Scared and wondering

[Alysmom731]

I went to the doctor yesterday and while he was listening to my heart he said my heart had a lot of extra beats.  I told him 12 years ago when I was pregnant, they discovered I had MVP and my heart "skipped" beats.  He said it isn't skipping now, you are having PVC's and a lot of them.  I told him I had a normal echo cardiagram in June (needed it for clearance to begin treatment for Hep C).  I've been on treatment for Hep C for three weeks.  He doesn't feel this is related.  To make a long story short.  He called my MD and I have to see a cardiologist this week.  I was told to go home and lay low this weekend and if I have any pain or shortness of breath to go to the ER.  Am I on the verge of a heart attack???  I am having pain in that area - almost like a cross between a muscle ach and a gas pain.  Can I do my normal chores this weekend or does lay low mean hit the couch?  I was so overwhelmed at the doctor's, I never thought to ask him these questions.  Thanks for any insight you can offer.

[Alysmom731]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.  I am calmer today.  I've been reading about PVC's and getting informed.  I'm hoping once I have the cardio tests I get the all clear to begin the Hep C treatment again. At least now I know I'm not crazy when I say I need a nap after folding the laundry, etc.  There is a reason for it!

[Momto3]

In a structurally normal heart, PVCs are almost always benign.  Try not to worry.  Your doctor is probably just being overly cautious.  Did he say you had anything else going on beside PVCs?  Also, most people refer to PVCs as skipped beats, so I'm betting it's the same thing you experienced 12 years ago.

A normal echo is awesome!  Lots of family doctors refer their patients for a cardio consult when they heart extra beats (they feel like skips, but they're actually extra).  A heart attack is an entirely different ballgame. Heart attacks result in muscle damage to the heart.  Your heart has an electrical problem (for lack of a better word), not a plumbing (artery-related) problem.  Try not to worry.  Hope the Hep C treatment is going well.