Is this a common symtom of PVCs?

[amn1998]

I am a 39yr. old female and have experienced palps since my twenties.  Just recently (last couple of months) they have returned and I am much more symtomatic. (dizzyness, some chest pain etc.)  I have had an EKG, Echo and an events monitor.  All of which showed benign PVCs.  Doc put me on 1/2 tab. of Atenelol two days ago.  My main concern is a feeling of fainting/dizzyness while drifting off to sleep then being jolted awake by a rush or flush feeling.  I also feel as though I exhale quickly at this time.  Is this a common symtom of PVCs or something else?
Would you recommend additional testing?  Also, I have been walking on a treadmill at home and have become "lightheaded" a couple of times. Should I discontinue for a while?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Forum-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,

I can't tell you if the 'falling' feeling while you are sleeping is related to PVCs.  This is called hypnagogic myoclonus and is associated with a falling feeling as you are starting to fall asleep.  It is not known what causes this.

If you are feeling lightheaded while working out it is best to ask your doctor.  We usually order a stress test and try to record your rhythm while you are having hte symptoms to see if the symptoms are related to an arrhythmia like PVCs or others.  I doubt this is of concern, but would recommend that you talk to your doctor about it and consider a stress test.

I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting.

[runnertom]

The experience of being jolted awake with flushing was what my mother had when she was diagnosed with total heart block. Her pulse was running about 40 and was presumably slowing below that as she slept.

[yellowrose]

yes i have that with my pvc/pac. its a rush i hate the feeling but i dont think you have a heart block you had all the test that would of showed up if that was the case so dont let that scare youi , if your test showed all ok than you are, go by what your dr says. i am starting on that med tomorrow , my dr changed me to 1/2 pill a day so hope it works for me. have the pvc gotton better with that pill or can you tell the difference yet. good luck and dont worry, sounds like your test are all good . its just hard to belive everything is ok when your body feels didnt i know been there many times and been there just in last 9 days pvc been really bad . take care barbara

[mary2]

I think you should have a repeated holter and echocardiogrma done. Sometimes PVCs come in run, that is nonsustained VT and may give you dizziness and lightheadedness. I don't think you have a heart block since that usually does not occur in a young person.
Make sure to call your cardiologist and good luck

[runnertom]

  I certainly can't say it is heart block, but my mother had just been in for knee surgery 4 weeks prior and it didn't show up then. From what I understand from the cardio, there are various degrees and my mother had the most severe. I am guessing that the less severe degrees could be influenced by diet and meds or alcohol short term.
  I don't want to overstate this, but her description of the experience was exactly the same as amn's.

[amn1998]

Thank you all for posting, although I have to admit the "heart block" sounds very scary.  I have never heard of it before nor did my cardio mention it to me.  Runnertom, if you dont mind me asking,  what kind of tests did your mother have and what was her outcome/treatment?  As i mentioned before, i had EKG, ECHO, and many runs on a 30 day events monitor.  I also had a chest x-ray and blood work.   Most of my readings on the events monitor were during the night while I was experiencing my worst symptoms.  Would something like heart block not show up on these tests?  If not, what type of testing is needed for diagnosis?  Just for the record, I am normal weight, non-smoker, eat a very healthy diet but have a bad family history of heart disease and stroke.  Thanks again for listening and responding.  Hopefully the docs will respond soon.  Until then,  I'll take some deep breaths and try to relax.
amn

[runnertom]

Heart block would show up on an EKG or event monitor. It essentially means that the electrical signal that stimulates the atrium from the sinus node is not conducted down to the ventricals. Thus, the atrium contracts at a rate consistent with bodily needs but the ventricals keep going at a very slow rate. I think you can go in and out of it so an holter might be needed to catch it if it is not permanent.

[scratchgolfer]

I have had very similar symptoms since I was 14 and I am 26. I attribute my symptoms to mini panic attacks as I am falling asleep. I have done some research on this and if you have panic attcks, you can have these when falling asleep. Try to do some diaphram breathing if the symptoms get worse.

[ozark]

i also have that sensation when falling asleep....your heart rate decreases and that triggers a response where your heart 'start jumps' again.....its pretty scarey.  but is harmless. the flushing comes from an adrenaline surge. eventually all subsides and you fall asleep.  Sometimes i a get a big thud when this happens, not often, but that really scares me.  I have pvc's and pac's They're usually stronger when i have not slept well, or am anxious throughout the day for whatever reason.  if i  have it every night i take 500 mg of magnesium and they are 100% better. good luck

[amn1998]

Thanks to all for responding.  It is so helpful to know I'm not the only one with these weird and scary symptons.  ozark, you decribed EXACTLY the way it feels.  I may try the mag. Ive read alot about it.   - scratchgolfer, i have wondered if anxiety plays a role because i get pretty up-tight when the heart starts flipping.  I plan to do some research of my own on nocturnal panic attacks.  and yellowrose, I have noticed a definate reduction in the PVCs since I started my meds.  Lets hope this continues. Once again, thank you all so much for your comments. I wish you all peace and good health!
Amy(amn)  

[yellowrose]

thats great on pvc not as much, i have them really bad once a year and this was the time so they changed my meds to 12.5 atenolol , it really scares me to change not sure of the side affects , ive been on timolol for 15 years and i know that pill and when i need i take extra so just not sure of this one. have you had any sideaffects and do you take it once a day like me. thanks for talking to me about the med hope your doing much better. thanks yellowrose

[amn1998]

yellowrose, Ive only been on the meds for 4 or 5 days. I am taking the same dose a you, once daily.  I have noticed being a little light headed at times but my doc said give it at least a week or so for the body to adjust.  but as i said, i can definately notice a decrease in the palps so i'm pleased so far.  Let me know how it goes for you.  Good luck.
Amy

[yellowrose]

thank you so much i took my dose today around 10 am, i have been alittle more tired and my mouth was really dry, my concern is i have fast heart rate some times and with other pill i knew i could take little extra and it would slow it dsown in 10-15 mins not sure about this one and if i can take extra guess i need call drug store and ask. have your pvc stop or are they better , still have flutters but have only took one pill. thanks barbara

[pennygirl]

I am so glad I found this forum.  I too have had PVC's, PAC's and Mitro Valve Prolapse.  Lately I have trouble when I try to go to sleep.  Not all the time but often enough it scares me and that is why I am typing this at 2:24am.  I'm afraid to try and go to sleep again for fear of that same feeling.  It feels like just when I relax enough to drift off to sleep, my heart rate slows or something and then I'm jolt back awake taking a deep breath like I'm trying to get some air and then my heart is racing and it throws me into panic.  I've had this happpen several times in a row while trying to get to sleep and finally I just get up, no matter the hour.  And then it takes awhile before I settle down from the panic state it sends me into.  Tonight I decided to research the internet for answers and am so relieved to find some information from others who seem to be having the same trouble.  It still scares me though and is definitely interfering with much needed sleep as I now have anxiety over just going to bed at night or trying to take a nap.  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated..

[pennygirl]

Just wanted to add I also suffer from panic attacks and anxiety so when I get that sinking feeling and then the "start jump" and flushing, I panick and my heart starts racing and then I panic some more.  It's so unsettling.  I'm definitely gonna try the magnesium.  

[snappyfool]

i have recently been having a problem when going to sleep which i think is similar to the problems described above.

i don't think they are hypnic jerks - i have had sensations of falling followed by a jerk of the leg or arm, but what i've been experiencing lately is nothing like that.

firstly, it doesn't occur when i'm actually falling asleep or asleep, but simply when i'm in bed with my eyes closed, waiting to fall asleep. secondly, hypnic jerks are not terrifying like these are. they are like sudden rushes in my head which quickly reach a peak, at which point i have to open my eyes. opening my eyes feels like i'm fighting away the sensation. i feel like i might die if i don't fight it. the rush is almost painful, it's a very heavy jolt/shock to the system. i usually feel like my heart is racing. once my eyes are open i feel a bit lightheaded and dizzy, and that may linger for a while, even if i get out of bed and walk around.

i am not sure if these are panic attacks. they're very short lived and i can't really see why i would be panicking all of a sudden when i'm just in bed. never had panic attacks before.

i first noticed these rushes when i was on max daily dose of ibuprofen for a pain in my leg. i presumed the ibuprofen had something to do with it so stopped taking them. after a day i was fine. i starting ibuprofen again to be sure, and the feelings returned. since stopping a second time i have been mostly ok for about 2 weeks, but the last two nights i have had them again and can't ascribe them to any cause.

i am 20 and have no heart problems as far as i know (or any family history), but some of the comments in this thread have made me want to get checked up.

[rick hart]

have you been checked for sleep apnea? Your symtoms sound alot like my apnea symptoms when going to sleep.