Newly diagnosed with pvcs

[channel4]

Hi there I am a 36 year old female who was recently diagnosed with pvcs. After having my son 1 year ago they started, my Dr hooked me to a 24 hr holter and called me with the results I didn't even see himn to discuss them I was wondering a few things;

1) Do I need to have any other tests done to determine if there are any underlying heart problems
2) do I need to be on beta blockers or something my Dr told me they would make me feel not so good and that I wasn't going to drop dead from my pvcs but I feel like I need to know more.

I don't feel them all the time mostly when I am stressed or have to much caffienne or chocolate wahh I love chocolate. I know there alot of people with pvcs and have read alot of postings and researched them alot but I need to know more sometimes they make you feel pretty curmby dizzy and just not right. Thanks .

[channel4]

Thank you I will discuss this with my Dr. I am assuming he needs to refer me to a cardioologist? Anyway I heard beta blockers make you feel not so good so I am trying to avoid them my Dr said he feels I don't need them. I feel my pvcs more when I am at rest or stressed out which I try not to let happen , getting stressed out, thank you again I will follow your advice.

[channel4]

Mine organily began when I was taking slim fast 2 chocolate bars everyday for a year then I noticed the pvcs. My Dr told me to go off slim fast then the pvcs stopped, or I didn't notice them, I since joined weight watchers, when I was pregnant I didn't notice any pvcs then either it was only after I had some weight watchers products from the USA that I noticed my heart pounding out of my chest that is when my Dr put me on the monitor for 24 hrs and noticed the pvcs and now when I have chocolate to much like everyday for a week straight say I really notice them after that, I really don't have caffieene I try to avoid it and being a weight watcher I really watche the choco intake too, I am concerned because I have read that your Dr should check for underlying heart problems which mine hasn't he told me about my pvcs over the phone I will call him though and dicuss it further with him. Thank you everyone for all your advice it is nice to have people to talk to who understand how I feel and what I am going through sometimes I really feel like Drs just don't care and because so many people experience pvcs they sluff it off oh well you not gonna die so just avoid stress and caffiene you are fine, well that's not good enough for me this is my life, thanks again!!!

[channel4]

No I am not in the UK I am in Ontario

[deedle1976]

Hi Vienna,
The original reason I gave up chocolate was because every time I ate it I got a migraine. I did give in occasionally to temptation but always paid the price with a migraine. Since having frequent PVCs I haven't given into temptation as I did think there was caffeine in it so it is interesting to hear that there is not. It's good for my figure that I have reason not to eat it. I can't just eat one piece, I have to eat the whole lot.  Haven't had any choc at all for over a year now.

[vienna13]

Don't rob yourself ! :)

"There is a persistent urban legend that Chocolate contains caffeine. It would seem that this rumor is based primarily on a confusion between two similar alkaloids: caffeine and Theobromine. Theobromine is the active ingredient in Chocolate and it occurs only in Cacao. The two stimulants are related and have a similar structures, but are very different chemicals with different properties, effects and origins. There are of course, some Chocolate products that have added caffeine, but it does not occur naturally in Chocolate. "

http://www.xocoatl.org/caffeine.htm

[deedle1976]

Have you tried giving up caffeine for a while to see if they go away. I don't have any caffeine anymore or chocolate either.

[deedle1976]

Hi there, Most people get some PVCs each day. Are yours very frequent? How many on an average day do you get? Hormones can definitely make them worse and many people start having problems with palpitations during or after pregnancy.  I started getting thousands per day when pregnant but they are not so bad now (7 months postpartum).  As Va tony says you don't need to be on beta blockers unless you are unable to put up with the sensation of the PVCs. Beta blockers can make you dizzy amongst other things.
Are you in the UK btw?

[va_tony]

Have you been seen yet by a cardiologist?  If not, it would be a good idea, if for no other reason than to calm your concerns.

It would be useful to take a treadmill stress test and have an echocardiogram (usually performed as part of the stress test). That would give a fairly good indication of how structurally sound your heart is.

If your heart is structurally OK, the PVCs are harmless.

The only reason to consider taking a beta blocker is if the PVCs are being felt as forceful palpitations and driving you to distravtion.  If you can live with the PVCs without meds, you'll be much better off in the long run.

You should repost your question over on the Heart Rhythm medhelp board (see link on upper left side of page under "Medical Communities").  There's lotsa PVC sufferers over there and they will be happy to share their ecxperiences with beta blockers and PVCs.

Best wishes