PAC's & Vacation!

I've posted on this forum before. But now I just need a little reassurance. I have what the doctor calls benign PAC's. He gave me every test possible even a loop recorded implanted in my chest for 6 months, which I recently had taken out, to come up with this decision. He put me on 120mg of Propanolol once a day. I don't really notice much of a difference cause I have them everyday. Sometimes  once or twice a day and other times like the last two days over and over lasting for several hours.  I'm leaving on vacation in a week and already I have my self worked up about being away from home and something happening. They cause me to get a sick feeling in my stomach, nervous feeling, hot all over. Probable a typical anxiety attack. Does anyone else experience this and what do you do to calm yourself down? The doctor says don't worry about it, it's normal. I don't understand how this can be normal.....

[goingcrazy1029]

I understand what you are going through. Right before I left on vacation to Disneyworld, I kept thinking on what would I do if I had a major episode. I tried putting in out of my mind and I actually did. Unfortunately my heart had a mind of its own and two nights in a row I had a major episode. I was lying in bed thinking what to do. Call a taxi to take me to the ER? An ambulance? I must have tossed and turned for almost 4 hours while my heart joined a mariachi band. I finally fell asleep and woke up okay. Scary as anything but I lived through it and so will you. Keeping telling  yourself you will be okay.

[yarrow]

I don't have PACs, but have had PVCs for years, always associated with panic attacks.  Your tests show your funny heartbeats are benign, but the problem is, as you say, the awareness of them and the anxiety they cause.

With your vacation so close, the best solution I have found--a good shrink plus the right antidepressant, which WILL take away the fear and hyper-awareness--is not really available to you, since these particular meds take several weeks to reach max effectiveness.

However, you will be much more comfortable if you call your doctor and get a prescription for a mild anti-anxiety drug like Lorazepam or Clonazepam to take every day while you're on vacation.  Don't worry:  A small dose of these things taken for this short period of time will not turn you into an addict or zombie.  You will just be able to relax a bit and enjoy your vacation more.

Then, when you get back, be sure to see a professional who deals with anxiety.

As to wondering how the odd heartbeats can be normal, there are complicated explanations about cell physiology that would explain much of it, but they really are difficult for most non-professionals.  I can tell you, though, that everyone--that is, every single person--has extra and strange heartbeats, and they get more of them with age.  The really interesting thing is that not everyone feels them.

[DeltaDawn23]

I feel the same about getting too far from home since I was hospitalized for 4 days with Afib at Christmas.  Haven't been going anywhere, even to the movies.  Just work and home, the grocery store was a big treat:)  Can you locate the hospital in the area you'll be visiting?  Just knowing where you'd go if you need to might help calm your anxiety.  Also, carry with you your diagnosis from your doctor, medication list, if you should have to go to hospital. I take Xanax on a regular basis and my shrink assures me that I am taking a low dose (25 mg. 4 x a day as needed, and some people are on much larger doses.  He is not worried about addiction.  My cardiologist says just take it on a regular basis, not as needed, because the possibility of physcological addiction is less.  Meditation and breathing exercises help me.  I am also taking Atenolol.  If you can slow your heart down, your thoughts seem to slow down too.  Sometimes when I'm around a hyper person, maybe talking fast, my heart will start to speed up.  Conscious deep breathing helps.  Also, some positive self talk, i.e., "It's happened before and I lived through it." or a simple mantra such as "all is well" or just focus on the world around you.  I count steps when I'm out alone, it keeps me from "what-iffing"  too much.  Good luck.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

wow i have been ther so many times. my hubby would love to travel more but i will not. i have pacs and they can scare me to death. have lived with them since i was 12 now m 52 and still here so i know they are not going kill me but it sure feels like it when they happen.

i took look to see if we are going to be near a fire station or hospital when we go off, and i will not go far from home maybe 2-4 hours thats it. which is nuts because where ever you are they have great drs/hospitals and my cardio dr told me  this. when your home and think your close to your dr . he might be on vacation himself. so enjoy life and dont let these darn things tell you how to live. i have been where i didnt go much but my hubby is a awesome securey person to me so i feel safe if hes with me.

we are going off in 2 months, and i think now and than ,oh no i wont be home. and its only 45 mins from my house and we have been there many times. but always that fear.  i will take my ativan along with me, i do not take reg nerve pills for this but always have a few on side for a just in case. they work great and calms me if i need them. take your comp/laptop with you and if you get scared come on here read all that has it and still living and maybe that will calm you. hope you have a stress free vacation.

[RNRita]

I cancelled a Disney vacation once because of them. They were acting up with some major episodes beforehand and I felt I could not deal with them, so we decided to stay home, and spend some money on ourselves.  I regretted this decision every time I thought of Disney for a year.  The next time we were going, I got a major episode and rushed to my cardio for a emergency visit. They told me to do everything I wanted to do because they were fine and everything would be okay.  Everything is NOT okay when I have them no matter how benign they are.

However, so as not to lose money, I went.  My drive down was totally miserable and I had much anxiety.  Funny, though, once I got there....nothing.  I had a great time.  Driving back I had one incident and it made me feel freaked out the rest of the way home, but it did not kill me as I KNOW it will not.  However, they do not understand how they make you feel.  I too am almost 54 and have had these since I'm 19 or so...you'd think I would be used to knowing I'm going to live.  I don't care, though, sometimes they feel different than usual and I still think THOSE will kill me.....go figure.

[dmacd74]

I have been thumping away for months.  Had to go to Spain to visit my daughter - she needed me.  While there we went to Paris - six planes all total.  While away for 10 days - not one pvc.  We did lots of walking.  As soon as I was home, they started like gangbusters!!!!  After all these years, it is still a mystery to me!!!!

[curmudgen]

I wish I could transfer my episodes of PAC's/PVC's to my doctors when they tell me they are "benign and not to worry about them".  Perhaps after a session of two they would be a bit more sympathetic.  I wish I understood why I feel so moody and impatient during these episodes when the only thing I have is a heart arrhythmia.