My PVCS have disappeared after 35 years

[AlwynB]

Not a question, just sharing my experiences.
I've experienced ectopics , pvcs, flip-flops or whatever you prefer to call them all my adult life, particularly over the last two years. They have now totally gone. I thought I would share my experience with you to offer some reassurance and possibly some benefit to other sufferers.
I am 51 and first noticed a fluttering feeling in my chest when I was 17. I took little notice but came to realise over a few years that my heart was "missing" a beat. I noticed that I got more of them the day after drinking alcohol, and that was quite often. I spoke to people about it and found that others  were experiencing the same thing. I never worried or panicked when they occurred and for the most part ignored them.
20 years or more passed until one day my daughter who was also experiencing them, informed me that hers had gone since she gave up drinking caffeine. I did the same and lo and behold mine disappeared too. Not completely but almost. For the next 6 years I barely had a PVC, even alcohol  failed to bring them on.
In April of 2008 things changed. They were back. With a vengeance. And they didn't come alone. Not only did I get the thump thump pause big thump, I was getting continuous weird beats every beat. These I called flip-flops. When I would lie down after drinking alcohol they would start. If I rolled over they would stop for a while then start again. It would wake me up. Sometimes it would start while I was dreaming and I wouldn't wake up so it would continue in my dream. For the first time I began to worry and for the first time I consulted my doctor about it. A quick ecg showed nothing wrong so I was sent to a consultant for tests. A 48 hour monitor showed short bursts of ectopics and short bursts of sinus tachycardia. No treatment was necessary but if it got really troublesome they would try betablockers. This was a road I didn't want to go down.
The bouts continued, I stopped drinking, it helped a lot. I tried everything, antacids, various supplements, q10, herbals, magnesium, potassium, every suggestion on the forums and internet I could find I tried, but still the flip flops persisted.
Then mysteriously around 4 weeks ago they stopped. Pvcs and flipflops completely gone. I drank alcohol, nothing. I drank caffeine, nothing. I didn't know why.
I started to look at what was different over that period of time.
The only difference I can put it down to is this. My partner, although not overweight, decided she wanted to lose a stone. I, also not overweight, decided I would also lose a stone. My partner joined slimming world and I joined in. We changed our eating habits. Basically we started eating healthier as advised by governments and doctors. More fruit, less fat and more exercise. It was about a week after the diet started that I noticed my heart rhythm was improving. Then it improved completely. Fantastically.
So what was so different that after 35 years my arrhythmia had suddenly stopped?
I'm eating very little fat, only lean meat completely trimmed. When we fry we use the spray stuff. Could that be it? Maybe.
I'm only eating 2 slices of wholemeal bread a day. Is over processed wheat contributing to the problem?
I'm eating plenty of eggs.
I drink 2 cups of normal tea a day.
I drink some alcohol most days.
No chocolate or biscuits, never had a sweet tooth anyway.
No crisps or fatty snacks.
Not much dairy, just skimmed milk and low fat cheese.
Potatos, fresh veg, fruit.
Why had the flipflops stopped?
I wondered about it and then spotted a possibility. Here was something very different. I'm eating at least 2 bananas a day. Didn't I read somewhere that bananas are high in potassium and other minerals. I had tried potassium supplements without any success, why should the bananas be any different? I googled banana and there it was, all the health benefits you can shake a stick at. Especially for the heart.
Is that the answer? Bananas? The truth is I don't know. Perhaps it's a coincidence my problems cleared up at the same time my diet changed. One thing I do know is that I'm staying on this diet and will continue to eat bananas every day. If your symptoms are the same as mine give it a go. It might work, it might not, what have you got to lose? Good luck.

ABB Nov 2009

[Prettyfish11]

I too experience ectopics (skipped beats) runs of atrial tachycardia and other flip flops on a daily basis. I had experienced them periodically since I was a child but I am now 58 and they happen daily all day the only time I didn't have them was when I was sleeping. I had all the cardiac testing and my heart was healthy and sound and I was told it was anxiety or just an irritable heart. It was affecting my quality of life....I was afraid to go anywhere because I would get very anxious when I felt these symptoms. I felt if I didn't go sit down on my couch I would simply pass out.  I had to quit my job and I was becoming depressed. The doctor perscribed metropolol tartate 25mg split and taken twice a day. I was afraid to increase the dose and it helped a little but I still felt completely dysfunctional. I started reading info from others going through the same thing and trying different things. I finally hit on something that works for me. I feel like I can live my life again. First and formost Ihad to start reminding myself daily that there is nothing wrong with my heart and nothing bad was going to happen. I had no heart disease so my heart wasn't going to do anything worse than it had already done.    with my dr's ok i started taking 50mg of metropolol daily 25 in the morning, 12.5 at noon and 12.5 at 6:00 p.m. I also started taking magnesium daily. I watched my caffiene intake and tried to get enough sleep. This seemed to make things a lot better. I still get them But it is managable and i can live my life with out fear.
Best of luck to everyone!

[nanoart]

Dear Prettyfish, very happy for you! Had the same feeling, with bigeminies that sucks, could not quit the job though - went through two ablation with the second one not successful I guess. But on your example holding up there.

[Bud14]

What a story. Good to know that you are free from irregular heart beats. For me banana shall be the order of the day. I had experienced irregular heart beats some six years ago, was so scared. My  first child, my daughter was just born and I was so happy but also worried about my condition. I read on the internet that magnesium helps, so I bought supplements from GNC. Well, after some time Irregular heart beats disappeared. Now after six they are back. I went to the cardiologist and he termed them as benign. He suggested exercise and life style change which is mostly sedantry. I stopped having tea except for the morning and have started to do some walking. My skipped heart beat is better but not gone away altogether yet.
By reading your story I am encouraged and thanks for sharing this wonderful experience.

[Bud14]

What a story. Good to know that you are free from irregular heart beats. For me banana shall be the order of the day. I had experienced irregular heart beats some six years ago, was so scared. My  first child, my daughter was just born and I was so happy but also worried about my condition. I read on the internet that magnesium helps, so I bought supplements from GNC. Well, after some time Irregular heart beats disappeared. Now after six they are back. I went to the cardiologist and he termed them as benign. He suggested exercise and life style change which is mostly sedantry. I stopped having tea except for the morning and have started to do some walking. My skipped heart beat is better but not gone away altogether yet.
By reading your story I am encouraged and thanks for sharing this wonderful experience.

[cubbie2]

Started getting pvcs about a month ago. Never had them before. Every 4th beat. Only when active, just walking, etc. Damn things made me feel like I was going to pass out. Would have to lay down for 20 mins, then they would go away until I got up again. Went through all kinds of heart tests until they finally showed up on a holter. I really don't eat that healthy and I would always drink 6 or 7 beers every night. Out of desperation I stopped drinking beer. (which sucks) It took about 10 days but now the pvcs are gone. I'm 65 so I guess the beers finally got to me. I will have to live without because I can't live every waking hour feeling lightheaded. It is weird because the pvcs would only happen the next day after drinking beer. So if anybody is stopping alcohol, maybe give it a couple weeks before you say that is not the cause. Everyone is different though. Just wanted to share what my experience was.
Good luck to all.........

[Rhonnyg]

What kind of doctor does someone go to you about having heart palpitations and is anyone else that is experiencing these symptoms have Nutcracker syndrome or any other vascular compression syndrome?

[pinkstuff]

just wanted to say that i too have been suffering with ectopic heart beat every few minutes for a while now.  I put it down to asthma medication. Well in an attempt to get shot of them - like you i stopped drinking alcohol - no effect - stopped drinking caffeinated coffee - no effect - tried the potassium tabs - no effect.  Then they just stopped one night as i was watching TV.  It was so noticeable.  A lovely peaceful feeling in my chest at long last!!  I could not work out why. I retraced my food intake for the day.  I had eaten a large banana about an hour or two before they stopped.  Its the only thing that i had done any different to usual. Now when i get up in the morning i can feel that tetchy feeling in my chest so i have one for breakfast and it goes away. I have looked up other foods that are rich in potassium and these include Avocados which i love - but so calorific - and spinach, tomatoes and sweet potatoes are also good sources along with cantelope melon.  I am making sure i eat a diet high in potassium from now on.  I hope the dodgy beat stays away for good!  Wishing you well.      

[Sac06888]

Hi I'm scott, im a recovery alcoholic. My pvcs are bad, I stop drinking two days ago, does anyone know if they will stop

[pvctom]

thanks for your update. i am happy for you. I have had them on, off since 29, now 67, been without them for 4 days now, however, earlier this evening, they started to come back. I am now convinced more than ever, that they are GERD related, hiatus hernia, etc. otherwise, it is a random mystery, that just drives me crazy.  hope yours stay gone. good luck. tom