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Resullts from The Mayo Clinic Heart Rhythm Team
Hi all, back from round 2 of testing at Mayo and meeting w/their heart rhythm team yesterday. News is much better. MRI showed a normal, well functioning heart. My echo results from last week showed a sluggish, deformed right side, but that was probably due to poor pics. Since MRI is the 'gold standard' for looking at the heart, we can rest assured that my heart is okay and forget the echo results. Want to kick that dr. in the pants for making me worry over the last week.
Heart rhythm specialists said because my heart looks fine the arrhythmias are nothing to worry about. Because I do not get dizzy or pass out from them I am okay, I can resume exercise and will have to 'get used' to them. 24 holtor showed PVCs and supraventricular tachycardia, did not catch an NSVT episode but he said even those are not worrisome unless I am symptomatic. Doctor said he gets 400 PVCs daily, likely from drinking coffee, but he can't give up his coffee. He said they only caught a few on my 24 monitor, so I am better off than he is. Dude, give up the coffee! LOL!
As for the hormones and arrhythmias, I didn't even get a chance to mention the idea before the doctor brought it up himself! He said it is extremely common to have arrhythmias at times of hormonal flux. He said there is a continuum of people whose body chemistries are not very sensitive (or they do not feel the changes) and others who feel everything. People like me, who feel my arrhythmias and whose hormones are likely sparking the arrhythmias, have extremely sensitive body barometers and feel the effects of these fluxes, even if the fluxes are 'normal'. Thinking about it, I do have a very 'sensitive' body - I can easily get car sick, I can't really handle alcohol (get sick/can't drink much) I am very sensitive to most medications and could not even take a baby aspirin a day because I ended up with gastritis after 2 months. So it made sense to me. He said 90% of the population get arrhytmias (usually PVCs) but most do not notice them or feel them.
He said he would not Rx medications because they would likely make me feel even worse. He said I should 'get used' to the arrhythmia, that I will likely have them for life but that they are benign. Even the NSVT!
So, that's that! Ideally, I'd not have these crazy arrhythmias (or feel them) but compared to what they were telling me last week, I'm relieved. He said exercise should help, but don't be surprised if I feel some PVCs when I'm finished exercising and my heart rate is coming down. He said it's in response to still having adrenaline in your bloodstream from the exercise but no longer working. Exercise tends to make the heart rhythm 'shape up' he said.
Hope this news helps some of you guys too.
Heart rhythm specialists said because my heart looks fine the arrhythmias are nothing to worry about. Because I do not get dizzy or pass out from them I am okay, I can resume exercise and will have to 'get used' to them. 24 holtor showed PVCs and supraventricular tachycardia, did not catch an NSVT episode but he said even those are not worrisome unless I am symptomatic. Doctor said he gets 400 PVCs daily, likely from drinking coffee, but he can't give up his coffee. He said they only caught a few on my 24 monitor, so I am better off than he is. Dude, give up the coffee! LOL!
As for the hormones and arrhythmias, I didn't even get a chance to mention the idea before the doctor brought it up himself! He said it is extremely common to have arrhythmias at times of hormonal flux. He said there is a continuum of people whose body chemistries are not very sensitive (or they do not feel the changes) and others who feel everything. People like me, who feel my arrhythmias and whose hormones are likely sparking the arrhythmias, have extremely sensitive body barometers and feel the effects of these fluxes, even if the fluxes are 'normal'. Thinking about it, I do have a very 'sensitive' body - I can easily get car sick, I can't really handle alcohol (get sick/can't drink much) I am very sensitive to most medications and could not even take a baby aspirin a day because I ended up with gastritis after 2 months. So it made sense to me. He said 90% of the population get arrhytmias (usually PVCs) but most do not notice them or feel them.
He said he would not Rx medications because they would likely make me feel even worse. He said I should 'get used' to the arrhythmia, that I will likely have them for life but that they are benign. Even the NSVT!
So, that's that! Ideally, I'd not have these crazy arrhythmias (or feel them) but compared to what they were telling me last week, I'm relieved. He said exercise should help, but don't be surprised if I feel some PVCs when I'm finished exercising and my heart rate is coming down. He said it's in response to still having adrenaline in your bloodstream from the exercise but no longer working. Exercise tends to make the heart rhythm 'shape up' he said.
Hope this news helps some of you guys too.
The dr I saw in the heart rhythm clinics was Dr. Osbourne. He has an intern/fellow /whatever that does most of the talking and was very helpful. I was at the main Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, about 2 hours south of the Twin Cities. I know they also have clinics in AZ and FL(?) but I think they are smaller.
I think you start out in general cardiology, however, and then cardiology checks you and out refers you to heart rhythm. Good luck, let me know if you end up making an appt there - they are the best! Once you go there it's hard to go elsewhere - very little to no waiting and very attentive, helpful staff all around. An amazing place.
I think you start out in general cardiology, however, and then cardiology checks you and out refers you to heart rhythm. Good luck, let me know if you end up making an appt there - they are the best! Once you go there it's hard to go elsewhere - very little to no waiting and very attentive, helpful staff all around. An amazing place.
Wisconsin2007- glad my results helped you. I'm quite convinced that there is some sort of automatic, physical response (release of adrenaline? cortisol?) that happens in response to these flutters and arrhythmias that makes one feel anxious because I notice an immediate response from my body when I get one - like physical symptoms of fear - that are so, well, immediate! Plus I don't know anyone that gets these fluttery, longer runs of arrhythmia that don't feel anxious about them. I wonder if the body releases something to try and correct the beat, that, in turn makes us feel anxious.
It seems like even when we are reassured, we are still anxious and uncomfortable with these and that's what makes me wonder if it's not psychological but a physical response?
It seems like even when we are reassured, we are still anxious and uncomfortable with these and that's what makes me wonder if it's not psychological but a physical response?
@Nervouslady, I'm so glad you posted these results - posting the results can also lend relief to others suffering similar problems. Like me. I've had PVC's for just over a decade, and for a period of a few months in '06 I would have between 5,000-10,000 PVC's a day. Never felt dizzy, never felt light-headed. But lately I've had these very sporadic episodes where I have something more than a PVC (SVT or NSVT or something, not sure). They only last a few seconds, but scare the heck out of me.
Because of the sporadic nature of these more involved episodes, I've called my doc to inquire about an event monitor instead of the Holter (I had the Holter 2 years ago as well as an echo - echo was clean). But reading your post makes me worry about these a little less.
@jkfrench - Sometimes I think having only a few is scarier than having thousands in a day, because when they come, it's such a surprise. When I was having thousands, they came at pretty regular intervals, almost like cymbals in a drum beat, and I could pretty much predict when they'd come.
Because of the sporadic nature of these more involved episodes, I've called my doc to inquire about an event monitor instead of the Holter (I had the Holter 2 years ago as well as an echo - echo was clean). But reading your post makes me worry about these a little less.
@jkfrench - Sometimes I think having only a few is scarier than having thousands in a day, because when they come, it's such a surprise. When I was having thousands, they came at pretty regular intervals, almost like cymbals in a drum beat, and I could pretty much predict when they'd come.
Thanks, I am very relived. Learned my cholesterol is high so I'm not off the hook completely I guess but good enough, I suppose.
Yes, they were very familiar with the hormone/arrhtyhmia correlation and actually told me all about it before I even had the chance to bring it up myself. Drs who dismiss this aren't doing their homework!!!
Now I need to get the courage up to try again for preganancy knowing that these arrhtyhmias will likely worsen. UUUUGH. I'm not that brave at the moment. I go out of my way to lessen these in any way I can, so to get into a situation where they will go crazy freaks me out. Everyone says I'll be okay but I can't help but worry even still. I hope they are right.
Yes, they were very familiar with the hormone/arrhtyhmia correlation and actually told me all about it before I even had the chance to bring it up myself. Drs who dismiss this aren't doing their homework!!!
Now I need to get the courage up to try again for preganancy knowing that these arrhtyhmias will likely worsen. UUUUGH. I'm not that brave at the moment. I go out of my way to lessen these in any way I can, so to get into a situation where they will go crazy freaks me out. Everyone says I'll be okay but I can't help but worry even still. I hope they are right.
Wow! That is awesome news!!! I am sooo happy for you. I know what it is like to be on the edge over test results and it is good to have some relief. :)
Thanks for the update, and its so very good to hear that hormones are causing some of our aggervation with these things as so many doctors stay its unrelated but for those of us who suffer with them, we know better. Very glad to hear your good news!
Thank you so much for posting this. This had to be a big weight lifted for you. Your post really helps me make sense out of things. I am glad that things look much brighter than last week. I would have to scream at that other doctor. Thanks again for posting!
Oh, also, the dr said to avoid: Alcohol, caffeine, cold medicines, any other kinds of stimulants. He said alcohol and cold medicines are brain depressants, but heart stimulants, and they will aggrivate arrhythmias.
bon-bon - thanks! I am relieved!
Frenchie - yeah, as long as you are asymptomatic, it doesn't matter how many you get (asymptomatic meaning you don't get dizzy or pass out, etc. the fact that you feel the arrhythmia going on doesn't mean anything medically). He told me that the patient he saw before me had just PVCs but was getting sooo many she was dizzy all the time. She had so many it was interfering with her blood being pumped efficiently, so she was scheduled to have an ablation. He said she got thousands daily - a very high number.
This doctor, like I mentioned, got hundreds a day and wasn't bothered by it. So, if this is all he does for a living, and he's not bothered by the hundreds he gets a day (he said he feels less than half of them but does feel them) then I suppose we should feel better about ours. He does not take medicine for his. He won't even stop drinking excess amounts of coffee to prevent some of them! LOL.
What really made me feel better was that he said, 'anyone who has had heart surgery or heart problems is going to be extra aware of any abnormal issues going on with their heart. AND THAT IS NORMAL.' yeah. no doubt! How can you have heart surgery and then have these things go on and not be freaked out? They said it is likely unrelated to surgery and that my heart is healthy. I'm glad I had the MRI and really had this looked at. It was stressful to endure all of this, but at least I can feel better knowing that it was looked into and that my heart really is okay.
Frenchie - yeah, as long as you are asymptomatic, it doesn't matter how many you get (asymptomatic meaning you don't get dizzy or pass out, etc. the fact that you feel the arrhythmia going on doesn't mean anything medically). He told me that the patient he saw before me had just PVCs but was getting sooo many she was dizzy all the time. She had so many it was interfering with her blood being pumped efficiently, so she was scheduled to have an ablation. He said she got thousands daily - a very high number.
This doctor, like I mentioned, got hundreds a day and wasn't bothered by it. So, if this is all he does for a living, and he's not bothered by the hundreds he gets a day (he said he feels less than half of them but does feel them) then I suppose we should feel better about ours. He does not take medicine for his. He won't even stop drinking excess amounts of coffee to prevent some of them! LOL.
What really made me feel better was that he said, 'anyone who has had heart surgery or heart problems is going to be extra aware of any abnormal issues going on with their heart. AND THAT IS NORMAL.' yeah. no doubt! How can you have heart surgery and then have these things go on and not be freaked out? They said it is likely unrelated to surgery and that my heart is healthy. I'm glad I had the MRI and really had this looked at. It was stressful to endure all of this, but at least I can feel better knowing that it was looked into and that my heart really is okay.
Oh my gosh, you should feel so much better! My heart was so good yesterday. I only felt 4 or 5 pvc's. Today it is acting up again. I know hormones can change by the minute so I so appreciate you sharing this information with us. I will try to wrap my brain around the fact that I am okay. I just hate feeling every one of them. Today they feel like little bubbles when the beat comes early. I'm like you..very sensitive to medicine. Same with alcholol. One drink and I feel it the next day. I have to take baby medicine when I need something. Did he mention how many pvc's were safe a day or does it just not matter if the heart is normal? I hate the fact that we just have to get used to them too. I really hope this time that they aren't here to stay but it has been about 2 months of feeling them off and on so I guess I better try to deal with it better. Thanks again for the info and I'm glad you are fine.
Frenchie
Frenchie
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