Emotionally stressed over Arryhtmia

[TatiSD]

I've been having arrhythmia for 16 years and although I have been also assured that my PAC's & PVC's are benign, I have completely altered my lifestyle to the point of being cautious and aware of every little tiny thing I do.  I have also tried SSRI's (Lexapro, Paxil). They help with the reaction a bit but when my heart is very irritable, I fall into an abyss of anxiety and doom.
I suppose only people who are really distressed about such symptoms look at these sites, but I am wondering if there's anyone out there with arrhythmia who has mastered not being concerned or worried, and what do they tell themselves during an event  that actually convinces them that this is nothing.  Sure, when I don't feel them, I can be positive and optimistic and driven to better react next time, only to get hit by a series of flutters and strong thumbs, one after another.  How can anyone sit in peace and acceptance during such episodes???!  And this is what the doctors insist we do - live our lives as if everything is fine.  I wonder if there's a doctor out there who suffers from PVC's and actually does not get rattled when they happen.  How do you accomplish this??

[TatiSD]

Thank you for taking the time to write.  I also am looking for a more natural way of dealing with these issues.  I have recently stopped the Toprol beta-blocker which I have been taking for years, I also stopped my statin since it gave me the impression that I was palpitating more when I was taking it.  This may not be true, since I continue to palp as much as when I was on it. I am letting my body be drug-free for a while to see how I respond.  I have been off everything for about 2 months and I seem to be the same, so I am again leaning towards taking an anti-anxiety, although I am not thrilled with the idea.  Also (for me) what's the point of being on a beta-blocker if I palp the same when I'm off of it?  I have seen so many cardiologists and all of them always said that there are no negative side effects from the beta-blocker (at my dose), which is totally not true.  At least your cardiologist was more honest with you.
I too am always looking for the magic bullet to make them disappear completely.  To me even reduced is not good enough, I just want them GONE. Period.  I have thought this way for the past 16 years and that's one great big reason why my anxiety has built so much - I do not want to have any arrhythmic events.  BUT, I am only now coming to the conclusion that these are most likely here to stay and I have to teach myself to be accepting of them. Reading encouraging posts such as yours and others' is giving me great comfort, plus trying to ease other's frustrations from what I know, is also very beneficial.
So I am continuing to meditate, breathe, "let go", as much as possible.
I wish you relief and continued success with letting the anxiety go.  It's great that the majority of the pvc's are gone and that the ablation was successful!

[maestromom]

I can completely relate to your concerns about the anxiety that can come from dealing with heart arrhythmias. Six weeks ago I had an ablation to alleviate 31,000 daily pvcs. Over the last 18 years I suffered from them and experienced much anxiety and even some depression. Even though, like you, my doctors always told me they were benign and not to worry about it, I was always worried that there was something really wrong that the doctors weren't seeing. Coupled with the fact that those were the years I was having and raising kids, I was afraid something bad would happen to me or that I would die when they were little.

I have also had times which I took celexa and lexapro - which really did help with the anxiety and depression. In fact, my cardiologist once told me he preferred that patients like me (with excessive pvcs) take antidepresants rather than some heart meds - because there are less side-effects and the meds can help us not to worry so much about the pvcs. I did find them very helpful from that perspective, but did not want to be on them long-term and am now trying a more natural approach to my health issues. I also work hard at keeping a positive attitude and leaning on my faith.  

Since the ablation, I do feel so much better, but still have some anxiety issues. Just because the majority of pvcs are now gone, it hasn't been a "magic pill: to stop the anxiety that has developed in me over all these years.  So, like the others on this post I am trying to stay positive and take things one day at a time. I hope the best for you - you are not alone in your fears, but there is so much to be thankful for in our lives!!    

[TatiSD]

Your post is very comforting and I am happy to read how you are living your life  instead of falling prey to the fear.  I think we all get reassurances from one another as we see how often these things happen to people and how they manage to live with these irritable manifestations of the heart.  When I get hit by them I shall think of your resilience.  
Thank you to everyone's reassuring words.  I think the mental anxiousness is the hardest to overcome sometimes, but truly these posts help tremendously.

[ireneo]

I also have PVC's, PAC's every day as well as bursts of tachycardia that runs 150-198 beats a minute. The tachy only hits a few times a week. The other day I was having tachy bursts at 3-5 an hour. Very annoying.

All I can say is that although they feel out of sync and disrupted, they're no more dangerous than when our eyelid gets all twitchy and annoying. Or how about when we get the hiccups? It's a momentary glitch that straightens out in time and we go on. But, you say, no one dies from a twitchy eyelid. LOL You're right. But having your heart go blippety- blop is not life threatening either. It happens to so many people day after day and they're still alive and well.

I've had arrhythmias for over 50 years. I've given birth to 3 kids, travelled all over the U.S. and have worked with wildlife for 19 years. Don't let these heart hiccups slow you down. Get mad at them, grumble about them but don't let them stop you from having fun.

[nancylr]

Hi, I, too, get heart palps, skipped heartbeats, fluttering...you name it!  I've been to a cardiologist and had blood work, ekg, eco and wore a monitor for two weeks.  Dr. said I am fine!  Well, what about all the palps and fluttering. He said my heart is in great condition and not to worry.  Easy for him to say!  I had the skipped heartbeats last night while cooking dinner...scares the "hell" out of me!  I'm afraid it will not stop...but, of course, it always does. I think we just have to somehow learn to live with it!  If anyone has some good advice, I'm all ears!  Thanks

[TatiSD]

I do try to think of it as your doctor is thinking - the heart knows what it's doing and it's managing, but I guess I am not easily convinced.   To me it's out of rhythm (which is not normal) and it shouldn't be, causing me all the frustrations that follow.  I can also deal with one here or there, but when they come one after another, I lose confidence.
Good luck on the 5th!  I've had many monitors, echos, etc, and I am always told that my pvc's and pac's are benign (which I am thankful for).  Last time I had a 10-day monitor one and it caught a few pac's but certainly not what I had prior to actually getting the monitor (it took a few days to have it insurance approved)  so by the time I got it, things started to diminish.  I think though they can still figure out from the few that the monitor records wether or not the arrhythmia is problematic.  The monitor would also indicate any physiologic trouble with your heart.  Thanks for your comment, and I would appreciate it if you would post any interesting info. your doc has for you.

[donna80]

Hey hun, i am with you on that one!!

Although my cardio who i have been seeing, specialises in palpitations due to him suffering from them himself, once told me that he gets them pretty often, and he just says, oh well here we go again, my heart is saving my life, because when one chamber is taking to long another part (the ventrical) takes over, hence the feeling of a skipped or extra beat... Does that make sense to you?

I kind of understand it, and i am reasured.. but when the event is occuring, i am terrified!! Not right away but after a few hours of it!!

I am seeing him again on 5th jan for my results from my 48hr holtor monitor (picked up a few, but not the long lasting ones), and my 24 hr urine!! I am doing a food diary too, i have a lot of questions to ask him.. If you can think of any i will write them down to ask him too.. ?

Mainly, the question i have and i am sure you and many others would want to know, is, when we are wearing a monitor and we get our palpitations, and are told they are normal irs ok, heart is fine etc... What about the ones we get that lasts for a whole day and even up to a week, that are not caught because we could not get an appointment? What are they?

Big hugs....