PVC- every other beat- for hours!

[jdwgroup]

I developed an irregular heart beat back in 2000- then only 2 beats (that I felt skip) started 6 years on Toprol and a few other beta blockers-
Then in Jan 2006, the PVC’s hit with a vengeance. Long story short, and 5 Cardiologists, tests up the yingyang and 1 electro cardiologist later- here I am-“benign PVC’s” – they come and go all week long, but occasionally I get ‘sessions’ of them that will last for weeks and be ‘every other’ beat – for hours! Sometimes I’ll get lucky and have only every 4th or 7th beat missing. But on these stretches of ‘every other beat’- man- do I get winded and quick to get headaches- quick!!
Is this normal?

Since the Ventricle has already contracted before the Atrial- where does the blood from the atrial go? To me- it feels like what happens when you put your hand over your mouth to suppress a big burp- and your cheeks blow out- is this the cause of the 'pulled muscle' feeling in my chest when I get a string of these?
All tests are OK (nothing showing a cause) and I’ve been through a lot of personal testing of what the trigger could be- haven’t found it yet!
In the summer of 2006 we went to Denver CO for vacation- I got hit with the PVC’s and I thought I was gonna die! High altitude + PVC’s = no oxygen in the blood stream!- anyone have that before?
Are we limited to low altitudes?- take an O2 tank along??

Has anyone had ablation for PVC’s?
Some Dr’s tell me it can be done- some say it can’t.

My  Dr(s) currently have me on Flecinade- that’s scary in itself- and the PVC’s are cutting right through it. Rythmol  isn’t any good either. I’m thinking of getting off these anti-arrhythmia pills since they don’t seem to be doing anything- but what next?
Very very annoying- and hard to believe, (and trust) that these are- benign’ and not life threatening!


Wayne

[Clifff]

I have skipped beatd daily, I get them with mild exertion the worst. But never during exercise.

My brother also has pvc every third beat is missed which is trigeminy all day every day 24/7 and the doctors seen it on ekg and told him its nothing to worry about.. I was like that many? And it still be benign.

I guess you just have to convince yourself that your fine because you are its just anything to do with the heart will put anyone on edge.

[markbean]

Hey guys i went out drinking last night.ind you that I do suffer from pvcs and have had them for over 15 years now the last episode i had was so long ago id say more like 5 to 6 months since a series of pvcs. Anyways I went out to the bar last night and i felt a couple that i can "shake" off. When i was driven home i walked in and there they were waiting on me like I had an appointment. However I called the EMTs and they came out to convince me to just get checked out for precaution i declined as i wouldnt have had a way home. Well soon as they left i was having them every fourth beat. Which had me praying begging God why me. I prayed and prayed they would stop and never to return. Being the anxious person That i am i felt them steadily increasing knowing there is something wrong i jumped into my vehicle and walked into the er. The were fast to get me in and asked if i had anxiety meds i said yes and they are with me here they asked how many xanax i had taken I said zero they looked like i was lying however i explained to them that when I drink I dont take benzodiazapines bc of the interactions so they were able to see pvcs every 4th beat and the doctors conclusion was no caffeine which ive been caffeine free for over a year and cut back on smoking and alcohol which i drink maybe once a week. But he surprisingly told me something after i had asked that really shocked me he went over my blood work and all well after two hours they quit and btw i was given 4 baby asprin idk y im 31 male in good condition. But I asked a question before he left to prepair my discharge and to tell me to see my gp that was going to be all i got from him so I said doc you have alot of experience i said when it happens that frequent its scary as hell so im asking u on a personal opinion not a medical one. Do you think this is normal or caused by something he turned around and folded his hand over his forehead and shook his head and said i dont think its perfectly normal when its every 4th beat or even if its random i think you need further testing perhaps a holter, in which ive had before he added, a holter would be great for them to catch it on bc then they can see which part of the heart is misfiring but he also added i dont like discharging a patient knowing i didnt or couldnt help them however theres really nothing we can do but if they get worse or you have pain shortened breath or dizziness comeback or if they intisify. I went home slep about 6 hours got up and jumped on this forum so what I get from all of this is try try try your hardest and believe me its almost impossible to not worry when the motor of your body is tumbling out of control i know i hate them but i figured that only God knows i will still worry when they occur even tho i will try not to but one or two to even 10 to 20 a day i can live with i can manage but back to back for hours i lose my sanity and why why why isnt there more reasearch done to prevent this im tired of living in fear i see ppl everyday playing with their kids while i wonder how nice it would be to be able to live a normal life like my past months when i thought inhad it beat and over but we gotta be strong and put everything in Gods hands. so if this sounds like you ylur not alone..

[upbeat633]

If you've had all the tests, and it appears by your comment "coming out the yingyang" means you have, and everything comes back "benign PVCs", welcome to the club.

I'm not trying to be cynical, I have high frequency pvcs too, right now 20,000/day is probably a good day, I've had up to 30,000/day. Oh, but I've gone a day or two without a single one. Heaven. But unknown as to why, dang it.

I understand your frustration and disbelief that these could be benign. A recent EP that I saw said absolutely no to anti-arrythmics, and absolutely no to an ablation. I guess I have to put my faith in his judgement, all the cardiologists up to that appointment said the same thing, and he is the specialist of the heart rhythm specialists.

Now if you were experiencing significant enough symptoms, or your heart were changing (cardiomyopathy) then a higher level of treatment is warranted. But if the anti-arrythmics aren't giving you any relief, I'd talk to your doctor about discontinuing them. I've tried three beta-blockers, toperal, atenolol and inderal to no avail. Acebutalol has reduced them occassionally. Hope my story helps. Hope you are having a better day