High Cholesterol/BP and PVC's

[Eddie 14]

2nd post in 6 months, this will be my last. If it's not one thing, it's another. I'm frustrated.

PVC's

Over the last 3 months now I'm getting a lot of PVC's. Single Foci, never back to back, but some runs of bigeminy. I notice it much more at rest than exercise. I feel like my Internist is sick of me at this point so I haven't asked for a Holter. I do know that I'm getting 1200-1500 a day (I have access to a ECG) and over an hour I'll throw 60 or so.

PVC questions.

1. I am positive these PVC's are single foci, and from the LBB. I'm trying to relax and ignore them, but with occasional chest, and a TON of jaw pain (aches, shooting) I'm still nervous. Would you rec a stress echo? (for clinical reasons, not just to put my mind at rest). I passed a thallium stress in January.

2. Is it "normal" with PVC's to have them get worse as a day goes on? Very few when I wake up, worse afternoons and evenings.

3. After the PVC my HR will speed up from 75 ish to 90ish for a few beats, then it drops into the 60's before leveling out. Is that normal? (speeding up makes sense, the drop below baseline doesn't to me).

Cholesterol.

I'm 33, I've lost weight (only 15 lbs overweight) and been eating better. Yet my total has gone up is now 270, ldl 175, hdl 60 My BP is also a bit high.  Statins have caused cramping. I'm on zetia and altace, and baby aspirin. I'm eating healthy now. Inernist says maybe welchol next.

1. Anything else you would suggest?

Sorry to be a pest, I have a horrid family history and want to do what I can. I'm really trying to relax.

[Cleveland Clinic]

eddie,

Its not me your driving crazy with this, It unfortunately yourself.

A significant family history gives you reason to worry in the long term, but you really need to get beyond the worry and focus on the present. Overall, it really sounds like you are moving in the right direction with your weight loss. I wouldnt be to concerned with the small changes in your lipid profile. The most important thing is that you continue a healthy lifestyle that incorporates further weight loss and exercise.

If you search back in the forum for PVCs you will see that it it a very common problem. Without any indication of significant heart disease, they carry no significant negative prognosis for you. The most important thing is to cope with them in a healthy manner. Searching the forum might give you some ideas on how others have done that. PVCs often become a focus of obsession for people with 'heart worries'.  As I mentioned, it would be helpfoul to try to avoid this. Some people do derive benefits from some medications such as beta blockers, with resepct to the frequency of ooccurence.

It sounds like your on the right track. Keep it up. Enjoy yourself.

good luck

[Eddie 14]

Side note.

Have you ever considered putting together a FAQ for the heart forum.  I know many topics like PVC's, Cholesterol etc come up frequently.

Thanks again.

[kitcurious]

"Side note.

Have you ever considered putting together a FAQ for the heart forum. I know many topics like PVC's, Cholesterol etc come up frequently.

Thanks again."


Hi Eddie. They do already have an archive. You can type in PVC and past questions and answers will be there.
Good luck with your question.

[skippyheart]

Eddie,

Lots of people will tell you their pvcs get worse in the afternoon and evening. Mine sometimes feel like they are on a schedule.

I can almost guarantee you the increase in heart rate is partly from anxiety - my heart rate used to increase everytime I felt one (and my frequency is often higher than yours). Once you overcome the fear your heart rate will probably remain steady.

Good luck!

[Momto3]

Would you mind reposting your "list?"  It might help some of the newbies : )

Thanks!
Connie

[skippyheart]

Don't know what exactly to call this - will take suggestions :)
Here are (in my experience), the phases you go through dealing with PVCs. From the responses on the forum, they seem to be a fairly common experience:

1) You are sure you are going to die, and every beat brings about other symptoms like light-headedness, breathlessness, high-blood pressure (all anxiety related).
2) You go to the ER a few times. They bring you in right away, then send you home telling you there's nothing wrong (they're right)
3) You go to a cardio, get a full workup (and pass with flying colors)
4) You don't believe the doctors, keep having anxiety attacks, read everything about PVCs on the internet everyday, become agoraphobic, and try to isolate every trigger (there is no one trigger except anxiety)
5) You try to will them away (you can't cause you're still thinking about them)
6) You become anxious thinking your PVCs are going to get worse (and they do, since anxiety is the one common denominator)
7) One day you get pissed off, and go about your life regardless of the PVCs, figuring who cares if they kill you since you're at your wit's end anyway (you live)
8) You start to realize nothing bad ever actually happens to you while having pvcs, start going about your normal life, and start ignoring them and forgetting about them (they don't go away yet)
9) You start really forgetting about them (they never go away completely, but occur much less often, and you don't care about them anyway)
10) You troll the forums to help other people :)

(P.S. to Connie - I'm writing this from Rex in Raleigh - Mom's in for some routine pre-knee surgery care. They have WiFI now - isn't technology wonderful?)

[momto3girls]

Hi Skippyheart,

I've read your post before but I just love it!  Very helpful and right on the money too.  There really are phases to pac/pvc anxiety aren't there?  I'm like a 9 1/2 right now, not quite 10 but a little past 9.  Too funny and so true (:  Best wishes!  Hey you should call it something like 10 steps to pvc/pac freedom!

[annako]

I really have found comfort in this site.  You are all very insightful and very helpful. I am wondering if anyone knows if with atrial fibrillation is there every any consistency with the heart rhythm pattern or is is always all over the place.  I know a holter will differentiate between pvc's and AF but what would be the difference in what you feel in the pulse.  I get beats with pauses sometimes every 2nd or 3rd and my doc told me they are pvc's but Im scared it could be AF.  She doesnt think so cause my "fluttering" always stops when I move or walk around.  It always eradicates the abnormal rhythm.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  THanks in advance.

[dmil241]

I would like to run a question past all of you also. When you wake suddenly in the middle of the night, do any of you feel like your heart is beating irregularly very fast? It seems like it is out of rhythm but I am groggy when I get woken up suddenly in the dead of night from a sound sleep. I have often wondered if it is A-fib but it stops shortly and goes back to beating regularly. I have just wondered if this is something many people experience and is nothing to worry about. My heart has been completely checked out and is structurally normal. I'm just wondering if others experience this.

[Momto3]

Hey neighbor!!

You are SO funny!!!  Stay out of the ER and don't you dare stop by cardiology ; )

Hope "mom" is well and the surgery goes off without a hitch...Good luck to her!

Yep, gotta love WiFi....You're getting pretty good at connecting to the net as you're out and about...TOO FUNNY!!

Thanks for reposting the list.  We need to come up with a name for it...Any suggestions out there!  It is so appropriate for those who stress over pvcs.  Thankfully, I enjoy the peacefulness of being on #9 and #10.

Thanks again Skippy!  

connie

[momto3girls]

Hi there,

Yes, I very often wake at night or right in the morning and feel as if my heart is racing and jittery.  Happens nearly every morning sometimes even after a rare nap (:  I've too had my heart checked out and it is structurally fine and normal.  Another poster made a comment about having a sensitive central nervous system which might explain the extra adrenaline and tachycardia when waking or being startled while sleeping.  Just wanted you to know you're in good company (:  Best wishes!

[fablegirl]

I LOVE "THE LIST"!    When I am feeling crazy I go to the list and it calms me down... You left out the part about being defribbrilated LOL......and you really do make me feel like YOU UNDERSTAND....bravo for skippyheart...

[Momto3]

So glad to hear you've joined some of us on step #9.  Ain't life great after eight?  LOL

Great name for the list!

Stay well : )

connie

[annako]

hey again..can anyone answer my post from above regarding the difference between atrial fibrillation and pvc's?  Thank yoU!

[Momto3]

Al,

As always, great information!!  I always ask for copies of my reports too. Although some of it is in medical speak, I find comfort in tracking my own health.  I trust my doctor implicitly, but that's after finding one that leaves no stone unturned.  

Thanks for the clarification of pvcs v. af.  More good info!

Fred,

Hopefully, you're upcoming ablation will resolve your painful pvcs.  I tend to agree with you that viral illnesses can sometimes leave us with residual side effects.  I am hopeful that your ablation will give you your life back. Stay well and remain optimistic that your doctor, with some divine intervention, will have the skill and patience to help you get relief. Hope you are doing well.

connie

[lak]

I have thousand of pvc's daily.  I don't feel them to often but I am getting concerned with a lot of other issues that have come up also.  Ringing in ears, twitching eyes,tired all the time and feeling the sensation of the beats in other places in the body ( like in my butt cheeks ) don't laugh its true. If I sit down my muscles just stiffen up. I am only 48, I know I am getting older but this is crazy.  I also have a left bundle branch block which seems to be okay with the docs too.  Any comments appreciated.

[woodruff]

Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, is one of the things that happens with the passage of time.  Mine began when I was 34.  It's due to damage of the very delicate hair cells in the inner ear, and one cause is thought to be noise exposure (if you have used firearms to any extent, expect tinnitus!).   Sometimes, ear infections or certain medications, or exposure to heavy metals may be implicated.  It could be worth your time to have a hearing exam, just to be sure.  But be warned:  For garden variety tinnitus, here is no magic treatment yet, though "masking devices" and white noise generators are sometimes suggested. I believe that at one point, Xanax was thought to be helpful, but I don't think that's current info.

That said, if you've been given a generally clean bill of health, including benign neglect by the docs of your bundle branch block, you are, unfortunately (but most likely), experiencing what so many of us on this board are familiar with--anxiety.  Most of the symptoms you describe--eye twitches, fatigue, and awareness of your hearbeats or pulse--are related to a hypervigilant nervous system.  The truism is that non-anxious people are not aware of their heartbeats, in any part of the body.  My own experience is that when I take anti-anxiety drugs, or SSRIs, I do not hear my pulse.  Untreated, and in a nervous phase, I do.  To be sure, I am a sample size of just one, but that is my experience.

[pluffy]

That list is great. I'm new to the forum. I have AV Node Reentrant Tachycardia for which I take beta blockers. I have always had PAC/PVCs, but over the past 2 weeks they have been much more frequent. Thankfully, the beta blockers keep a full blown tachycardia from occuring, but I would definitely say I'm in the "pissed off" phase of the list. Trying to isolate a cause is maddening.

Woodruff, you mentioned your anxiety has nervous phases? Is this common? I have not researched anxiety much, but I know it plays a factor in my PVCs/PACs. Do you find these phases are seasonal? I always seem to be much more anxious in the Summer. Probably the heat and humidity :)

[woodruff]

Every few years, I get a bout of panic attacks.  It tends to be seasonal, in that for me it's either fall or spring, not summer or winter.  Weird, huh?  I don't think it's common; at least, I haven't heard anyone else--besides you--mention it.  When I told my shrink about it, he said, and I quote:  "Mmmm.  Interesting."

Anyhow, during these phases, I tend to hear my own pulse and arrhythmias; nay, I may even be listening FOR them, in a perverse way.  I've learned that getting on the horn with my shrink and re-starting zoloft appears to shorten the episodes rather dramatically.

[madgeOwens]

I would like to know if anyone else experiences alot of light headedness, near fainting while having pvc's?

[woodruff]

madge, take a look at skippyheart's post, #7 from the top on this page.  You'll see that LOTS of us have experienced faintness and breathlessness, etc, with our pvcs.  It's so common that it's almost funny.  Not really, but sort of.