32 yr. old male with PVC/PAC

[Btownshreds]

I have had skipped heart beats on and off through out my life but over the past week they have become way more noticeable and when they do skip a beat it hurts. It's not lasting pain but just really quick and intermittent. It just goes BAM. Then it's gone. I train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a few of my friends who are doctors that train there said to stay off the mat till I see a cardiologist. I went to the ER and the doctor said I'm describing textbook PVCs and tried to give me beta blockers. Wtf would I want those for? I'm 32. So he gave me Xanax instead. Bottom line is is will these kill me or stop me from what I love doing so much? Just need advice and support.

[philip341]

Well beta blockers are generally the first line treatment for PVCs, that's why he tried to give them to you. I'm not sure why he would give you Xanax unless he thinks it's anxiety related. Bottom line PVCs are generally considered to be benign in people with structurally normal hearts, so until you get an Echo cardiogram it's really hard to say if it is serious or not. I would assume the ER doctor did some basic tests and an ECG.

[Btownshreds]

Thanks for the reply. The thing that ***** the most is that all this happened before the new year so I can't even get in to see a cardiologist until next week and I don't have my new health ins. Information. So I'm freaked out. The doctor was kind of a jerk. All he gave me was an ekg and told me they aren't going to kill me. Well they are happening more frequently and when they skip they hurt. Does this happen to you?

[philip341]

I have had them for well over 10 years now. Some days there is only a few, others it's like 50-90 an hour. Some times they last the whole night, one every minute or so and I don't even get to sleep. Sometimes I can exercise with no PVCs at all, sometimes I will get a run of them as soon as I begin. I've seen two cardiologists and both told me I am young and my heart is fine. They both said not to worry but that is easier said than done. The two things that worked for me is Magnesium supplements and fish oil. Magnesium relaxes your muscles (including the heart) and fish oil has been shown to stabilize membranes. However some people seem to get worse PVCs with fish oil. Yes I do get pain sometimes, if it feels really strong. Lately though things have improved, I generally don't get more than a few per day, but they do flare up from time to time.  

[Btownshreds]

I appreciate the responses. I'm stressed out because they are so uncomfortable. 2003 I was told I have mitral valve prolapse, then 2006 I was told I didn't have it during an echocardiogram, 2008 had a holter monitor, told I had occasional tachycardia but it's fine, 2009 I was told after a stress test that my heart is in excellent condition and do any exercise I want. 2012 I had the first run of PVC's and they were painful when they skipped and scary. Did an ekg at the ER and said my heart is fine. Now it's back and when I was at the ER 3 nights ago they said my ekg was normal. It's just crazy man. It's like can I even continue training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or should I wait until I see a cardiologist?

[philip341]

It seems you have already had all the appropriate testing. If everything is normal I don't really see what a cardiologist might do. When I saw the first one I already had a holter monitor, echo cardiogram and stress test done in the past.  He basically just walked in and said all my tests are fine and not to worry.  I wasn't happy with that so I told my doctor to send me to another one. The second cardiologist decided to do another stress test and after reaffirmed everything is normal. Basically I'm saying don't get your hopes up too much. The cardiologist probably won't have any magic solution, they might repeat some tests but if it is still normal you will likely get the same response I did. I know what it's like since I'm going through the same thing. But doctors ultimately don't care if you have PVCs as long as your heart is normal. If you want to stay on the safe side you can postpone your training until you see the cardiologist and get the OK from him. I actually train in karate myself and sometimes I do get the heart skips during class. I just stop at that point until I rest a little bit. My instructor knows about my issues.

[Btownshreds]

Dang so you've had similar tests and issues like me. Yea it just ***** because I have had "skipped beats" before but these ones sting or feel dull now and it was just out of no where. I recently lost 20 lbs and train a lot so I'm doing something positive for my health so it's like what the heck man? Why now? I'm drinking a beer currently as we speak because it relaxes me. I refuse to keep taking Xanax and just be a zombie and pass out all day.

[philip341]

Drinking beer and taking Xanax at the same time isn't a good idea. And that beer could actually making your problems worse as alcohol aggravates PVCs.

[Btownshreds]

I took a Xanax around 9 am. Having a beer at 6 pm. Strangely enough my PVCs have reduced after having alcohol....

[Btownshreds]

I took a Xanax around 9 am. Having a beer at 6 pm. Strangely enough my PVCs have reduced after having alcohol....