PVC's in Clusters

[CareBear59]

Hi!
Reading in a past archive you mentioned PVC's can come singular or in bursts or salvos.(what does salvos mean)???  When they come under these circumstances, are they still considered benign in the absence of heart disease or structural heart disease?  When do premature beats become dangerous??
Thanks so much!!

[Brnvc]

A related discussion, PVCs increasing (post surgery) was started.

[Dorian W.]

Thank you so much for this site!  I am a critial care and trauma nurse with 25 years of experience, including cardiac cath lab.
For the past two days I have been having PVC's, sometimes bigeminal, and have been frightened.  My husband and I are currently living in a very rural area with limited health services and you really wouldn't want to become acutely ill here. It was so reassuring to find this information.  Though I have the clinical knowledge, it's different when it is happening to you.
Thanks again!

[jool]

Sally

I posted earlier, but can't see my message to you..think I goofed on the e-mail addy ....

I'm in the UK too - if you'd like to correspond privately, for mutual support, I'd be glad to.

***@****

Best of luck

[jool]

Sally

I too am in the UK - and am anxiously awaiting investigations of 'palpitations'

If you would like to mail me for mutual support, my address is ***@****

Best of luck,

Jool

[phil]

I'm 23 years old. I've had pvc's for about two years. I was treated for post tramatic stress disorder. The doc's say that has to do with them. The other symptoms of the disorder are gone but I still get the heart flutters. I can tell you that they are the scarest things that happen to me. I fell like i'm going to die. I will go for a long time without one. Then when I have one, I just think and wait for the next one. This waiting and nervousness will go on for weeks until I forget about it. But they always come back. I know it's nothing to really worry about. but the feeling you have inside your chest when you have one is so frightening it is indiscribable. I feel better knowing this happens to alot of people and I am not alone. Best of luck to everyone.

[Keith M]

Sally. I am also from the UK, stumbled upon this site accidently and have found it very reassuring. I began experiencing skipped beats and the sensation of my heart beating erratically about 3 years ago also when I was 33. I have undergone all the tests on the NHS, which I agree takes an inordinate amount of time. Every test was negative and I was diagnosed as having PVC's. They can be very distressing, especially when they come in a run. I have found that taking around 500mg of Gamma linolenic acid daily reduces the frequency of the episodes. I would be interested to know if anyone else has tried this. ***@****

[Pat S.]

I have experienced PVC's on and off for years.  Recently they have been almost continuous -every several beats.  I would agree
very distracting as well as frightening. During a particularly extreme episode, I took 1,000 mg. of potassium and they stopped almost instantly!  A coincidence? Since potassium is important for proper heart function, I think perhaps there is some connection here.  I hope this may help someone else.  Pat S.

[Pat S.]

This is in addition to my last message.  Although potassium has been helpful to me, I realize some people may be sensitive to it or in the presence of other health problems may be unable to tolerate it so to be safe it would probably be wise to check with your doctor first before taking it.  Some foods high in potassium are dried apricots, blackstrap mollasses, yams, potatoes, bananas.

[sally]

I started to experience what felt like irregular heartbeats six months ago, (age 33 years, otherwise good health).  There is a strong history of heart disease in my family and my initial reaction was that I too was about to have a heart attack!  My General Practitioner referred me to a Cardiologist and I underwent an ECT.  I was told I had experienced ectopic heartbeats and that these were no cause for concern.  Since then the symptoms have returned ; everything is fine for a couple of weeks and then I'll experience ectopic beats over a period of hours or days.  This is at best distracting and at worse frightening (I often get them while driving).  I have been re-referred to the Cardiologist, but here in England the national health service moves very slowly - 3 months and no sign of an appointment yet!  In the meantime I feel I have very little information to go on; what causes these "attacks"?  I can't detect any "triggers" despite cutting back completely on caffeine etc.  Is there anything I can do to reduce their frequency and duration?  Any information would be much appreciated, (I'm not aware of any similar Forums operating in the UK).  Thank you!

[sylvia]

Ben, Hi my name is Sylvia and I have also had four beat runs of Monomorphic VT. show up on Holter monitoring. I have been to quite a few different doctors who all told me the same thing, that they don't think it will harm me, but I'm still worried! Everytime I read about VT in a book it scares me so much! I also read here that if its just a run of PVC's then its harmless, but if its VT. then it could be a cause for concern. Do you know how they tell the difference? My Holter report said four beat run of Monomorphic VT. and single PVC's. Different Doctors give me different answers. Some say the four beat run is just a run of PVC's and others that it is different. Also in a old posting here July 10, 1998 says that non-sustained VT. could turn into sustained VT. As you can read Ben I'm very confused and frustrated, I don't know what to think or do. May I ask you how many runs showed up on your holter? What does yours feel like when you have a run? Mine feel like a strong Flip-Flop or a tickle, long pause, then thump! Single PVC's feel like a little blip. Maybe you could E-mail me as I would love to keep in touch with someone who is going though the same thing that I am. My E-mail is ***@****  Wishing you the very best Ben!    Sylvia <><

[Ben]

Rick,

I started having PVC's and "runs" of them about a year ago. A Holter test showed these runs to be Monomorphic VT. I saw two doctors and they told me not to worry about it. I get runs from 4 to 7 beats.  They said it wouldn't hurt me, but when you read about VT, it gives another story.  I got a third opinion with a great doctor, who I really trust.  He also told me it was nothing to worry about, but he's going to a Radio Frequency Catheter Ablation to get rid of it.  Although I'm told it's not dangerous in a healthy heart, It sure feels dangerous.  I've had a catheter abaltion for SVT already, and it was not bad at all. In one day and out the next morning.  The procedure has a very low risk rate, and a very high success rate.  It is an outpatient procedure and is not a surgery. They ablate the problem area in your heart by going up veins in your leg.  It usually cures the problem. Otherwise, all I can tell you is, I've been having Short runs of VT for over a year, and they  haven't hurt me yet. They usually stop right when I stand up.



Hope this gives you some help. I fyou have any other questions, post them.  I've researched this fairly deep





Ben

[Debbie Jan.30 2000]

I would like to see if anyone can answer this question for me.  In Oct of 99 started having Pvc's two weeks before menstral cycle. I am in peri-menopause being 48.  They went away after starting and in Nov didn't have but a few.  dec. had them two weeks before cycle began then none again until Jan. when just finishing period.   I have about 50 a day.  I have had ekg's a 24 monitor, a 2 week loop monitor and am scheduled for a stress test this coming tuesday. ( with thallium) The cardiologist said everything was normal on heart echogram and strips of ekg's except for some pvc's.  Because I got scared and went to hospital and they kept me for 24 hours he decided on the stress test for my own peace of mind and to rule out anything he may have missed.  If these are benign.....how come you hear of people dying of sudden death from these and how are these different??  They produce panic attacks and much anxiety with those who have them.  They're are thousands of us who need answers and no one seems to have them.  Are we at greater risk for having these and will someone please help us with information so we can continue our lives normally without fear and apprehension.  Please help.  Thank You

[John Kenyon, EMT/MST]

Hi Carrie,
Good for you! Keep talking to yourself in that positive way, because this is a problem you actually can get comfortable with most of the time, but it takes some work to control the emotional reaction to the nasty sensations. (The reaction is quite natural, I should add. It IS scary!).

John

[Carrie]

Hi John!
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. It made me feel better as I get the bigeminal rhythm at times and it scares me to death. Sometimes it kind of takes my breath away! When I get them frequently, I still have to talk to myself and tell myself I'm not going to drop dead from these things, but that's easier said that done sometimes when you're dealing with the heart!!
Thanks again,
C.

[John Kenyon, EMT/MST]

I was just thinking about the questions above regarding PVCs that seem to run on for long periods of time. It is quite common for the heart to slip into what is known as Ventricular Bigemeny, a silly term, for sure, and in an otherwise healthy heart, of no importance other than the mental anguish this can cause. In fact, even as I type this, I find myself in this rhythm again (also known as "group beating"). Basically what it is is one sinus (normal beat) followed by a PVC, alternately, for as long as it feels like doing it. Generally a slow or slowing heartbeat (as when tired, relaxing, after exercise, with beta blocker use or falling asleep) predisposes to this sort of rhythm, and I've known patients who are in this rhythm most of the time, but don't notice it. I sure do! I've also found that in general it, just like occasional PVCs, tends to go away when I get up and move around, take to the stairs or hop on the treadmill. But often, after the exertion, the heart slows and the bigeminal rhythm returns. It can sometimes actually be painful, as can any sort of palpitation, given the right circumstances. I should mention that I had a traumatic injury to my right coronary artery 6 years ago, which resulted in a small infarction, so I am technically classified as having heart disease (a scar from a heart attack, although it was "unearned").
I don't consider myself as having active heart disease because I was cathed and was found to have clean arteries prior to the mishap, but when the PVCs get really frequent I do get distracted by them. I take Toprol XL and Klonopin in combination, and most of the time that minimizes frequency of PVCs and takes the edge of anxiety away as well. I've also been under extreme stress for the past two months, and that's another trigger for PVCs. These are "cosmetic" (benign), but they can sure hurt one's quality of life. OK, there. I've got that out of my system, and I hope perhaps set someone's mind at ease about these annoying little blips. They drive me nuts sometimes!

John

[Lisa Hays]

I guess this is a comment and question.  I just found this site while looking for info on PVC's.  I had onset of "skipped beats" in November 1999 and had a holter which showed PVC's.  2 days after the Holter I was in the ER because they seemed to be nonstop and I thought I was crazy!  The monitor there showed PVC's.  I'm now on 50mg of Atenelol/day with improvement but I still feel "runs" of PVC's that are quite annoying and leave me short of breath.  My doctor says this is no big deal.  My questions are: should any other diagnostic tests be run, how many are too many, and why is it that one day my heart was fine and the next I have this and it hasn't gone away?  I would appreciate hearing from anyone on this.

[david]

I had a serious of palpitations last night following a days work outside in the cold. At times just to stand up made me very out of breath. I managed to take my blood pressure which dropped to 78/52 with many skipped beeps on the monitor. I struggled up to bed and rested for about 4 hours when things returned to normal. This is about the third time this has occured in 2 years but previously I managed to get to bed sooner before I became breathless. At times my heart seemed to skip several beats and then race at maybe 3 per second and then miss a few again. I didn't have enough energy to call a doctor. I have had mild hypertension for several years and about a month ago took up exercise at the gym to try and get my BP down. Interestingly I found my BP would be 120/80 in the morning rise to 150/110 at midday dropping to 130/90 in the evening and falling to 100/70 after the gym.
Any advice you can give will be appreciated. Many thanks

[Rick]

Is the 4 beats of Monomorphic VT a run of PVCs? Thank you.

[Sara L.]

Q for CCF

I though a run of 7+ PVC's was the "dictionary definition" of v tach? Can you please clarify, I am confused. Thank you for your time and efforts. You folks deserve the humanitarian of the year award.

[marie]

Can a run of PVC's turn in to V-Tac??  I've worn a holter monitor before, but they have never been able to catch my runs of PVC.  They have seen 3 or 4 in a row, but there are times when it seems to last much longer.  Even if they say they are PVC's, could they turn into V-Tac if I have a bad run of PVC's?  

Also, are there any monitors out there that a regular consumer can purchase simlar to the holter monitor??  It is so expensive to wear those and it would be nice to be able to put one on when I know I'm having a bad day, so that hopefully I'd be able to catch the run of PVC's that concern me.

Thanks so much for your time,

Marie

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Generally PVCs do not turn into VT.  There are currently no "home monitors" to record heart rhythms.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Cathy - low ejection fractions can predispose individuals to increased PVCs and the medication you are taking should help.

Rick - In general 4 beats of VT are not cause for concern.

[Rick]

Please could you tell me how the doctor tells the difference between a run of VT. and a run of PVCs. I had a holter test done. The results said that I had a few PVCs,PACs and four beats of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. Do I have VT.? What should I do about it? I went to two doctors and both said everything looks fine and said I don't have anything to worry about. Should I go for a third opinion? Thank you for your answer

[Cathy Stankina]

I have Cardiomyopathy with 10 to 15 % ef....The doctors have not found any reasons for constant palpitations. But I have them and they are driving me crazy.... Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die because they come so fast and so often. I am on Coreg 25mg. twice a day and have been on Coreg for about 8 weeks....Before that I was on 20mg. of Inderal twice a day and it seemed to help my palpitations quite a bit.  They say Coreg is a very good medicine........but why do I have the palpitations.  It is very difficult to live with.  The doctors act like it is a small inconvience, But it is not to me!!!!         Cathy
e-mail address   ***@****