PVC's & PAC's Left Bundle Branch Block

[Ernest__0]

Posted By Ernest on June 02, 1999 at 11:27:40
Thank you for your response.  I am convinced that the PVC's and PAC's that I experience will not harm me.  However, I do have a few questions.  So, please bear w/ me.  1.  Why are the PVC's and PAC's so pronounced when I exercise?  On the rare occassion do I feel the PVC's and PAC's when I am at rest.  2. Is this because my heart is working harder when I exercise?
I am still not convinced about the tachacardia mediated left bundle branch block that I have.  The LBBB was discover during a treadmill stress test.  My heart rate hit 171 beats per minute, before indicating LBBB, and, I believe my heart rate then went up around 190-200 beats per minute.  3. Is this also called exercise induced LBBB?  
Arrythma specialist, Dr. Del negro, called it "tachacardia mediated left bundle branch block" and my cardiologist termed it, "double efface left bundle branch block," I believe.  4. Do this terms mean the same thing?
5.  Do I need to worry about the LBBB?  I am so worried that it is going to kill me. I have tried to find information on LBBB's, but have not had much luck, except information on pacemakers, something I definately want to stay away from.
In case you are not the same doctor that answered my last questions, I am attaching at the end of this letter my last questions to this forum.  Thank you for all your help, understanding, and patience.  Thank you.

Until recently, I was a very healthy, active 31 year old male. I have
just recently been diagnosed with PVC's PAC's and tachacardia mediated
left bundle branch block that occurs at a high rate and resembles
v-tach, however, my heart always goes back into rythm by itself.
Two cardiologist (Northern Virginia Cardiology) and a top arrythmia
specialist affiliated w/ Fairfax Hospital all concur that my heart is
healthy and my condition is not life-threatening. Do to the symptoms
that I displayed I have undergone the Holter moniter, treadmill stress
test (identified the LBBB), an Echo Cardiogram (normal-trace pulmonary
insufficiency), 30-day event monitor, a Persitine tahllium test (chest
pains: the test did show an artifact and the cardiolist believed it to
be a false positive), a heart catherization (no abnormalities, no
blockage, strong heart muscle.)
What scares me is the entire diagnosis. The doctors do not believe that
it is not life threatening. The symptoms of the PVC's and PAC's are
terrifiying. When I go out for brief walks I get this strange sensation
in my chest and my heart feels as if it Beats (pauses), Beats (pauses),
Beats (pauses), then goes beat, beat, beat(back into rythm.) When this
happens I get slightly out of breath and light headed. I am afraid to
exercise. I am afraid that my heart will not go back into rythm with the
LBBB, PVC's and PAC's. I am so confused and scared. What is your
opinion?
Also, they thought that I was suffering from anxiety/panic disorder as a
result of everything that has happened to me over the past few months w/
my heart, however, the Pyschiatrists says no. Could the PVC's and PAC's
and the LBBB cause me to have numbing sensations in my face (nose,
mouth, ears,eyes) and sometimes it feels as if I can't breath. My
primary still thinks the symptoms are from anxiety. Sorry for the long
letter. All of this started after I had a reaction to an antibiotic
(Cipro) and pain killer could this have started or caused the PVC's and
PAC's and LBBB? Please answer me back. Trying to put my life back
together.


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[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on May 31, 1999 at 10:47:39
Dear Ernest,
I am in complete agreement with your doctors, i.e. PACs and PVCs
although anxiety provoking are completely benign; they not only will not
kill you, they will not hurt you except to make you anxious about your
heart. You definitely need to chill out about the whole thing, and your
doctors may have to consider giving you beta blockers (drug) to reduce
the incidence of the abnormal beats (PACs and PVCs) such that you are
not so anxious and you can exercise as exercise is a very important way
of keeping that heart of yours healthy.
No, it is not likely at all that any medication or thing you ate caused
or initiated the extra heart beats, rather it is more likely that you
simply became more aware of them (they were likely always there,
everyone has extra heart beats) as you underwent all these tests of your
heart.
There are drugs that can cause LBBB (a few anyway) however none that you
mention or have taken.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart
forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific
diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart
Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website
at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory
of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to
address your
cardiac problem.



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