CONFUSED

[palpatation boy]

THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY QUESTIONS.

1) I HAVE REALLY BAD PALPATATIONS AND MY FAMILY DOCTOR BLEW THEM OFF AS BENIGN.  I AM NOW SEEING A CARDIOLOGIST AND HE HAS DONE AN EKG WHICH WAS NORMAL AND I AM SCHEDULED FOR A ECHOCARDIOGRAM.  I WAS ON ATENELOL FOR ALMOST A YEAR, I TOLD THE CARDIOLOGIST THIS MADE ME TIRED AND HE SWITCHED ME TO TOPROL XL.  THE PALPATATIONS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AFTER SWITCHING. WILL IT GET BETTER AFTER I ADJUST TO THE NEW MEDICATION?  I HAVE ONLY BEEN ON IT FOR FIVE DAYS.  DOES THIS CAUSE LESS FATIGUE.  MY OTHER QUESTION IS DO THEY DO ABLATIONS FOR FREQUENT PALPATATIONS?  EVERYTIME I GO TO THE DOCTOR MY HEART RATE GOES CRAZY.  THE BETA BLOCKER HAS HELPED BUT I DONT LIKE THE SIDE EFFECTS.  WHEN I WENT TO THE DOCTOR BEFORE THE BETA BLOCKER MY HEART RATE WOULD GO UP TO 120BPM OR HIGHER.  MY BLOOD PRESSURE WOULD ALSO RISE.  IT WAS 170/82 THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK IT AGAIN ONE MINUTE LATER AND IT WAS 150/78.  WHEN I TAKE IT AT HOME WITH A ELECTRONIC MONITOR I JUST BOUGHT IT IS ALWAYS UNDER 120/80.  HOW ACCURATE ARE THE HOME MONITORS?  MY PULSE USUALLY RUNS 80-100.  I AM 25 YEARS OLD AND IN GOOD HEALTH OTHERWISE.  THESE PALPATATIONS COME REALLY BAD AT NIGHT WHEN I GOT TO BED.  I HAD A HOLTER LAST YEAR THAT SHOWED ECTOPIC BEATS BUT NOTHING SERIOUS, HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT BAD WHEN I WORE THE HOLTER.  WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A CARDIOLOGIST TO REFER SOMEONE TO A CARDIAC EP.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.  YOUR FORUM HAS HELPED ME ALOT.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Sometimes there are subltle differences between medications in the same class. If your palpitations are worse on Toprol, I would suggest you discuss with your physician a change back to Atenolol.

You couls always ask for a referral to an electrophysiologist. It would take alot for an ablation for PVCs.  The fact thta your holter did not show much while you were having symptoms also might make finding the focus responsible for the PVCs difficult.

For the most part, I would try medications and stress reduction therapies in a young person before exposing them to the risk associated with an invasive procedure that has somewhat limited efficacy.  

hope this is a start.

good luck

[pms_barbie]

I really have sympathy for you.  I was having pvcs in the form of bigeminy.....not fun   by any means.  I was given an ablation.  The ablation cured my bigeminy.  However I still have pvcs.  However they are so much better than they were.  I had 2 endure to ablations.  The first one was a wash.  I doubt the pvcs I am having now would warrant another ablation.  I have thought to myself well I would do it again to be rid of them all.  However I think I am sort of treating an ablation like a manicure or something.  I came through the first 2 just fine.  That doesnt mean a third one wouldnt cause me problems.  The dr is right about it taking a lot for a pvc abalation.  Because of the risk, even though they are small they are very real.  Toprol seemed to make my pvc worse too hang in there maybe you will get some relief without having to have an ablation.

[carolina12]

I just want to make a quick comment to everyone that is suffering
from the living nightmare of PVC'S.  I have suffered with them
all my life, and I've been thru all the tests and different
medications.  About 9 months ago, I stumbled on an article about
fish oil getting rid of PVC'S.  I tried it...I think it works!!!
I have been PVC free for 9 months!!!  I am feeling great and I
am back into life again.  I take one 1000 mg. gelcap in the
morning and the same at night.  I want everyone to know what
fish oil seems to have done for me.  Try it.

[hankstar]

Fish oil sames to work for some,also magnesium,I guess what helps one might not help another, anyway anything that can rid one of PVCs besides something that is really life threatening is worth a try. Frankly I tried fish oil and if anything it probably made mine worse or could be purely coincidental.
I think persons that are prone to episodes of PVCs will have them wax and wane from time to time for no appparent reason regardless of medication or other forms of treatment. I think atenolol works great for me, but i think when its time for an episode, nothing can really stop them. Just my personal opinion and personal observation.

[mrbh]

It can be so difficult coping with PVC's/palps because there really isn't much that can be done. Beta blockers or ablation. Gee...not much of a choice.

From my long and checkered personal experience, Inderal is about the best of the BB's I have tried. I still use it now. Toprol was awful because it caused me absolutely brutal gastric distress and was useless when hit with "an episode."

Cut down on stress (my problem for sure), knock off alcohol, tobacco and cold remedies (decongestants) and see what your docs have to say about some of the supplements mentioned here. Always consult your doctor before changing any of your treatment regimen.

Hang in there. Good luck!

[Tixona]

Wow!  This website is blowing me away.  I just found out I am having PVC's.  These things are the worst and from what I am reading, everyone just has to "deal" with it?  This is ridiculous.  With modern medicine I would think there has to be a way to correct this and it seems all of our conversations just end up with everyone just "living" with it.  I don't like this one bit.  I am an active person.  Eat right.  Run every day.  Now I am thinking I can't exercise without suffering with this?  I can't have a drink of wine?  I have yet to see the cardiologist (can't see me for 2 weeks) so I guess we will have to see what my issue is.  I know for a fact that once you experience this, you have anxiety!  It is really unsettling to feel this strange wiggling of your heart in your chest.  It makes you feel like your breathing rhythm is off.  I am going to get so fat if I can't do aerobic exercise of some kind.  Please help me understand this living hell I am experiencing all of a sudden?????

[arthur]

Some thoughts about how these critters work are detailed in my comments under 10/18.  Hope that helps.  PACs and PVCs are usually no more than bothersome, assuming an otherwise healthy heart.  Knowledge is a powerful antidote to anxiety, so read up and talk to the cardio.

-Arthur

[Tixona]

Arthur,

Thank you for some insight.  I know having the tests (blood and stress echo) will shed some light also.  It is a little unnerving initially when you feel healthy and live a healthy lifestyle to all of a sudden get these.  I am not an anxious person and in fact, very at peace with myself and my life but I'll tell you what....when I felt my first PVC, I sure as heck had a nice anxiety attack!  I have tried to keep myself calm and in fact am taking an hour long yoga class this weekend along with a spa treatment!!  So, let's see if that helps and I can give everyone else some advice!!!  :)

Again thanks for the info.

[JasJas]

I have tried a few things to stop my palps. Deep belly breathing sometimes helps me. A hot cup of herbal tea (I like sleepy time). The problem is it's hard to know what works. When I get them I try not to sit and count every beat. I get up and do something. Anything. You feel them less when you are standing I find. Then before you know it there are gone and you've also gotten something accomplished.

I'm not making light of you symptoms. I know how unsettling they can be. Someone who wasn't an anxious person suddenly experiencing palps then you feel anxious all the time, but try to relax. Get plenty of rest. Keep exercising regularly even if it's just walking. Exercising will help stress and help you sleep at night.

I feel for you, tixona. I've been having them for a while now and they still freak me out sometimes.

Just remember, you're not alone.
Jas

[TITUS]

I've had trouble with PVCs for years.  I also had SVT and went to Orlando Heart Center under the care of an electrophysiologist.  Here is what I found workes for me.  These were all suggested by my heart doctor there.

1.  Sectral (acebutolol) - this is the ONLY beta blocker clinically tested and approved for PVCs.  It is far superior to any other I've tried.

2.  Magnesium - Doctors at Orlando Heart Center put 90% of their patients on magnesium (anywhere from 400 mg to 1,200 mg)

3.  CoQ10 - this helps with headaches and palpitations

4.  Flaxoil - this, like fish oil, is a blood thinner, so you need your doctor's OK, especially if you are taking other blood thinners.

5.  The most important discovery I made years ago and finally it is becoming "mainstream thinking" is that ACID REFLUX and INDIGESTION CAUSE PALPITATIONS.  I cannot stress this enough.  When I'm upset and go for my morning walk, I have to turn around because the PVCs are so bad.  At first I thought stress was causing them, then I discovered if I take aciphex (prescription required) PVCs were reduced dramatically.  Gaviscon helps, but not like aciphex.  The reason acid reflux causes palpitations is that the vagal nerve runs in the area of the esophogus and the heart.  If it's irritated by reflux, the heart can get jumpy.  That's also why wearing tight pants can cause PVCs.

God bless you.

Kim

[mrbh]

These episodes can really disturb your entire life routine. So, for what it is worth, I understand and relate to your suffering.

One brief observation...you mentioned "having a drink of wine?". You may well have to give up all alcohol. Forever. My doctors ordered this for me back in 1992 when my troubles first began. The booze can trigger palps (or worse) and is destructive to you health in general.

I was a light, social drinker (at worst), yet my docs said my next drink would kill me. If you are advised to give up alcohol, DO IT without question or hesitation. Cold turkey.

Good Luck.

[dquenzer]

As a long time sufferer of primarily PAC's and then AFIB, I sympthasize with you.  People who don't suffer from this have a hard time understanding the situation.  Thankfully at age 49 I had an ablation that helped tremendously.  I still have some PAC's and PVC's, everybody does.  Most people don't feel them.  They are the lucky ones.

Until I had AFIB I pretty much had coped with PAC's.  These were my strategies:
1)  Atenolol.  This was by far the best med for me.
2)  Clonazepam.  An anti-anxiety med.  This helped in two ways:  If I was starting to have a panic attack from getting PAC's I would take a small dose to help me relax. This usually helped.  Once you are in a panic attack it becomes a vicious circle. And I always took it at night to help me sleep. Atenolol didn't make me tired it gave me insomnia.
3)  I started back at running.  Soon I had learned to cope with them and even get used to them.  I knew they wouldn't kill me.  Running gave me a kind of "I-not-going-to-let-this-beat-me" attitude.
4)  Avoid caffiene, decongestants, chocolate.  Basically anything that has a stimulant.
5)  Get plenty of rest.  To me they were a trigger if I was over doing it.  STRESS is a very big factor.

I soon learned to accept them over time.  It takes awhile.  In the mean time you need to deal with the anxiety.  If yoga works great.  If not, don't be afraid to ask for meds.  Stop the vicious circle.

Unfortunately I got AFIB later.  That's when I had an ablation and they fixed most the of the hot spots.  But as the doctor said, that's a last resort.  It's very expensive and has some risk.  It should only be used if meds faile. Meds didn't keep me in rythmn so I had the ablation.

Good luck, and for what little encouragement this is you will adjust over time.  But you might need some help doing it.

PS Stay away from always checking your heart.  It will just make things worse.

[palpatation boy]

Thank you everyone for you answers and support.  It is nice to hear from people with the same problem.  I talked to the cardiologist and he switched me back to atenelol.  He said that he may want to just take me off of the medication and let me deal with them naturally, and with exercise.  I have always beleived in nutritional healing and now is a good opportunity to put that beleif into action.  I hope everyone the best of luck and just know that everyone has helped me alot.  This is a great forum. I will tell everyone my success story after I get into the shape of my life. God Bless and good luck.  

[Tixona]

Hello everyone.  This is Tixona.  Thank you all so much for your advise.  Hearing these things from others suffering (or not suffering anymore!) with PVC's or PAC's is a great relief.  Just knowing I am not alone.  I have felt better after practicing what advice you have given me.  My tests are all next week.  Keeping myself calm has made them feel less intrusive on my life.  I, at first, was checking my pulse all the time seeing what they felt like and then I would have an anxiety attack.  I have stopped doing that now.  I did yoga but that didn't really do anything.  I ran everynight after work at least 5 miles prior to the PVC's starting.  So it feels strange to not exercise.  I am going to start walking on the treadmill.  I feel I have to do something and if it isn't going to kill me then I will do light exercise until my tests.  I was also told that women can experience this during menopause.  I am perimenopausal so maybe with blood tests, they will find that to be the cause.  REgardless, you have all been the best and I appreciate you coming to a complete strangers aid in a time of need!  I feel a great deal better just hearing from all of you!  Kudos, my friends!  

Peace,

Tixona

"practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty"

[jennifer79]

Hello everyone. I posted a question a little while back under "heart flutters". Today I got the test results of the 24 hr. holter monitor and the echocardiogram. Dr. says everything looks great and that I have a healthy heart.They are just extra beats. He said he noticed some extra beats while I was wearing the holter but the whole time I wore the holter I never felt one of the flutters. I have read that if you dont feel the flutter(palpitation) then they can not fully diagnose you. I told the dr. this and he said that was true but because I am on toprol and that does seem to be helping and because of my age,etc... that I have nothing to worry about. Of course I am a hyprocondriact..lol so I still worry! Does anyone think I should continue to worry or just try to deal with these things and live life? Thanks for any input!

[palpatation boy]

I HAVE HAD PALPATATIONS FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.  I AM ONLY TWENTY FIVE.  MY FAMILY DOCTOR TOLD ME MY PALPATATIONS WERE NOT HARMFUL AFTER GIVING ME THE HOLTER MONITOR FOR TWENTY FOUR HOURS;HOWEVER I DIDNT HAVE ANY FLUTTERS EITHER.  I TOLD HIM THAT THE PALPATATIONS GET PRETTY BAD AT TIMES SO HE RECOMMENDED I SEE A CARDIOLOGIST TO GIVE ME REASSURANCE.  I AM GETTING A ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND POSSIBLE OTHER TEST.  WHEN THESE COME BACK NORMAL, THEN I CAN FEEL REASSURED.  WHATEVER HAPPENS KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE ON THIS.  TONS OF PEOPLE SUFFER FROM THE SAME THING.  IF IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ASK YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR  TO REFER YOU TO A CARDIOLOGIST OR IF YOUR INSURANCE ALLOWS IT CALL ONE YOURSELF.  I AM SURE YOU ARE PROBABLY FINE, BUT THIS WILL HELP YOU TO EXCEPT THEM AND MOVE ON.  THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH THESE PALPATATIONS.  EXERCISE, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND AVOIDING CAFFEINE ARE A FEW.  HOPE THIS HELPS.  GOOD LUCK.

[jennifer79]

palpitation boy, what a coincidence,I am 25 too! I went to my family dr. first and he did an ekg,and bloodwork and said I had tachycardia due to anxiety and it was nothing to worry about. I on my own called a cardiologist because I just wasnt happy about what my dr. had told me. The cardiologist ordered the 24 hr. holter monitor and an echo.and said I was experiencing a few extra heartbeats and not to worry

[steveaustin99]

Can anyone help me with my problem? How to get exercise when getting my heart rate up creates PVC's? I have to stop several times when mowing the lawn and wait 5 mins before continuing. I went throug all the tests, EKG, Treadmill and all the doctor did was raise my atenolol from 50mg to 100mg. My History: In May 2003 I though I was having a heart attack but it turned out to be chest wall muscle spasams. I then started an exercise program for 5 months by walking up 8 floors of stairs twice a day and walking fast outside for 30 mins five days a week. Then the PVC's started later in the evening and after 18 straight hours of them I drove to the doctors office and had an anxioty attack on the way (could not breath and almost passed out). I had been on atenolol since 1996 for high blood pressure and was given short term some Diltiazem which after a few days got the PVC's to end. My PVC's now only start during physical activity. I need the exercise for my heart health and lowering my colesterol (bad muscle reaction from lovistatin) and weight. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[dquenzer]

It's very difficult at times to know what to do when you are suffering from these things.  I had PAC's while exercising, and it was bothersome, but I finally decided to just live through them and run anyway.  But PAC's are different than PVC's.  Are you sure they are PVC's or PAC's?

First, if you are exercising and are not symptomatic i.e. shortness of breath etc. then I would continue to exercise with a doctor's permission.

How often are you having them?  I would get a PAC once every minute sometimes, and sometimes once every few minutes, and then at their worst once every few seconds.  

I'm wondering if you aren't suffering some kind of anxiety issues along with this.  It might be helpful if you go to a counselor to be evaluated on your anxiety level.  Stress affect PVC's.

I would also suggest that you go to an EP specialist.  They might be able to help you in some way.

[MZSEYE]

HI
MY NAME IS MRS. I AND I AM A 42YR OLD FEMALE WITH A HISTORY OF HEART PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK, TRIPLE BYPASS, 7 STENTS. I TOO HAVE PVC'S AND EVERYTIME IT TURNS OUT TO BE THAT MY PATASSIUM IS LOW.