Is PVC's really just anxiety??? really???

[YENOM11]

Ok, I know we all ask this over and over. But your tests come out normal.. blood test normal.. doctor say's your normal.. your pottassium, magnisium, ect normal on blood test.. soooooo now we are at our PVC's are due to stress? and anxiety? thats all it is?

I get having anxiety and having a palp here and there. But for us.. like me, who get one every 5 minutes alllll dayyyy longggg... that is anxiety??? really!??.. thats amazing to me, and upsetting. to realize.

I remember I followed the casey anthony trial. ANd AT THIS TIME I had no pvc's for months and month and months.. maybe one every now and then, this was my " normal" time. .. They were about to read the verdict. and it was second away... the jury came in.. she stood up... annnnnddd WHAM I got Pvc after PVc, skip beat, skip, skip, skip, I was thinkiing OMG.. wow, this is too much anticipation and excitment for me!! the anxiety of the verdict gave me like 5 PVC's in a row! So with that, can I say .. " yes.. that was PVC's from anxiety??..

SO now, that I've had about 3 weeks straight of PVC's all day every day. ( calming some when I am sitting still..) and increasing when I'm moving around... Can I assume these too, although 1000times worse is also ... ANXIETY??

I want to believe that anxiety can give you months of palps all day long, so that I don't have to continue to be ready to call 911, or prepare myself that any second my heart is going to trip out and I'm going to die any second. Or the Cardiologist is going to call me and give me the bad news any day that I have heart disease, or some fatal heart condition at 34... But in my mind.. I still keep thinking the worse.

The Doctor does an EKG= normal ( I think .. " but it didn't palp during it.. so he didn't see)
The doctor draws blood = normal ( I think.. Ok, so my blood is normal but that doesn't mean my heart is ok)
The doctor see's the PVC's on Holter..= benign PVC's ( I think.. well these are benign but whats causing them could be fatal! like heart disease.. or maybe they will go from benign now.. to dangerous tomorrow!!)
The doctor does a echocardiogram.. ( hasn't given me results yet, but also hasnt called me to tell me anything bad.. ( I think.. omg I'm dying of anticipation.. what if it shows something wrong with my heart??? my echo 10 years ago was normal.. and another 6 years ago.. but maybe now its totally abnormal!!)
The doctor say's we can also do a stress test " to ease my mind" ( I think.. he just wants to do it because he too thinks maybe I'm dying but doesn't want to freak me out...)...

UGH.. I hate my mind

[darius_doc_in_training]

doc told me if they go away DURING exercise--AND you have no structural problems on Echo...probly benign. More diagnostic still is the number of recovery pvcs. not good to have those. adrenregic responses (adreniline) aggravate.

[Someguyntx]

I just want add my experience as well which will hopefully calm some nerves. Been having bad anxiety over past 7 years. Had no idea what it was at first since I was in good shape and was actually a pro athlete at the time. So spent tons on all the heart tests. Everything above normal. Fast forward up till about 2 months ago. I start getting lots of muscle spasms throughout body. Mainly stomach and arm. So I check my pulse and there it is. HeArt is acting like it is try to beat box. Which of course causes more anxiety. I schedule appt with cardiologist. Do echo ekg all normal. Wear the halter having about 120 pvcs an hour. So I start on magnesium and calcium supplement. And try to put my mind at ease. Been 3 weeks since and haven't had one yet. So I know it's scary and even crazy to even think your mind can cause your heart to beat out of sync. But you have to try and relax. And try not to check your pulse for a few days. It will just cause more anxiety. The doc said they don't consider it serious until it's 20%. Which is a crazy high number.

[RuthElla54]

It called flight or fight. Stress hormones constantly. I find myself continuously stuck in it. The PVC are beginning to be a issue for me. I havev PTSD.

[YENOM11]

UPDATE:

I am now in the mindset that PVC's are not dangerous. Just scary. And that certain things can " irritate" the situation. And nobody's situation is the same. So we cannot offer eachother remedies.. but support eachother.

For the past month or so.. to be exact.. the very day I went to the psychiatrist.. and he told me.. I have anxiety.. and need to calm down. I felt relieved.  after that day. I HAVE NOT HAD ONE PVC. NOT A SINGLE BLIP, NOT ONE. I HAVE NO CLUE WHY., WHAT HAPPENED.. WHAT I DID OR DIDN'T DO, IF IT WILL COME BACK ( GOD FORBID, AND I PRAY IT WON'T) BUT LITERALLY ITS BEEN AT LEAST A MONTH NOW. NOT ONE. I AM BACK TO HIKING, WALKING.. DATING.. AND EVEN GETTING ON A PLANE NEXT MONTH. I FEEL VERY BLESSED.

[RhondaH46]

How are you doing now? I’m currently going Thru the same thing. I feel your pain

[Goodyearsrestoration]

I have been having pvc's for about 5 years since my open heart surgery. Things that set them off are being hungry thirsty tired or stressed. I'm pretty sure most 25 year old man are putting themselves through all of those if they're worth a darn. I have fainted at work and at home and in grocery stores from them just walking around or doing nothing. They are only detectable by Holter monitor and the doctor says just don't worry they're just PVCs. But I know the feeling of when they start happening and you're just wondering is this my last few seconds of life. My best suggestion is do not let yourself get hungry or thirsty or tired try to reduce your stress

[zottica]

I had this pvc very occasionally in the past.  It would start up for no particular reason.  It would happen maybe once every few months.  My approach would be to do some deep knee bends, to make the heart pump blood hard through the whole body, and also some pushups.  Then maybe a beta blocker (propranolol) .  This seemed to reset things, and always knocked out the temp pvc thing.

Several days ago, I got hit by the strongest pvc thing of my life.  I traced back exactly what I did before the onset.  I ate a whole bunch of pizza, then the next morning a big, greasy breakfast, then a cup of coffee walking my pekingese dog.  When I got back to the hotel room, the pvc's started, and they have been sporadically going 3 1/2 days.  

I've read up on this quite a bit.  It seems to be connected to the stomach and maybe that vagus nerve.  It seems like they subside a lot when I don't have much food in my stomach.  Also, they have subsided quite a bit since day 1.  I did a few things, trying to address this.  I took a 50mg metaprolol (beta blocker) the last several nights.  Took a geritol yesterday and today just in case there is a nutrient I'm missing.   Also, took a B Complex pill yesterday and today.  I'm thinking if it's a Vagus nerve issue, and B complex is good for nerve damage, then maybe it will help heal the nerve?  I'll try that magnesium/calcium idea mentioned above as well.

[Cake357]

Update 4 months into this....I am taking verapamil 180mg now and seeing EP.  propranolol and then metoprolol did not help at all.  Verapamil has reduced the number of PVC 's but still have 100+ per hour.  I just had an ablation this week.  PVC's started back the next morning, ugh.  I regretfully did not pursue anxiety treatment bc I felt that it was something I could get a handle on.  However, I am now feeling nervous/ unable to relax again.  I do not have anxious thoughts or panic attacks.  However, I feel physical anxiety I think.  I live with a great deal of stress.   It can't hurt to pursue that now I guess.  I am interested in possible magnesium supplements but am reluctant to do so.  EP stated that would not be helpful.  I am feeling defeated after undergoing the ablation  for nothing.  But it was worth a try I suppose.  Maybe next is to try an antidepressant for daily anxiety and stress management. Will write back with results when appropriate.  

[darius_doc_in_training]

christ i got these all the time as kid. then went away thru teen yrs now back at age 19. normsl echo, not caught on ecg. Won't do holter.  in college now lotta pressure-- not afraid of them they just **** me off. hard to get to sleep. aeoriboc exercise stops them. doctors are clueless

[achillea]

"doctors are clueless"

Wrong.  

[RuthElla54]

You have PTSD

[Lebron_Flames]

I have had almost the EXACT same problem. Started having pvc's at 15 and was told they were benign. I geuss because of my age at the time my cardiologist and EP figured there was no way it was heart disease. Then out of nowhere i started having bouts of SVT. (Supra ventricular tachycardia) My heart rate was shooting up to 250 bpm WITH PVC'S!!! I thought i was dying. They did all my blood work, ekg's, echo, stress test, CT, the whole 9. All normal. They even tried to do an ablation but couldn't trigger my heart to have pvc's with the cardio cath so we had to cancel that plan. They started me on beta-blockers and anti-axiety meds and that seemed to help. In fact i had NO PVC'S (That I noticed) for almost 10 years. I even weened myself off of the beta-blockers around 2009...no symptoms. Life was good. Then out of the blue in December 2014, i get a weird tense feeling in my throat and start having them FULL FORCE. Sustained trigeminy and sometimes bigeminy...for HOURS. Everyday all day for about 2 weeks. I didn't want to freak myself out but ended up going to the ER anyway. All tests were normal except my potassium. The Doc prescribed me a potassium suplement and BOOM they were gone...until recently. In March 2016 i started having what i felt were really bad panic attacks. No pvc's just an elevated heart rate and the general feeling of impending DOOM. I went to the ER for it a couple of times and all my blood work and ekg's were normal besides the elevated heart rate. My cardiologist ordered an Echo...normal. My cardiologist started me back on my Beta-blockers. I felt normal for a while. Then, about 3 days ago, while i was doing some mild exercise, i start having a run of super strong pvc's. These were not in bigeminy or trigemeny like the ones in 2014...they were erratic and varied in strength. I rushed to the ER. They caught the pvc's on EKG and decided to keep me overnight for observation. The pvc's subsided after a few minutes in the ER and stayed gone for the rest of my stay at the hospital. All my blood work AGAIN...normal. my ekg normal besides the pvc's. The Doctor said to just keep taking my Beta-blockers but I think i may need anti-anxiety meds as well. Not sure if my anxiety is causing pvc's or the other way around but i'm convinced they're connected. Oh...also, i have a hiatal hernia which i was told could effect the vagus nerve some way or another. Not sure if that's playing a role in any of this.

[Cake357]

I am 46 yr old critical care RN, mom, lots of other responsibilities! Long story made short...my holter showed about 300 PVC's each hour, sometimes with Bigeminy or Trigeminy.  Yikes! I have no symptoms, normal blood work, and cards appt. is tomorrow.  I have been having anxiety since all this came to light.  I otherwise do not have the awareness of anxiety day to day but do have a very stressful lifestyle, work environment, etc.  Strong family history of anxiety issues.  I have no risk factors for heart disease.  I am worried about the PVC's.  (I was in fact taking a beta blocker prescribed by the Internal Medicine MD during the holter by the way...which did nothing apparently).  Don't know how I can make any lifestyle changes to reduce my stress levels besides getting more rest and trying to slow down a bit.  Will post after cards appt.   May need to see Psych I guess for stress/anxiety help.  

[kathy1954]

i am 61 and had pvcs since I was 49. Had tons of work ups/all say "benign". Took beta blockers that lowered my heart are but stopped the pvcs...  Then went off the beta blocker- my rate stated lie 58-59) and pvcs almost down to nothing for years. Now, 3 days ago, I got a funny feeling in my throat, and 1/2 hour later the pvcs started like crazy and haven't stopped! Cardiologist gave me a holter and o will hand it back tomorrow. I'm scared it's something "real" this time! I want to run to the ER! I want to scream and cry!  So scared and so tired if it all!! Help!!

[Hawkman419]

Having same exact issues as Yenom, 35 yr old male. I have started taking a 500 mg magnesium pill daily, at request from doctor. I have has these pcv's for 7 years. I feel alot of it is in my head, just hard to stop thinking about it.

[sparkysl]

I just found this forum and am feeling better already.  Also, a cardiac nurse - you think I would know better.  Now I know how my patients feel.  This is horrible and debilitating.  Under tremendous stress.  Started having intense panic attacks and duh!  just realized I was having PVCs.  I just can't figure out if the pvcs cause the panic, is it vice versa or is it both.  I'm going to try adding more Mg++ and K+.  I like your thought...maybe we just need more.  At this point things have gotten so bad that I start crying at the drop of a hat and am afraid of my own shadow.  I'm going to take a leave of absence and try to get myself together.  

Thank you for sharing your stories - this has been a tremendous help.

[Skittlez1026]

How are you doing now ? I'm in nursing school and going through this, would love an update

[dkg08085]

Yenom11....I know your post is a few years old, but I have to say, I am EXACTLY like you, everything you say, I could have wrote it....thanks for making me feel like I am not the only one out here that experiences the same things you do!

[bunny1959]

i am having issues as well....i am 54 woman. with thyroid  issues.... they say thyroid causes pvc as well... well thats under control and my pvc are worse... almost all day long now for months... all cardio tests are normal... now they say gas and anxiety.... if its anxiety, then why wont they give me anything... they gave me like 10 xanax and they worked great... wow, 10.... i have severe panic attacks and i need this med but they say no... i dont understand it..... im not an addict and no history of being one.... i just want help... i cant sleep at all cause of the pvc... im ready to go the hosp at any given time but they just send me home with nothing too... im scared and how can i get these pvc under control to live a normal life... please help

[jjkypta]

To:  allison82604  

I think Magnesium has a lot to do with PVC's   BUT. . . Why didn't your doctor figure this out?  My doctor says my Mag is good. . .  Now I am wondering.  I was glad to read that you are cured :-D

[jjkypta]

I hope you still read posts here since I am referring to the post from 2011.  You sound just like me. . .  Lol!  I am 67 years old, though.  
I am a writer, and I just wanted to say. . .  I think you should be one as well.  I enjoyed your post and how you wrote it.  I have to make an appointment today with an "EP" and hope he can come up with some answers. . .  To me, after all the testing, and echoing everything you stated. . . I do believe it is ANXIETY!
Good luck, good health
JJK

[midge678]

Hi ...I am sorry to hear that it turned to afib.  I know that I have been told that those having even benign arrythmias are at a greater risk of developing this.....not a definitive....just at greater risk.  I do think our genetic/ neurological wiring predisposes us to this sort of thing....thanks for sharing....it's good to know we all have one another!  Best of luck at the doctor's visit!

[DeltaDawn23]

I, too, am an anxious type and a lot has to do with history is my life also.  I would not hesitate to go on the beta blockers -- at least give them a trial.  I was able to control my afib for 7 years on a beta blocker and low doses of Xanax.  BB's are pretty benign compared to the big guns of arrythmia meds.  I take Atenolol and you can break it into 1/2's if it is too much as far as lowering hr and bp.  I am considering going back to just the beta blockers and see if it will suffice after some side effects with  anti-arrythmics.  It may be magical thinking, but adjusting for stress with exercise, meditation, diet might work.  I am discussing with my ep Monday after a bad experience with Rythmol.  I, too, have had skipped beats since my 20's, but in 2003 it turned into afib.  I am 67, just retired and wanting to enjoy life more.  Good luck to you.

[midge678]

Thanks Achillea.....I appreciate and am happy to hear your feedback...

[achillea]

I think you are on the right track.

We inherit all kinds of things not just from our parents but also from other ancestors.  Our emotional and physical responses to stresses of all kinds are among them

You have a very down to earth attitude.

[midge678]

I am a 56 yr. old female.  I have been blessed with great health; save for severe and many hot flashes daily and nightly for 13 yrs now.  The pvc/pac's started on or around July 4th this past year.  However, in retrospect, I wore a heart monitor a year before for two days because I felt what I thought were 'skipped' heart beats when I was working out.  On July 4th, I was in the hospital for about 4 hours, 6 weeks later another emergency visit and then November again.  In all three visits I was told these were pvc's/pac's and they were benign.  In the last visit I met with a specialist and then wore a holter.  Of course during this time I had one or two pvc's/ pac's.  I have had them almost none stop right now since Monday Morning and it is Saturday.  When I first visited the specialist this past November, they were not as frequent; and he did not see the need to put chemicals in my body at that time; since the structure of my heart is fine (we did a lot of testing).  But since that visit I have called his office 3 times almost going on Beta Blockers each time.  I just want to put things in my body unless I absolutely have to.....just because I know that medications always has side effects and can cause other problems....so I am not being a winer!  Anyway this is my three cents for whatever it is worth and I would be interested in finding out anyone's feedback who may identify with me.  I have what I call physiological anxiety; it's the way I am wired; I believe genetic but could have been worsened by some of the stress I felt growing up in my home.  Throughout my life I have had this type of anxiety and I have worked out for years just to keep it under control.  I have also been diagnosed as an adult with ADHD.  I was diagnosed in my earlier 40's and tried a few meds, but none of them ever felt right.....so I did not stay on them.  I guess what I am saying is that I think my genetics and my pre-existing condition with this neurology if you will, predisposed me to this sort of thing,.....I think the electrical wiring in my heart has gone amiss due to years and years of this sort of adrenaline push that occurs in my body.   I am not sure what I will do at this point.  It is hard to not think about the pvc's/pac's when they are coming almost non stop for days, but one thing I do know.  I am not dying.   I refuse to let any fear make this worse.  I am going to move up my 6 mth check up with the specialist from June to May and may or may not go on beta blockers...we'll see.  I hope someone out there identifies with me....thanks for listening and I am very grateful for a place to talk about this.

[Jerry_NJ]

I suggest you send a private message to Rita, I think it very unlikely she will see you add on to this thread.  I could be wrong, but she has not yet responded.

You may also get input by making a new post with you subject in the subject line.  A search on your subject too may yield some helpful past threads.

Hope you find a way to get some relief.

[1Sexygrandma]

Hi ~

Can a vitiman or mineral deficiency attribute to PVC's. My "D" is at 22. And can Atenalol the skips and flutters....also is Atenalol used for anxiety as well? Thanks!

[allison82604]

Hey, just noticed one of your replies about magnesium.  I am thinking it will be my hero too.  Ive gone from thousands of skipped beats a day to just a few and am convinced that it's due to the magnesium cause the rhythmol has done nothing...my cardio and I have now cut the rhythmol in half and will drop it completely if  I continue to do well for the next couple of months.  Good luck to both of us.  After 40 years, I am very ready !!!!!!