PVC/PAC Increase in symptoms

Hello,  A brief background: I'm 38 years old. I have been diagnosed with PVCs for 2 years and PAC's since last September. I'm on Metoprolol 50mgs. 2x a day. I notice that the PVC/PACs will pick up around ovulation and around my cycle. I can deal with that if I have to. BUT...for the last two months I've had to deal with these things all day every day. I did put a call into my EP doctor to let him know that my symptoms were increasing. He made a note of it and we may try to switch medicines. My appt. is in a couple of weeks. I get about 10-15 episodes an hour. I know that is not alot compared to some people, but it terrifies me. I can always tell when one is coming. It's like my heart stops and then beats real hard once and goes back into rhythm. I'm never dizzy. My BP is normal. No chest pain. Just annoying hard irregular thumps!

I've tried to ignore them. I guess they would've killed me by now if they were dangerous. But there's always a voice in the back of my mind that says, "what if this one kills me?"

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance from others who suffer from PVC's/PAC's. Do you have them every day? Do you ever think, "okay, this is it!" How do you deal with them?

P.S. my father died when I was 4 years old (he was 33) from v-tach caused by severe atherosclerosis, so I have been obssessed with my heart forever. He's not here for me to ask him if he ever suffered from these things.

Thanks for listening.

[kenkeith]

Thank you for your question.  I defer you to the heart rhythm forum that has participating members that can identify with your condition and provide support and advice.  Take care,
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Heart-Rhythm/show/92

Ken

[ireneo]

From your information it sounds like you've been checked by a cardiologist, an EP that specializes in heart rhythms. That's about as good as you can get. If your doctor is confident your heart is fine, that you're just having the occasional little electrical blip, the trick is to convince yourself that he's right.

My heart does PAC's and PVC's every day, average 1-5 a minute. When my heart decided to pick up the pace to 15-25 a minute, I wasn't happy and called my cardio. They checked my heart, said it was PAC's and PVC's and said I would be fine. After 5 months, I was fine and my heart settled down. But like you, when there was a sudden change, I wanted to know why. With ectopics there is often no reason why they act up. Irritating little monsters.  LOL

Just remember the more stressed and fatigued you get from worrying about them, the more likely they'll stick around in greater numbers. Stay rested, stay busy and let's hope the medication change gives you some relief.