Bigeminy, Trigeminy, PVC's driving me crazy!

This will probably be long so I apologize in advance but I appreciate anyone that takes the time out to read this!

I am 25 female, healthy, who developed SVT at the age of 20 after the birth of my first daughter. Echo was normal, so  I was put on Atenolol in the beginning, then developed sudden PVC's so switched to Coreg with no change. Finally after 3 years of complaining to my GP, I was sent to a cardiologist. Did 24 holter; showed PVC's (not sure how many) and SVT. Had an Echo again which was normal, stress test, blood work, CT scan, another Echo to reassure me, numerous EKG's (all normal) and numerous chest x-rays, and a 30 day event monitor. Results: structurally normal heart with PVC's, Sinus tachycardia (130 at times for no reason) and sinus arrhythmia. Was then sent to an EP for possible ablation. EP repeated the event monitor but took me off all of my meds first. His results were pretty much the same. Well, in the process of considering an ablation versus medicine, I became pregnant with my 2nd baby and was pretty much told there was nothing they could do at that moment.

Fast forward to now....I am 6 months pregnant and having more PVC's than I ever have had! They have turned into bigeminy and trigeminy patterns as well. I saw my EP a month ago and repeated a 24 hour holter but it was "within normal limits" with occasionally PVC's. This was before the bigeminy and trigeminy pattern though. EP doesn't want to put me on anything yet and says we can try different meds once I hit the 3rd trimester if needed. I have called and left a message about my new pattern of PVC's but haven't heard back. I am a very anxious person and cannot stand getting stuck in these rhythms. I am scared of dropping over and dying every single day. I was wondering if anyone else out there has some words of encouragement or reassurance. Also, if anyone else experienced this during pregnancy as well. I feel that I am all alone and going crazy! I have started to have panic attacks almost whenever my husband and I go out because I get anxious feeling and start to get dizzy and light headed. I just fear something horrible will happen to me on a daily basis and can't live like this much longer! It is truly ruining my life!

[Hwilson]

Also forgot to mention:

I get random weird feelings. I can't explain it. It feels like my whole body freezes and my heart stops. I don't literally feel a skipped beat or anything but it's a really strange sensation.
Also, about a year ago, I was dizzy one day out of nowhere and nearly passed out. I immediately linked this to my heart and ever since then, have feared passing out and dying from heart problems. I saw an ER doctor and he just diagnosed me with vertigo without checking my heart. I have told all of my cardio/EP's about that event and none seemed very concerned. I just fear they are missing something... I also go into weird rhythms at times. I have positional PVC's at times and sometimes if I lay down too quickly, I have a few skips and then a really fast heart rate that makes my throat feel closed up and my chest congested. It only lasts a few seconds and I can break it by coughing or changing position. Sorry again for the long post, I'm just a nervous mommy-to-be. And btw, I did have all of these problems prior to pregnancy, they are just worse now!

[dmacd74]

Just through the words that you wrote I can feel your anxiety jumping out.  As someone who has an anxiety disorder myself, that is a terrible place to be, I know.  Your mind is racing and you are frightened, I completely understand.  From what you are saying, it seems to me that you are getting good medical care.  I don't think there are any other tests you could have to prove that your heart is sound and healthy.  The SVT of 130 is not that high, I have had a rate of 145 upon panic.  I am not a doctor, just a mom who has anxiety too.  Consequently I have had panic attacks and now have chronic pvcs that feed on adrenaline I am sure.  When I was pregnant - many years ago - my youngest leaves for college tomorrow :-(  - I had a lot of pvcs - I think the extra weight I was carrying and the resulting blood flow caused them.  Very common.  Panic can cause dizziness, and feeling like you want to pass out.  Pvcs can change with different positioning.  I have had real vertigo before too - related to the inner ear - again, a benign condition that usually goes away on its own.  So many of us on this forum have pvcs, I have had them for 18 years and each time I get checked I hear "your heart is healthy".  Please consider talking to someone about your anxiety and concerns.  I think you are going to be alright.  Pvcs feed on anxiety.  Do you have a support network of family and friends?  You need that right now..keep us posted..

[CFS56]

Very good advice from dmacd74.  I have been in the same place you are and it's horrible.  But anxiety makes it so much worse.  Plus being pregnant it could be your hormonal changes are feeding into both...your anxiety and the PVCs. I have had PVCs and SVT for years, with heart rates close to 200.  I have also had bigeminy and trigeminy as well as the positional PVCS.  You have done everything you can as far as testing goes and they haven't found anything wrong with your heart.  What I finally did was just get the idea set in my mind that I was "feeding" the PVCs with my anxiety and letting them turn into monsters and that I wasn't going to feed the monster anymore if I could help it.  And believe the doctors when they told me my heart was fine.  I know that might sound silly but it worked for me. I still have my moments that's for sure but I'm better than I was...I had let it completely take over my life.  Good luck and hang in there.

[Hwilson]

Thank u both for taking the time to reply to my question. The highest SVT I ever had documented was 170. I go into sinus tachycardia a lot though that ranges in the 130's, no big deal really. I can handle that. I have my good days and my bad. Some days I feel powerful, like I've won and I'm gonna live my life and all of that good stuff. And then the next day, I'm back to square one. My husband is my strength, but even he doesn't completely understand. He just thinks if the doctor says they are benign, I should ignore them but it's hard to ignore, especially the bigeminy patterns. I hate those the most! I'm constantly checking my pulse to make sure it's not going into VT (which I've never had.) And I try to tell myself it's just from being pregnant, but then my mind starts racing and I think, "well, if all this can happen when I'm just 6 months pregnant, what's gonna happen at 9 months? And delivery?" I have wasted so many years worrying over this. The last 4 years I've spent checking my pulse, obsessing over the skips, and convinced I'm going to die. It's not fair, especially to my 4 year old, b/c I'm scared to take her anywhere alone or do anything too active with her. I know a lot of it is fueled by anxiety, I just wish I knew how to accept these. I read all of these posts from people that have had PVC's and VT and all of these other arrhythmia's for 30 years or more and I just wish I could be like that. I dream of the day I can have an ablation. The SVT doesn't bother me, nor does the sinus tach. Sure, it isn't pleasant but I can handle the jittery anxious feeling for an hour before it breaks. The PVC's just drive me literally insane! My EP said that based on my last event monitor, he can tell that I have extra pacemaker cells in my lower heart that are causing the PVC's and he feels they could be ablated. So I just try to keep that in mind that this can be fixed. I won't be pregnant forever and maybe then I can conquer them. I just don't really have anyone that understands what this feels like and it's nice to hear from people like you all that truly do understand! Thank u all so much for responding!

[Mom2four85]

It's not easy for any of us and may even cause fear and anxiety in the calmest of us.  I do know for myself, the more I worry about what's wrong with me or when's the next time my heart is going to act all weird; the more anxiety I get then it leads to me thinking way too much.

I used to have nerves of steel and nothing bothered me; I think because I kept busy and exercised alot to help alleviate some of my "nervous" energy I had. I've noticed a huge difference in how I cope with things the past 2 years since I've not been exercising and I've had to find new ways to deal with my feelings; which has been difficult.  I'm looking forward to the day I can exercise again, I think it's really helps with anxiety stress and health issues.

I've found I can't let what's wrong with me - benign or malignant, control my life.  It's still scary though knowing I may never have any answers to what's gone on with my heart and that at times my heart beats so much I think it's going to stop again.   I have so many health issues it's difficult at times to cope and deal with...I'm just glad I've met so many great people who understand the way I feel - sometimes that's the only thing that gets me through the day.

[Hwilson]

Thank u for sharing some of ur story mom2four85. I honestly don't think anyone understands what we go through unless they have it themselves. My hubby tries but I know he can't fully. I know that all of my rhythms so far are benign, I just always think something worse can happen if my heart can flip flop this much. I know they say they are benign, but I just can't see how patterns of bigeminy and so fourth are benign. They feel so awful. It is nice having people here that understand though. I would like to hear other's experiences as well and what they have gone through and how they have overcome PVC's. I appreciate everyone taking the time to share their story and advice. It truly helps me feel a little less crazy! :-)

[Mom2four85]

I just got used to dr's telling me nothing was wrong until I believed it...now I have a really hard time believing that y heart just "morphed" into something bad and poof it's malignant then it's not and one time I will have a structurally normal heart then the next I won't...it's frustrating understanding it all

[muirk]

I was just writing to see if you had your baby safe and sound. I am 25 yrs old and want to start a family so bad. I am in bigeminy / trigeminy all the time and have had four ablations. They want to do another, this time with me awake and I am terrified. I feel healthy. My PVCs don't bother me. I was wondering how you and your little one were doing. How was the pregnancy in the 3rd trimester? How was the delivery (if you don't mind me asking, of course)?How are you feeling now that its over? I hope all is well and that your feeling better!

[CROSSINGTHERUBICUBE]

Hi there, I was just wondering how you are doing. I'm a 50 year-old man who has been living with random/trigeminy PVCs since I was 24. When they first started I developed panic attacks, which of course led to difficulties with doctors taking my distress seriously, which then compounded the anxiety, which then worsened the PVCs.........It took me about 3 years to believe that I probably was in no danger of dropping dead, another year or so to take control of the panic disorder, and since then have simply lived with the discomfort of PVCs. I now believe that I may have done some structural/anatomical damage/displacement to my diaphragm or esophageal area during a particularly difficult maneuver on a drilling rig, as this all started within a week after that physically demanding day, in which I put an enormous amount of pressure on my abdomen with a safety belt.
Anyway, I just wanted to try to ease your mind a bit by telling you that I'm still here, doing well, and I have tried hard to not let these annoying little buggers hamper my enjoyment of life. I hope all went well with your pregnancy, and that your little one(s?) is/are doing great. Good luck, and enjoy a long and fruitful life.