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Palpitations--PVC's or PAC's???
About three years ago I started to have these skipped/missed beats. I have been to the ER several times had numerous tests(dopplar echox2, EKG's,blood work,holiter monitor and worn an event monitor for 30 days) all with the same negative resluts. I have been told by both my PMD and cardiologist that there is nothing wrong with my heart and in fact it is probably anxiety. I took anxiety medication in the past but don't feel that I need to take it any longer. When I get these "skipped/missed"beats I get a rush of adreline--I can feel it move from the pit of my stomach up to my head and then I get very flushed--it seems to happen simultaneously with the skipped beats. Is this normal or should I be more concerned?? Is the adreline rush causing the skipped beats or are the skipped beats causing the adreline rush?? I can not stand the way they feel and I am convinced I am going to die. Should I persue further testing?? Or is this the anxiety that I am trying to convince myself that I do not have???
I've had the darned things for fifteen years, anyhow. If it's any consolation to you (heh-heh), the books say they tend to become more frequent as one ages.
Based on my own lengthy experience, one thing I can suggest is that if you've had your heart tests (EKG, stress echo, etc), and you keep coming up "normal," yet you feel miserable and are inclined to give up your normal activities out of fear, then you are probably futzing with anxiety on some level. People don't like to consider that, because it somehow smacks of craziness, but I can tell you that a good shrink (and possibly a counselor) can help a lot in dealing with it all.
Some people have good results with beta blockers, and I think they're worth a shot. Some people, including me, get better results with SSRIs (in my case, zoloft works best). Shutting down a faulty alarm system (which is part of the problem) does seem to decrease the frequency of pvcs.
One poster here, collegegirl, reported that her life, her marriage, and her relationship with her children were being ruined by fear of these irregular beats. In several of her posts, she mentioned that a course of intensive treatment for anxiety, part of which involved actively facing and acknowledging the pvcs, freed her from terror and improved her life immensely.
Based on my own lengthy experience, one thing I can suggest is that if you've had your heart tests (EKG, stress echo, etc), and you keep coming up "normal," yet you feel miserable and are inclined to give up your normal activities out of fear, then you are probably futzing with anxiety on some level. People don't like to consider that, because it somehow smacks of craziness, but I can tell you that a good shrink (and possibly a counselor) can help a lot in dealing with it all.
Some people have good results with beta blockers, and I think they're worth a shot. Some people, including me, get better results with SSRIs (in my case, zoloft works best). Shutting down a faulty alarm system (which is part of the problem) does seem to decrease the frequency of pvcs.
One poster here, collegegirl, reported that her life, her marriage, and her relationship with her children were being ruined by fear of these irregular beats. In several of her posts, she mentioned that a course of intensive treatment for anxiety, part of which involved actively facing and acknowledging the pvcs, freed her from terror and improved her life immensely.
Thanks woodruff! you're right, there must be alot of pvc sufferers. i'm kind of getting used to the ones that feel like a big single thump in your chest but i'm still learning to deal with the ones that make your chest flutter (assuming they are also missed beats?)and when you get 3-4 in a row!!! i don't really get an adrenaline rush with mine anymore now i just feel a sinking feeling that scares me! I'm not on any meds for mine yet, doc has suggested that if i can't cope with them then he will prescribe me a beta blocker. Is it worth trying the beta blocker? is there anyone who definitely thinks that they help with the pvcs?
which beta blocker were you on? You're right i hate these pvcs so much that i too would rather put up with the side effects of the meds than the feeling of a kick in your chest every minute!
how long have you noticed the pvcs for? i've been having them constantly for 3 months now and they seem to be getting more. will they ever stop, even if its for a day?? what annoys me so much is that i NEVER had them before and they seem to have just appeared out of nowhere like a bad rash!! i'm not sure but i think indigestion may have some role in triggering them, though i'm not sure anymore because i haven't heard anyone else notice a possible connection.
how long have you noticed the pvcs for? i've been having them constantly for 3 months now and they seem to be getting more. will they ever stop, even if its for a day?? what annoys me so much is that i NEVER had them before and they seem to have just appeared out of nowhere like a bad rash!! i'm not sure but i think indigestion may have some role in triggering them, though i'm not sure anymore because i haven't heard anyone else notice a possible connection.
i can say that the beta blockers helped me out, although they don't stop the pvc's or pac's completly, they do help reduce the severity, occurance and awareness. another thing to remember is that every one is different and the side effects of the beta blockers might be more bothersome to one person than for another. for me, i'd much rather deal with side effects than having that thumping in my chest every other beat. like most people with the problem, we have are good days and bad. might not notice the pvc's or pac's for a day, week, or month, then out the blue they start up again. somthings gotta be trigering them but know one seems to know. good luck and be strong.
I have suffered with PVC/PACs for about 4 years now,I am a 31 yo female. I have had blood work, ecgs, echo and holter done about 2-3 years ago now.All were grand and they showed up on the monitor. I have opted not to take beta blockers and can usually deal with them although they cause me alot of anxiety. I notice i get them when i am tired, hungry and especially the day after drinking alcohol, I know i will have to eliminate this entirely from my life, but what am i concerned about now is that i am starting to get them during exercise which is freaking me out as this was my life saver to help me cope and now I feel like I dont want to go to the gym anymore, before I start a class I get myself all wound up and instead of concentrating on the class i find myself concentrating on hoping i dont get these and of course i will end up getting them. I dont get any other symptoms, I want to know if this is dangerous to be experiencing them when your heart rate is higher than your resting heart rate, I might only get one or two but i feel weird afterwards for a few seconds prob anxiety kicking in. I dont feel i get any help from my doctor he just said they are of no concern but i never got them at that time while i exercised. I dont want to give up the gym as I love it. I am so sick and tired of living my live and these invading every area of it.
Hi
I am a 27 years old male from England, ive had ectopic beats for approx 5 years now, They still do worry me sometimes and listening to people who have the same problem as me has helped. Ive had all the usual tests available ( echo etc ) which are very expensive and all of them have diagnosed the ectopic beats scenario. The symptoms have increased lately and i sometimes get 3-4 in a row, ive found it helps to stay calm and let them just 'happen'. You tend to have a busy month and then sometimes they will go away for a while, id love to know what causes them!! and yes I have noticed that if I sit to my left hand side i can be bombarded with them and if i switch to my right they almost instantly go! very strange isnt it! so as you can imagine I sit to the right all the time now! if anyone wants to chat about this or needs any kind of support then they can email me direct on ***@****
I am a 27 years old male from England, ive had ectopic beats for approx 5 years now, They still do worry me sometimes and listening to people who have the same problem as me has helped. Ive had all the usual tests available ( echo etc ) which are very expensive and all of them have diagnosed the ectopic beats scenario. The symptoms have increased lately and i sometimes get 3-4 in a row, ive found it helps to stay calm and let them just 'happen'. You tend to have a busy month and then sometimes they will go away for a while, id love to know what causes them!! and yes I have noticed that if I sit to my left hand side i can be bombarded with them and if i switch to my right they almost instantly go! very strange isnt it! so as you can imagine I sit to the right all the time now! if anyone wants to chat about this or needs any kind of support then they can email me direct on ***@****
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