Teen with PVCs

[laura54]

Hi, everyone. My 17 year-old daughter has felt a "thump" now and then in her chest. It would happen very infrquently, sometimes months with nothing, but last month, as the first day of school was nearing, they became more frequent (she was stressed and had a lot of schoolwork she was working on that she had to e-mail to her teachers prior to the first day of school). The heavier thumps came back last month when it was a little over a week prior to her menstruation. They were stronger then subsided a few days after her menstruation began to very light or sometimes none. Also, she would drink very little water which has now changed, since I've learned through the posts that dehydration can be one of the causes. I took her to a pediatric cardiologist who did an echo and said that heart was perfectly normal, with strong, regular contractions. No rhythm abnormalities showed on the ECG or echo. She has never had any other symptoms with them, no shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, etc. He said that they were probably PACs, that he has them too and that just to be complete, she should wear a Holter for 24 hours. None were available at that time, and he told me to call back in a week or two.

She was much better, but this month, about 8 days prior to her period, she had approximately 5 while at school.  I made an appointment for the Holter which she wore on days 6 and 5 prior to her menstruation, and she felt several (seven I think) on day 6 prior to mens. and two on day 5 prior to mens. The doctor's office called today and was told by the office staff that she has "very mild PVCs" and that the Dr. suggests a stress test to "see if it happens while active".  She goes up and down stairs with 2 heavy bookbags in school and it does not happen then. This message ws relayed to the Dr. and he said it was OK to hold off the stress test and that if she needed to see him, they could schedule her. Do you think the stress test is necessary since they happen when she's at rest?  Has anyone heard of a hormonal connection causing PVCs on a teen?  Have any of you had a stress test suggested for "very mild" PVCs.  Thanks and God bless you.

[nikgirl28]

i wish i only had 5 or 6 pvcs....during my period...last period i had i had 14,000 pvcs in a 24 hour time span...4 days before my period...during...and just died down after my period stopped...she has nothing to worry about....

[laura54]

Thanks so much for the reassurance. Your message is even more validation that there really could be a hormonal connection. Do you notice any after the period stops or do they go altogether?  Do you take anything for your PVCs? Although I don't have the actual number of PVCs from the Holter reading, what I posted was the number she said she actually felt so there may be more she didn't feel (I hope to get the report from the Dr. soon). Also, if she gets up quickly from her chair she gets a brief flutter or quick beats.

Thanks for taking the time to respond and for the reassurance. I hope that all will be well with you, too.

[empressofq13]

Just so you know...stress or anxiety can cause this also.

[laura54]

Thanks, empress, she certainly has plenty of stress and goes to sleep late at night with all of her schoolwork. I hope that and hormones is all it is.