Tell Me About Your PVCs

[anacyde]

I have some questions to see how others measure up.  Just thought it might be an interesting thread for people to understand each other a bit.

1. How long have you had PVCs?

2. On average, how many per day?

3. Do you have episodes where you have absolutely no PVCs at all?

4. What is your list of food/beverage triggers?

5. What is your list of non-edible triggers?

6. Do you have GERD, and if so, do you think it aggravates your PVCs?

7. Do you have or have you ever had any structural heart problems or heart disease?

8. For women, do your PVCs increase with shifts in hormones?  How did pregnancy affect your PVCs?

9. Do your PVCs disappear with exercise, become worse with exercise or are they about the same no matter what you're doing?

10.  Have you ever exeprienced bigeminy, trigeminy, couplets, triplets, NSVT or VT?

11.  Do you have a pacemaker or ICD?

12.  Do you (or have you ever) taken medication to help control your PVCs?  If so, did it help, make them worse or cause no change?

13. Do you have a non-cardiac condition that causes or irritates your PVCs (thyroid, hormone problems)?

14. What have you found that HELPS your PVCs (symptoms/anxiety)?  This can be meditation, vitamin supplements, anxiety medication, exercise - anything that helps you deal.

I'll answer below too.  I think it will be interesting to see how people respond.

[SassyLassie]

Bumping for new members. This really does help.

[is_something_wrong]

1. How long have you had PVCs?

I have mostly PACs, but I started noticing them a couple of years ago.

2. On average, how many per day?

0-100

3. Do you have episodes where you have absolutely no PVCs at all?

Yes, they tend to disappear if my heart rate for some reason is a bit higher, and return some days later. Stressful times can both increase and decrease them.

4. What is your list of food/beverage triggers?

Sugar, caffeine.

5. What is your list of non-edible triggers?

Cardiac neurosis.

6. Do you have GERD, and if so, do you think it aggravates your PVCs?

No.

7. Do you have or have you ever had any structural heart problems or heart disease?

No.

8. For women, do your PVCs increase with shifts in hormones?  How did pregnancy affect your PVCs?

N/A

9. Do your PVCs disappear with exercise, become worse with exercise or are they about the same no matter what you're doing?

My PACs can increase with the setting "anxiety when exercising". They can be a bit violent.

10.  Have you ever exeprienced bigeminy, trigeminy, couplets, triplets, NSVT or VT?

No bigeminy. Short events of trigeminy. Not sure about pairs, I rarely get PVCs so VT is not an issue. Short runs of SVT (atrial ectopic tachycardia) is noted.

11.  Do you have a pacemaker or ICD?

No

12.  Do you (or have you ever) taken medication to help control your PVCs?  If so, did it help, make them worse or cause no change?

A small dosage of beta blockers erase PACs with exercise. They increase PACs/PVCs at rest, though, because my HR is lower.

13. Do you have a non-cardiac condition that causes or irritates your PVCs (thyroid, hormone problems)?

Not as far as I know

14. What have you found that HELPS your PVCs (symptoms/anxiety)?  This can be meditation, vitamin supplements, anxiety medication, exercise - anything that helps you deal.

Focus away from them. A multivitamin and some fish oil. Cutting down on caffeine and sugar. Vacation. Exercise without stress, and long warm-ups

[richard_med]

PART II - ANSWER to QUESTION #14

14. What have you found that HELPS your PVCs (symptoms/anxiety)?  This can be meditation, vitamin supplements, anxiety medication, exercise - anything that helps you deal.

In the short term, lay down and rest immediately to help body adjust to change in pulse (as I was typing this just had a run of bigeminy that dropped my pulse from 78 to 44.. laid on the floor and within 5 seconds it returned to 96 then dropping back to mid 70's.  Talk about out of the blue!  

The most powerful tool I have to help me deal with these miscreant heart beats is a work out pulse monitor for keeping your heart in a target pulse range,  that I bought for working out 12 years ago.  

I went to the Hospital ER June 13th feeling seriously compromised, high systolic pressure, normal diastolic, palpations, and the doctor there ordered a Holter Monitor test.  Earliest they could book me for one according to the hospital in our community was September (crazy I know, my cardiologist has now got me lined up to have one July 13th in a community 1 hour south of us).  I went home and thought .. okay what can I do to gather evidence if that's the wait I have ahead of me.  Remembered the work out Heart monitor I bought for working out down in my weight room.  Put it on and wear it 24/7.  

Peace of mind.  Data that could be recorded.  My log book and the data I've recorded helped me to show my GP what is happening (at least the snap shot of data I could gather through pulse... skipped beats (PVC's).  The monitor is two parts.  part that wraps around my chest and a watch that displays the pulse with updates every few seconds and your heart beat with a small heart graphic that flashes every beat.  This is how I was able to find that I am having bigeminy.  (since confirmed in the ER last Wednesday night).  The power of this simple device is it allows me to record immediately what is happening with beats and pulse, and then record also the physiological systems/experiences. (did I get pale, roughly how long did that run of bigeminy last.. that I observed).  

When I feel PVC's,  I can examine.. how much .. how often.. and the best part.. I can see the good beats.. okay.. that was Beat PVC Beat PVC Beat PVC Beat Beat Beat Beat PVC.. hey 4 good ones.. not too bad.  Instead of damn.. what's happening .. I feel all weird. like I'm crashing/wilting, is this bad, how bad is it, should I go to the ER, is it escalating to a heart attack.  Because I can see information I don't stress or raise my anxiety level scrambling to take my pulse  

A simple pulse meter has allowed me to catch that my sleeping pulse is as low as 40 bpm at times (has an alarm I set for low levels), that woke me and discover that.  Might explain the crazy times I wake up and find myself so compromised with systolic blood pressure spike and poundings in the chest, with forearms all numb/cold/tingly (still can't determine what the sensation is.. but its very very noticable..and doesn't feel good).  I suspect now runs of bigeminy in my sleep with a very low pulse rate makes a bad combination and I awake to the after affects.  Now I just lay still, breath deeply and slowly and remain calm as possible, watching what is happening on the pulse meter, rather than fixating on what is happening in my body.  It's become my little friend in a way to tell me .. hey.. this isn't too bad.. look.. there are some good beats.. and some more good ones.. and yep that was a run of bad ones but look.. now you've got a run of good ones.  I'm a math/physics instructor, and seeing what is going on has been the best anxiety management for me, instead of feeling what is going on.  I still feel them especially if the systolic pressure spike occurs.. (boy do you ever feel them then), but my attention is on observation and data collection  rather than inward looking at the physiological body experience I'm undergoing.  

I record everything in a log book.  Each new experience with these naughty heart beats I learn from, and how to manage them better.  I don't think they are going away.  I don't believe there are any silver bullets from all I've read.  But I've also come to the conclusion, with no underlying heart problems, this electrical misfiring in my ventrical is life changing not life threatening.  Although in the words of my cardiologist.. "can't guarrantee anything".  She's passing me on to an electrophysiologist (I think that's what it's called)  a cardiologist that specializes in electric circuits in the heart.   Looking forward to what can be accomplished.  

In the mean time, I can't thank everyone here and on other forums at this site for all their sharing.  You all have helped me to learn to live with and manage these episodes.    

I have gathered a lot of information and websites in trying to understand PVC's and my situation better.  I keep all my website bookmarks at delicious.com    To view my PVC resource pages and websites go to http://www.delicious.com/rgiroday  use the tag PVC to start.  Today found a great animation of PVC's http://www.medmovie.com/mmdatabase/MediaPlayer.aspx?ClientID=65&TopicID=776

The more information we know regarding these, and the more people share with us, the more prepared we are to live through the episodes that come with them.  Feel like it's a journey.  Thank you to every for the helping hands up along the path.  Much appreciated.  It is the unknown which is terrifying, and you have all helped me to know my body and in particular my heart arrhythmia better.  

[richard_med]

PART I - ANSWERS to QUESTIONS 1 - 13

1. How long have you had PVCs?  

Started approximately 3 years ago.  (although 12 years ago, remember taking my pulse after big leg presses in the gym and feeling a skip every 4th beat, just never presented at that time beyond leg day in the gym)  When the PVC's started up regularly, after about 4 months they went away, but have returned since March 2010 off and on, and now getting increasingly more pronounced.  Today while preparing this comment I had to lay on the floor twice to let my body recover from bigeminy runs.

2. On average, how many per day?

100's in the day, have no idea in the night.  Coming in clusters with runs of bigeminy that bring me down pretty good.  

3. Do you have episodes where you have absolutely no PVCs at all?  

Yes.  They come and go, with some times throughout the day none, and others where they are prevalent. Did some landscaping last Sunday for 4 hours (no PVC's), went inside to have lunch and take a break, PVC's started up and continued all day and into the evening.  Sometimes worst than others.  Sometimes bigeminy, sometimes random, sometimes trigeminy.  Next day, bad morning but randomly through the day in clusters.  At least not steady, but night times are becoming a problem, with runs of bigeminy (my suspicion based on Polar Heart Monitor observations upon waking)  that pull me awake and in an "episode" with numbness/coldness (can't identify what it is) in hands and forearms, with elevated blood pressure and palpations going wild in chest.

4. What is your list of food/beverage triggers?

Haven't identified this list yet.  Noticed eating at this time does trigger them.  Nothing specific determined yet.

5. What is your list of non-edible triggers?

Excitement, hyperactivity, (animated conversation, etc), stress, lack of adequate rest, strenuous work, from last Sunday I suspect elevated HR keeps them at bay until I slow down and then they appear.  

6. Do you have GERD, and if so, do you think it aggravates your PVCs?

No, not diagnosed as such.

7. Do you have or have you ever had any structural heart problems or heart disease?

1 1/2 years ago heart sonogram, treadmill stress test, cardiologist said heart is sound with no defects.  Within last month complete workup of blood tests, everything within normal ranges.  24hour Urine, analysis for Na, K, Cl, HCO3, Creatinine, Uric and RLk (sp) Phos.  AM & PM Cortisol, and VMA for Metadrenaline and nor Metadrenaline.  (having bloodpressure spikes which I now realize follows long runs of bigeminy PVC), so they were testing for adrenal gland tumor.  Stamp that file, healthy healthy healthy in all other regards.  No Thyroid indicators, no Cushing disease, etc etc, potassium levels great, etc. Stamp that file:  mysterious comings and goings in the heart circuitry.

8. For women, do your PVCs increase with shifts in hormones?  How did pregnancy affect your PVCs?  

Not Applicable

9. Do your PVCs disappear with exercise, become worse with exercise or are they about the same no matter what you're doing?

Haven't put this to the test yet.  Need to try a light exercise program and see where it goes.  But from observations made and recorded in my journal I suspect that higher heart rate with a "work load" keeps them at bay, while lower heart rate allows them to appear

10.  Have you ever exeprienced bigeminy, trigeminy, couplets, triplets, NSVT or VT?

3 years ago I was having Quadrageminal rhythm (every fourth beat was PVC).  I've noted Bigeminy frequently this time round, with runs.  Often Random, and have seen trigeminy.  They main problem this time is the runs of bigeminy that rob the body of the pulse (blood), resulting in a systolic blood pressure spike.

11.  Do you have a pacemaker or ICD?

No

12.  Do you (or have you ever) taken medication to help control your PVCs?  If so, did it help, make them worse or cause no change?

No.  I will resist this unless they become totally unmanageable on my own (mentally or physically).  It will enter a new variable into the equation and I would prefer not to do that.  Most medications have side effects, and I would prefer to leave those out of the equation for now.

13. Do you have a non-cardiac condition that causes or irritates your PVCs (thyroid, hormone problems)?

No

[ks1982]

1. How long have you had PVC's?   Since I was 12 or so, so about 16years.
2. On average how many per day?  Before cutting caffeine I would get 20 or 30 a day, for 3 or 4 days out of the month.  Now I get about 10 a week.
3.  Do you have episodes where you have no PVC's at all?  Yes.
4. What is your list of food/beverage triggers?  Caffeine, anything with caffiene will cause them for me.
5. What is your list of nonedible triggers?  Bending forward at the waste, especially while lifting or putting something down can cause them for me.
6. Do you have GERD and if so do you think it aggravates your PVCs?  I don't know about the GERD.  
7. Do you have or have you ever had any structural heart disease?  I've had a full course of testing and come out fine.  I can confidently say I do not have any structural heart disease.
8. For women, do your PVC's increase with shifts in hormones how did pregnancy effect your PVCs?  Yes I do get an increase with shifts in hormones.  Pregnancy increased my PAC's and PVC's twice and once it didn't seem to have a noticable effect.
9. Do your PVC's disappear with exercise?  Usually I won't get them during exercise or they will go away with exercise, occasionally though I will get one or two during exercise.
10. Have you ever experienced bigeminy, trigeminy, couplets, triplets, NSVT or VT?  I think I've experienced bigeminy and couplets or triplets (not sure if they were PVC's or PAC's though) but never had that positively recorded.  Don't think I"ve ever has NSVT or VT.  
11. Do you have a pacemaker or ICD?  Nope.
12. Do you (or have you ever) taken medication to help control your PVCs?  I've taken a beta blocker (toprol 25mg) for unrelated high heart rate but the side effects were terrible for me and it actually increased my PVC's and PAC's instead of decreasing them.   I was recently on cardizem for the same tachycardia and weaned off because it lowered my blood pressure too much and increased my PVC's and PAC's and caused rounds of PSVT.   Looks like me and these meds don't mix well.
13. Do you have a non-cardiac condition that causes or irritates your PVCs (thyroid, hormone problems)?  Thyroid problems no.  Hormone changes will effect my PVCs and PACs though.
14. What have you found that helps your PVCs (symptoms/anxiety) this can be meditation, vitamin supplements, anxiety medication, exercise anything that helps you deal?  Sleep, making sure I get enough sleep for my body to feel rested is a big one.  Avoiding caffeine definately helps.  Prayer helps me, gives me hope and helps me cope.  

[marcjoan]

1. How long have you had PVCs? On and off since I was 16 am now 49 but since 2006 a lot more frequent

2. On average, how many per day? lately from hundreds to thousands per day

3. Do you have episodes where you have absolutely no PVCs at all?

Rarely or at least I do not feel them if I have them

4. What is your list of food/beverage triggers?

Not positve but caffeine and alchol seem to do it, sometimes just eating, specially after lunch

5. What is your list of non-edible triggers?

stress, lack of sleep, laying down for a while and gettin up, sometimes going up stairs but not always, when I need to urinate badly and even after I do. Hot weather also exacerbates them

6. Do you have GERD, and if so, do you think it aggravates your PVCs?

no

7. Do you have or have you ever had any structural heart problems or heart disease?

Tested thouroughly several times and no

8. For womenWomen's way, do your PVCs increase with shifts in hormones?  How did pregnancy affect your PVCs?

I am male

9. Do your PVCs disappear with exercise, become worse with exercise or are they about the same no matter what you're doing?

usually they do subside but I have had them while exercising also, more at rest though

10.  Have you ever exeprienced bigeminy, trigeminy, couplets, triplets, NSVT or VT?

Yes

11.  Do you have a pacemaker or ICD?

no

12.  Do you (or have you ever) taken medication to help controlControl
Control rx your PVCs?  If so, did it help, make them worse or cause no change?

I am taking 25 mgs of metropolol twice per day morning and night helps a little, more in the winter it  seems,in summer pvcs are worse

13. Do you have a non-cardiac condition that causes or irritates your PVCs (thyroid, hormone problems)?

no

14. What have you found that HELPS your PVCs (symptoms/anxiety)?  This can be meditation, vitamin supplements, anxiety medication, exercise - anything that helps you deal.

not much, I thought I had magnesium deficency I took it it seemed to have helped then they came back with a vengeance, it seems like everytime I seem to  have them beat they come back stronger then ever. It is very frustrating and sometimes they do can scare you. I pray, I am a believer and I do believe that God helps me cope. But they are certainly annoying they do make you feel lesser than healthy or normal.