Scary pvcs

[emy87]

I’ve posted on my pvcs before but I recently had a bit of a different experience. I was rocking my little one to sleep and had what I call a run of them or an episode. Usually I get the little skips but these felt more like flutters, or 2-3 skips in a row? So I’d get a flutter (or skip skip skip), then a couple normal beats, then flutter, and it did this like the entire time I was rocking her. I was able to get it to stop if I’d stand up but the second I sat back down it would start again. It’s so terrifying! I’ve had lots of tests done on my heart and everything is normal. So does that mean what I’m experiencing now is normal even though it feels so abnormal? Should I just let it do it’s thing? I always feel like I need to get it to stop because I’m worried I’ll get dizzy or blackout even though I never have before. Or I’m worried that it’ll weaken my heart. I’m so tired of living like this and even though the doctors say I’m fine and it’s not going to kill me I tend to think otherwise. I need some support and reassurance :(

[Pantherfan]

I understand what you are going  Through I have suffered for 15 years with pvcs and really bad the last three years. Every time I get a new weird sensation or a new frequency it freaks me out. Last year I started getting them every couple of beats for two hours straight on certain days and got a 30 day monitor and it turns out the episodes were pacs and I only recorded 8 pvcs and they were random. It was anxiety causing these episodes. Once I found out they were pacs I didn’t worry about them and have not had another long episode in over a year. So what you feel isn’t always what you think. And I knowthe doctors aren’t very Sympathetic and don’t understand how horrible they feel. I told my ep doctor that if he could cure me by cutting off my arm I would let him cut off my arm that is how bad I hate this things but I guess we have to learn to live with them.

[nanoart]

Dear Emy,
I am very sympathetic to you as many here (perhaps not doctors) know how it feels. I am 58yo and had PVCs affecting good 25 years of my life. My wife read a recollection from the oncologist who got the cancer herself - and she said that completely changed her perception of the patients. I had my condition worsen over last 5 years - had two ablations, with the second one so far inefficient. Going over years from "thumps" to runs, to bigeminies, lightheadedness etc. You may want to treat this somewhat early as there is opinion that these are slowly self-multiplying with time as episodes creates both psychological changes and physiological changes in the heart. Good luck and hope treatment and life will treat you well!

[Nandorph]

My only advise is if you have the money, keep checking every 6 months.  Get new tests done, see different doctors, etc.. Even a new EKG every so often is good, because you may be lucky to catch long-QT syndrome or something else that tends to lie latent for long periods of time.  

[THC321]

Doctor hopping? For what?  To create another anxiety sufferer? There is no back up for your concerns considering that he only has infrequent  PVCs which are observed in most people. Considering this, I would visit a doc once a year.

[klutzer25]

Hi, I am sorry, too, that you are getting these.  My PVCs started when I was a young mother also. I'm 67 now.  They did all the tests, etc., even saw and electrophysiologist. Maybe you can try to see one to reassure you. They are uncomfortable but you learn to live with them. If you keep busy in the day, you may not feel them as much. I feel mine mostly at night. If they seem to happen more with a fast heart rate, perhaps your cardiologist could try Acebutolol for you.  It kept my PVCs away for a whole year.  I am getting them again,  but I try to reassure myself that I've had these for years and nothing bad ever happened to me.  When I worry about them, that can make them worse.  Fear releases adrenaline which stimulates the heart to throw out the pvcs.  From what I've learned, they are caused by cells in the heart that have decided to send out their own electric signals for the heart to beat, and that interferes with the normal beat of the heart. Nasty little cells!  But you are not alone.  So many people get these, more women than men.  Try to take deep breaths and relax and tell yourself it's okay.  You won't die from this.  Tests showed all is okay except the electric system in your heart is a little goofed up. And I would recommend praying and asking God for peace and to take the fear away. I've gotten several PVCs just while typing this.  I've learned over the years that I have been able to live with these, as miserable as they can make me feel.  Keep in touch with your cardiologist because you need continual reassurance in the beginning.  I always felt better after seeing mine.  And be sure he is a good cardiologist. Check his/her ratings online.   Oh, also, along with this irregular heartbeat, I raised four kids, survived breast cancer, learned to deal with total sudden hearing loss in one ear from a virus and the accompanying constant ringing in my ears that came with it.  Depression from it all....I'd be lying if I told you I didn't get depressed. But my Christian faith helped me to know that the Lord loves me and cares about all I am going through. If He heals me, great. If not, I can still look back and count my blessings and know that so many other people have suffered worse than me. I am truly blessed and need to remind myself of that any time I feel down.
I wish you the best....God bless you as you walk this path many others of us are walking.  If I can help again, just click on my user name and you can click on send a personal message, upper right side.

[Newly_Retired]

I am in tears after reading your story. I am 62, retired before I was ready due to a change in management. I was there for 40 years and miss the people. I had breast cancer during the last 6 months of work, got through that. I started getting palpitations in July, it’s been horrible. If I’m busy, I can deal better, if not it’s bad like today. I am on a 30 day monitor, I only wanted 24 hours. My doctor thinks this is all anxiety because of all that has happened. I do have a significant history of anxiety. Of course I was crying my eyes out in his office. It’s been 6 months since retirement and I am not used to going from 100 miles an hour to 0 miles an hour on a daily basis. I am on medicine for Anxiety and Depression, have been for years. I don’t know why these are so persistent. I am trying magnesium to see if it helps.

[Meema98]

I’m not sure if what I have are PVCs but I do have ectopic beats.  Just not sure where they originate from.  I wore a 30 day monitor back in May but have been busy with life & haven’t gone back for my results yet.  Whatever I am experiencing is definitely terrifying to say the least.  Mine have been going on for about a year to year & 1/2.  They come in all different forms... I will feel them in my throat & most recently thuds in my chest.  I also have spells when I’m drifting off to sleep where I suddenly wake up feeling as though my breath has been taken & I let out a gasp of some sort.  Idk what that is.  But, I pretty much live in constant fear & anxiety over this although I’ve had blood work, EKGs, echos & 24 hr monitors all say I am perfectly fine.  So, I say all of this to say that I can definitely relate.  I’m sorry you’re experiencing this.  

[Careful35]

I have this same thing. I wake up gasping and choking, feels like my heart stopped or something. Its very scary. It's only happened to me maybe 10 or so times in the last 10 years. I had a sleep study when it very first happened years ago but sleep study was normal. I dont think its sleep apnea as it's a rare occurrence. I do notice it started around the same time years ago that these lightheaded spells I get started and when the spells are at their worse is also the time I get these gasping and choking spells too.

[Careful35]

And I also have documented PVCS, PACS AND SVT.

[Meema98]

I have wondered if I needed to have a sleep study done because on top of my palpitations I stay extremely exhausted & sleepy most every day.  It’s very concerning!  I also need to have an EGD done but am terrified of it so keep putting it off.  Good luck to you & I hope you find the answers you need & healing from these terrible things!!  

[Careful35]

What's an EGD?

[Careful35]

Nevermind I looked it up. I had one earlier this year and dont be afraid, its not bad at all... Admittedly, I was scared too but when it was over I wondered why I was so scared lol

[anxiousalways93]

Careful- Is there anyway you could describe what NSVT would feel like?

[Meema98]

Sorry, just seeing your reply about the EGD!

[Meema98]

Sorry, just seeing your reply about the EGD!

[klutzer25]

I often have thousands of these PVCs a day. I have had this condition since 1978 and I'm 67 years old now. It does affect the quality of life. Doctors are not very sympathetic, especially if they have never experienced these irregular beats.  They just say they are benign. But that doesn't help you to cope. I read a study that said people benefited from Acebutolol.  I asked my cardiologist if I could try it and he said that it was an older drug but worth a try. I am on 400mg twice a day and it has been like a miracle. I might get an occasional PVC in a month, but most of the time I am not aware of any at all.  Previously I had like 10,000 or more a day.  It might be worth a try to ask for Acebutolol. God bless.

[emy87]

Thank u so much for the reply and for sharing. I’m so glad to hear that the Acebutolol works for u. I know how miserable it can be. Like u said it definitely affects the quality of life. And it’s so hard to cope with. I hate that drs just send u on your way and expect u to deal with and ignore it. I’m not sure how you’re suppose to ignore a huge extra thump that takes your breath away and keeps happening all day long. And the episodes are so much worse. I feel like that’s what I need too is a miracle. I’ll ask my dr and look into it, but I’m already on metoprolol and I think they’re similar? I’m not sure. The metoprolol unfortunately doesn’t do much for me but I only take a low dose.