Feeling Heart Skip Beats, On New Diet. Told Not to worry I have PVC? 'Worrying'

[NoCarbs]

Hello
I recently went to the Doctor for the Sudden onset of Palpitations. I was given a EKG, Then wore a Halter Monitor for 24 hours. Then Had an Echo Done. The Doctor told me everything was fine and that I was just nervous and not to worry about them. I am a 43 yr old over weight male, with a family history of Heart Disease, both parents died from Heart Attacks 1 Grandparent and 4 uncle's ( whom were all under 45 ) I have been on the Atkins diet for 5 weeks and lost 51 pounds the second week in I got them back again and thought it was the Vitamin I was taking so I stopped it. They went away for 3 weeks. Now today they are back, I have been to my doctor 3 times today because of them. He said it was stress because they were not present the first 2 time I stopped in. The third time I stopped he finally heard them and said they are PVC?? Nothing that isn't normal in most people. Because of my weight loss my blood pressure is 120/70 and I have stopped the Water Pills but am still taking the potassium. He ordered a Blood test for Potassium levels, and told me to stop my potassium supplement. All of a sudden I have these Darn things back it feels like going down a roller coaster and having the **** scared out of you. I am really worried, Please advise? I didn't have these problems when I was fatter, should I just go back to eating pasta and bread and cookie and cakes? HELP

[LadyNRA]

I know exactly how you feel.  I'm 51.  Never had any heart issues except for a lifelong murmur which an echo showed as normal and benign 3 years ago.  I had some minor flutters over the last couple of years but it felt more like stomach gas, lasting 15-30 sec. and not more than a couple of times a year at that.  So suddenly I wound up in the ER 2 weeks ago with multiple PVCs.  They did the usual tests, including another echo.  Said everything was perfectly normal and sent me home.  Meanwhile, I'm still getting what I estimate to be between 3,000 and 4,000 PVCs a day.  I can feel them, sometimes even up into my throat.  

In addition, I need to lose a whole person, weight wise.  I've tried all sorts of things, like watching calories and watching fat.  I finally had to face facts, nothing makes me lose quicker than lowering my carbs and given the stress on my job and the urge to snack while on the job, it's been a tough road (I've only been doing this about 3 weeks).  

But everything I have read, both here and in other sources, have said that these PVCs aren't going to hurt you, provided they aren't really really numerous (someone said like 20,000 a day).  Ive read folks who've said they've had these since teen years, and had them 20-30 years.  Most of the time they don't know why it starts like this.  I want to blame my having my hypertension meds doubled (I wound up in the ER 5 days after taking the med after it was doubled).  But I don't know if that's the culprit.  

I don't freak out.  I'll admit I'm nervous.  I think everyone is like that.  I watch for how and when I notice it more.  I notice that activity makes it less obvious although I can't say it goes away.  It's hard to stay active but just the act of standing up and ambling around a bit takes the sensation away.  I bribe my daughter into giving me a scalp message.  That one works pretty good.  LOL!  And I've noticed that I'm not as likely to notice them if I'm socializing.  Again, I don't know if I'm relaxing and they ease up/go away for a time, or if I simply don't notice them, but I'm already learning some tricks to stop myself from dwelling too much on it.  I also notice that talking about it, like now, makes them seem more obvious (ain't that the pits).  I rely on my faith too.  Helps to feel less stressed out.  

Some folks have also said that these come and go in waves, sometimes lasting months and then disappearing for a good while, perhaps to return but hey, I'll take that "quiet" time.

Even before this, my doctor had approved me getting into a cardiac risk management program (I'm not a diabetic by the way).  And I'm am truly looking forward to this for lifestyle changes, getting monitored exercise time, and working on preventing my becoming diabetic).

[anacyde]

South Beach Diet!

Ahem.  Anyhow, I know where you're coming from.  Dad, early stages of MI at 47, subsequent CABG x3 next day.  His father, massive fatal MI at 55.  Three uncles; CABG x6 in 51 yr old uncle, CABG x4 in 46 yr old uncle and one who is being monitored carefully for 60% blockages, not yet treatable since he is asymptomatic.  I worry.  I have ZERO trans fat, watch my saturated fat, exercise daily with specific cardio 3x/wk, take vitamins and try to comsume "good fats" like almonds.  I don't smoke and I won't go anywhere where they allow it (YAY OHIO WENT SMOKE-FREE!)

All that said, I too suffer from the palpitations.  Mine are atrial for the most part (PACs) but it's the same basic idea and the triggers are usually the same.  If your heart checked out okay and you have no other symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath, etc) then don't let this stress you out.  PVCs are typically benign in people with structurally normal hearts.

Hope this helps ease your mind some.

[LaRae]

With your family history of heart attacks under the age of 45 sounds like you're doing the right thing by committing to a diet in order to improve your health- including your "heart health." I wouldn't abondon your diet based on the fact that you're now more aware of your PVCs. I don't know if this is true or not, but I've heard that PVCs can be felt more strongly by thin people. Perhaps your loss of weight has made you more aware. If I were you I would chose the lesser of two evils at this point and stick with the diet plan. Continue to monitor your heart and PVCs. Caffiene (and definitely anxiety) will make them increase for sure. I hate PVCs too and have lots every day. It's hard not to obcess about them, but try to be strong and concentrate on the good things you are doing for your health. good luck.