PVC's and unnecessary tests?

[MegD]

I am a 48 year old healthy female and I

[mina mina]

I am in a real quandry as to having a second EP study done as the first one was unsuccessful.  For several weeks my VT was going on several hours a day, every day.  It was then that the first EP study was done to no avail. For a week or so I have had no "events" to speak of . I wonder if I should wait to have the EP study done again when the VT is acting up. Or doesn't it matter?

[dewitt]

i think that if you go to a place like the cleveland clinic for your ablation and they can induce the vt or ventricular tachycardia you will have great results and that you probably wont have to be on meds the rest of your life. i have had two ablations for atrial fibrillation, which is much hardr to treat than your condition and have had very good results. pvc's and pat's are premature heart beats. go to a place like cleveland or mayo clinic and don't be afraid

[mina mina]

Recently, I have been diagnosed with Idiopathic VT. An EP study was done but but the operator was not able to bring out the VT.  Extremely depressing and discouraging. There is doubt our insurance will pay for another try.  What are PVC'S and PAC'S anyway.  All these initials are driving me crazy. Being on meds for the rest of my life is also discouraging. And the side effects are scary. When the cardiologist discussed with me my options (meds or EP study with catheter ablation) I, of course, opted for the ablation but it sounds to me as though the ablation is a **** shoot too.  What is a person to do????

[Kwich]

Im real sry for the double well now qudrouple post ... My conncetion gets laggy sometimes.

[Kwich]

Opps  hit enter ... well anyways my heat jumps real hard.. FEELS REAL WEIRD so i went to ER was put on a EKG and the nurse came in and seen the "WERID BEAT" on the screen.. He said " Thats weird...You can feel that? ..haha..thats werid you can feel that" Im all like what what " Hes like how do you feel that" Hes said that most people had the weird beat i was feeling but they canot feel it....Well my doc came in and told me .. that it was caused from my anxiety that adrinelin would be let off from the brain which would reach the left ventrical and the ventracle would pump faster then the right causeing the weird feeling ... she said i could feel it because i was so in tune with my self from be a hypercondract. She said i needed serious pshycologicle care...  Im still worrying ... SHOULD I BE... AHHH .. PLZ GIVE ME INFO

[Kwich]

Ok .. Im 16 years old.. I am insainly INSAINLY bad with anxiety .. like every week ill have a brain tumore or a skin eating dieases.. Well just like 6 moths ago i had 2 major panic attacks ... I was freaking out in school droped on the floor screaming I needed a drink... Well after words I started haveing this erid "REAL" symptom with my heart .. It would jump every few mins..

[Kwich]

Ok .. Im 16 years old.. I am insainly INSAINLY bad with anxiety .. like every week ill have a brain tumore or a skin eating dieases.. Well just like 6 moths ago i had 2 major panic attacks ... I was freaking out in school droped on the floor screaming I needed a drink... Well after words I started haveing this erid "REAL" symptom with my heart .. It would jump every few mins..

[Englishperson]

Barbarella, I also suffered with panic attacks and found that Citalopram Cipramil was a great help (Although I do live in England, don't know if this is available where you are)

Palpitations and panic attacks are totally different things and I can fully understand the need for medication in the case of panic attacks(or really servere palpitations), though It seems that doctors in America are far too willing to give out medication! I am really shocked, being given medication can often lead to the belief that you are ill, and in most cases with panic, anxiety and palpitations you are not physically ill. Having turned to medication for panic myself I realise that it is often necessary, and maybe I am wrong but I feel that in America it is too easy to turn to medication to bother trying long term solutions like yoga. I have tried this also and it really does work!

[zipwax]

Doctors these days are trained from day 1 by insurance companies to turn away patients unless they're bleeding or keeling over. it's out of control.

On another note, I've never had panic anythings, ever. This just started happening like a light switch was turned on. It's the weirdest thing. The arrhythmia doesn't bother me, it's the pounding heart that does.

Thanks for your nice words, though

[zipwax]

I was diagnosed with an arryhthmia 2 weeks ago... I'm asking this question because I want to try and find out 'what's normal'. Mainly, I'm asking about the heart pounding issue. First of all, my stats: 35, no smoke or drugs or alcohol or any supplements. Hi stress job last 7 years, baby on the way (1st) this year, 3 months due. No history of heart disease. Not terribly overweight, but "could stand to lose a few". Went to see cardio-doctor and he said normal BP (120/75), normal pulse (70), valves sound good. Normal resting EKG. Had me wear a holter monitor for 12 hours and I showed 18 PVCs (premature ventrical contractions) and 15 PACs, mostly at night, after 10pm. He did not do stress test or blood draw. The doctor diagnosed this as "stress-related", said "no further tests necessary" and "try to relax". He refused to give any other tests.

Now, my main question isn't "how do I get rid of it", because it's apparent from everybody that you don't just get rid of them. My question IS: is it normal for me to feel the blood POUNDING in my body since this started? I feel it all day long, as if I have an extra gallon or 2 in my body. My heart feels "overburdened", and when I'm resting, I can hardly think because of the feel of the blood going around in my veins. If I extert myself, my heart pounds hard, and quickly, but it returns to normal just as quickly. Doctor said, "oh, that's normal, it will go away". He said, "it's just because you're more aware of it." I don't believe him

[Barbarella]

Dear Zipwax, if your doctor checked you throughly as you stated, and told you not to worry about, it very well could be from stress, and worrying about your symptoms make them worse.  There are books written by Dr. Claire Weeks (they are tons of books, but she was the only one who could help me) the books are "Hope and Help for your Nerves"  "Peace from Nervous Suffering" and I can't think of the other one.  I bought all her books, she took a lot of my fear about pounding heart and skipping heart beats. She will explain to you why the pounding heart etc. and that it will NOT kill you.  She will explain to you how to face it and NOT running away from your symptoms.  She stretches very strongly to be checked out by a doctor first to rule out any organic illnesses, and if you check out o.k. she will help you with your anxiety.  I used to suffer from sudden out of the blue panic attacks which developed into agorophobia. Doctors put me on Valium, Elavil, Xanax and a few more I can't remember which ones, but none of these drugs helped me. After reading Dr. Week's books several times, I got my panic attacks and agorophobia under control without meds.  I can drive every where, can fly on planes, hold a job with no problem.  I always could hold a job (when a panic attack hit me I ran to the bath room and told my co-workers I had diarrhia I told nobody about the panic attacks out of fear people would label me a "nut case"), but I could not go on a plane or on the expressway or long distance driving out of fear that a panic attack would hit me.  All this is behind me now.  If I only could find somebody or a book which deals with phobia of doctors and having my blood pressure taken my life would be complete, but I'm not giving up, I keep on researching and serching, and always tell myself "things could be worse".  Good luck! Don't worry to much about it!  Remember your doctor said that you were o.k. Worrying about your symptoms make them worse, I know I worry all the time about symptoms and make them worse.

[Barbarella]

Zipwax,  I agree with you what you said in your first paragraph.  If the pounding heart is not from an organic illness it could be from stress and anxiety.  One of the symtoms of panic is a pounding heart.  But if you feel no anxiety with the pounding heart I don't know if it is an anxiety attack.  Did your doctor ever checked your thyroid? Thyroid problems can also have symptoms of a pounding heart.  The reason I know this is because I was checked out for this (thyroid problems) and was checked out for Hypoglycema (lood blood sugar) before they said it was panic attacks.  I know what you mean about insurance companies. I don't even want to get into this subject.  Try to get them pay for therapy sessions, forget it.  When I found out that the tranquelizers did not help me (panic attacks) I helped myself with these books I told you for I cannot afford to pay for therapy sessions, not even 50% as my insurance company wanted me to pay. I've gone in the past though and it still didn't help.

[jelsaad]

Can Anyone Please Help Me?

I am a 24 yr old feamle, non-smoker, in good physical condition. After finding single pvc's on an event monitor, my cardiologist ordered a Holter, which found a run of 3 consecutive pvc's. She termed this paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia -- Clearly, I am horrified. A cardiac MRI showed no structural abnormalities, and blood work indicated no thyroid dysfunction and only mildly low potassium levels(3.3).

My question, then, is how dangerous is the vt? I live in a constant state of panic, worried that I could drop dead at any minute. My Dr says the 3 slow,extra beats are likeley no cause for concern, but I'm petrfied and seek others' opinions.


THNAKS, AND ALL HELP IS APPRECIATED!!



  

[gweenert]

hey everyone, i need some help please!!!
i started having pvc's about 6 years ago. just all of a sudden one day i thought i was dying, i ran to the emergency room and was told i was having a panic attack... well hell yeah i was anyone would have, i was givin a mild tranq. and sent home. then i got a regular doctor. i was 23. i was told i had high blood pressure and put on lopressor. i requested some test cause of what i felt, aftr an echo i was told i had mild left ventricle dysfunction, and he just dismissed me telling me it was ok i was on the right medicine. but after 4 years my blood pressure wasnt going down and i still had these annoying skips, so i seen a diffrent cardiologist, i had a stress test that was normal, another echo that didnt show anything that was dysfunctional, and i wore a monitor that caught the "skips" he called them pvc's and said they were normal and he too dismissed me. now i am feeling nuts.. so i have seen many counselors cause after a while when they keep saying anxiety i started to think maybe i was bringing this on myself. but i refused all meds for anxiety cause taking medicine scared me to death i quit drinking i never touched drugs, i couldnt understand what the heck is happening to my heart that noone can see but me.
but now 6 years later i am having them strong again, not a whole lot like i see ya'll with the thousand numbers (and i am sorry for) just a few a day sometimes none, but they scare me cause i dont understand why this happens.. what they are,, and what can i do to make them stop.. or get a doctor to believe me. has anyone had this problem? i really need some advice.
and i know this may sound terribly crazy but my last visit to the er the doctor said it was my acid reflux causing this... does that sound.... possible?

[doregan]

Understand what you're going through.  Just got back MY 48 Hour Holter Report, which reports the following:

Sinus thythem with one isolated APC and PVC.  

Don't think I have cause to be concerned, but checking with the "thread" to make sure.  (I was on inhalers for several days, which started this -- and am also hyperthyroid!)

[Momto3]

Glen,

Have you visited www.heartcenteronline.com?  It also has discussion threads regarding pvcs and all the frustrations that accompany them. Also there are some discussions regarding ablations. You will have to sift through the threads (and there are a LOT of them), but you may find some useful information. Good Luck! Sorry the pvcs are driving you crazy. Connie

[pms_barbie]

I had an ablation back in November of last year.  I was having 972 on the holter report with a 4 beat run and a 3 beat run of nsvt.  Most of mine were in bigeminal cycles.  He ablated one place in my left ventricle said there was 2 more but they were infrequent.  It didnt cure my bigeminy at all.  I had to remain awake I mean wide awake for most of the procedure and it was awful.

[Clenn Camp]

should be "patience"  instead of patients.

[Clenn Camp]

I also would like to know if there are other message boards with references to pvc ablations.  I have suffered with pvc's for almost forty years and they have become so debilitating I am dependent on someone all the time to take me places or run errands for me.
On March 9th of this year I had ablations for afib and have had none since then but the pvc's are still eating my lunch.  The dastardly things have run me nearly crazy and cause too much anxiety and panic it's ridiculous.
My dr. and me are hoping the pvc's will subside as my heart heals from the ablation scars.  Maybe I am not having enough patients.  I can't enjoy being free of afib for having so many forceful pvc's.

Glenn

[RALLY]

I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY YOU HAD 3 ABLATIONS,AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY FOR? DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY OTHER CARDIAC MESSAGE BOARDS OR PLACES TO TALK TO OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD PVC ABLATIONS?THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.

[Gaspipe]

Thanx for the info!A recent echo this past Dec showed my EF to be 60%.thanx again for your informative posts.

[Momto3]

My ablations were done in Cleveland. Because I am (was) multifocal, the EP told me ahead of time they were going to ablate very conservatively and I might need more than one procedure. The first ablation was for RVOT, and I had a marked decrease in pvcs (down to 6000/24 hours). During the second ablation, the doctor "tested" the area she ablated the first time around and was not able to activate an arrythmia. YEAH! During the second ablation, there identified four areas of "activity" and they ablated the most predominant foci (LVOT).

Although I have had 2 successful pvc ablations, I think it is really important for others to know that had my ejection fraction not dropped (40%), I'd still be walking around with thousands/day. I'm told that what happened in my case is extremely rare.  I think people should know that pvc ablations can be very successful, but they are NOT the treatment of choice in the general population of pvc'ers. I was fortunate in that I did not develop new arrythmias.

[Gaspipe]

Where did you get your abalations done and by whom? If you wish to keep it private no problem. Thanx

[Momto3]

Even though I have had 2 successful ablations, I agree with Gaspipe. I have had pvcs for 25 years, and prior to my first ablation I was having 22,000 pvcs/24 hours (including over 4000 couplets, some triplets, etc). Despite those high numbers, the doctor still preferred to treat the pvcs with medicine. It wasn't until my ejection fraction dropped that she gave seriousl consideration to ablation(s). Like Gaspipe said, BE SURE the doctor is experienced and pretty sure he/she can get to the irritable foci.

As for me, I'm nearly pvc-free.  However, I know that if my EF had not dropped I'd still be having very frequent pvcs and would still be "living with them."  Be sure you have carefully considered your options.  Many times they will just disappear for awhile on their own.  Good luck!