so I don't have to get stuck on medicine the rest of my life.  Well good luck Friday.  I hope you can get a handle on your situation and feel better soon.  Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[crazybeats333]

I'm feeling headaches with my palpitations (yet to be diagnosed as PVC's...but that's exactly what they feel like....and so darn frequent!!  Some days averaging 12 - 15 per minute....DRIVING ME NUTS!!)
And yet, doctors don't do anything about them..."they're benign" they say if you have a "structurally normal heart"....I think it's a buncha hooey!  There's obviously a reason these are  happening...it's obviously a diseased conduction system...God does not make junk!  "Normal" hearts aren't supposed to beat so crazy.
Anyways, my results are to be revealed on Friday.  Wish me luck that it's something that the doctor will "do something" about it other than suggest things that I don't do anyways (MSG, caffeine, alcohol, stress...altho this crappy beating is stress enough).
Tah!

[doublebink]

I have constant PVC's and I notice the headaches more when I am doing a lot of bending/standing, I also feel like the pressure is building in my head.  I also feel weakness in my arms when I'm having a lot of them.  Have you cut caffeine?  I went cold-turkey on my coffee but it really doesn't seem to be helping... plus my mood is awful.  I also have a vitamin D deficiency... maybe related to all this?

[underinformed35]

Oh my gosh, yes it bothers my vision. I am thinking of having an MRI just to make sure that something else is not going on. I have pressure headaches as well. It almost feels like I am not getting enough oxygen to my brain or something. On my monitor it showed that I had 11000 in 24 hours. I don't know if that is a lot to a doctor but I wonder if it is enough to make me feel like this. My vision problems only started about two weeks ago. I started seeing spots with the headaches. Now the spots are there all the time. The doctor said that it is possible that they are all related. What do you think???

[jpcox]

When I have this it does not feel like a "normal" headache. It is pressure right on the top of my head. It is awful, my husband says take something for it, but he doesn't understand nothing will help it. How often are you having pvcs? Does it bother your vision when you have these headaches?

[underinformed35]

Well it is good to know that I am not alone. These headaches are as bothersome as  the PVC's.

[jpcox]

When I have frequent PAC's I have extreme head pressure. I think the two are related, but I have not found much info backing it up.

[underinformed35]

Also was wondering if leg cramps after cardiac catheter is normal in that leg. It has been a week today and I have been having muscle tightness/cramping for about three days. Does anyone know??

[underinformed35]

Thank you for the response. My blood pressure is actually pretty low -around 100/60.
I just start feeling like my heart is going crazy and then in a few minutes I get a bad headache. They seem to be related somehow.

[Barbarella]

I had that at times when my BP was high and before I was put on BP meds.