menopause - increased pac's and afib

[tinkeydoo]

I am a 50yr old female. I have a family history of pac's and I have been having them since I was 20 yrs old. They were first discovered when I took birth control pills. Now at menopause I have had afib twice and went to the ER both times. I have had an echo,cxr,ekg and I do not have heart disease. I converted on my own the first time after being in afib 5 hrs and the second time also after 5 hrs but I was given cardizem IV. I am now taking cardizem cd once daily. The first episode was while I was sleeping and the second was after an upset with my husband. My BP was normally 160/90 as I got older but had always been much lower. Do you feel that changes in female hormones can be a cause of afib and pac's that will settle down after a while as menopause finishes. BTW my FSH is 40.

Thank-you

[Cleveland Clinic]

tinkeydoo,

Thanks for the post.

As we age, the chances of atrial fibrillation increase. While the change in the hormonse in the body can probably have some effect, a more likely cause would be hypertension. I woul dmake sure you keep your blood pressure under strict control to try to decrease the long term risk of atrial fibrillation.

good luck

[DebHasPVCs]

I also started having PVCs at age 38 when I entered early menopause.  In the past year, they have increased to the point where I have them all day long sometimes with long runs of them.  I have talked to a lot of people lately who say that hormonal changes can cause irregular heartbeats.  I am on hormone replacement therapy but it doesn't help.

A cardiologist I went to recently said that the increase in PVCs is definitely related to menopause.  But then I wonder... why do men get them?  Why do they get worse for some people with caffeine and exercise?  What CAUSES them - increased blood flow? adrenaline? electrolyte deficiencies?

I wish you luck.

[tinkeydoo]

well I can answer some thing- Some Pac's can be made worse by caffine and the reason why men get them is because there are a lot of reasons to get them- not just hormones.
My real concern is for the afib- and I am hoping the Dr. will give some advice. :}

[wmac]

If you having long runs of pvcs with no normal beats in between you are having either nsvt or vt. Have you worn a monitor? Just saying from my own experience
wmac

[DebHasPVCs]

I wore a monitor about 5 years ago before I started having runs.  I've seen 2 cardiologists in the past 2 years who both agree that the runs are nothing to worry about.  The research I have done agrees with what you say, but for some reason the docs haven't mentioned it.  

The runs happen mostly after I eat a big meal or exercise.

[madgeOwens]

Gee can we never get help with these darn pvc's? Mine are constant and I am sooooooo sick of this light headedness........
who gets a pace maker and how can ya get one!

[DebHasPVCs]

I just learned that sleep apnea can cause an irregular heartbeat.  Has anyone ever been treated for sleep apnea and noticed a descrease in their PVCs?

[pvctracer]

I am 41 and perimenopausal.  However, I have suffered from PVC's for 20 yrs or so, my grandfather has them, as well as my mother and my 21 yr old son.  Our family has a history of anxiety, especially me, I am currently taking meds for it, because if I don't I am disabled by panic and these darn heart palps.  They have recently gotten worse, but I have gained a lot of weight with the meds as well as lost my energy for exercise because of them.  My blood pressure is high, and I am on beta blockers as well.  
I, too, am sick of these, and it's as if they are ruling my life.  I will lay down and get them, wake up with them, get them when I laugh hard, or I could just be sitting watching my favorite TV show (no stress there).  I have been to the ER 4 times (at least), and have had two treadmill tests 2 years apart, and had to wear a halter monitor.  These really suck, and it doesn't matter who you talk to, if they don't experience them they will never understand.  I am lucky that my family understands because they too have them.
It is so nice to find that others have the same issues, and to know that even though I think they will, that they will not kill me.

[rhythmAKL]

I am female and 45 yrs old.  I have had pac's and pvc's most all my adult life.  If I had them as a teenager etc... I do not recall them.  I have been browsing around all the topics here related to arrhythmias, and any information on heart irregularities looking for ideas and reassurance.  Some of these folks have symptoms identical to my own....and I feel sad for us all.
I have been told my heart structure is ok, via MRI and electrocardiograms and holters.  However, I had a very wacky EKG in July when I went to an integrative MD.  I have been worried since.  He gave me a magnesium iv that day just to try to get my heart to relax and slow down. An episode far from just "white coat syndrome". It is so sad to live being controlled by fear and discomfort.  Since the wacky EKG that showed too many ventricular problems, I have since found a new Cardiologist that is not opposed to alternative therapies.  He states I have to get my heart under control before we can do anything else. nHe says then we can work on the Ferritin level of 4 (with iron & b12 shots) and my active thyroid T3 almost nonexistant....(t4 does not convert to T3) I have lots to consider here and I have never been told I am premenopausal, but the way the anxiety and heart rhythm irregularity just comes on unpredictably, almost cyclical in nature, I think it is hormonal and or an adrenal problem because of the feeling that just starts as a fight of flight tingly response in my low abdomen when just sitting still, and often after I eat. I am afraid to exercise but need to at least walk...just too afraid.
I have posted this here in hopes that someone can assure me about the meds I have been taken that seem to keep the beats at bay, but I still feel them everyday, but they do not take off and they are subdued.  I am taking Toprol XL (50mg) at night and Amiodarone 200 mg twice a day.  I was in the hospital being monitored starting on the 4th of August until the 10th, also the MRI and last echo was done then.  Anyway, the Cardiologist did an IV drip of the amiodarone for 24 hours to see how I reacted to it and I was released the next day and told to take it orally to control the arrhythmias and "make me feel better".  I do feel some better, but if there's anyone out here to give me some reassurance they've had not had a problem with this type of med I would be sooooo grateful.  I have tried several times to post a question here with no luck so far, and many of the other topics have been closed.  I see the cardiologist a week from this friday again and I hope he will have some new ideas (non-invasive), but until then, reading all these posts really does help me keep the faith and I try really hard not to worry, but I am finding it almost impossible.  Thanks for the reply if anyone can relate.  ALSO, I do not want to be frightened or become even more worried if there are bad experiences from some folks out here regarding the meds I am on, so please be gentle with suggestions, but please share the positives if there are any!