heart pauses qnd can't breathe!!

[blake093]

I am 19 220 pounds 5'9 male

I have been seeing a cardiologist for the past fee months about a heart skip I've been having and after several tests was told I have benign PACs and PVCs .. that being said tonight I was watching t.v. I fealt a heart palp and a pause and when this happened I was breathing in. When my heart paused it was almost like it knocked the wind out of me and I couldn't breathe all the sudden it was like my lungs froze for a second and then I felt a hard thump and I could breathe again. It scared the crap out of me should I be worried about this I think I've been miss diagnosed

[seaweib]

With the pvcs, it's a very weird sensation in that you're not out of breath per se, but you have a very sudden feeling of breathlessness (just like getting the wind knocked out of you) but it is extremely sudden.  It's so sudden (far less than a second from beginning to end) that if it happens to me I don't even realize what's happened until it's over.

So, they don't actually cause you to be out of breath.  I get them occasionally on a cool down after cycling and am not out of breath at all, just for that milisecond when the pac/pvc hits.  The pac/pvc sensation of breathlessness could never be confused with the type of breathlessness one might feel from over-exertion or being out of shape, it's a completely different feeling.

That said, I have read that some people do feel out of breath from PACs/PVCs in the conventional sense of being out of breath.  That is not what Blake is referring to though I don't think.

[Jerry_NJ]

Good you got some experience input, on both issues: PVC and Overweight.

At 5' 11" that is less obvious and if you are big boned and muscular then it may be a good weight.  But remember what I said about my situation, again complicated by age, I am not 228 and still 6' 5" and I am considered mid-range overweight, only about 20 pounds short of Obese according to the current standards.  

The fact I "hang out" on this community suggests I have heart rhythm problems, and I do, AFib, and that has put an end to my running and hence the extra 20 pounds.  Still, when I was examined by a Lung specialist (sleep specialist critical care unit) I was give a Okay on the lungs (very good news) but upon just looking down my throat the doctor said the fact I am "Obese" I have a restricted air passage... interestingly my Primary Care Doctor who had looked down my throat over the years never said anything about that problem.  

But I read you get a "match" on the PVC, so "run" with it, but you may want to consider doing an Oximeter test sometime.  A local COPD (which I don't have) service provider (oxygen tanks) will provide a overnight recording Oximeter test for about $40.  It is covered by insurance, if prescribed as mine was, but I think one can "order" test as a patient.  

I also own a real-time finger Oximeter which cost less than $25 and it sits on my night stand.  That was what tipped me off I was "running low on oxygen" during my sleeping time - not recording so the only why I could tell was when I woke up gasping for air I'd clip on the Oximeter - found some readings as low at 82% and that was taken after I had "caught my breath".

Not on a bandwagon here, or I don't mean to be, I'm just sharing some experience with breathing problems which may or may not be related to heart rhythm.  AFig makes me short of breath if I try to put out much physically, as said, no more running for me.

[blake093]

I meant to type 5'11 220. I'm not that overweight lol I actually work out very often

I know the sensation I felt its not because I'm over weight

[seaweib]

That's exactly how my PACs/PVCs feel much of the time.  I often have a split second of breathlessness that feels like the wind has been knocked out of me.  That is a realtively common occurrence as PACs/PVCs feel this way to many people.  From my understanding, PACs/PVCs can feel very different at different times depending on where they occur in the beat cycle, your exertion level etc.  The fact that your palpitations have the breathlessness sensation brings nothing new to the equation since your doc has already checked you out and told you benign PAC/PVC.  The best thing you can do is keep in mind that lots of people live with these and that they are no big deal.

[Jerry_NJ]

I do believe there is any relationship, other than mental, between a PVC and not being able to breath... that said, some people report severe physical discomfort from PVCs.

Your cardiologist is your best answer to the above and it seems you have that answer.

Have any of your doctors mentioned you body weight?  Being overweight, even in the young, can reduce the breathing "tube" in the throat due to fat in the neck - and is associate with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  This condition is active all the time but is most troublesome when sleeping or even just lying on ones back - relaxing.

You may want to discuss you weight with a doctor, if you're in favor of a specialist, it would be a Pulmonary for issues related to breathing.  

I'm an old guy, an that makes thing worse, but I can testify that a weight of 250 pounds on a body that is 6' 6" causes me breathing problems wereas a weight under 230 doesn't.  I have undergone sleep study testing so my symptoms were documented to be mild OSA.  I did at the 250 weight have the symptoms of suffocation when sitting up and dozing.  Seems my "cure" is to lose a few pounds of at in my face/neck area.