too many pvc's/please respond

[blan3556]

first off my heart is structurally normal.  My pvc's are coming in runs of 10-20 minutes with a pvc every other beat.  It takes my breath away and makes me want to run to the ER.  I am trying stop myself from going but need to hear if others have these runs.  I mean every other beat?  It is happening several times a day.  I had all the tests, been told I can take a beta if I wantes too but am afraid too, please respond.

[Momto3]

Yep, had hours, days, weeks of bigeminy (every other beat).  It definitely felt weird, but I actually got used to it that when it was gone, it felt just as weird.  Eventually, I got used to my new normal rhythm (post ablation) and now the pvcs feel weird again.  I think it's just a matter of what we're used to....

You may get some real relief with BB's...I took them everyday for many years and found that they could be quite effective.  Sometimes, when you first start on them, you will feel very tired, but that wears off.  I took Inderal and aside from the pvc-benefit, it has kind of an anti-anxiety effect...worked well for me for a long time.  I no longer take it every day, but can use it "as needed."  Maybe your doctor will let you try that....??

[Barbarella]

I had this for months every day and I am still here.  I cannot take BB, it brings my heart rate down to 34 bpm, but lots of people get help with BB.  I toughed them out since the Cardiologist told me once I lose the fear of them they will be less frequent.  I still HATE them, but am not afraid anymore that I will drop dead.

Did they do a blood test on you?  A friend of mine recently had PVC's none stop every other beat day and night and her doctor ordered a blood test before he ordered any other tests as in EKG, holter etc. and they found out that my friend's Potassium level was at a dangerous low level.  The doc put her on Potassium pills and told her of the foods and veggies rich in Potassium as in Bananas, raisins etc etc.  When she went back (don't know how soon she had to see him again) but before she saw him again her PVC's had stopped alltogether after just a short time when she started taking the Potassium pills he prescribed to her.  She is now off the Potassium pills but has to make sure she eats foods rich in Potassium.

PVC's can have many causes, but not all doctors order a blood test at first, but so the EKG's, holter etc. which are important tests don't get me wrong, but in my friends case her PVC's stemmed from her dangerlously low Potassium level.  If no blood test and only EKG etc I do not think it would've picked up her low Potassium level.

Good luck!  Don't be afraid of the BB lots of people have great success with them.

[ireneo]

Taking a BB when needed may not help. If your episodes last 10-20 minutes it will take longer than that for the med to get going in your system. You'll have to talk to your doctor about taking them daily, see if it would benefit you. They're contraindicated in folks with asthma.

Potassium can be found in bananas (my least favorite fruit) but also in dried apricots and molasses. To give you a feel for each:
       Banana (med -118g) is 422 mg of potassium
       Dried apricots (100g) is 1162 mg of potassium
       Molasses (100g/5 tbs) is 1464 mg of potassium

You can check out other food nutrients at the Dept. of Agriculture. I go there often to check things for my job.

[PghPanther]

Yes, I've had runs of PVCs and PAFs that I actually had mistaken for afib..................but after wearing a halter monitor showed it wasn't. Regardless they are very upsetting and can wreck havoc with trying to have a productive day..............they can leave you feeling very apprehensive of another run soon after the first one............

BB medications for me were a nightmare.....they started my problem with frequent PVCs and such.......which are finally disappating after two months of weaning off the medication.

My suggestion is to really look at your diet........begin to introduce healthy whole foods including those good for the heart.......eat low glycemic carbohydrates to keep simple sugar from spiking you glucose and sending the heart into throbbing episodes........get rid of all stimulants and anything artifical or chemical in nature from processed and refined foods........try to drink water only and make it distilled water whenever possible...........

Consider adding some potassium, magnesium, fish oils and flaxseed oil cap supplements..... also alpha lipotropic acid

Don't take my word here as Gospel........study online about healthy heart eating and the right supplementation

I'm convinced that stress.........and foreign chemicals to the body in food intake and the environment hurt the regular rythm of the heart.

Also, get rid of saturated fats, transfats and replace them with a good fats by eating a handfull of shelled walnuts a day and 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to the diet.

Check with your doctor and research this further......I hope it helps.

[Momto3]

ireno,

Good point, oops.....I forgot the poster said the episodes last for 10-20 minutes.  It does take the Inderal a good 20 minutes to "kick in" so using a BB as needed would not work.  

When my potassium dropped a little low, my doctor also suggested cantaloupes : )  


barbarella,

I agree, getting past the anxiety works the best!  It's a tough road, but worth the walk ; 0  

[ireneo]

Cantaloupe (1 cup, diced - 156g) = 417 mg of potassium

[Momto3]

Thanks for sharing the dietary info!!  That's awesome!!

[soupdipper]

so the foods have really made that big of a difference in your pvc's?  i haven't tried that yet.  i was trying to tie my PVC's with acid reflux.  been taking 40mg of nexium for the last couple of days and hadn't noticed much of a change in them.  when i am working (walking, moving around, going up and down stairs, etc) i bet i have close to 20-25 single skipped beats per minute.  at rest i feel them more, but there are fewer of them.  do any of you feel the same and how do you keep from going in sane?!?

[murray1754]

I have just came across this web site and read the many comments that seem to give me some relief in reading, especialy that low potasium levels me be part of the cause.
I am 54yrs old and unfortunately am a smoker and I also enjoy the ecasional drink although I do work out every day and have run a number of marathons and triathalons. My experience with PVC's is that they appear onece or twice a month for an hour os so but can last as long as a month infrequantly. They also appear for a few hours after a hard race.My doctor gave me Xanax to keep me calm during these attacks and it seems slow down the attacks. I have also found that going out for a 2/3 mile walk also relieves the attacks.
I would love to hear feed back from any other athletes or for that matter anyone that suffers PVC's.