Ventricular Tachycardia Vs. PVC's

Can anyone please explain the difference between bigeminy trigeminy and Ventricular Tachacardia?
i know that a single PVC's is one prematrure ventricular beat an-t-d bigeminy is two beats in a row? and trigeminy three in a row??? am i correct so far ? so what is ventricular tachy then?

Also has anyone here had V-tach and if so what exactly did it feel like ? i don't mean dizziness and such. i mean did you actually feel something in your chest and more specifically the heart. i cannot tell if i had v-tach episode. i do have pvcs and holter shows some pvcs. did not show bigeminy nor trigeminy. One day when i was having a major panic attack i felt as if though i could feel my heart muscle contracting and i felt like i was going to pass out. i went to the ER and by the time i got there it had stopped. EKG looked fine checked me in hospital to be on the safe side. so my question is could this have been V-tach?  i do have a history of sinus tachy. But would like to know symtoms (symptoms) of V-tach. do you actually feel your heart contracting and beating? almost like a spasming or quivering feeling in heart / chest.  please let me know . totally freaking out here.   34 male  5'6 160  no drugs, no alc. heavy smoker 15 years.   all tests look ok EKG / thalium stress test/ Echo/ 2 holters show PVC's . The episode i am writing about did not occur at a time when i was wearing a holter.

[deedle1976]

Bigeminy is every second beat a PVC.
Trigeminy is third beat a PVC.
A couplet is two beats in a row.
3 or more PVCs in a row (but lasting less than 30 seconds) is non sustained v tavh (nsvt).
Lasting more than 30 seconds it is sustained V tach.


I think I have experienced non sustained v tach twice ( I usually just have frequent PVCs and bigeminy).
It felt like a tumbling, rumbling in my chest with no sensation of a pulse or proper actual heartbeat. After a couple of second it clicked back into normal rythm with a thump.
Occasional nsvt is quite common in the healthy population. It is not dangerous in the absence of heart disease.

[surfgirl]

  STOP!  You are dwelling again.

[Michaelccc]

thanks deedle i understand the difference between big, trig and nsvts now. i still cannot tell if i had v-tach that day. i didnt think about feeling my pulse. i just got freaked out. i literarly felt my heart contracting and quivering and beating. and i'm not sure if it was adrenaline from the fear or not but i felt like i was about to go unconcious or die. either way by the time i made it to the hospital those symptoms were gone. surfgirl i'm freaked out because if it were v-tach i want to make sure i take care of it before it causes me more problems or puts me in severe danger. i guess what i'm looking for right now is education on the topic. not knowing is what causes fear, but if i know what exactly is happening i wouldnt be anticipating the worst. anyone else here feel their heart actually beating squeezings pumping the actual contractions of their heart? and if so was this associated with v-tach or just panic attack?  without an ekg how are symptoms of v-tach different than pvcs?

[surfgirl]

There was a year or two when I felt every aching beat of my heart...............ya know, like we said 2 million times, if your heart is OK, V tach is fine.............I have it almost every day, and my is not OK.  I am still here.  PS............  Have you considered becoming celibate?

[ddog0651]

michael,
   I am currently in CCU post prolonged V-Tach  212 for 1.25 hours and yes it was painful..I am s/p total RCA occlusion now with a stent,,,yesterdays PTCA is positive but I am getting an IED in morning...Good luck   donn