Re: help pvc's

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on March 29, 1999 at 11:01:10:

In Reply to: help pvc's posted by Roxanne on March 29, 1999 at 09:33:10:






I know you get an awful lot of questions regarding PVC's, byut I just need a little reassurance. I have had PVC's off and on (mainly on)  for 16 years. At times these things drive me crazy like a lot of other people in this forum. I go thru periods where I'll have 100 or so a day to probable a couple thousand. ANd you can bet when they come on they that they drive me nuts and I really started to worry. OF course this week has been one of those PVC weeks. I have had the echo and bloodwork, which showed mild MVP with some regurg, but nothing to much to worry about. I just need reassuance that having days where my PVC's are as many as 10 to 20 a minute for hours and then they  may take a break for 1/2 hour or so and resume again for a few hours. It is so hard for me to fall asleep when I can feel everyone of them. Actually it is hard for me to do anything while they are this bad. I have been on Sectral (200mg) since January and have only been experiecing mild palps (>100 a day). Now there are with me again with a vengenence. Any advice as to how I can ride them out until they subside alittle bit??? Is it dangerous to have all these PVC's for days on end in the absence of structural heart disease??? I hope that you can answer some of my questions. This forum has really been a big help with my PVC's, but when they get real bad reassurance is probably my best medicine.  Thank in advance for all the answers that you give to allof us. It is greatly appreciated.
Roxanne





Dear Roxanne,
Thank you for your question.  Let me assure you there are many others out there like you and  I suspect you will get several replies to this posting.  Everything we know about PVC's indicate that they are harmless in these situations.  Beta-blockers like sectral can reduce the frequency and you may just need a higher dose.  Ask you doctor about increasing the dosage.  In the meantime hang in there and stop all the things you know increase PVC's.  Also try increasing your physical activity.  Good luck.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.