30,000 pvcs and 133 NSVT

Hi everybody.  I am so happy to find this site!  I have been feeling very alone with this v-tach problem for the last 4 years.  Anyhow, I would like to ask if anyone has ever had a Holter monitor show as many PVCs and Vtachs as I had on my last one?  All my other Holters have only around 2000, so I'm kind of freaked out about 30,000.  Although I have been under ALOT of stress since January and I can't help but think that is the reason for the huge increase.  Also, my last echo showed my lower part of my heart is MILDLY enlarged.  Everything else was normal.  My cardiologist is concerned about the enlargement and is sending me to an EP (the same EP who 4 years ago told me the vtach wouldn't kill me and he could see at that time I had too many problem sites, that ablation wasn't an answer for me)  So I am wondering what kind of treatment I might need and if I am justified in being so scared.  I know that my PVCs get lots worse when I am upset, and to say I'm upset now is an understatement!!!
Thanks so much.

BTW...I have been taking Calan SR for the last 4 years.  

[maggie00]

Thanks Connie for the response, I really appreciate knowing that someone has had similar problems.

To answer your questions, the EP is from a Heart Hospital, so I am only going on the assumption that he does alot of ablations.  My appointment is a week from today, so I will be asking LOTS of questions.

My heart function actually went up.  It was 50% six months ago, and now, 1 week before the 30,000 pvc Holter, it was 55%.  Go figure???

I'm scared that he will want to at least try an ablation, and I'm worried that it not only won't help. but will cause more problems.

I only have nstv.  So far, at least.  haha

Thanks again

Maggie

[Momto3]

Hi Maggie00!!

I'm not sure if I've ever had 30,000 pvcs on holter, but I did get reports with 20,000+.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if I didn't have more on other days...You are definitely not alone, you are in great company on this forum : )
I didn't have as many nsvt episodes, but like I said perhaps on a different day, not sure.  I had 2500 couplets, some triplets, runs, etc. so I think I have a pretty good idea of what you are feeling.  Sounds like you are kinda used to the ectopics, funny how that happens.  

In my case, I'm sure stress was a contributor, but all in all, the doctor felt that I would have had them anyway.  My sister asked her cardio if she had a different heart, would she be rid of the pvcs...He said, "No, it's the wiring, not the heart."  I thought that was interesting.  

Anyway, despite having all those pvcs, I was also told "benign" and found that to be so until the persistent frequency led to cardiomyopathy (the ventricle was enlarged and not pumping right; my EF was about 40%).  Did you doctor tell you your ejection fraction?  That's when the "benign" pvcs became a concern. I was multifocal and therefore tried antiarrythmics as a first line of treatment. Like you, an ablation may not have gotten all the foci.  I took the medicine for about 7 months and finally asked about trying an ablation. I didn't like the side effects of the RX and didn't realize I'd have to take it for the rest of my life...which I hoped would be long ; 0

Soooo, in 2003, I had two very successful ablations (different foci) and the cardiomyopathy has resolved completely.  Are you going to a facility where they routinely perform ablations?  

Were you in true VT, or nsvt?  I had lots of nsvt, but never went into true VT. Still felt weird!  Don't be frightened, a good EP is what you need to get on the road to recovery.

Keep us posted.
Connie

[ddavey]

hi maggie,   if you look back to page 2 of this forum you will see a post i did about my daughter,(cardiomyopathy secondary to arrythmias) also answered by momto3 (she is great)    my daughter had a reading on a holter done in july that showed 30,752     she is now seeing a new cardio out of u of mich and it is possible that her dilated cardiomyopathy is from very frequent arrythmias, and we may do an ablation    i am hoping that an ablation will work (and hoping the cm is caused by arrythmias) because in the 21/2 yrs since diagnosis she has not improved.  an ablation may very help you, i know it is scary, but it could seriously help

[Momto3]

Maggie00,

Great plan, go armed with lots of questions!!  You're gonna do great : )

Ddavey,

Thanks for the kind words.  I'm so rooting for your daughter!!  Is the ablation scheduled, or are you still trying to decide?  For me, the ablation was not bad at all....Off to la-la land, woke up pretty much in NSR (more so the second time)  : )  

Keep us posted you two.  Have a fabulous weekend!

Connie