Newly diagnosed PVC's

I am 43 and I have been recently diagnosed with PVC's.  I have only had ekg's and lab work done.  I have been on Rythmol for the past year to reduce my heart rate. (sitting rate usually ran around 90 bpm)...I had a 30 day holter monitor, which (I think) did not show pvc's, only tachycardia.  So I started taking the lowest dose Rythmol and it reduced rate to around 80 bpm.   I have been under extreme emotional stress lately (dealing with Mom who has cancer, chf, etc etc, and keeps going downhill & a rocky marriage.  I have been noticing a feeling I can only describe as a "wind knocked out" feeling (no pain) for a split second, from my abdomen which seems to then run up my left chest wall to my neck and then my heart skips, and then speeds up for a second, then back to normal.   It's almost if someone comes up behind you and scares you; you get that no air feeling for a second and your heart skips....a few years ago I had this sensation, but it went away... I am also wondering if doing stomach crunches have anything at all to do with them, I had just started doing them 1 week prior to all this happening. (and have since stopped)  I'm not overweight, but "a little jiggly" so I figured sit ups would help.

The ekg confirmed pvc's.    I haven't really counted, but estimate I have about 50 per day....I notice at all different times, standing, laying down, right or left side or on my back, sitting, etc.      Also, over the past 4 years when I do go out and have a few drinks and we go dancing, as soon as I hit the bed, my heart would race through the night (I would not sleep) and would go away the next day.....but I had never experienced the skipped beats.

Any help on this, I would greatly appreciate.  I have extremely high anxiety and want to talk to someone with similar symptoms.


Laurie      

[Brooke_38]

PVC's are a form of irregular heartbeat in which the ventricle contracts prematurely. This results in a "skipped beat" followed by a stronger beat. Individuals with the condition may report feeling that his or her heart "stops" after a symptom. PVCs are also called heart palpitations (although there are many other forms of arrhythmia). The depolarization begins in the ventricle instead of the usual place, the sinus node. PVCs can be a useful natural probe, since they induce Heart rate turbulence whose characteristics can be measured, and used to evaluate cardiac function.


PVCs are a very common form of arrhythmia, and can occur in both individuals with and without heart disease. They can also occur in otherwise healthy athletes (ie in the days following a major effort such as a marathon). Estimates of the prevalence of PVCs vary greatly.


Causes
Some possible causes of PVC in adults include the use of cocaine, amphetamines, alcohol, and tobacco. Medicines including digoxin, sympathomimetics, tricyclic antidepressants, and aminophylline have also been known to trigger attacks of PVC. Increased levels of adrenaline are thought to play a role, often caused by caffeine, exercise or anxiety.

Heart conditions or a previous history of heart attack, ischemia, myocarditis, dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myocardial contusion, atrial fibrillation and mitral valve prolapse may cause PVC. People with low magnesium, low potassium, and low calcium may also present with PVC's.


People who are otherwise healthy, PVCs can often be resolved with continuous rehydration and by repleting the balance of magnesium, calcium and potassium within the body.


Possible triggers
Anxiety/Stress
Chocolate
Caffeine
Calcium/magnesium imbalance
Dehydration
Alcohol
Exercise
Hormonal imbalance
Hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning)
Hyperstimulation of the Vagus nerve
Lack of sleep/exhaustion
Overeating
Low copper
MSG

What you have been experiencing does not seem out of the norm from what others, who suffer with PVC's, have reported feeling.
I see that you've had EKG's and lab work preformed. Have you ever had an Echo done? Also, I was surprised to see that you were given Rhythmol which is an antiarrhythmic. Most Dr's will start with a Betablocker as first line treatment.

[missy777]

HI Brook, thanks for the information!!   I'm sorry, I am on Propranolol beta blocker not rythmol (that is what my mom is on...).  And I did have an echo done about 10 years ago...but not since.  I don't smoke, I quit in 1994, don't drink but occasionally, and when I do I get the racing heart rate upon going to bed.



I hope this is just benign...   Thank you again and I do really appreciate your information!!  
Laurie

[Brooke_38]

Hi Laurie...

Always happy to help when I can:) Good for you, No smoking for 14 years! It would probably be a good idea to get another Echo, it's been 10 years and things definitely change in 10 years. Sometimes you have to ask for them so be your best advocate and ask:)

Keep the faith and I'm sure things will turn out in your best interest. Please let us know how you make out:)