Just PVC'S??

[justanothergirl]

Hi,
Basically, I decided to go to the doctors last October because for quite a few years i had been experiencing skipped beats. I had never thought anything of them until our prime minister (i'm in the UK) was on the news with SVT and what he was experiencing sounded like my symptoms so thought i should get it checked. Saw the doc and he did blood tests which were clear and a quick ECG which was also fine he then scheduled for a 24 hr tape because i was still getting these strange feelings daily (it would feel like my heart shuddered for a second and then took my breath away) still wasn't overly worried,had the tape and it recorded 21 ventricular ectopic beats in a 24 hr period and i think maybe one PAC. The doc wasn't concerned and said this number wasn't anything to worry about and put me on a beta blocker. (oh by the way i'm a 23 yr old female, normal weight, healthy)
To try and cut this story short, since all this has happened i've been obsessed with researching online and trying to find out if it is simply PVC's-i don't know why i doubt the doctors, but i'm just so worried that the PVC's could be hinting that there is a sinister problem such as long QT or HCM.
I've had the blood tests, 24 hr tape, lots and lots of ECG's but no Echo until the end of this month (for some reason they don't do echo's or stress tests as rountine tests, i had to practically beg him!) so my question is-do u think i could have HCM or an enlarged heart,would these give symptoms & show up in the other tests? thanx 4 ur time x

[Cleveland Clinic]

Thanks for the post.

Probably not.  Usually there are specific changes on the ecg which serve as a clue or a strong family history.  However, the echo will be definitive and hopefully put your mind at ease.

good luck

[I'mallheart]

hey! i feel for ya.. i am 28 male and same things..i am on the beat blocker atenolol 25 mg daily..some days are good and then othere are hell..wonder why this happens? i wish you good health and answers to ease your mind.. hope to get to the UK some day
dave

[dreamboat]

someone posted the other day that she was showing signs of cardiomyopathy until her ablation for pvc's. She felt the pvc's were the cause of this. That has got me worried now. I have pvc's alot.  I feel I should have another echo since it has been 7 years.Has anyone else ever heard of pvc's causing damage to the heart?
Thanks for any imformation.
Dreama

[Rochelle73]

Hi there, I thought I would just write a quick note.  I too am in the UK and have had exactly the same problems as you since May last year.  I'm 32 and I let it ruin my life for the last 10 months because I convinced myself that something was really wrong with me.  Like you, I had blood, holter, ecg and lipids which were all good, and I had an echo in December (I too had to beg my doctor to refer me for this) which I haven't had the results of yet - I guess if anything was wrong they would have let me know. Anyway, I too was freaked out when Tony Blair had his operation, as it sounded like the symptoms I was having.  Only now am I starting to calm down, but if you want to chat, let me know and I will email you directly.

[LizeeeH]

Hi

Im from the UK too and was diagnosed with Ectopic Heartbeats (Irregular) Ive only had the ECG which came up with the ectopic theory......like you said you get obsessed with it and read all you can...the trouble is you give yourself more symptons than you actually have! Ive calmed down a little bit now and try to put it out of my mind.......but you cant help but worry occasionally.

[pms_barbie]

Its rare that pvcs causee a cardiomypathy.  It can happen but its rare.  However keep in mind it takes a lot of pvcs to cause this.  I dont think 20 something a day would do it.  I know for 20 something a day it would be hard to find a dr. to perform an ablation.

[dreamboat]

What do you think about thousands a day?Do you think this could cause cardiomyopathy?The Cardiologists basically told me to try to ignore it.He never said it could lead to anything.

[pms_barbie]

I was having 10,000 a day.  I asked the question the other day and the you can read the drs. response.  He just thought maybe it was normal variations in the readings insted of the ablation.  Momto3 said she was developing a cardiomypathy from pvcs but Im sure she was having more than 10,000 a day herself.  How many do you get a day?  If theyare very bothersome I would see an ep dr and just get there take on it.  An ep dr would know a lot better than regular cardio about the pvcs.

[dreamboat]

I had a holter moniter seven years ago. I was pregnant and they were bad. It was over 10,000.I had them for a couple of years after that.They suddenly disapperared an occasional thump in a period of weeks but that was all. I ate at taco Bell one night last september, got real bloaty. the next day the pvc's came back strong. i have had them everyday since. Sometimes they aren't as bad then other times they are very bothersome. My husband died 6 years ago so i am left without insurance. I had six kids to raise so a job is kind of out of the question. I probably couldn't work anyway because i stay in a constant state of fear because of these things with my heart. Visious cycle i guess.I never knew they could cause heart damage so this is just something else to worry about.
Dreama

[pms_barbie]

Please keep in mind hun that it is very rare that they cause damage.  I know how terrifying these things can be and are.  Just try and relax and not owrry too much.  Talk to your cardio about your concerns.  Im sure not a dr and dont claim to be one.  For your peace of mind just talk it over with your dr.  Dont get in a frenzy because that will make your pvcs only worse.

[Gaspipe]

Hi, remember abalations are certaintly not without risk and the very nature of the procedure can cause arrythmias in and of itself. So to do the procedure indications must be significant.

[dreamboat]

Thanks for you encouragement. I don't mean to sound like i am having a pity party,but sometimes I do get discouraged. I guess you know how that is. Heart disturbances are scary and annoying.I haven't seen or talked to my cardiologist in 7 years. I tried to call his nurse yesterday but she wasn't in. I may try again,might make an appointment.Thanks again.
Dreama

[nemie1981]

I was diagosed about 10 months ago with PVC's.  They scared me to death.  I went to the emergency room, wore a holter monitor for 30 days, had an EKG and some blood work.  The doctor also scheduled an echo.  Everything came out fine.  He put me on an antidepressant and that seemed to help.  Said that if they got worse he'd put me on a beta blocker.  I've had very few PVC's  for about 8 months, until a few days ago.  And they've started back up.  Gosh they drive me crazy.

I have noticed that when I'm stressed out they act up.... do any of you find that stress causes them to become more prevelant.

[dreamboat]

Sometimes stress makes mine worse sometimes it doesn't.If I am stressed and i get them i panic.What kind of antidepressant are you on?

[justanothergirl]

Thanks for all your posts, it has def. made me feel more assured. Sometimes you can get so wrapped up in all this that you don't realise that so many other people are going through exactly the same. Oh and good news, i'm having my echo tommorrow now, i don't have to wait two more weeks! I was a bit cheeky and called them to see if they had any cancellations and this nice man slotted me in for friday! I'll let you all know what the results are. Quick question, will the technician be able to tell me anything? I'm sure she can't go into tons of detail, but she might be able to say if anything's enlarged or there's a problem? Take care everyone, here's to a pvc-free day!x

[pms_barbie]

From my experiences the tech. probably wont tell you much of anything.  I dont think they are allowed to.   However if something is way off they will get the dr to come and look at it while your in there.  So if that doesnt happen you dont have too much to worry about.  Hang in there and best wishes.

[Momto3]

Hi,

I'm the one who posted about pvcs leading to a cardiomyopathy.  I began having pvcs about 25 years ago.  I had a TON of them.  One of my more recent holters (I've had many) recorded 22,000 pvcs in a 24 hour period. Even that did not concern the doctor.  It wasn't until about a year later when my annual echo indicated a developing CM that the red flags started going up.  My doctor took my file and data to several conferences and had her staff of echocardiographers review the information.  The concensus was that the pvcs were causing the CM. Try not to worry about pvcs resulting in a more serious condition.  It is VERY rare and I belive you would have to have thousands of them for a long time.
For me, it came down to being on antiarrythmics for the rest of my life or try the ablation.  She figured it would take more than one because I was multifocal and she was right.  It has been nearly a year and a half since the second procedure and now I have days/weeks go by with no ectopics.  I must tell you that my doctor (and others) did not consider an ablation until things started getting serious. I took beta blockers for about 12 years mostly for symptomatic relief.  When I decided to live with the "discomfort," I went off the beta blockers (doctor said OK) and a few years later th pvcs went crazy again and the rest of the story is history.

I have been seeing the same EP for 6 years and she commented that she had NEVER heard my heart beat normally until after my ablations.  Yet she was never worried until the CM developed.  I should mention that I also have MVP and MR.  Perhaps that had something to do with the aggressive treatment of the CM.

Hope that helps to clarify the CM issue and that you can figure out what works to keep you from stressing over those pesky ectopics.  Hope you are feeling better : )

Connie

[Momto3]

Sorry if this posts twice...not sure what happened to the first post??

Dreama,

Hi! I’m the one who ended up developing a cardiomyopathy as a result of frequent pvcs.  Prior to my ablations, I had pvcs for over 20 years.  They were so frequent that my EP said prior to the ablations, she never heard my heart beat normally.  Now, it is altogether different…beating with hardly a pvc.

Anyway, try not to focus on complications from pvcs.  They are very, very rare.  One of my last holters (I had lots), prior to the ablations, recorded 22,000 ectopics in a 24 hour period.  That was 24% of my total beats.  For me, bigeminy was so “normal” that I became used to it.  I was lucky because my pvcs did not cause any pain or real discomfort.  They just were bothersome and sometimes made me feel a little uneasy.  I wasn’t afraid of them, they were just strange-feeling.

Anyway, my situation was VERY rare and you should try not to focus on what happened in my case.  Your doctor knows you best and will guide you in the right direction.  Incidentally, I also have MVP and MR so the doctor was being very aggressive with treatment.  For me, the alternative was taking antiarrythmics for the rest of my life.  Oh, I asked about an ablation a few times before the CM developed, and the doctor(s) did not think it was medically necessary.  Hope this helps to ease your mind.

Have a great day!!
connie  

[dreamboat]

Thank you for writing me. I think i just need to have another echo to ease my mind. I am a big worrier.This place has helped me alot.I hope you are doing good.
Dreama

[Momto3]

Dreama,

No problem.  I think an up-to-date echo is a great idea.  Sometimes just a doublecheck gives us what we need to move past the anxiety.  Good luck!!

connie

[Mom RN]

Hi, am a 34 year old mom of 2, recently during my 2nd pregnancy I started having PVC's and was put on bets blockers to control the symptoms they caused, nausea and chest pressure.  I've had ECGs, Holters and an Echo, they stopped for 2 months after my delivery and than started again recently. Am back on the drugs and waiting to see a specalist, am a bit scared though I have a BAD family hx of heart disease, Dad has had 2 bypass surgerys, and both my sisters in their 40's have had heart attacts and one now has cardiomapathy.  Just happy to know I'm not alone. Thanks

[Art S.]

Hello, all. I feel like I found some new friends. I was diagnosed with pvc's and pac's in Feb of last year. No medicine at first, then Toprol in February of this year after the palps started going crazy. I was in Santa Fe over my birthday with my wife and son. I don't know if it was the altitude or what. I was still consuming alcohol (quit that since...) But we repeated the tests and the doc changed my med to Cardizem. The last few days I have been fighting symptoms between medicine changes. These things are a real pain. I keep going "I have no blockage, no shortness of breath, no serious pain in the chest, it's only pvc's and pac's, the doc said "don't worry"..." I have checked my bp and pulse so often for reassurance that my left arm is sore from it. I guess that was too often. I tried exercise again yesterday and that went OK. I have been to an emergency room three times, and felt like a fool the last time. Of course the palps disappear when you get there. But it made me feel better, and it's not like they are not getting paid for it. Everyone hang in there and I will as well. I am not going to let these silly things beat me. I will exercise again today after work and hope it goes better than yesterday.

[Neon]

DO YOURSELVES A FAVOUR AND READ:

I've been experiencing skipped beats, flutters, missed beats, panic attacks and so on for years. I've had many tests and spoken to many professionals and given a clean bill of health. There is nothing wrong.

In addition, I have trawled sites like these for reassurance.

I feel very well placed to offer you some advice.

My advice is: if you have been told you are okay after tests, BELIEVE in this. Don't look back. If you doubt, you will waste a long time being caught in a dark world of worry. I figured out that a) you need to TRUST your body (you've evolved over millions of years) and b) manage the underlying causes - in my case this is anxiety. Does chilling out and relaxing, taking your mind off your symptoms and concerns make you feel better? This should tell you something. If you can't take your mind off your problems, attack the cause or try and figure out what they could be. The subconcious is very powerful. I had to sort out my debts to make a start on this.

The mind is amazingly powerful and if you stop to take stock, you will learn a lot about yourself. DO NOT scare yourself by reading about other people who ARE SCARED THEMSELVES. A lot of information is misinformation and will not relate to you, even if you think it does.  

You could try listening to your favourite, upbeat track, right now. Put yourself in a positive mood and tell yourself you KNOW you will be fine. Make yourself smile. Remember that moment. Go and get some recent photos of yourself which were taken during the period you have been experiencing your symptoms. I bet in some of them you are smiling and look care-free. Does that seem strange? In your MIND you are probably raging with fear. You can do something about that. Don't focus on the fear in your mind.

If you are worried, try reading Dale Carnegie's 'How To Stop Worrying And Start Living'.

[salis110]

hi neon
ur comment was wonderful but if we consider ourselves like u said it is possible something happen to us like people died of sudden heart failure. how can we deal with this idea?

regards

[Neon]

Hi salis110.

Sudden death. How do you feel when you see those two words together? You perhaps feel fear, as I did. You perhaps instantly imagine collapsing and dying. There are other thoughts, as you mention.

Well, if you have had tests and have been told you are going to be fine, believe in that. If you haven't had tests, don't worry. Just get your doctor to give you a check up. The chances are (I'll talk about chances, in a sense...) you are absolutely fine - people always bet on the horse with a high chance of winning, so this means that there is a large possibility you will be fine. So it's not worth worrying about anything.

Trust your body. If you think about it, you are not going to die a sudden death. Why would you? Try this: sit down and think of some GOOD reasons why you would die suddenly. Be honest. They must be logical reasons. I bet you can't think of any. Perhaps you can? I will come back to this.

Ignore people who tell you terrible stories or say something negative. Do not listen to them. If you trawl the internet, you will see that one web page says one thing and another says something different (just like people's opinions). I saw a movie last night which the critics I read about said was rubbish. Yet I loved it. You must believe in what you have been told by people and experienced in situations that are directly related to YOU.

Say a guy drops dead and you hear about it. You worry it may happen to you. But really, what for? There's no way it's going to happen to you. Why would it? You don't know his situation. He may have been born with a defect, been a raging alcoholic for years and years.....anything at all. We only worry about this because we are scared. But don't think about it like that. It happened. It was terrible. And move on. Don't think about associating what happened with you. If you hear about a house fire and somebody dies in that, would you worry about that? There's probably more chance of that happening than you dying suddenly. But there's still no use relating it to you and worrying about it.

I used to hear about people who had died suddenly and then really worry about it. Then, when I was at the doctor's one day, I mentioned a case that had been in the news about somebody who had died from this. The doctor explained that they had been born with a defect and I would have known if I had such a condition because of the very basic tests I had undergone. There was nothing on the news explaining this. When I thought about it, I realised I may as well have worried about being attacked by a snowman.

I don't listen to the news about car accidents and concern myself about people who have been injured or killed in car crashes. If I did, I'd never get in a car. Sure, it's an awful thing and I may well have feelings about car crashes and the victims, but I don't worry that I may be involved to the point that I don't step in a car or when I do, I'm so anxious I can't drive properly.

So, when you see those words 'sudden death' (or 'cancer', or any other negative word associated with ill feeling) remember that they do not, in any way, relate to you. None at all. You know they don't. It's a fact.

I said I would come back to you listing reasons why you won't die of sudden death (or anything else for that matter): let's say you do think of some reasons. Okay, now what? Worry? No:

Now I know it's not easy at all. I really do. But just think logically. Try and step away from yourself for a moment. Even if you do think of some reasons why you may die suddenly, what's to say you will? If I say you 'probably' won't die, that may not offer any reassurance. You need to hear that you 'will not' die. Only you can do this. Think about it. You won't will you. Thinking you will isn't doing anything any good. You have to help yourself here and dig deep and BELIEVE. You have to.

I reckon if you give yourself a good talking to, you will know, deep down, that you will not die. Look at all the thousands of people on sites like this who worry and complain on a regular basis. Okay, it's their way of venting their fears and receiving some reassurance, but they may well be trapped. They are still alive and probably will be for as long as anybody else without their problems. If we step back, it's a waste of time and effort and they may as well worry about those killer snowmen (which don't exist, obviously!). I can say this because I've been there.

Face it, there are thousands of diseases and illnesses and an infinite number of bad things that can happen (I'm sure you can think of enough to fill a book without trying) and we don't worry about them all, if any. In our case, we worry about our bodies largely. But I am sure there is more of a chance that we will die from, say, our house caving in. But we don't worry about that. I know it's not clear cut but what I'm saying is, alter your way of thinking and think logically. Think about what you have been through, what you have been told and believe in yourself - including your body. As I said before, your body (including your heart) has evolved over millions of years. Why the heck would it pack in now? It won't will it? You've been told that, right? So why are you worrying? I don't know why it skips, but it does. People get headaches and aches and whatever else. But they won't die from them.

Sure, some people die from all sorts of things, but that is somebody else, not you. No disrespect to them, but you need to think about you.......and they are not you.

There are so many things that can go wrong with us (Oh, I've got this....I've got that.....and on and on) and there's only one 'I'm fine'. You have one of two choices. I know which one you want to take and I know which one you can take..............