I am so confused....

[heartcare]

Hi I have a couple of questions but will try to make it short.
I am 33, F, and overweight, but on WW. I have Pvcs and PSVT or pvst can't remember which.Approx. 6yrs. last 2 yrs pvcs have been
bad.
one of my questions is I have now gotten use to the thump in my chest which told me PVC, but now for the last couple of days, I haven't had the thump it feels as if my heart is turning over.  I told my husband it was like when I was expecting our kids, the same type of rolling feeling (isthis PVCs or something else, and why is the feeling different? )A little while back I was in the hospital for these things and was send to a dr who does the electric things on your heart. He would not do one, but one of my EKGs said Atrial Fibillation, my cardio signed it but told me that I don't have it, can the ekg say one thing and the cardio say you don't have it?  Which one is right? Hated to bother you but my cardiologist is on vacation and I just got use to one way and here it goes changing on me!  My doctor told me to stay on my diet and exercise, even get to start weight lifting, but with this new thing not sure if I should.  Thank you for your time.  I do appreciate it.  Christine

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Christine,
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) are very common and are in general benign.  It is difficult to determine what type of arrhythmia you are having from symptoms alone.  Really the only way to know exactly what is going on with the heart rhythm during your symptoms is to have an electrical tracing taken during the episode.  My general recommendation for this is what is called an "event recorder" or loop monitor.  This is a small device that is worn for up to several weeks at a time.  When you have an episode you press a button and the device saves the heart's rhythm during that period.  This way your doctor can determine exactly what your heart rhythm is doing and if it is the cause of the symptoms.

As far as the EKGs, the computer that makes the EKG performs a reading of what it thinks is the rhythm.  However, the computer is not infrequently wrong and it must always be read by a doctor who can confirm or deny the findings.

[cat1]

Hi,
I am 30 with 2 kids and have suffered with pacs and pvcs for years. Finally when the pacs were bad enough it turned into atrial fibrillation. I was admitted to the ICU of the hospital and given cardiac drugs through an IV to stop the a-fib. It took 16 hours before I converted. Now I am on atenolol and diltiazem once a day and have not been back in a-fib since. Thank God because it is the worst. I would also get thousands of pacs a day and now they are gone. I think maybe it is the right kind of medicine that is helping. Maybe you could suggest these drugs to your Dr. I just want you to know that I know what you are going through and you have support. cat 1

[debra21784]

If you are having runs of a-fib the bigger issue is to place you on an anticouglant even Asprin will do the trick.mOST pac/pvc'S ARE BENIGN a-Fib is not it is the highest risk factor for stroke ,Get back to your doc and discuss.Stroke can occur at any age (I was 47) and women have a higher incidence of cardiovascular /cereberal vascular disease than men .Afib is not a benign condition to ignoreand it is not so much to rate it  becomes an issue when the heart converts back to normal sinus,that's when the clots can get pushed out of the heart chambers and travel to the brain(hence stroke)

[heartcare]

Thanks to everyone who answered.  I wore the event moniter and the 24 hour one as well.  All that showed up were the PVCs no afib.  As far as I know the only a fib that showed up was on the ekg when I was in hospital due to the Pvcs and my heart rate going up then down to the 30's was on Toprol, but I went off due to heart rate going so slow.  Can Pvcs feel different, not the thump but the flip flop be the same thing?  Thanks so much!

[cwhite2]

This forum is terrific.  My PVCs have returned with a vengeance after a seven year absence of any significant frequency.  For four months now, I have them just about every day, all day long, about 4-6 per minute when they are at their worst.  
Mine definitely seem to be worse right after eating...although Xanax .25 mg can make them completely go away for 4-5 hours.
I am trying Zantac to see if the theory about gastric acid holds any truth for me.  I take atenolol 50 mg./day and have for twelve years (I have MVP) - my cardio swears these damn things are benign.
Anyone out there found any correleation between eating and frequency of PVCs?  Or am I crazy to think there is a link?
thanks to all.

[debra21784]

I'm not a doc but I do know the heart works harder after a big meal which may be the reason you feel them more.If you have structural damage to the heart from valve disease the PVC's can be a warning signal that things are changing.As far as you doc treating your MVPin a cavilier way,DON'LET HIM.MVP can be a serious condition when regurgitation becomes significant and ejection fraction changes .Keep an eye on your echo's and your doc.

[cat1]

Hi,
I forgot to tell everyone that they did place me on one asprin a day. When I was in the ICU I was placed on coumadin. And yes, I do take a-fib very seriously very seriously. And yes, I am aware that it can lead to stroke. Thanks for your concern   cat1

[cwhite2]

I really don't think my cardiologist is treating me in a cavalier way -- I just had my annual echo and nothing has changed -- just trivial mitral and tricuspid regurg -- EF is 65%.  Actually, he said the degree of prolapse looked better on this echo than it has in the past several years!
From the looks of this forum, lots of people have "benign PVCS" - maybe I just feel them more than others!
Thanks for your comments.