Palpitations--PVC's or PAC's???

[smc123]

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???

[tarek]

I have the same exact thing. I am 26 m. Did echo, stress test, currently wearing the event monitor. What happens to me is the following (typical what the doctor said) and the monitor caught the PAC and some PVC. I am convinced that anxiety and adrenaline are a result of this:

1) I feel a skipped beat - Temporarily shortness of breath
2) I get anxious and fear my heart is out of rythm and am going to pass out
3) Huge adrenaline rush that weakens my hands
4) Heart races very very fast (monitor caught up to 180+)

I learned its a vicious circle. This scenario has happened to me like probably 20+ times, and so far no long term effects (but i want to control it with some medication so im seeing a physician on monday to give me smth for anxiety) and the doc said i can take a low dose beta blocker to relieve some of the irregular beats. Anyway i learned its common, its a vicious circle and the anxiety and the palps feed each other. If u want to send me an email its
tarek_tarek882***@****
cheers

[tarek]

Scaredde:

I know exactly what you mean.. personally i had so far more than 30 "attacks" and each time its the same thing (i never get used to them)...3 of these attacks have ended with a trip to the ER because the heart rate refused to go down (usually my heart will peak for 2-3 min then calm down but when its more than 10 min i go to the ER). I enter the ER with a rate of 140+, BP 150/90 .. when they do the EKG and tell me its normal .. my rate drops to 70 and BP when exiting was 124/70... so i hope this story relieves some of you guys in a way that yes the mind can play very dirty tricks and that no, these so called palps and attacks statistically cannot do you harm...

[scareddee]

I have those EXACT things happen to me.  The "skips" and the tremendous rush of adrenaline or is it the other way around?  I can't tell.  Then comes the tachycardia, shortness or breath and the "I'm going to die" thoughts.  I have suffered on and off with anxiety and panic for about ten years and every time it happens I still freak out.  You would think I'd be used to it by now.  It has taken so much of my life, it's sad.

[tarek]

just to be politically correct, i have to add that these palps and attacks cannot do you harm in the setting of a structurally normal heart (ie: echo, stress test were normal)

[woodruff]

These are the exact symptoms I experience, too.  I've often mentioned that my bouts of pvcs and the adrenalin rush happen so close together that I cannot tell which is chicken and which is egg, so to speak.

But, if your EKGs and other tests have repeatedly indicated a normal heart, more testing is probably not going to help.  When the heart is healthy, the exact cause of the evil sensations hardly matters.  What matters is your response to them, and your response is that you fear you are going to die.

That's anxiety, and even though you say you don't feel you need to take anxiety medication anymore, it certainly sounds as though your anxiety needs to be treated.

I'd recommend talking to a psychiatrist or counselor to see if cognitive therapy and meds could give you back a comfortable life.

[tickertock]

I'm 42 (male) had these same rushes and flushing with PVCs and tachycardia occuring simultaneosly for over 25 years. If it had been anything serious I'm sure I would have "bit the dust" by now. i know its makes you feel like its your last minute alive, but nothing bad has ever happened to me yet because of it. I think the flushing feeling and redness in the neck face and chest is from the anxiety caused by the sudden onset of PVCs or ectopics and the anxiety tachycardia that somes comes with the feelings, my opinion only.Hope you get some peace of mind, it's hard to do I admit but you have try and conquer the anxiety.

I've seen persons with serious significant heart disease and are not the least bit anxious about their problem living life to fullest knowing it could end at any moment and others with minor insignificant problems like palps and PVCs without any significant abnormalities that is crippled and paralyzed with anxiety and fear, sometime just realising that you're lucky compared to others can make one comes to grips with their own anxieties and fears, I know it has helped me a great deal. Good luck.