PVC's

[sandro]

hi, im 23 male and within the past year have had cardiac MRI, 2 echos, 2 stress tests, holter monitor, blood work, and event monitor, all normal except PVC's and PAC's.
question 1. can i get SND from the beta blockers im takeing can they cause my heart to stop? 2. how does the heart start back up after a PVC's and doesn't just stop, the pause freaks me out because im waiting for the heart to start up an affraid it won't? 2. ive been to 8 electrophysiologists including cleveland. with the tests that were performed, are they enough to rule out something undetectable, im affraid somethings been over looked. as you can see these PVC's have been affecting my life to the point that when they started i quit my job, dropt out of school and have been at home ever since while seeking help from a phycologist. i started getting these premature beats oct. 05 and thought they could have been caused by (ephedra free) diet pills, which i went on for 6 weeks of may 05 got off for 3 months and went back on for the 3 weeks of sept. 05. during that time between may and september i was dieting extremely and got into malnutriton and anorexia. i go to a nutritionist now and the last time i saw her she found i was 1 point away from malnutrition. thank you for answering.

[Cleveland Clinic]

sandro,

The 2 posters today have very few years under their belts and enough testing to last until they are 80. Its difficult to deal with these symptoms, but you both need to focus on coping mechanisms. You are awful young to be this stressed over what has been a normal cardiac evaluation. With respect to your questions.

1) No.

2) Each heart cell in the heart (there are billions of em) has its own intrinsic pacemaker. If the wiring gets faulty from a misfired PVC, wither the normal pacemaker of the heart or an indivdual cardiac cell can reset the ticker.

3) I you already answered your question. Youve been to 8 different doctors who have tried to reassure you. You need to find a better way to cope with your anxiety as it is already effecting your lifestyle.

good luck

[NurseKagome]

Oh i know how you feel so much you don't know. is there anything in particular you wanna ask me sandro?? since i have had it longer than you i may be of help or at least reasurance. i am also a RN, BN. ironic i know. haha. well, let me know ok? i know i had alot of questions when i first got them. let me know ok? especially since we are the same age and can relate to common things we are going through right now in our lives.

was the girlfriend problem do to the pvc's? and the school/job stuff? you don't have to post anything personal ok? tty soon!

Nurse Kagome

[fearfactor]

Hi, Sandro - I thought that maybe telling you a bit about my experience with PACs and PVCs might help you.  I started having them in August 2004 - August 20, 2004, two days after my birthday, to be exact.  I will always remember that day because it started me off on a nightmare of anxiety that I am only recently coming out of.  When I had a HUGE PVC at the dinner table - one of those that really makes you feel like your heart has stopped and won't start again, I had a massive panic attack which led me to call 911.  My husband thought I was going crazy.  That led to numerous ER visits and doctor's visits too numerous to count, being on various anxiety meds, cardiology visits, all the heart tests, etc. only to have the doctors all say that I have benign palpitations and my response to them is extreme anxiety - I am NOT dying, I just have these dumb palps accompanied by horrible anxiety.  Long story short, I almost let these things destroy my life - I seriously considered checking into a mental hospital for a while.  They nearly caused me to get divorced as my husband got sick of me taking the fear to extremes, I couldn't be there for my 4 year old anymore, I nearly failed out of a great law school.  God saved me from all that by leading me to a wonderful health anxiety program where I got therapy.  I am doing so much better now.  I am to the point where when I have a PVC (a single) it doesn't bother me.  I still get scared when I have couplets or a lot of them in a short period but it's nothing like what it was.  I just want you to know that in most cases these things are completely benign, if you've had all the heart tests, then don't worry.  I know that is so not easy to do - maybe seeing a good therapist who specializes in health anxiety or cardiac neurosis will help.  As to the diet pills, I used to drink about a pot of coffee a day, take decongestants like a fiend for my chronic sinus problems and took ephedra back when it was legal.  I didn't drop dead or have any heart damage, and I'm sure you don't either.  Take care of yourself and try to remember that you can get over this anxiety!

[I'mallheart]

just live on man,,i have the same thing and just gotta live..whaever happens happens..life is short anyway of we live to 100 or not. your worrying is robbing you what GOD wants for you to enjoy life..no prob posting twice..we are all in this together..its frustrating i know..been there and will again..smile your alive today..enjoy it..

peace be onto u

[mrbh]

Hey there...wow my friend, you seriously need to get a grip on this issue...NOT for anyone on this board, but for your own well being. You are clearly in a state of maximum distress and that is extremely unhealthy.

FWIW, these PVC/papls have been plaguing me since 2002. Arrived one summer day totally out of nowhere, and still make unwelcome visits on a regular basis...last night was a good example. The PVC's really trashed me for about 2 or 3 hours. Anxiety? You bet! Panic? Damn straight...right through the roof. I took some extra Inderal, sat down at the computer to distract myself, and soon the event passed and things were back to normal.

It has been said many times on this board...with a normal cardiac workup (ECG, echocardiogram, possibly chest X-ray and/or stress test based on your Doc's judgement) that PVC's are essentially benign.

Take it from my personal experience. Anxiety will carve you into little pieces long before your carefully studied PVC's will. I'm no doctor, but like others here, I have done my share of suffering and been tested from here to next week. So have you. Learn from your experience...please.

Be well, and carry on.

[sandro]

yup! i lost my girlfriend and left school/work to persue this problem. i loved my girlfriend, but i guess she didn't love me. i believe the frustration was killing her just as much as it was me. i isolated myself from her as time went on because i got tired of puting my problems onto her. she told me before she left that she didn't understand why i was doing this when the doctors told me that they were benign... she didn't know why i wasn't speaking to her much and after a wial she thought there was something wrong with her because she felt i was pushing her away. i avoided sex and talking with her as much...i still love her but decided it was better she didn't have to deal with me in the state im in :_(

[tickertock]

Very sad about the girlfriend, I never let PVCs interfere with my sex life, though I admit they were distracting at times, but I managed never to let interfere with the moment, the key is having understanding partner/wife. I been having sex while in bigeminy PVCs, I was asssured by my cardio it was absolutely nothing to worry about. I'm 41 male, happily married , got married at 20, have 2 sons one 20, one 17. I had PVCs nearly all my life but they really only came on real bad at 26/27. I rarely have them anymore.

Maybe you could call your girlfriend and see if you get a 2nd chance, don't be scared , use lovemakimg as a distraction from those PVCs,not as an interference.GOOD LUCK and KEEP the Faith.

[sandro]

its funny because we seperated in january an i didn't hear or see of here for a month. in febuary she started calling and even comes over about twice a week to see how i am. thanks tickertock, i just wish i couldn't feel these damn things.

[tickertock]

Man she loves you, don't let a few irritating PVCs stand in the way of a good thing, obviously she cares about you.GIVE your heart something to excited about and it will behave. GOOD LUCK.

[YepIStillHaveAPulse]

This is the first time I have ever posted anything a a message board, but here goes. I to have pvcs, I have gone to ever doctor possible and had every test they could give me. I have only had them since aug. 05. I have been on so many different meds I couldn't list them all if I tried. I now take toprol xl 50mg/day, and of course lipitor. At first I had several bad months of thinking I was going to die, so many trips to the er, eventually they just would give me ativan and send me home. I kept saying I am not having anxiety, there is something going on. My doctor then prescribed me ativan, and told me to relax. Finally after three months i switched doctors and finally got to a cariologist. Wore a holter monitor and found the pvcs, then he put me on several different calcium channel, and beta blockers finally stopping at toprol seems to help the most. Echo showed very little leaking of mitral valve, nothing to be concerned about they say.  Just thought I would give a brief history on myself incase you wanted to know. I have been reading these boards for several months and they have helped me so much, just the thought of people living for many years with these crazy things. I too get them after I exercise, while I am exercising I feel amazing two minutes after I stop here they come again. I am starting to learn to live with them, even though I fear, and feel everyone I have. I am sorry to hear  SANDRO you are having such a hard time dealing with PVC's and PAC's, I know nothing anyone says will make you feel any better, I still think maybe mine is different maybe I have something else something they haven't found yet, maybe cancer maybe a tumor. I think time is the only thing that will make you feel better. I felt better for a month or so now they have returned about 200 - 400 an hour, I hope they don't last too many more days, I'll probably start to worry and start my er cycle over. I think it is much harder in the begining of having pvcs (maybe the first year or so) in actually believing that nothing is going to happen to you. Just try to deal with it the best way you can, but you have to live life to the best of your ability, to me these sorry pvcs have been sort of a blessing, I spend much more time with my kids and my wife, wondering if I will be here tomorrow, just think of all the smiles I would have missed if I would have lived my life like before working 70 hours a week and drinking too much when I was home. Sorry for such a long post. Don't know if anything will help or make any feel better but if not, It is a pleasure to read all of your stories and somewhat be a part of your lives, yet another thing I would have missed not having these pvcs.

[NurseKagome]

Hey, sounds pretty rough. I think that with this type of problem it really can bring two people unbelievably close if the two allow it to. if 2 ppl can fight something together they are much stronger than if they fight alone. yes, it causes a strain but it can be good, you just need to open up and talk about it. if you try to distance yourself from others it's gonna be hard on you and those that love you. let them in. they'll help too, more than you would ever think. PVC's have caused a strain on my own relationship of 6 yrs. but now we are closer than ever, he helps me get through it and yes, he gets irrated at times with it all as do i.

you can do it.plz dont' sell yourself short in life. you only life once...plz live for today and be happy if your lucky to have a tomorrow. once you stop fearing death, thorough faith or whatever, everything becomes ok. i wish you the best...i feel for you alot and i get pretty down, cry and all the works too. it's something that you morn and let die. or you will never beable to live. keep reading here too, it has helped me extrememly well.

when i get palps i think of this site and the many on it, the same as me or worse off. take care.

Nurse Kagome

[tickertock]

I for one understand your fears and frustrations but you got to get ahold of yourself and fast or you'll self destruct.

You've been assured by some of the best that you'll be fine and won't drop dead, trust them , try and ignore the symptoms and move on.

Also before you get chastised and bombarded for posting more than 2 times within a 6 month period that is the rule on this forum and this is the 3rd post in less than a month so don't be surprised if the warnings start coming in. I don't mean to be rude to you, just giving warning in advance. Take care, best of luck and be well.

[sandro]

IM REALLY SORRY...everyone:( i didn't know... im just reeeally scared. i wont post on here ANYMORE! again, im sorry.

[tickertock]

It's OK , I just want you to feel well again, I know how scarey these PVCs can be . I had them in 1000s daily for months so I know how you feel, you can post comments all you want, its just that posting questions directly to the doctor is limited to 2 post per 6 month period thats all. Good luck and try to relax.

[Contra-D]

Greetings from the Sunshine State. I can't thank whomever enough for having this forum, it is a Godsend. I have been officially diagnosed w/PVC and have a couple of situations I've not yet heard mentioned in previous post. My PVC is limited to a 12 hr window a day, 11:00am - 11:00pm. Anyone have an explanation for that? Specifically, why do I never get them in the mornings? Second situation is, I never get them when I exercise. I'm 55 and do a lot of backpacking, hiking, canoeing, contra dancing, biking, etc. and I find as long as I'm exercising I do not experience PVC. Any idea why it does not occur when I'm exercising?

What has been especially frustrating to me is that I just lost 40 lbs. (at least that many to go), and now that my fitness level is relatively good, the beta blocker (Toprol) that I was put on has caused me considerable digression in terms of energy, ability to exercise, etc. I can barely do 1/4 of what I was doing prior to going on Toprol. In addition I'm always fatigued due to the Toprol, and now take naps almost daily. Not me at all. Depressing.

[Momto3]

Have you discussed your fears with a physician who specializes in anxiety?  After 8 specialists have done their best to reassure you, you seem to have tremendous anxiety over the pvcs.  Why not ask your GP about medicinal or therapeutic ways to deal with the anxiety?  

It seems as though you may not be able to get past the anxiety without some type of help with the anxiety.  A LOT of doctors, including one of CCF's doctors, have done their best at tryin to reassure you.  With a normal cardiac workup, which you have had a number of times, the pvcs will NOT hurt you...Think of them as heart hiccups...

I used to have pvcs numbering in the tens of thousands EVERY day for many YEARS -- still here and well : )  I truly believe (I am not a doctor just a cardiac patient) that the anxiety is getting the best of you, not the pvcs.  Since you are not able to get beyond the fear, I would suggest a consult regarding your anxiety.  It might be just what you need to feel better.  Take care and enjoy the sunshine.

[sandro]

thanks for being sooo understanding. im hopeing that most of the feeling that occur in my body duing the PVC's are anxiety related. i just started seeing a therapist 2 weeks now and haven't really cracked the surface yet, and im tring as hard as i can to avoid meds. i took celexa with bad luck. right now im on sectral, xanax, and ambiencr.

[skippyheart]

Sandro
Your heart does not actually stop when you have a PVC. The ventricular beat occurs early (hence the term premature), causing your ventricle to relase blood before it is filled (sometimes you can feel a slight pulse). But your sinus node - your heart's pacemaker - is ticking right along the whole time. Unless your heart is very sick (and yours is not), the premature beats will never sustain a rhythm that replaces your sinus rhythm. Take momto3's advice and seek some help for the anxiety.

Contra-D
My PVCs have almost always had a somewhat circadian rhythm - I often get them first thing in the afternoon, and they last till I get up the next day, then they skip a day. Go figure! They are never exercise dependant. But some weeks I can set a clock by them.
BTW - I was on atenelol and stopped for the same reasons (fatigue, etc.). Check with your doc - if you are only taking the toprol for the pvcs, you'll probably feel much better without it, even if the pvcs increase. When I stopped my b-b I had to get used to feeling my heart beat again. But I even started drinking coffee again - I'm in a better mood now even when the pvcs kick in.

[NurseKagome]

hi everyone,

i just don't know what to do anymore...i feel totally defeated by my PVC's. i had two stress tests, echo, countless holters with nothing showing up for years. i am 23 and have had this since i was 16. i just feel like i'm going crazy...i exercise and i get PVC's...and alot of them in a spurt. i do have weeks were i don't have one and during this time i feel powerful and untouchable but it only takes one Pvc to bring me back into a state of anxiety. reading all of your posts is comforting but it doesn't get rid of my anxiety. i continually think that something else is really wrong with my heart and it is taking ovre my life. i am otherwise healthy and what breaks my heart is that i don't exercise like i used to and take part in things like camping or skiing because i am either scared to be away from a hospital or that my heart will stop and i'll die. i don't know if anyone reading this can help me in some way but i need help. please if anyone feels this way write me and tell me about it. i have exhausted my close friends and familiy about this and they seem to just be irrated by me now. i wish eveyone else the best of luck with their issues and hope to hear from someone soon. my email is Nurse_Kagome***@****

[Carey01]

Don't feel bad -- I know how you feel!  I freak out and worry constantly about mine. too.  The feeling is just so disturbing that it sends us out constantly seeking reassurance that we're OK.  I hope you find the assurance you need -- or better yet -- that they go away and that you start being able to live !!  But please don't feel bad about posting and make yourself feel worse!

[sandro]

thanks a bunch for the comment carey01.

NurseKagome
did your PVC's just come out of nowhere at 16, what happened? believe me i know how you feel and ive only had them since oct. 05. i lost my girlfriend dropt out of school and quiet my job seeking help or that magic pill. i use to weightlift, bike...just a very active outside guy, now because of these PVC's (mostly the way they feel, not haveing them) im not physically or sexually active at all anymore. personally at 23 id like to be able to do anything without the physical discomfort until i get to that were its not possible or i acually have restrctions.

[NurseKagome]

thanks for your words. they mean alot to me. sandro did you say you were 23? i'm sorry but i didn't understand your last comment. i want to make sure i understand you correctly. did you mean that you wish you didn't have to worry about anything since your 23 and young?

does anyone else get more with exercise?? i know i do, not 100% predictable but pretty often the case. reading the forum is starting to sink in and make me feel more "normal" whatever normal is. i'm happy that i found you all and this site.

when i was 16 is a guess...i started out having sob during basketball games and went for some tests including a stress test for asthma. nothing came of it and i guess i just starting noticeing them? or maybe they just started? it's weird that when you asked me that i cannot recall exactly when it first happened...weird huh? guess it's been 7 yrs now so it's all a blurr. i just wanna beable to work out and run and say f**k it when i get PVC's and go on running. will i ever beable to do that? who knows, but i'm going to try my hardest to do so.

take care everyone,
Nurse Kagome

[sandro]

I'm 23 right now and have had them since october 2005, not very long but my God!!! it feels like a looong time.

[Abeybaby]

You need help! Get counselling for your anxiety and your heart will cure itself.

[NurseKagome]

I have personally never seen an electrophysiologist or whatever it is I have heard mentioned on this forum. I know what they do but isn't seeing a cardiologist good enough? I was feeling pretty good about everything but now I'm a little unsure. Is this imp to see an eletro whatever? Or should i Be ok seeing a cardiologist?? What have you all saw in the past?

[madgeOwens]

I am so sorry the doctor was not more empathetic to your fears. I for one am very embarrassed for him. There is no excuse for the short and really quite fresh answers you were given. Maybe this physician needs to walk a few miles in your shoes and see just how very anxious he/she can become. A refresher course in common courtesy is in order!
Please continue to visit and post your questions for the others in here. They will help you more than any one else I would bet.
Good Luck, and I hope things improve soon for you dear. God Bless.