PVC's - Heart evaluation needed? By whom?
by
KLT, Jun 18, 2003 12:00AM
I have always had what I now know are frequent but harmless PVC's. Usually fairly
isolatedIsolated sleep paralysis but occasionally in short runs. I had never seen a doctor for them, but had raised the issue in other exams and been reassured they're
normalNormal saline flush. Last week they settled in as a completely irregular
heartbeatHeart palpitations
Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat
Ultrasound, ventricular septal defect - heartbeat, with the feeling of no
regularRegular insulin rhythm at all for two days. On the third day, Saturday, I went to the nearby immediate care clinic for evaluation. By the time I got to the clinic the pattern had returned to
normalNormal saline flush with only occasional
palpitationsHeart palpitations. The doctor did catch a few runs of irregular beats when he first listened to my heart, so ordered a EKG. Most of the time I was there, I had a normal heart rhythm, although they did catch a few runs of PVC's (just minutes long)after I attempted to raise my heart rate. The doctor said I had random patterns of bigeminy, trigeminy and quadgeminy. He said that was harmless but a bit unusual -- he thought most people who have long runs of PVC's, usually settle into one pattern or another (bi- tri- or quad-geminy.) He ordered tests of my electrolytes, magnesium, calcium, postassium - all normal. He, of course, suggested follow up this week with my doctor. My questions: 1)Is that really necessary if I'm a healthy athletic 40-yr old? 2)If so, should it be directly with a cardiologist? (I hate to pay for a visit with my regular doctor only to be referred on.) 3) Should I wait for another irreglar pattern? 4) My BP was 102/70, down from 120/70 a week earlier when I had my annual exam. Is that just a normal variation or could it be related?