ectopic beats repeat evaluation???

[bluehuskybabe]

Hi I am 34 years old and had a baby 8 weeks ago.  10 years ago I had cardiac investigations and was eventually diagnosed with trivial mitral regurgitation, pvc's and panic attacks.  Since then I have taken citalopram for PA's and have remained well.  PVC's also reduced, and apart from the odd one or two non-existant for the last year.  In the last 2 weeks I have the PVC's have returned occurring in runs lasting from seconds to hours sometimes up to 10 a minute and have led to anxiety attacks.  I have also started to feel dizzy (previously attributed to anxiety) and during one episode my pulse was about 48 (I thought perhaps due to increased anxiety a vaso vagal response) is this possible?.  My symptoms feel exactly the same as they did years ago and my cardiologist advised me then after echo, ecg and 24hr monitoring that I had nothing to worry about and had benign ectopic beats that required no follow up.  Do I need further investigation now, due to the fact my symptoms improved for such a long time before returning?  Also why do PVC's come and go like they do, are they caused by stress? I have never passed out although I do feel faint/light headed at times with/without PVC's.

[Melsimone]

Hello to all fellow sufferers out there. I have slowly being going mad since June this year when I first noticed the ectopic beats and the anxiety symptoms which follow. In desperation I came across this website and to my relief there are others out there feeling exactly the same as I do. I have just had a particularly bad spell resulting in me having two days off work. I also had my first trip to A&E at the weekend because the symptoms were surely a sign of a more serious condition? I had an ECG which showed up the ectopics but were not considered serious and I was discharged. I have always been quite a nervous character, I had a baby two years ago who doesn't yet sleep through so I am permanently exhausted. I am reasonably fit I like to swim and go to the gym though recently feel a little apprehensive to do too much. What type of personalities are you? Do you suffer easily with the stress and anxiety of life? I always new I was a bit of a softy don't deal well with confrontational situations etc...  I would love to hear from you all, you make me realise I am sane!

[Rooster!]

I found a way to significantly reduce my PVCs and PACs.Suprisingly by adjusting my posture(arching lower back) I'm not as susceptable to the skips.I hope this helps.

[bluehuskybabe]

Thank you very much for your information and support.  I mentioned them to my gp yesterday and he has arranged an ecg in 10 days time and then we'll go from there.  I am feeling lightheaded a lot and think it might actually be anxiety related.

[tickertock]

I have had epsiodes of PVCs now going on for close to 20 years, I am about 3 weeks shy of 41, though the first real bad attack came around when I was 27 . I must state that I have always been aware of the occasional PVC even as a child.

I can't figure any particular pattern or triggers , though I admit periods of high anxiety do increase them , even if not prolonged. I have them from the 100s to the 1000s daily lasting as long as 5-6 months, then disappearing with only an odd thump now and then for years.

I personally think its a random event of irritable foci in the ventricles that acts up from time to time, like a volcano lying dormant for awhile then erupting for a period, then cooling down again, this the best explanation I have come up with, only wish they could lay dormant for the rest of my life and others that suffer with them. I have been told by one EP cardio, its just the nature of the beast.Take care and good luck.

[Cleveland Clinic]

bhb,

Thanks for the post.

A lot of people notice a change in the quality or frequency of their palpiations during or after pregnancy,  Most likely there isnt any significance to these and they are related to the previous evaluation.  However, its impossible to tell over the internet. I would discuss your symptoms with your OB or General practice physician.

good luck