To PVC or NOT to PVC?

[ladyjake]

I am really confused and frustrated.  I just spent 3 hours in the ER as was having PVC's very frequently, getting the clammy, cold sweats, dizzy, etc and the doc said "go in for an evaluation".  So, I trotted in, felt like a fool, as of course, nothing was going on by the time I got there, and was told to maybe go on a beta blocker to slow my heart rate (runs in the 90's at rest and 117-125 when standing or walking).  Anyway, I'm laying there with a nicely beating heart, feeling my pulse (gave in to the old paranoid syndrome reaction) and wham, I get a "PVC" which I feel in my chest and on pulse at my wrist.  So, the nurse runs over to pull the record and there is NOTHING there, just a nice steady beat.  The same thing happened about 9 months ago when I had about a 10 minute run of the thumps and bumps and skipped beats that I could feel on my wrist and lower chest area.....NOTHING showed on the heart monitor (which I wore for a week), however during that week it did pick up some PVC's and PAC's, but not the 10 minute cycle.

Does anyone know what this is?  The docs say "strange, I don't know-there's nothing there electrically".  But, boy, I get the 'lopsided washing machine' bumps, thumps and skips that are very, very strong.  Here I was trying to cope with PVC's and now have an unknown element thrown in that is quite nerve wracking as if the PVC's aren't bad enough.  Is the heart not pumping efficiently?  I can't rationalize this one.

Also, one other question, when I carry anything, use my arms for sweeping, raking or whatever, I really trigger off the PVC's or NON-PVC's and get out of breath.  Fast moving will also do this, however, I can walk, walk, walk and pass a stress treadmill.  Again, the docs say "hmmmmm, I don't know".

So, what in the world could be going on?   Anyone encounter this?  Thank you

[Jerry_NJ]

Have you had an echocardiogram test?  This noninvasive test will show how efficiently your heart is pumping blood as well as check valve and other operational functions?

Given your history I would think a doctor would want to run that test.  

Sorry I can't be of more help. This response will put your post back on the top of the list to give it another chance to be read by someone who can related better than I to your problem.

[ladyjake]

Hi, I've had the whole battery of tests including looking for an arotic aneurysm and all were fine.  The doctor and I had a rather 'unpleasant' discussion when I kept insisting that there was a 10 minute run of these 'whatevers' while wearing a monitor and he kept insisting that there was nothing recorded.  Now I know why.  There are some posts from a ways back where people have experienced the same thing and can't get an answer.  I can even have them without the pause in pulse, you can just feel the "whoose" in the chest.  This is really weird and self impossed limiting on going about daily activities.

[upbeat633]

It appears that your sensation could be activity related, as described by sweeping, lifting, raising arms etc.. I wonder if you are experiencing an intercostal muscle spasm (spasm of muscle between the ribs, in this case maybe just over your heart)?

They can often feel like a rapid twitch, or if strong enough, like a thump. They can start and stop without any provocation at all too, so it doesn't have to involve moving around like the sweeping etc.. The out of breath symptom might be a clue too, if you are having an intercostal muscle spasm, you are often not breathing as deeply as you should to get a sufficient amount of oxygen.

[ladyjake]

Thank you for your response.  That's interesting about the 'spasm'.  It sounds like it mimics a PVC in sensations.  Would that account for the missing heart beats I wonder?   I know that I am guilty of shallow breathing when active and try to remind myself to take deep breaths.  Thanks again.