Skipped Beat

I am a 21 year old male. I have noticed for the past few years an ocassional skipped beat followed by a hard beat. I have had ekgs, a stress test, an echo, a holter, aqnd an an event recorder.
The first one I took was the holter and the Dr. said he didnt see anything wrong. However i never had one of theses skipped beats with the holter on. Next i went to the Mayo Clinic and they gave me the echo, the stress test, and an ekg and said everything looked good but they had me wear an event recorder. I wore this for about two months but never had one of these skips. I sent it bak and never heard anything else.

After reading stories in this forum i pretty much figuered it was probably a PVC. However recently these skips are not followed by the hard beat.

My questions are:

In order to diagnose if these skips are serious do I have to catch one of them on one of these recorders? if so, should I go back and have more tests done?

Since I dont have that hard beat after the skip anymore does that suggest anything?

Is there any other symptoms i could look for that would suggest that these are PVCs or something more serious?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Q:In order to diagnose if these skips are serious do I have to catch one of them on one of these recorders? if so,
     should I go back and have more tests done?
A: Given the story PVC is the most likely diagnosis.

  Q:   Since I dont have that hard beat after the skip anymore does that suggest anything?
A: Not everyone will experience a "hard" beat following a PVC.

    Q: Is there any other symptoms i could look for that would suggest that these are PVCs or something more serious?
A: A more serious arrhythmia would cause things like profound lightheadedness, chest pain or fainting.

[ChrisMcG]

I'm not an MD, but I get PVCs pretty regularly and have had them diagnosed (finally they did happen -- right in the middle of an echo).  I was told they are harmless but that if I every experienced dizziness as a result that that would be worth investigating further.  I have not had dizziness (anxiety, yes, but not actually dizziness).  So I don't think you have a thing to worry about since you don't mention dizziness or fainting.  As to the hard beat after (or lack thereof) I would call the absence of a hard beat a type of PVC (which I get too-- even as a write) as much less bothersome and noticable, so count yourself lucky if they kinda settle down to that type.  Nothing particularly significant to that, in my layperson's opinion. You are doing the right thing in researching this and hearing other people's stories -- you are witnessing the two important things about this type of arrythmia:  1)  it is not dangerous  2)  it feels dangerous.  Hard to do, but try to ignore them.  Happy thumping and fluttering!

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks for your comments.

[Sara L.]

So, if you know you have a lot of PVC's, already recorded on an old holter (6 yrs ago), then start having even more, and DO feel dizziness with them when they are bad, what does this mean???

That's my situation, and it's driving me nuts.

Am wearing a 24 hour holter right now, but haven't gotten dizzy yet today, so worried nothing significant will show. Usually get dizzy with PVC's anywhere from once every three days to 30 X per day.

[ChrisMcG]

Response to Sarah:  It would be interesting to me and others what the MDs response to your Q would be.  I think what it probably means is that some kind of medication would be helpful.  I was never told what it would "mean" if I were to become dizzy with the PVCs, but I am assuming they'd want to get them under control so that you don't pass out and conk your head (or crash while driving, etc.)  I think those things are the major concern with your symptoms, not so much that the pvcs themselves are a danger to your heart.  You should be able to find help.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Sara - I would have it checked out.  It could be something new.

[Sara L.]

They said they couldn't read the holter! I have to redo it tomorrow. Good, I've been absurdly dizzy past two days, every time I move I feel my heart flip flop and get dizzy. I've fainted dozens of times with this over the years. No real answer, used to not realize was my heart, since sometimes this arryhtmia isn't sensed by me, but only felt with my hand on my chest. It's nothing new, just worse. Been dizzy bad for several years now. Upon exertion.

I'll repost next week, when results are in. Hope was just a technical problem, not my heart:) Have to have holter checked w/ "voltage meter" at another clinic. Any idea what this means, CCF Cardiologist??? Thanks.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

???? technological snafoo

[Cla]

My bp at one pt yesterday was 94 / 46.   This seems very low.    Is this dangerous?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Generally low blood pressure by itself is not harmful unless one is having symptoms.