I just cant take it anymore!!!

Iam a LONG time poster here...49 yr old female...have had benign PACs and PVCs for about 17 years. So...I know alllll about them. Ive had every test available. As early as 2 months ago. I have the beginnings of CAD..Cornary Artery Disease..they THINK...I had a heart scan and they saw some "areas of narrowing"...and one abnormal area that they are watching, but not enough for catheterization..just work on risk factors (weight,cholesterol,BP)..which Ive done. On crestor, so my chol dropped well over 100 pts in a month or two..I work out at a cardiac fitness ctr 3-4 times a week, 40 min hard cardio, then weights and cooldown. So...the palps. They just dont stop. And ME..of all people, should be able to cope. But...I have serious stress in my life right now--multiple high stress situations, money,family member with heart disease, one with cancer, im the caretaker, I mean, its just a never ending journey with stress. So..I get it. I get that my palps are brought on by the DAILY stress. But...my god. They are ripping my life apart. EVEN THOUGH I KNOW they are benign...and as close as 2 weeks ago, my cardiologist, exasperated, tells me to just exercise through them, it will help them (and hes right...) during the day..at work...and now...at home...and at night when Im trying to watch tv..and when I go out to eat...and when I go to a movie..or for a walk...or or OR OR OR!!!! They are alllllllways with me. Not constantly....but irregularily regular. If that makes sense. Meaning...I can pretty much count on them coming daily...at SOME point, in my day, I will feel one or two "BLIPS"... and then suddenly, they are back, and going strong. The cardiac fitness tech WAS having me wear a monitor when I would come in with palps...but...even she has backed off on that now, because every time I come, im having them...and every time I wear the monitor, and she watches VERY closely....I get done, and she said..."gosh...I see you are definatly having A whole lot of palpitations---BUT-----they are almost 99% PACs..a few PVCs...and they just arent anything that concerns me"..........she said "I give you credit for keeping on working out...if you can truly feel ALL of those..because there are alot"......and I do feel every single one.
Take today. Its a BEAUTIFUL day outside. THe first nice day weve had here in Wisconsin in ....well, a month? Its the first time weve been able to turn off the air conditioning and open the windows. Its GREAT.
And where am I??? Im here..in the house, on the computer rambling to you all....
I try ...to ignore them...I really really do.
But now, I will go downstairs to do the laundry...and when I come up...just doing those stairs, will set off another long set of them.

it makes me want to give up. Just sleep.

thanks for reading and listening to my ramblings. These things are just getting the best of me.

[Ihatepalps2]

oh, just to add to my whining post...I am on meds....a BIG dose of Metoprolol...150 mg a day....still have the palps. I take potassium as a supplement...and Xanax to control the anxiety. Doesnt matter. still have them.

[Jerry_NJ]

What can I say?  "Hang in there"?  

Try to work your way out of the stress, that will help.  Take each issue and see what can be done to minimize it, its effect.

I've taken up to 200 mg of Metoprolol (100 twice a day) and I more or less got use to it as far as low BP is concerned.  But the fatigue was too much.  I'm now taking "only" 50 mg SR of Metoprolol and 240 mg of a calcium channel blocker.  I take both to keep my (ventricle) HR down... with luck in the 70s at rest.  I find fewer side effects (still a lot of dreaming problems) with the CCB allowing me to take a lower dose of BB.

My case is different, I have AFib, no PVC or PAC ... so far and counting.

[chuparosa]

I'm glad that you are sharing your frustrations with all of us. Sometimes you can really feel alone in struggling with palps. People who don't have them just can't understand but those of us here with palps...we get it. It is challenging to ignore them. I feel really neurotic sometimes about my heart but I really try hard to and mostly do ignore palps. You really are going thru a tough time. Being a caretaker for someone you love who is very sick is both very stressful and very emotional and its great that you are remembering to take care of yourself too. You gotta stay positive. Keep venting! We are all here for you. Hope your loved ones, and you, feel better.

[Mom2four85]

So sorry you're feeling this way, have you talked to your doctor about another SSRI that may help more with your anxiety & stress?  I know that's easier said than done; I live stress daily...ugh

I know I shouldn't let it bother me - money, home, business, kids (even grown ones) and you know what that gets me? my heart monitor goes off daily telling me to call 911 lol I have to laugh at myself then, because here I am fretting over all these small things and stupid things like daily life and realize,  Im making myself sicker! like I have a death wish - grrr

I just need a break, to treat myself better and find something that comforts me when I feel stressed, but I can't do it - I'm stuck and still can't drive anywhere by myself for over a year now.

Go out in the nice air and breathe in and relax, (breathe some fresh air for me I'm envious it's 95-100 here and heat index of 115 -120 today) read a book and vent away if you need to - we all understand

[TatiSD]

I just want to tell you that after I weaned off the Toprol I took for years (25 mg/day), my pals subsided.  And lately taking Natural Calm, magnesium citrate supplement in powder form, has surprisingly helped me.  I still get them, but less and the magnesium does me feel calmer in a subtle way.
You know the effects of Metoprolol - lowered heart rate which in turn has the capacity to give you more extra "blips".
I hope you're having a better day today.

[itdood]

I agree with Tati on the beta blocker stuff.

It's no secret around these boards that I'm not a big fan of taking BBs for benign-isolated ectopic beats like PACs or PVCs.  

Also, Xanax is known to cause palps as-well.  It's listed as an official side effect of this compound.

You may want to reconsider some of your med choices with your doc if the strategy isn't getting you satisfactory results.

[LindaTX]

I was thinking the same thing as Tati and itdood about the metoprolol.  How long have you been taking it and has your Dr thought about switching you to something else?  If you 're not getting any relief what is the justification of your Dr keeping you on it?  Are you sure you're not having a little a-fib thrown in the mix...with your irregular regularity?  I think you need to have a serious talk with your Dr., or a new Dr. about your meds and a plan of action.