Positional PVC's Anyone??

[Michelle147]

Hello all! Am I ever glad I found this site. I'm a newbie but definately not new to these dang pvc's. I was wondering if anyone else has what I call "positional pvc's"? By this I mean I can trigger them by lifting my right arm over my head, bending over, turning/twisting when only moving my upper chest, not turning my waist, reaching for things especially when reaching with my right arm over to the left side of my body. (Just seems to be my right arm) Even riding on a bumpy road can set them off which I think is very strange. Also with my last pregnancy, when the doc would have me lay on my back and she'd palpitate my belly it would set them off as well. Other things that trigger them are stretching while holding my breath, working on a burp that is stuck in my throat and talking without taking a breath. So basically anything can set them off! Just wondering if I'm the only weirdo here. If anyone else gets these "positional pvc's" please share.

[rhinoman]

I am now almost 60, in very good health, and have had these positional arrhythmias for years now - at least 20.  They are apparently harmless - if disturbing - as I have been very active physically the whole time.  I also get the same blank or dismissive responses from physicians when I mention it to them.

I am pretty certain I know what causes it.  I am very thin with small bone structure and have an enlarged heart from years of competitive exercise.  I think there is no question that my heart is rubbing against either the rib cage or sternum to trigger such episodes.  In addition the heart is in close proximity to the esophagus, so gases from burping can cause them.  Lying down after eat a big meal is likely to trigger them.  Leaning forward can trigger them. Even leaning forward over the handlebars during biking can cause them, such that straightening to an upright position reduces or stops them.

Mine occur most often when I first lie down to sleeping.  If they do not subside I sit up more in the bed.  I have had all combinations of this problem.   Usually straigtening up, either in bed, or getting up and standing stops them.  When they persist while standing I can stop them by suddenly jerking my chest.  What better proof can you have than this that it is mechanically triggered.

There is also no doubt in my mind that stress, caffeine, extreme fatigue and many other conditions can increase their frequency of occurrence.

With my small frame and enlarged heart there is no simple way to supppress them.  I do not want to take drugs because I fear they will diminish my exercise capabilities, which have keep me in excellent health and condition for years (e.g. blood pressure at levels of young people -110/70).

Art

[Michelle147]

Thank you so much for your replies. Makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one experiencing these bizarre things or that I'm only imagining them. I've mentioned a couple of them to my doc but he had no reply. I find it difficult to talk to anyone about them. I definately think there is a link to the stomach and vagal nerve as well as anxiety. Last August I was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding and I spent the entire summer worrying about what if I had a pvc attack up in front of the church in front of everyone. Well the big day came and just before walking down the aisle, boom, my heart starts skipping and I freak. I ended up having a panic attack and took off downstairs and stayed there for the rest of the ceremony. Didn't even get to see my sister get married. One of the most embarassing moments of my life. SassyLassie, mine are worse in the winter months as well. Strange. Oh and I've become superstitious over this too. Sometimes if I'm wearing a certain pair of jeans when I'm having a bad day I will refuse to wear those jeans ever again like it is the jeans fault! The only thing my doc wanted to give me was ativan for when they made me anxious but I never did fill the prescription. I went on magnesium back in november. They (the pvc's- I don't even like saying them) went away for 6 weeks but came back so I tried liquid magnesium which never helped. Yesterday I started taking the original supplement but doubled the dose so now I'm just waiting. I've read many good things on mag and heart rhythm but know it's not a miracle pill.  I've been dealing with this every day for 2 months now. I've had them for 10+ years (I'm 29) but usually they would come and go but this time they just don't want to bugger off. I'm glad I have a place to come to now for support. Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

[Vin34]

Still getting them? You sound just like me!

[chelseapvc]

I am exactly the same! get a run of them which give me a winded feeling and headache whenever i bend over or lay on my left side.. twisting my shoulders without moving my waist you name it. Having a hard time dealing with the anxiety that they may just cause my heart to stop oneday!

[GranRon]

I've posted this before. My experiences are even more bizarre.  About 4 years ago, I started noticing that I experienced strings of PAC's or PVC's when I turned onto my right side in bed.  No explanation, it had not done that before.  In the next year or two it reversed to when I tried to sleep on my left side and stopped doing it when I was on my right side.  It has progressed now to having them no matter how I try to sleep!  It has become very difficult for me to get to sleep and I have finally just learned to will myself to sleep, no easy task.  I had my six month appointment with my cardiologist a few weeks ago, and, glory be, it showed up on the ECG.  It looked more like PAC's than PVC's and he said as long as I was asymptomatic, just live with it and take some atenolol if it helped.  The other option was to try something like amioderone, which is powerful stuff, and he preferred not to do that.  I am 66 and this all started when I was 62.  I have a theory that it is the result of increased, erratic vagal stimulation which could shift and increase over time.

[marshaldillon]

I have shared this before on this site, but I only get PVC's after I eat. I noticed that I would get them each day after lunch as I would put my shoes on to go back to work ( I eat at home). As I pulled my leg up to tie my shoe, they would start up. If I stand up and put my shoes on they do not come. I am controlling them by merely doing wierd things like that. When I told my Doctor about this, he still had a spaced out look on his face as I left...kindof a duuhh look. So yes, position definitely triggers them.

[SassyLassie]

Ohhhhh, yes, very definitely. I get them when I slouch in a chair. bend over, especially after eating or drinking water, when I lay on my left side, if I put my arms over my head, twist a certain way, you name it, all these positions can trigger them. Then, I have days when nothing does it, but, those are few, and I really enjoy those days.

I have told my doctor, but, I am not too sure she believes me, but, they ARE real, just the same.

Oh yes, I also get them when it is windy and cold, that is not fun as I live in a windy area and in winter it is really cold, brrrrrrr.

[wdtony]

I also get them when laying on my left side.

[J_Co]

I realize this post is from 2009 but it is exactly what I needed to see.  Mine occur in the exact same ways as yours SassyLassie!  I have yet to have testing because of this pandemic and delayed appointments.  Do you have a diagnosis for your PVC's?

[SassyLassie]

No, I never did get one, they just called them benign, maybe caused by a hiatal hernia and of course stress. What ever it is, they are miserable. :-(

[tsco]

The funny part is the doctor will look at you stupid usually when you try and explain this.  It is real. I do the same thing. It doesn't always do it it seems like it is during certain periods. I can stretch and trigger it or bend over or twist.  I always wonder what is different to cause this. Right now I'm having problems with burping air. If I just burp I have a palpitation. It's driving me nuts.  Hopefully it will go away. I also have some stomach problems and noticed if I take prevacid to keep my stomach calm the positional pvcs diminish. Something in there has to be putting pressure on the heart  ???  Who Knows?
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