PVCs, pregnant, and personal issue

[MommyinKy]

I have been diagnosed with having PVCs and PACs and have decided along with my docs to wait for treatment with meds until after my baby is born. My echocardiogram and EKGs are fine and show that my heart is structurally and functionally normal. So...my personal question is...

Whenever my hubby and I have sex and I orgasm my PVCs start again. Should I refrain from this activity as much as possible? Is this harmful to me? Thanks! I am thankful for this forum as I could never get the nerve to ask my doc about this face to face!

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

Dear MommyinKY,

PACs and PVCs in the presence of a structurally normal heart are not suggestive of significant long term risk. Pregnancy brings about some hemodynamic changes in the body which may further predispose one to PVCs and PACs.  I do not think that the PVCs and PACs you are experiencing are particularly harmful in the setting of your normal heart.  Discuss with your doctor, his/her certainty that PVCs and PACs are the cause of your palpitations and consider a holter monitor test. I would also recommend avoiding alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and stimulants such as those found in decongestants if you have not already done so. Lastly, consider drinking more water.  Hope this helps.


Thanks for your question,


CCF-MD-KE

[1timemom]

Although I have no answer to your sex related question, I am curious as to what your doctor has told you about your PVCS.
I am 30 weeks pregnant and was diagnosed with PVCs. I have never noticed these before.  Did you notice that your PVCs worsened after you became pregnant?  I am constantly bothered by mine.  The doctor prescribed Inderal (beta blocker) 10mg 3 times a day as needed. I have only been taking it when I absolutely need it and I am not sure it is even helping.  Do you have long bouts of PVCs at night that keep you awake? I have had extremely uncomfortable long bouts in which I feel I cannot breathe and get very dizzy.  Do you think the PVC symptoms will go away or lessen after delivery of your baby?  My doctor does not know the answer to this.  I just wonder why I never noticed these until now.  Thanks for sharing!

[1timemom]

How does one know that their heart is structurally normal?
I never wore a halter, but did have an EKG and an ultrasound of the heart adn the cardiologist said they were PVCs.  However, when he did the EKG and ECHO I was not feeling the symptoms as strongly as I sometimes do.  Is there a chance he missed something?  

[italia64]

These are the tests that I would suggests:
1) 24 hours holter monitor - if you can have prescribed for a week - it is better....
2) echocardiogram
3) Stress Test (not sure however if it is ok now when you are expecting)
4) blook work
5) An MRI - if you really want to get fancy...

1 through 4 should be sufficient to determine if you heart is structurally sound - a cardiac MRI would be great - but not every facility does it (again now that your are expecting probably not a good idea --- but once you deliver, it would be something to think about it) - Also the stress test can be done with contrasting substance (again, once you are no longer expecting).  

Any other method would be invasive.
Regards,
Italia38 --

[Davefeet]

May sound funny, but I was talking to my doctor about these palpitations and how I get them (I did not mention during sex). I was persistant in telling him that something was wrong, he then said "Dave listen it is no big deal, I get them all the time when I have sex, just ride it through, trust me, your heart is fine, actually a large percentage of the population gets them during sex, some just happen to feel it."  It made me laugh but his point was well taken.

Good luck

[1timemom]

My primary care physician prescribed that I wear a holter for 24-48 hrs.  I tried to get one but was given the run around (cardiologist doesn't like to work with HMOs).  I finally went into labor and delivery where my ob/gyn ordered an echocardiagram and an EKG.  The cardiologist did the EKG and Echo - took like 3 minutes - and then he said I was having PVCs every other beat and not to worry.  That I didn't need to wear the holter because they already knew this was the problem.  I told him that I was feeling a lot better than I sometimes do when he did the Echo / EKG but he said that didn't matter.
He just prescribed 10mg of Inderal 3X a day as needed.  They don't seem to help, so I haven't been taking them.  I was not even scheduled a follow up appt.  My heart has PVCs literally all day and night.  There is no relief and I am miserable.
Can pregnancy aggrevate this condition?  I am a long distance runner and have never had a problem until I got pregnant.
THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE!
Melissa

[alexa's mom]

In the begining of my pregnancy I remember one night my heart skipped beats for like 2 minutes straight. It was terrifying. It was also after me and my husband had sex. (maybe a connection)Then it didn't bother me again until the last couple of months of my pregnancy. It would skip every night lying in bed. I was scared that it would happen during labor and delivery.....could you imagine, and I would pass out or something, but it was fine. After delivery it was fine for about a year and now it is acting up big time. I'm actually going for a stress test on Tuesday.

So I can't say whether or not it will continue after the delivery. I guess it depends on the person.

Good Luck, Michelle

[Ianna]

Hi Mommy,

I'm sure it has got to do with hormones going through a change.
I am menopausal and since the start of it...BANG there they were!!!  
How to get rid of them??
No one knows.... but this helps: accept them and try to relax, NO ANXIETY, breath the right way(find someone to help you), take extra vitamines, ( ask your Dr.) eat the good stuff (less sugar, caffeine, carbs, no aspartame etc. you can read on this site many posts about the relation 'eating and PVC's-palps'), don't overeat, eat small meals six times a day and no eating after 8 o'clock at night!
Enjoy the pregnancy-time; I believe that when the mom is in anxiety the baby 'feels' it too. Not good!!
-
Good luck Mommy!
-
***Ianna***

[MommyinKy]

My OB says that almost all of her patients that complain of PVCs during pregnancy say they go away completely after the birth. She says that the very few that do still have them say that they lessen dramatically. SO, I am hoping that they will go away after this baby because they have only been present in me since about 15 weeks of pregnancy. I have another child already and there were no PVCs with that pregnancy. The cardiologist on the other hand says they could go or stay after the baby. He says who knows! Good luck!

[Mel22]

I've had PVCs or PACs since I was 12. When I was pregnant, with twins, I experienced many more than normal. I went to the doc, he said no big deal, stress and increased blood volume may be contributing to the increase. He also stated that everybody has PVC's and told me not to worry, because worrying would lead to more. I had the occasional PVC throughout the pregnancy but nothing serious. I didn't have labor (planned C-section)so I can't speak to that, but even if you had them in labor, I can't see how that would be dangerous. Plus, they would probably be the last thing on your mind when you're going through that kind of pain, I would think.

I've continued to have PVCs since the pregnancy, but that's expected because I had them well before the pregnancy. Learning to live with them is the biggest challenge.  

Do you know that there are sites for PVC/PAC sufferers on the web? They help you accept that PVCs/PAC as normal, if that is your situation. It helps to remind myself of that once in awhile.

Good luck and try to enjoy your pregnancies!

[gregd64]

I started getting noticable pvc's about 2 years ago, once I relaxed enough to notice other symptoms that were occuring at or about the same time I notice I was usually experiencing gas, bloating feeling also. So I feel gastro issues can cause pvc's. Im assuming preganant women feel quit a bit of bloating during pregnancy and you may just be noticing them now because of the changing in your body, I also think once someone starts to notice there pvc's they become very sensitive to them.

[1timemom]

Thanks for responding!
I agree with gregd64 that once you start noticing PVCs you become sensitive to them...I sure have!  I also notice an increase in my PVCs when I eat too much.  I am better off never getting full and eating lots of small meals.
  
Mel22, I hope your doctor is right and these go away after the pregnancy because they are very distracting and uncomfortable.

Thanks to all of you for posting.  My doctor prescribed a holter, but it seems nearly impossible to get it because they don't like Cigna HMO. For now, I have decided not to take the medication prescribed by the cardiologist as I am afraid it will harm my baby.  I am going to deal with these PVCs after the delivery of my baby.  
Thanks!  

[PAT65]

Hello everyone! I just wanted to mention that I had had only a rare PVC until I became pregnant, then like the rest of you Bang! there they were. I think it does have to do with the increased blood volume. I remember especially not being able to lay on my left side or the PVCs would drive me nuts! Anyway, after I had my children the PVCs went away, at least for a few years. They are back now with a vengence but I did have a few PVC free years. I guess it just depends on the person. Good luck with you're new bundles of joy!

[Alisande]

I've seen a lot of questions about PVCs on this forum, and thought I would add my own experience. I developed PVCs in my 30s and they seemed to increase with pregnancy. In my 40s they became more frequent, and I found them both irritating and alarming. I had the Holter monitor, which revealed that they were the benign variety. That was reassuring, but they still drove me nuts.

Today, in my 50s, I don't have them at all, unless I happen to have a fever, which is rare. I eliminated them by doing several things:

1. I gave up caffeine, sugar, aspartame (Nutra-Sweet), and other sugar substitutes.

2. I became vigilant about keeping my blood sugar at an even level, and not letting it drop between meals. (I have hypoglycemia.) A low-carb diet helped a lot with this.

3. Through trial and error, I learned which foods caused PVCs for me, and eliminated them from my diet. In my case, they included dairy products, potatoes, and eggplant, among others.

4. I include calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, and B vitamins in my daily supplements.

Hope this helps someone.

Alisande

[tiredofpvc's]

I have to say that I am so relieved that I just found this web site an hour ago.  I cried, because just the little bit I have read from you all has comforted me greatly.  I am a pvc sufferer and I am 14 weeks pregnant with my third child.  I have never had any pvc's until I became pregnant.  I just returned home from the hospital yesterday after test after test after test.  I have been told that I average anywhere from 6-10 pvc's a minute and that it is not normal, but there is nothing that anyone can do and that it isn't life threatening.  I will tell you what, when they are happening, and it is all you can do to make it to the couch, they sure feel that way.   Also I don't know why and the doctors can't explain why, but the pvc's only happen after I eat.  That is the only time, then they last 2-8 hours at a time.  It seems to help if I eat a very high protein diet.  I totally stay away from any form of sugar or refined flour products and it seems to help. It is a  very strict and boring diet, but anything to not feel these pvc's.  Does anyone else have pvc's that come on after food?  Please keep the comments coming as I have drawn so much peace of mind that I am not alone.  Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!!!

[LORIANDTOM]

If pvc's are from a hormonal standpoint, is there anything that can be done for them?

Lori

[Ianna]

I do NOT think there is a cure for PVC's when hormonal.
I am menopausal and suffer from pvc's and 'flutters'.
The only thing that helps is what has already been mentioned very often on this Forum : dieet change, no alcohol, no cafeine, less sugar, less salt, no smoking, small meals (no overload), no stress, go exercise, etc.etc.
Hormone-suppl. didn't help.
Often makes them worse so I heard.
-
PVC's and stomach-problems are often related (gas etc).
-
You can try the magnesium-calcium suppl.(among other things)as mentioned in an above post. I use 400 mg magn. and 1000 mg calcium a day. I feel that helps a lot. Give it a view weeks to a month to see if it does anything for you.(if you are pregnant consult your Dr always).
-
Many pregnant women have pvc's and palpitations.
Many menopausal women have pvc's and the rest.....
Oh, those hormones.....!!!!!!!!!! YAK!!!!!! ;-((
-
They are benign,...... try to relax(isn't that hard!!!!)- the more anxious you become, the more pvc's and palps arise...-
-
Be well,          
Love  -   ***Ianna***

[PVCmad]

I am sooooo glad I found this site! I thank you guys, for your postings. I am too a PVC sufferer. I've had them almost for 4 years. Im 27 years old, and experience them at least 2-3 times per minute. Although i am trying to convince myself that I wont drop dead any minute, they sure feel like i will. I get shortness of breath, like a cold rush running through my body, dizziness and light headed, weakness, etc. I am a bit anxious, because my husband and I will be trying soon to get pregnant, and i just dont know if my heart will be able to handle the pregnancy and PVCs together. I used to take 60mg of inderal every night. That helped a lot. I still had PVC, but less frequent and did not feel as bad.But, since we are thinking of having a baby, god willing, i stopped taking that dose and started taking 20mg as needed. I try not to take the med, unless its really bad, i guess i really would like to be med free by the time we get pregnant.It is hard to believe that they will someday go away. I pray about this almost every day, and i am trying hard to have faith that God will heal me. I tell you guys, faith has helped me a lot. Everytime i feel the PVC really bad, I pray to God to take them away. I feel in my heart, that He will someday heal me. I dont know what will happen when God blesses us with a pregnancy, but I sure know one thing....God will be there taking care of my heart and our baby (ies....you never know). In any case...He gave it to me as a gift, and gifts are not taken back. :-) Great blessings to all of you.Ill say a prayer for you all tonight regarding your PVC. I will keep you all updated with mine.

[PVCmad]

I am sooooo glad I found this site! I thank you guys, for your postings. I am too a PVC sufferer. I've had them almost for 4 years. Im 27 years old, and experience them at least 2-3 times per minute. Although i am trying to convince myself that I wont drop dead any minute, they sure feel like i will. I get shortness of breath, like a cold rush running through my body, dizziness and light headed, weakness, etc. I am a bit anxious, because my husband and I will be trying soon to get pregnant, and i just dont know if my heart will be able to handle the pregnancy and PVCs together. I used to take 60mg of inderal every night. That helped a lot. I still had PVC, but less frequent and did not feel as bad.But, since we are thinking of having a baby, god willing, i stopped taking that dose and started taking 20mg as needed. I try not to take the med, unless its really bad, i guess i really would like to be med free by the time we get pregnant.It is hard to believe that they will someday go away. I pray about this almost every day, and i am trying hard to have faith that God will heal me. I tell you guys, faith has helped me a lot. Everytime i feel the PVC really bad, I pray to God to take them away. I feel in my heart, that He will someday heal me. I dont know what will happen when God blesses us with a pregnancy, but I sure know one thing....God will be there taking care of my heart and our baby (ies....you never know). In any case...He gave it to me as a gift, and gifts are not taken back. :-) Great blessings to all of you.Ill say a prayer for you all tonight regarding your PVC. I will keep you all updated with mine.

[PVCmad]

I am sooooo glad I found this site! I thank you guys, for your postings. I am too a PVC sufferer. I've had them almost for 4 years. Im 27 years old, and experience them at least 2-3 times per minute. Although i am trying to convince myself that I wont drop dead any minute, they sure feel like i will. I get shortness of breath, like a cold rush running through my body, dizziness and light headed, weakness, etc. I am a bit anxious, because my husband and I will be trying soon to get pregnant, and i just dont know if my heart will be able to handle the pregnancy and PVCs together. I used to take 60mg of inderal every night. That helped a lot. I still had PVC, but less frequent and did not feel as bad.But, since we are thinking of having a baby, god willing, i stopped taking that dose and started taking 20mg as needed. I try not to take the med, unless its really bad, i guess i really would like to be med free by the time we get pregnant.It is hard to believe that they will someday go away. I pray about this almost every day, and i am trying hard to have faith that God will heal me. I tell you guys, faith has helped me a lot. Everytime i feel the PVC really bad, I pray to God to take them away. I feel in my heart, that He will someday heal me. I dont know what will happen when God blesses us with a pregnancy, but I sure know one thing....God will be there taking care of my heart and our baby (ies....you never know). In any case...He gave it to me as a gift, and gifts are not taken back. :-) Great blessings to all of you.Ill say a prayer for you all tonight regarding your PVC. I will keep you all updated with mine.