Aa
ventricular tachycardia
I am a 28 y.o. healthy woman who began noticing irregular heartbeats (which I've learned are PVCs) about 3 years ago. Docs could not catch them on the holter monitor, until my cardio gave me a 30-day monitor in May. I had a huge "episode"--unlike anything I've ever felt--which was a 12-beat run of ventricular tachycardia.
Blood work and stress test w/echo were both normal. MRI was normal, though the report says my left ventircular chamber is at the upper limits of normal with an end disatolic volume equal to 140 ml. EJ is 57%.
I had an EP study in June--couldn't prompt one unual beat. I didn't even have a PVC! (I can go months without them.)
I don't have any shortness of breath, dizziness, etc. I feel fine (except nervous about this situation).
I'm on 25 mg Toprol XL daily, as a "precaution," by doc said.
My questions are:
Everything I've ready about VT is very serious. Can a healthy heart slip into a really bad rhythm without an underlying causes? In other words, could this have been a fluke?
Should I be worried about the size of my left ventricular chamber?
Is my EJ low? I've always been very active--hiking, biking, dancing, walking. Shouldn't I have a more efficient heart?
I want to have children someday, and I don't want to be on the beta blocker when I'm pregnant. Is there a grave danger to me if I don't take it while pregnant?
Should I have any more tests?
Blood work and stress test w/echo were both normal. MRI was normal, though the report says my left ventircular chamber is at the upper limits of normal with an end disatolic volume equal to 140 ml. EJ is 57%.
I had an EP study in June--couldn't prompt one unual beat. I didn't even have a PVC! (I can go months without them.)
I don't have any shortness of breath, dizziness, etc. I feel fine (except nervous about this situation).
I'm on 25 mg Toprol XL daily, as a "precaution," by doc said.
My questions are:
Everything I've ready about VT is very serious. Can a healthy heart slip into a really bad rhythm without an underlying causes? In other words, could this have been a fluke?
Should I be worried about the size of my left ventricular chamber?
Is my EJ low? I've always been very active--hiking, biking, dancing, walking. Shouldn't I have a more efficient heart?
I want to have children someday, and I don't want to be on the beta blocker when I'm pregnant. Is there a grave danger to me if I don't take it while pregnant?
Should I have any more tests?
Hello,
It sounds like you have PVCs and non sustained VT in the setting of a structurally normal heart. Your long term prognosis is very good.
Everything I've ready about VT is very serious. Can a healthy heart slip into a really bad rhythm without an underlying causes? In other words, could this have been a fluke?
Based on what you have told me, just about everything you find on the internet searching for VT will not relate to you. The prognosis for your type of VT is excellent. The recommendation is to treat long term with beta blockers to help with the symptoms. The risk of sudden death is very very low. It sounds like your doctors are doing the right things.
Should I be worried about the size of my left ventricular chamber?
It sounds reasonable to have a follow up assessment of your heart function next year, but there is no nothing you need to do right now.
Is my EJ low? I've always been very active--hiking, biking, dancing, walking. Shouldn't I have a more efficient heart?
57% is normal.
I want to have children someday, and I don't want to be on the beta blocker when I'm pregnant. Is there a grave danger to me if I don't take it while pregnant?
No, I should be fine to stop the beta blocker when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Should I have any more tests?
It sounds like you have had all the right tests. If you are still concerned, gather all your information (actual MRI scan, EP study results, EKGs, etc) and have a second opinion. The current management sounds very reasonable.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and thanks for posting.
It sounds like you have PVCs and non sustained VT in the setting of a structurally normal heart. Your long term prognosis is very good.
Everything I've ready about VT is very serious. Can a healthy heart slip into a really bad rhythm without an underlying causes? In other words, could this have been a fluke?
Based on what you have told me, just about everything you find on the internet searching for VT will not relate to you. The prognosis for your type of VT is excellent. The recommendation is to treat long term with beta blockers to help with the symptoms. The risk of sudden death is very very low. It sounds like your doctors are doing the right things.
Should I be worried about the size of my left ventricular chamber?
It sounds reasonable to have a follow up assessment of your heart function next year, but there is no nothing you need to do right now.
Is my EJ low? I've always been very active--hiking, biking, dancing, walking. Shouldn't I have a more efficient heart?
57% is normal.
I want to have children someday, and I don't want to be on the beta blocker when I'm pregnant. Is there a grave danger to me if I don't take it while pregnant?
No, I should be fine to stop the beta blocker when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Should I have any more tests?
It sounds like you have had all the right tests. If you are still concerned, gather all your information (actual MRI scan, EP study results, EKGs, etc) and have a second opinion. The current management sounds very reasonable.
I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and thanks for posting.
Whoops! I mean my EF is 57%. I'm still learning all this lingo (which I'd rather not know!)
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your help!
Your EF sounds relatively normal. Usually the written report itself has a test- specific range printed next to the number.
I know quite a few persons who have runs of NSVT off and on for years, including myself, with a normal heart evaluation and normal EF which most centers quote as 50-75%( some quote 55-70%)+/- 5% either way pose no greater increased risk of SCD than those with isolated"benign" PVCs or the normal population, even having a negative Ep study should be assuring. This is just my understanding only, I'm not an MD. The hardest part is conquering the anxiety that this leads to. Another good thing is not to surf the net or read to much in search of your condition( even though having a little knowledge can be a life saver, what I'm trying to say is don't dwell on it all the time) which often has alarming things that don't necessarily apply to an individual case. Trust your doc, if not get a second opinion . Good luck.
Actual VT can be serious. However, it is quite different than NSVT which can/cannot lead to VT. The fact that they couldn't induce a dangerous rhythm during the EP study is GREAT! That's a great indicator that your heart is behaving :)
As for the size of your left ventricular chamber, if the doctors are not concerned, you could just be on the upper side of "normal." Perhaps a follow up echo, down the road, will be suggested for comparison?
From everything I know (personal experience and reading like a fiend...lol), your EF appears to fall within the "normal" range.
I have three grown children and I am almost certain I was on BB's at least part of the time during the 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. I don't think I took them during the first trimester, but I'm not positive. This is something you may want to discuss with your OB and cardio prior to becoming pregnant. Find out their thoughts on the subject...Oh, you may also find the pvcs will decrease, or increase, during pregnancy. It's a fun time, but comes with its share of surprises : )
Hope you are feeling better. Happy holidays!
Connie
As for the size of your left ventricular chamber, if the doctors are not concerned, you could just be on the upper side of "normal." Perhaps a follow up echo, down the road, will be suggested for comparison?
From everything I know (personal experience and reading like a fiend...lol), your EF appears to fall within the "normal" range.
I have three grown children and I am almost certain I was on BB's at least part of the time during the 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. I don't think I took them during the first trimester, but I'm not positive. This is something you may want to discuss with your OB and cardio prior to becoming pregnant. Find out their thoughts on the subject...Oh, you may also find the pvcs will decrease, or increase, during pregnancy. It's a fun time, but comes with its share of surprises : )
Hope you are feeling better. Happy holidays!
Connie
The doc will probably tell you, that you need the underlying substrate inorder to go into a sustained ventricular rhythm.
interesting question.. was your run VT or NSVT?? They're very different.. Looking forward to the docs answer
It was VT; at least, that's what my doctor called it. I don't even know what NSVT is. Does anyone know if EF changes frequently? I know I shouldn't worry about it, but it seems low for someone who snow skies, hikes, exercises regularly, etc. I always thought I was super-healthy, until all this happened.
Thanks for your kind comments. I've read this site frequently the last 6 months and found good info.
I always think about how silly I'll feel when I'm 85 years old and realize I've been worrying for nearly 60 years about something that hasn't happened. God willing!
Thanks for your kind comments. I've read this site frequently the last 6 months and found good info.
I always think about how silly I'll feel when I'm 85 years old and realize I've been worrying for nearly 60 years about something that hasn't happened. God willing!
One of the doctors on here gave an awesome quote from Winston Churchill:
"When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened"
"When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened"
Great quote, any 12 beat run of PVCs would have to be under 30 seconds unless it was an extremely slow ventricular escape rhythm, probably depending on the rate a 12 beat run of NSVT would last about 3-4 seconds at most that would qualify as non sustained ventricular tachycardia(NSVT) from my understanding. I'm not a medical doctor, but I'll sure be interested in the doctors reply.
EF means the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle. It is not supposed to be 100%. Like someone else said, it is normally 55-70%. Higher than that is not a good thing either. It would be hyPERdynamic then and could be a sign of something seriously wrong like hypertrophic CM. So the amount you exercise is not gonna make it go higher than 70% +/- 5, if your heart muscle is normal. 57% is normal!
That was Mark Twain!!
I too have NSVT. I had two eps and both times the nsvt could not be induced. But for some reason that still isnt good enough for me. I have good heart days and very bad ones like today.
I just wish there was a cure for this.
wmac
I too have NSVT. I had two eps and both times the nsvt could not be induced. But for some reason that still isnt good enough for me. I have good heart days and very bad ones like today.
I just wish there was a cure for this.
wmac
My daughter was 12 yrs old when we found out she had vt. She has had 4 ablations since then and been on many different types of meds, Amiodarone, Nadal, Verapamil and nothing has helped. She is now 17 yrs old and we are trying to find a doctor that can help. Does anyone know of a doctor that I can look into. I have been searching American Heart Asso, National Health info and I keep getting phone numbers to which no seems able to help. I am at my wits end.
A related discussion, psvt want someone to talk with was started.
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