Painful PVC's

[manatee-]

I began having, what I learned to be, PVC's in 1995. I became overly concerned about the skipped beats and in 1996 had my first panic attack. I was a State Highway Patrolman and was told by different doctors that stress was causing most of my problems. I was in pretty bad shape for a few years and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic stress disorder, due to some events that occured while on duty, and panic disorder. Over the last few years I have had an echocardigram,which was normal, Stress tests, worn Holter monitors and event monitors and other than having annoying skips my doctors have all said I was healthy and not to worry about the skips. The skips do seem more frequent when I am under stess. I take atenolol 25 mg twice a day and klonipin .5 twice a day. My question has to do with some recent symptoms. Sometimes while having a bowel movement or straining while exercising or while relly nervous I'll have a skip that feels painful or uncomfortable. I am guessing that if I have a skip while straining that the recovery beat is more forceful and causes some pain. Secondly lately when having sex sometimes I get very lightheaded. I have never passed out and it doesn't happen every time but it causes me to be a little nervous when having sex. I guess its a vicious cycle like worring about my skipped beats I began worrying about it happening which makes it worse. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. I really want to overcome all this and have made great strides over the last few years. I guess I just worry what the years of worrying and stress have done to me

[paola37]

I am a 37 year old female - with the same problem and sensation that you are experiecing.  I have read your posting and I have a very important question - how do you ignore these skip beats?- I feel every one of them and some are more painful than others.  I can be at the computer, in a meeting, feeding my child-- and here comes this terrible sensation... it takes my breath away... I can't ignore them and I really wish I could.  This PVC/PAC have started in May - I have seen doctors 4 cardiologists and they all tell me the same thing - it is benign..nothing to worry about bla bla bla ... I have even made an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic to see what can be done for these sensations... I will see a doctor there is February... I don't know what to do anymore I am terrified that this pvc/pac are the precursor of something else to come.. any suggestion?

[manatee-]

For a little more background I am 34 and always considered myself in excellent shape 'till all this started. I have PAC's also. Seems everytime I feel a skip it feels different. Sometimes I'll feel the sensation in my upper abdomen and sometimes behind my sternum. I always seem to have isolated ectopic beats, no runs or anything, that I can tell, although I have felt some strange sensations. I'll feel several a day sometimes. The atenolol I take hasn't really helped with the skips but has helped with my blood pressure and keeping my heart rate down so that if I do have a panic attack my heart doesn't take off to the races. Thanks for your comment. Every little bit of support helps. I've gotten pretty good at ignoring the skips but sometimes it still scares me. I just want to make sure I leave no stone unturned especially when it comes to something like heart health.

[arthur]

For what it's worth, I understand that some skips can be a bit painful, especially during exercise.  It would appear that it's a matter of timing, exhaling and inhaling forcefully while the heart skips and follows that up with an extra heavy load of blood could push the pulmonary veins up against the lungs at just the right moment to make things feel more uncomfortable than usual.  
I have felt the same thing during exercise (and I get mostly PACs).  I have learned to ignore those nasty thumps, and for some dull reason, I am no longer aware of most of them...probably a question of setting your mind to accepting that an occassional thump while exercising means diddly squat.

The rush of adrenaline during exercise or sex can cause an extra flurry of skips, and lead to a feeling of lightheadedness (I have experienced this as well). The use of a beta blocker can help here, however, I understand these drugs also knock down performance both on and off the field.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear manatee,

You have come to the right place in regard to dealing with PVCs.  There are hundreds of postings on this site from individuals like yourself.  You can read through these and find assurance as well as suggestions for dealing with PVCs.  Let me assure you that PVCs are benign and will not cause long-term harm.  Painful PVCs may be due to the 'recovery beat' or the beat after the PVC because the heart has more time to fill with blood and the contraction is more forceful.  Why some people perceive them as more painful than others is not known.  

The lightheadedness is probably not due to PVCs but I am not sure what is causing it.  You could mention it to your doctor on your next visit but I would not be too concerned about it.