Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
A Simple Question ... Maybe
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
A Simple Question ... Maybe
by ChadCA, Feb 20, 2004 12:00AM
A simple question … maybe. Why can’t the medical establishment help those who SUFFER from benign PVCs/PACs.
I began experiencing PVCs 2 years ago, after blood tests, stress tests and an echo, I was booted out the door by the Cardiologist with the all too common phrases of ‘in the setting of a structurally normal heart, the PVCs are benign’ and ‘I see these all the time, don’t worry’.
Okay, I probably will not die from these, but I have a very real medical condition that is controlling my life. My quality of life went from a 10 to a 1 in a matter of weeks. I, like others suffering from these arrhythmias are left begging for help. I hear Cardiologists say it is not life threatening, so no research is done, no support groups are formed. Well depression is not life threatening, nor is penile dysfunction or small breasts, but every city in this country has hundreds of doctors ready to help patients with these issues. Why can’t we have a center for benign arrhythmias? A place where people who suffer from this form of Chinese water torture can go to learn why it is not life threatening, to get specialized physiological therapy, or to get testing done of Magnesium, Potassium and other levels which are known to cause arrhythmias. It is quite possible, by having a center, operating in a structured treatment/evaluation setting, that we may find ways to reduce these arrhythmias and help those afflicted cope with this life altering affliction.
Why is the medical establishment turning its back on this condition, why is no one willing to look under the hood a little further? The lack of interest by the medical community has turned otherwise normal individuals into lay researchers, struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together, searching through the hundreds of PVC related message boards, trying to find a reason for their sudden affliction and looking for the comfort of others. I urge the medical community, including your clinic, to step up to the plate; it may help millions who have lost the enjoyment of life.
I began experiencing PVCs 2 years ago, after blood tests, stress tests and an echo, I was booted out the door by the Cardiologist with the all too common phrases of ‘in the setting of a structurally normal heart, the PVCs are benign’ and ‘I see these all the time, don’t worry’.
Okay, I probably will not die from these, but I have a very real medical condition that is controlling my life. My quality of life went from a 10 to a 1 in a matter of weeks. I, like others suffering from these arrhythmias are left begging for help. I hear Cardiologists say it is not life threatening, so no research is done, no support groups are formed. Well depression is not life threatening, nor is penile dysfunction or small breasts, but every city in this country has hundreds of doctors ready to help patients with these issues. Why can’t we have a center for benign arrhythmias? A place where people who suffer from this form of Chinese water torture can go to learn why it is not life threatening, to get specialized physiological therapy, or to get testing done of Magnesium, Potassium and other levels which are known to cause arrhythmias. It is quite possible, by having a center, operating in a structured treatment/evaluation setting, that we may find ways to reduce these arrhythmias and help those afflicted cope with this life altering affliction.
Why is the medical establishment turning its back on this condition, why is no one willing to look under the hood a little further? The lack of interest by the medical community has turned otherwise normal individuals into lay researchers, struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together, searching through the hundreds of PVC related message boards, trying to find a reason for their sudden affliction and looking for the comfort of others. I urge the medical community, including your clinic, to step up to the plate; it may help millions who have lost the enjoyment of life.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Feb 20, 2004 12:00AM
, Feb 20, 2004 12:00AM
chadca,
I'm waiting for the simple question.
Chronic diseases with no treatments are really the bane of medicine. I wish I had a simple answer or pill for you to take.
The pure prevalence of people with similar complaints affirms how many suffer from the condition.
The nice thing about the internet is that it allows these types of communities and support groups to form. I would use it to your advantage to see how others have dealt with their illness.
good luck
I'm waiting for the simple question.
Chronic diseases with no treatments are really the bane of medicine. I wish I had a simple answer or pill for you to take.
The pure prevalence of people with similar complaints affirms how many suffer from the condition.
The nice thing about the internet is that it allows these types of communities and support groups to form. I would use it to your advantage to see how others have dealt with their illness.
good luck
Related discussions
-
Skipped Beats, PVC's etc. (47 replies):I started again to have these feelings of skipped heart ...[more]
-
Skipped Heart Beats (PVC's § PAC's) (52 replies):Hello Doctor, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for...[more]
-
Sudden Onset Of Palpitations (46 replies):I'm 53,don't smoke, never drank,no drugs,no coffee. Had...[more]
-
PVC's are now constant (122 replies):I have had PVCs, PATs,and Vtach leading to SVT since I ...[more]
-
PVC's and related arrhythmias (68 replies):I am a 49 year old male who since early child hood have ...[more]
-
Lots of Weird Palpitations (35 replies):I am a 38, female, 5' 5", 116 lbs, low cholesterol, BP a...[more]
I truly appreciate you comment regarding other life threatening arrhythmias that need research and treatment, by no means would I suggest study of begin arrhythmias take precedence. I’m only asking that some effort be made to understand the cause of, and to help those who have the begin flavor.
By the way, I don’t drink coffee, eat chocolate or take any type of stimulants. I’m 42, 160lbs, ride my bike three or four time a week, surf and ocean swim every other day and eat a very health and balanced diet. All of my blood tests have come back ‘stellar’. I live the quintessential healthy California lifestyle. In my case I think my metabolism changed in some way when I turned 40. I would just life some doctor to complete some form of comparative analysis of my metabolism, to at least attempt to find the cause
Not so with the penile dysfunction or small breasts! But, the difference there, is that there ARE solutions available for those conditions. Each person so afflicted can make an informed decision as to whether or not to avail themselves of the solution.
Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to the PVC problem. I wish you the best in your search for the answers. I agree that more research needs to be done in this area.
The current thinking is that these electrically-active islands are located in regions of the heart wall/PV ostia where only structural cardiac tissue is really needed. But as evolution and fate would have it, nature didn't think it too important to be too careful about constructing the heart. Basically, we procreated well enough with or without these beasts in our chests.
I think the most significant problem facing the PVC/PAC sufferer is anxiety and OCD. I know I fell victim to it myself and I see it discussed throughout this forum and others. The anxiety feeds upon itself, and leads to both a heightened awareness and a worsening condition (more skips). There's nothing I can say that will make you feel better. But I can say that I solved the problem for myself, because I realized that I was becoming victim to a curious version of OCD. Maybe it's self-realization that is required as the critical first step...once you truly believe you understand the problem and that it's not critical, it's just the way your are constructed, and if you don't stop worrying about losing your life to an imagined runaway arrythmia, you will lose it to an obsession instead. Your choice.
-Arthur
p.s. loved the penile dysfunction and small breasts analogies!
My palps get worse when stressed and after the 100 centimetres (for those in the US that's approx. 40 inches) of snow we got lastnight and the 15-25 centimetres (4-6.25 inches) we are getting tomorrow, well I am stressed. The province declared a state of emergency so we are not allowed on the roads. I am terribly stressed had major panic attacks and palpitations today and thought for sure I was having a heart attack. I managed to calm myself down for my children's sake.
I definitely could use a support group and treatment for the anxiety of the PACs/PVCs.
If anyone has an psychotherapy tricks they'd like to share I'd love to hear them!
at times? eating, reaching over my head, bending over, clothes that are confining around the waist, stomach growling, and heavy lifting. I wonder if it has anything to do with changes in blood pressure. I am not a big person 5'5" 106 pounds and my blood pressure gets low at times 78 over 48 sometimes even lower, I am on low dose beta blocker, the low blood pressure does not affect me too much just cold all the time in sunny California. Also there are heart suport groups in most places. I go to one monthly and it has helped me to realize that as bad as my situaion seems to me at times, there are so many people that have gone through much worse with their hearts and are still with us and finding ways to cope. That helps me a lot when my arrhythmia gets bad. I think having a good understanding doctor makes all the difference in the world. Mine always says there is no magic bullet for this, and I am sure if there were one this doc would find it.
Best Wishes to you, Linda
Dave
I had a stress test and got PAC's while on the treadmill. If there were something more serious, like blockage or something else, they would have noticed it then wouldn't they?
I have completely eliminated these from my diet with resulting complete resolution of my impressive number of PVC/PAC's. To test it, I had a glass of soy milk (containing 'natural flavors') with return of my excercised induced fluttering.
I urge you to look at your diet.
thank
I rarely am alarmed by palpitations (with the inappropriate sinus tachy I didn't feel any even @ 170bpm). I had to have an event monitor for a good while and asked the cardio if it would be alright when I feel the different palps if I could record them, he said yes. It was really interesting, I found out I was having various palps. None to worry about. If anybody gets an event monitor ask about recording all the different palps (maybe that is why you will be wearing one in the 1st place, mine was for syncope).
I will confess to having moments here and there where I stop and pay attn. and wonder if anything will become of my palps. The other night my heart really fluttered and since I am withdrawing from pain meds (Oxycontin and Neurontin) it was one of those such moments.
Maybe if you do a search on the net, particularly Yahoo Groups, you will find a support group to meet your needs. If not, you can make one, it's really easy.
Hugs
P.S. I have read it helps if you make sure you are well hydrated, too.
The only real drastic change I've made is eliminating the 2-4 energy bars a day I was eating. I spend more time in the kitchen, and ALOT of time in the store reading labels. Some soy milk brands, veggie burgers etc have the additives, but others don't. Pretty much anything you add boiling water to and get a meal is out. Too bad for me.
My best recommendation is to go on line and read about MSG (specifically glutamine), read the labels of what you eat, and see if it helps you. Interestingly, in the literature, magnesium supplements have been shown to block the effects of glutamine (MSG). Many in this forum have had benefit from magnesium.....hmmmmmm.
My intake was impressive, while appearing to be a healthy diet, and eliminatining it has completely cured me. I even drink red wine and caffinated coffee again without a problem. How it effects others I don't know, and will mine return, we'll see.
Good luck!
Also, increase your intake of omega-3 acids. Your body needs it. Without it, it will cause heart problems. Omega-3 acids lubricates your heart membranes and promote electrical stability. That is exactly why people who have high level of omega-3 acids in their blood have the lowest risk of fatal heart attacks.
Eat LOTS fo plants. There's NO limit to how much you can eat plants. The darker the color, the better it is for your body. Don't eat too much of the same plant. Your body will thank you for that.
I get occasional PVC's. I noticed that how I eat affects my frequency of PVC's.
-jeff
"MSG is derived from either seaweed or soy, both of which are'natural', and is used to increase the protein content of foods."
There's no strong evidence linking MSG to health problems. In Japan, many consume MSG in large amounts yet their heart disease rate is low and live much longer than most people of other countries. I wouldn't worry too much about MSG as long as we don't consume too much of it.
Seaweed is a rich source of minerals including those that regulate your heartbeats (potassium and magnesium). I eat them occasionally, especially in soups. Just eat a variety of plants. Too much of a single plant isn't gonna help you.
Most heart diseases are caused by several factors, not just a single factor. Many once thought only excessive cholesterol would cause heart attacks. Now, we know it isn't true. Inflammation is a strong factor in creating heart disease. Bacterial infections can cause heart diseases - just not keeping your teeth clean can cause heart problems.
Eating a diet low in fat can reduce inflammation. Fat cells like to carry inflammation agents so less fat is better. If you want to have a moderate fat diet, fine but just eat the right kinds of fats and exercise enough to keep your body burning fats efficiently.
I do suspect inflammation caused by infections can cause PVC's. I remember when I was taking antibiotics, PVC's disappeared. When I finished it, it came back. But that's one time incident - could be coincidence.
-jeff
Chris
It sounds like an arrhythmia and it probably isn't serious because most of them aren't BUT that isn't a diagnosis! No one -- including your doctor - can make an accurate diagnosis ( only an informed guess) without seeing these heartbeats that are bothering you on an EKG... you need to be assertive and insist on an event monitor. You will wear this pager sized device hooked to a couple of small electrodes on your chest while you exercise and afterwards, all the time except when bathing, and push a little button when you feel the weird heartbeats. That will record that part , and the beats before and after it occured will be stored, too.. you send it in over the phone. THAT's how to find out for sure. Otherwise, bud, you are just guessing.. why do that? Just INSIST you need to get to the bottom of these palps.
You have described the kind of arrhythmia that is typically produced following exercise (adrenaline-related). Again, often these islands respond to increased adrenaline and fire off signals more intensely for a while. I would suggest seeking out an educated opinion from a cardiologist or EP to make sure nothing else is going on...but from my experience (which is similar to yours), it sounds like a relatively benign problem.
Why they showed up now is a subject for debate, but it's likely that the "islands" were always there, but with age and exercise, your heart muscle has expanded and spaces between cells have most likely created a channel through which the electrical noise they generate could travel. Another factor which controls how well this noise travels is the state of your nervous system...it is responsible, in part, for regulating how quickly cardiac signals travel through cardiac tissue...so if your autonomic nervous system is charged up (like after exercise), it's once again likely that the electronic freeway is opened for business.
I am no expert, just someone with PACs, who has gotten over it and leads a normal life (playing soccer at age 56). Watch out that you don't develop an OCD about this thing...it will consume you. Just get the facts from the doc and address the issue logically.
Good Luck!
-Arthur
Glutamate is a cellular irritant, studied particularly in the nervous system. It is well documented in the nutritional literature to contribute to arrythmias in some people. The incomplete list of ingredients in my previous post are converted by the body to glutamate after ingestion.
Eliminating these has changed my life, I mearly humbly share my experience for others.
Good luck to you all, and thanks for this forum.
Chris
My question is: does anyone get weak and faint with their irregular heartbeats?
I can't work anymore, am therefore in dire financial straits, and am considered "uninsurable" now with my paroxysmal atrial fib., so can't get medical insurance.
How do you cope with the faintness and/or weakness? How do you live a normal life when you don't know when you'll be passing out?
My husband is so nervous whenever I go somewhere alone. He's had to rescue me several times....thank God for cell phones.
Does anyone else have this problem? My PAC's/PVC's may be "benign", but my weakness gets so bad I can barely beathe or speak sometimes.
Any comments?
Perhaps you should discuss an ablation with your EP. Drugs only reduce the occurence and length of PAF episodes, and they have their own side effects (like feeling tired and weak).
Wishing you the best.
-Arthur
As a matter of fact, Tuesday, March 9th, it will be three weeks since I had a new ablation procedure performed. (My cardiac surgeon had only performed ONE when I scheduled mine!)
It's called a "thoracoscopic Maze procedure". The surgeon went in between my ribs (on both sides - deflating each lung in turn) and used the 'scope and manipulated the instruments from outside the chest wall to burn off pieces of the heart from OUTSIDE the heart. I liked the stats I was given (they've done over 50 of these in the U.S.): he said there was a 70-90% chance this would prevent PAF and there was "practically zero" risk of clots or stroke. I was given only 30-60% chance that the old procedure MIGHT cause 75% fewer episodes, and of course being INSIDE the heart, risk of clots was there.
So far, I'm very pleased. After a few days of heavy pounding PVC'S (but never atrial fib.), I'm feeling good. My energy level is up, and out of the past six days I've only had ONE day when I felt the pounding and weakness. (Little bio: I am ONLY 55 and formerly an active fitness trainer - Masters degree - with no other health problems. My heart is structurally sound and all parameters - cholesterol, etc. - are otherwise normal. I was living a very busy, hectic life with lotsa caffeine, etc, and feel that is what contributed to the atrial fib. to start two years ago.)
My surgeon has people lined up to have this new procedure done. I was number five!
I am optimistic that this is the way to go for those of us who could not lead normal lives due to the a. fib. I hope my having this "experimental" procedure can help others. I'm now looking forward to getting a full time job WITH MEDICAL BENEFITS! Yay! (Only not so stressful!)
Unfortunately, this procedure is so new that my cardiac surgeon (in Sacramento) is the only one who does these on the west coast. They have been doing them in Massachusetts and Florida, apparently.
If anyone is interested, I can give them more info.
- Cathy
Anyway, thank you all for sharing your stories on this site--I am currently in one of my PVC periods. It started about a month ago and I had about a week of PVCs at the rate of one every minute or two. Then it calmed down for a couple weeks to one every 5-10 minutes. But in the past few days it's started up again and is going at once a minute or so and sometimes even more frequently. It's nice to know that other people are going through the same kind of thing.
Anyway, I find this forum very helpful, just knowing I'm not alone in this problem.