Anyone dealing with constant PVCs 24/7, how do you cope

[Cjsnana]

Im a 40 y.o. female. I've been dealing with constant PVCs 24/7. It feels like my heart is jumping out of my chest at all times. There is no relief. I constantly feel exhausted and near fainted all day everyday. Ive fainted on several occasions with no warning. I have an EP Study and ablation coming on the 17th. Im very nervous about this especially hearing of the risk and that it simply may not work. I work in patient care and have been afraid to return to work for the fear of passing out while caring for someone else. This is no way to live. Has anyone else had to deal with this or had an ablation done. How do you function on a daily basis and whats this procedure like?

[Strongheart68]

I get heart PVCs too! It feels like a stop a pause then a real hard beat! Sometimes it is scary like your heart will not start again. The recovery beat after the skip sometimes hurts like it hits my ribs with force. I can hear these hard thuds in a quiet room. and can see them too! I though have always had a strong visible heart. My heart has always been strong and powerful and visible! I am an athletic man'6' tall 210 lbs. I workout do martial arts, am healthy as can be. But my heart beats like a hammer in my chest. I have visible pulsations on my chest and it shakes my whole body. After exercise, you would be able to hear and see it thumping standing next to me. My Dr. says I am healthy as a Tiger and it's just from being athletic. It makes a large muscular heart.
Is your heart visible when it does this?
Jason

[researcher09]

PVC and VT ablations are only low risk procedures if the centers are highly skilled and experienced.  They are the highest risk procedures relative to SVT and AF procedures especially if the EP has to do a transeptal puncture and navigate through the mitral valve to get the the LV.  It will depend on where the PVCs are coming from.  Fortunately for Cjsnana, there are high volume centers in St. Louis that are referral centers for highly complex arrhythmias.  Washington University and Baptists for example.  Both those centers have the Stereotaxis magnetic system and that further reduce the complication risks by a large factor even for the most skilled hands.

So I would not tell people with PVCs that their ablations are low risk unless they have access to choices similar to those that Cjsnana has.  They need to go centers that get referred the most complex cases.

[MichelleP_3811]

Yes, I agree.  If you are passing out then something is amiss that needs treatment.  The risk is worth it.  And considering this is a pvc ablation I assume you may even be put under for it.  Yours may be slightly different then mine for an svt but if you want to read about one you can click on my name and read my journal entry.  The anticipation of it was worse than the actual procedure.  Best of luck.  Please let us know when it is and I will keep you in my prayers for a successful ablation.  Take care.

[is_something_wrong]

It's good that you are having an EP study and ablation, because when palpitations are causing fainting, they should ALWAYS be taken seriously. Fainting is one of the few red flags associated with palpitations.

The procedure (I haven't had it done myself) involves very little risk. You are awake, they find the irritable spot and destroy it. If they succeed, the amount of PVCs is usually reduced by a factor of 100 (10.000 to 100 as an example).

Best of luck. I hope you will feel better soon