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Multiple Arrhythmias and the Scoop on V-tach

Hello,

This is a follow-up question to the one posted recently regarding my event monitor results which showed: PAC's, atrial couplets, atrial triplets, atrial runs, wide complex tachycardia, PVC's, accelerated junctional rhythm PAC's, ventricular bigeminy, ventricular couplet, and accelerated ventricular rhythm.  

I am especially concerned about the six or seven beat "wide complex tachycardia."  I think it was at 178 bpm.

My questions are:

1)  I had asked if it was common for so many different types of arrhythmias to be found in one person.  The response I received was that it was fairly common.  I do not want to be redundant but I really need to know if this is true because I do not see a lot of people posting on here about having both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.  When I asked the question originally I did not realize that usually a wide complex tachycardia is in fact v-tach.  And this is even more believable in my case since I also had the ventricular bigeminy and the accelerated ventricular rhythm.  So, I just wanted to be as sure as possible that I understood the answer I received earlier.

2)  I am also concerned because I have raynaud's?  Could there be a connection between the raynaud's and the heart problems?  I have seen some other posts on here about people with raynaud's so I was just wondering.

3)  Finally, does having all these different arrhythmias (as opposed to just one type) increase the likelihood that there is in fact something seriously wrong with my heart?

Thank you very much.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for getting back to me with your information.  Your anxiety over your condition is well understood given what happened to your mother.

I wish you best.

-Pete-Man.
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Avatar universal
jan
I had fatigue and near syncope for quite sometime, maybe a year or so (I can't actually remember), before seeing the dr. about it.  I was sent to a neuro and many tests run before he decided to do cardiac tests a year later.  It was in '99 that they found I had IST, NCS, and the valvular disease.  I have had palps for a very, very long time, but never felt palps with the IST.  If I had maybe it would've given the drs. a clue and it would have been discovered sooner.  

The answer to have my palps/arrhythmias gotten worse, the answer is "yes" even on the beta blocker.  Fortunately, they do not make me anxious and that is probably because I've had them all documented thru an event monitor and because I go for 6 mos. check ups.  When I was 1st diagnosed I was freaked out, because my mother had just passed away 4 mos. prior due to heart failure (she had previously had 2 bypasses and a mitral valve replacement).

I hope that helps.
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Avatar universal
Thanks Jan.  I appeciate hearing from you.  How long have you had your arrhythmias? Have they gotten worse over time?
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Avatar universal
jan
Hi Pete-Man,

I have all different arrhythmias, too (I don't have V-tach)  and Raynaud's.  I, also, have mild valvular disease.  I am being treated for IST and NCS.  Yet my heart is considered healthy by my drs. and I believe them.  

Taking a beta blocker has really made a difference and given me my life back.  I just have to go for a check up every 6 months.  If you are symptomatic and they haven't offered to do anything for you, you should get another opinion and find someone to treat you.

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Avatar universal
Thanks for responding.  I appreciate hearing from you both.  DottyCece, do you have any heart disease or are your arrhythmias occuring in an otherwise normal heart?
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Avatar universal
Dear Doc,

Thank you for your very thorough response.  I gather in medicine, as in life in general, there are many things/conditions that do not have concrete answers.  That is frustrating to say the least - especially when you are dealing with your heart.  If it were any other part of the body it would be somewhat easier to let things ride and see what happens.  But when you are dealing with the heart, a wait-and-see attitude does not necessarily seem advisable.

Thanks for you advice about the cardiologist/rheumatologist.  I will seriously consider that as my next step.

Thanks again-Pete-Man.
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Avatar universal
I have atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.  I have atrial flutter/fibrillation, lots of PACs when I am in sinus rhythm and have runs of VT and lots of PVCs on a regular basis.  Wide complex tachycardia can have a number of originations and implications.
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84483 tn?1289937937

I am no doctor but the truth is a significant percentage of the population that is monitored have multiple arrhythmias both atrial and ventricular that is of no prognostic significance and has no impact on the longevity or lifespan of a person, but trust me I understand concerns and anxiety.
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74076 tn?1189755832
Hello Pete-Man,

1) I had asked if it was common for so many different types of arrhythmias to be found in one person. The response I received was that it was fairly common. I do not want to be redundant but I really need to know if this is true because I do not see a lot of people posting on here about having both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. When I asked the question originally I did not realize that usually a wide complex tachycardia is in fact v-tach. And this is even more believable in my case since I also had the ventricular bigeminy and the accelerated ventricular rhythm. So, I just wanted to be as sure as possible that I understood the answer I received earlier.

I have to admit, that is a handful to answer.  When event monitors are interpretted it is important to know the types of arrhythmias, whether the correlate with symptoms, how often the occur, etc.  A person with a single 7 beat run of a wide complex tachycardia that has a normal ejection fraction is much different from a person with left ventricular dysfunction, history of syncope (passing out) and a wide complex tachycardia.

It is also important that a wide complex tachycardia is not synomonous with ventricular tachycardia, the other two other options are supraventricular in origin (rate related aberrancy and accessory pathway).

Multiple arrhythmia's can occur in one person and they can occur frequently.  But the question you really want answered is does it present a danger to me.  Unfortunately cases like yours are complicated and nearly impossible for us to render an informed decision online.

Your next question is interesting.  Raynaud's can be associated with some systemic disease and syndromes and they can affect the heart, although these are rare cases.  The work up for these syndromes often overlap with other systems (rheumatologic).   The following response ties in your third question.

My advice to go to a tertiary care center with all your medical records.  See a rheumatologist and a cardiologist -- probably an electrophysiologist -- take them your medical records and let them sort through it and render an informed, team opinion.  Try to look for a hospital strong in both suits.  Two centers that jump to mind are the Cleveland Clinic and The Johns Hopkins Hospital.  I am familiar with both centers and think they would provide excellent evaluations.

I do not know where you have been or who you have seen in the past, they may be very good.  Sometimes a second opinion helps.

Good luck.


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