Heart Problems (Follow-up

[sptpr]

I wanted to add to my last post that not one cardiologist ever mentioned the possibility of pericarditis until I saw an internist who thought I may have had that.  Since my episode in November of 2000 I have never had any further chest pain, either at rest or during my workouts.  I am not into aerobic training, just strictly strength training.  I wonder if by training very strenously has done something to my heart.  I usually only do 1 to 2 sets for a muscle group but I train to absolutely failure.  The tests have apparenly indicated otherwise.  I mentioned before that I was supplementing with COQ-10 and Hawthorn, as well as Fish Oils because I felt that since the cardiologists were doing anything I had to do something to strengthen my heart.  I don't know what happended to me back in 2000 that suddenely triggered my heart to become so excited and out of control.  I'm concerned that because none of the cardiologists have done anything (medications, etc) I am headed towards heart failure because they can't seem to find anything.  I never had anything like this before November 2000 and it just suddenly came on like a light switch and hasn't gone away.  I took myself to the ER recently and told them I was having chest pains so they would see me and they did an x-ray and blood tests, all normal.  Troponin was one of the tests and it was normal.  They put me on a heart monitor for about four hours which didn't seem to show anything.  Once again, they dismissed me and suggested that I stop taking my supplements.  This is killing me that no one seems to know what's wrong ??????

[Cleveland Clinic]

See below.

good luck

[LukeL]

Also supplements can be very dangerous especially when you mix them and take more then the recommended daily dose. Also they have almost no FDA regualtions so virtually anything can be in them.

If you want to strength your heart just do the following (if given an all clear by your doctor)

1. Aerobic exercise 3 times a week. (If you prefer weight lifitng do a form of speed lifiting where you use low weight high reps, if done correctly your heart will be around 120-140 the entire time)

2. Eat tons of fruits and vegetables. An easy way to do this is to have them by your computer or chair when you are watching TV because this is the time we often eat without thinking about it.

3. If you want fish oil get it from whole salmon either steaks or filets. Canned can even be good.

4. Eat some whole grains and avoid all refined flour and sugar

5. Get plenty of sleep

6. Most importantly avoid all forms of stress.

Just remember I am not a doctor and this is only my advice.

[LukeL]

Also in the future please only post one question a day and try to condense it so it fits in one post. As you know the forum resets at a different time every day and you need to be ready to post right away when that happens, so please leave a question open to others and remember you can no longer post for six months.

Still hope everything works out.

[Redbaron]

I've been trying to Post a Question for over 4 Months! It's getting to the stage where it would be easier to win the Lottery :)

[tickertock]

Try between 7 a.m. to 12 noon everyday once no questions have been posted for that day, you have be diligent and patient, refreshing and clicking on the post a question bar at least everyone 1-2 minutes for hours, believe me its persistence and the luck of the draw. Good luck.

[tickertock]

I should have added those times are EST or U.S. East Coast time.
Once again Good luck.

[mnjohn]

I have similar problems with my PVCs. If i even have one or two good ones, it will prevent me from going through with any plans i had that day if they involved being away from a hospital.  Like going fourwheeling up north, or hunting, of which i love to do, and have stpped doing because of this.  Any one else have similar probs, and how do start doing what i love again?

[tickertock]

I know what you mean, you need to be in a comfort zone, it's a basic type of panic disorder that is triggered by the pvcs and the fear of the what if's? I've been there and done that, life is too short to stop doing what you enjoy,I have tried never to let pvcs interfere with what i enjoy doing even though strong ones might stop me in my tracks for a moment or two but I keep going and I've had them in the 1000s daily, I can't let my life revolve around them or I'd get nothing done or no enjoyment in life whatsoever, don't let them cripple you. Good luck.

[dmil241]

I kow what you mean. Some days I seem to handle them pretty well. Then I seem to fall apart and struggle to get it together again. The worse time for me is when they have been quiet for awhile. I quess I think they will stay quiet. After a few days of not noticing any thumps, thuds or flickers, even one hard one will make me come undone.

Like last night-my hubby and I were out shopping and all was going well. I was so excited and as we were making a purchase I got a HUGE thud. (You know, the little hand grenade variety that goes off in your chest.) Then I get a warm feeling in my chest and abdomin (abdomen) and feel dizzy for just a second. Well I am telling myself it is just a PVC or less, maybe just a PAC, but I start to feel terrified that I will get another BIG ONE and I just want to go home. No I did not get another BIG ONE, but I just wanted to get someplace where I could be quiet and BROOD-I suppose.

Here I am now disgusted with myself for letting it scare me again and ruin my night when I know better. But I will just keep fighting the urge to be scared by them. Hopefully the next time will be one of my stronger moments instead of one of my weaker ones.

[mnjohn]

Thank you  for the replys guys/gals.  It helps to know im not crazy, (or am I?)jk  I will try my best to keep going with what im doing.  Do you ever get caught far from a comfort zone, and start to panic, omean really panic, and get runs of pvcs that make you almost call 911, which i have actually done.

[upbeat63]

Yes, one of the activities I love to do is hike in the back country, even back country camping where you carry everything in. I guess the fact that I get high frequency PVCs (20,000+/day) is an advantage in that I get so many that I just figure, well, I'm still here, they haven't gotten me yet, so they probably won't. Whether I'm in the middle of a big metropolitan area or the base of a mountain!

All that said, there have been times when I've been out and I've wondered what the heck have I gotten myself into, stupid stupid.

But that feeling eventually wears off. I have left things early to be home to be "safe". But I've felt more stupid after, for leaving.

I guess it's building up a confidence. When it happens enough, the big thumps, the panic--the confidence comes from finding out, hey nothing actually happened. Not this time, not last time. So you begin to take a little more risk, and nothing happens, and you venture out longer or further, and nothing happens. Ya, the thumps and panic might happen, but really, nothing else does.

I didn't get "it" overnight. I've been where you are, so I'm sure you can get out there again too. Gee, I still get scared from time to time, it's what brings me back to this board to get my nerves back in order. But my best advice is get out and play, come back in when you need to, but go right back out again!

[mnjohn]

Thanks upbeat, that will help me alot.  20,000!  Im very, truly sorry. I dont have that many.  I do feel sometimes that its a different beat, not like a normal PVC, when actually im sure it is. Those are the ones that freak me out the most.

[woodruff]

I've had quite a few (up to about 4000) daily pvcs for quite a few years, so I know whereof you guys speak, and based on my own experiences, here is what I think:

When you have every reasonable evidence and reassurance from your doctors that your pvcs are benign and that your heart is normal; when you yourself can see that you can go about your daily activities and that the pvcs do not phyically--physically--hinder you; and when you find your horizons getting narrow because of the "what if" fear, then you are flirting with anxiety/panic disorder and agorophobia.  There's a real risk of wasting a perfectly good life if you don't get help at that point.

Believe me, a good psychiatrist (not just a counselor) who can prescribe meds and work with you on them can save your sanity and give you your life back.

[Fran71]

I'm sure almost anyone with frequent palps has been scared to death some time or another. After talking with many doctors both in person and on the web, and after reading tons of things and being unable to find even 1 different opinion that claimed these things can be dangerous, I've overcome the fear of dying. Right now my biggest fear is about my quality of life. I hear so many of you who have thousands of PVCs a day which are refractory to betablockers. So far the betablocker almost always reduces my PVCs drastically, but I've had brief periods of bigeminy and having them constantly would really be intolerable for me.
I just saw a new cardio, who specializes in arrhythmias. He told me that it's not at all certain that these things get worse with age! I was very relieved.

Have a nice day all of you
Fran

[LukeL]

While it may seem crazy a good way to help get your mind of your health is to find a hobby. I enjoy collecting old video games and video game realted items. While this may seem boring to most people I enjoy it and it keeps my mind busy and off my health and helps me keep my hypochondria in control.

[Redbaron]

Thanks for the tips, I'm East Coast Australia, so I'll have to factor in the time difference.

[Dasobel]

I notice that when someone mentions "palpitations" in a post, there is usually an assumption (natural, I suppose) that they are describing PVCs or PACs.  I have occasional PVCs, but more often, simply have periods when I'm "aware" of my heart beating more forcefully, but at a normal rate and rhythm; no tachycardia, no ectopics, just a "harder" beat that I can feel.  I've had a Holter on while experiencing these symptoms and it showed nothing.  Anyone else get non-PVC palpitations on occasion?

[jeff 67]

Hi,

I am in Brisbane, where are you if you don't mind me asking?

Jeff

[Rosa parks]

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[stlcard1521]

you probably are having a pvc/pac. some people feel them as a hard beat, because they dont feel the initial early beat and the beat after the early beat is usually harder because there is more blood in the heart

[Jslow]

I am so happppy to have found this site. I now know that I'm not alone or crazy! All of these years dealing with PVC's [about 26yrs]with the help of meds have had my emotions on a roller coaster. I knew no one that could relate and my family thought that if the doctor "just hadn't of told me" I wouldn't be so paranoid. I'm a 47 female whose meds don't seem to be effective anymore. Anyway, my doctor is having me wear a monitor while off the meds to see what's my next course of action. Cryo-ablation, may be a consideration. Question, do any of you guys know anyone that's had this procedure and was totally cured [of tach,pvcs]?

[Redbaron]

Hi Jeff, I'm about one hour south of Sydney.

[prjose56]

Hi.  I read your posts on one of the other threads and wanted to ask you a few things.  You say you were having symptoms such as accelerated heart rate from going up a flight of stairs, moving around, etc.  I'm currently having the same symptoms.  At rest my heart rate remains between 60-80 and as soon as I stand up and walk around it jumps 15-20 sometimes 30 beats per minute.  It drives me crazy.  I used to be so active and now I can barely walk a few minutes without my heart racing.  I really don't understand it.  I'd like to chat with you sometime if possible.  My email is lilrican_56***@**** or AIM: prjose56.  Thanks.