Question for Momto3

[liz2]

I had a quick question for you - I had my 1st holter 6 months ago (42 yrs old) and it showed over 11,000 pvc's. The only finding in all of the other tests was an EF of 50% on the echo, everthing else was normal.

I just wore the monitor again this week for the 6 month check up and now I have over 21,000! My doctor is not going to repeat the echo for six more months and of course tells me they are benign.

How often were you monitored with your pvc's and did your EF drop quickly once it started falling?

Thank you so much for the info and thanks for all the time you give on this site!

[liz2]

Thank you, I will definitely keep an eye out for symptoms. My cardiologist is also going to consult with my endo to see if keeping my tsh low (more towards hyper) could be irritating my heart.

I am so glad to have this forum - I think I would be crazy if I didn't see others out there in the same situation and are fine.

That is wild you could actually feel a normal sinus rhythm. It is amazing how our bodies compensate and learn to ignore sensations so they don't drive us crazy.

Have a good weekend.

[Momto3]

It's kinda strange because I had symptoms in the summer of that year (shortness of breath, abdominal water retention, PVCs galore), but there was a lot going on and I kinda chalked it up to anxiety and gyn stuff.  After a few months the symptoms seemed to improve so I was shocked when my December echo revealed the CM.  

Once I had the diagnosis, I did notice that my ankles were swollen, not painful or uncomfortable, just puffy.  After the ablations, my ankles went back to normal.

If you notice ANY symptoms, be sure to let your doctor know.  Like SOB, dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling, excessive fatigue or tiring from things that didn't previously tire you out.  

I was the same way with the bigeminy.  If fact, there are a few of us here who were in bigeminy so often that it felt normal.  After our ablations (whoah, just had a short run of nsvt...YIKES) it took a little getting used to being in normal sinus rhythm.

Have a great evening!

[liz2]

I don't really have symptoms, but I can tell I am in bigeminy if I am sitting or lying down. Otherwise I just go about my business unaware - thank goodness :)

The doctor is doing the holters so we have a history of the quantity and he will do another holter and an echo in six months. I guess the only reason I am concerned is he said six months ago that my ef was 45-50% and he gave me 50%. That was with only 11,000 pvc's. I know I have been having these for at least two years and they have been getting worse.

Did you have symptoms at 40%? I don't have any symptoms.

Thank you!

[Momto3]

Hi liz2,

I've had lots of Holter exams over the years, but I only have all the numbers for one prior to the ablations.  It stated, "22,000+ PVC's (24%), 2500 couplets, a few triplets, too many bigeminy episodes to count....".  I thought that was a LOT, but the doctor was not at all concerned....

I was only monitored when I would question the frequency of my PVCs.  Fortunately, I had annual exams and echocardiograms for mitral regurgitation.  The Holter results (above) were in January and in December of the same year, my EF had dropped to 40%.  

Are you wearing the monitors because you are symptomatic?

You're welcome!  Thanks for your contributions to the community.  It's nice to know none of us is alone.

I'm hoping "Upbeat633" joins the conversation because she also has very frequent PVCs (over 30,000!)...

connie