PVC-Distractions

[blessed994]

Since Wed 7/2/08, I have been having PVCs that are making me lose my mind.  I need to rest but can't make myself lay down.  I can't read a book and I can't do  my crocheting.  I have had bouts of PVCs for over 20 years but it has been over a decade since I have had so many days filled with PVC's every hour. I guess I have forgotten how to deal with it.  I have taken a beta blocker for my blood pressure/pvcs for years.  I have an appointment to see my cardiologist on Tues.

Question.  What do you do to get your mind off of the PVCs?

[julesluvsdrew]

LOL LOL hey Rita your in V Tach again..that makes me feel some better!I dont know if its just where I work or not but they are always scaring the heck out of me with the stuff they say..and since I wont have inurence for a few weeks(im guessing)it is double scary when they say YOU gotta get that checked out..lol,um yea im pretty sure I know that.Im the one having to deal with this horrible thing.Its been a few days with no sustained V Tach..im very greatful,still have a few runs time to time but nothing like what happend right before I went to the e.r.I will pray for you that you have pvc free days:)

[RNRita]

Oh, I've wanted to run out the door hundreds of times.  I can't...and I've never died.  Just felt like I was.  Once, when I was working on a critical care unit, I hooked myself up to the cardiac monitors ( monitored from central stations) They were portable units.  I would feel my heart go a little crazy and I'd hear one of the other nurses yell, "Hey, Rita, you're in V-tach again!"  Made for an interesting night.  That was a year ago.  I'm still here although I've yet to figure out how.

[julesluvsdrew]

Hey Rita,Wow I have never heard from an rn having these.I talk to nurses all day and they just brush off my problems,and comment on how young I am!So I feel for you being a nurse and working with patients all day...trying to get through the day.I work at Kaiser and when I start having a bad day of pvcs or runs of VTach,it makes me wanna leave work.

[RNRita]

Hi.  Here is a problem.  I actually CAN make mine worse.  I know it sounds strange, but I can.  So that one is out the door for me.  Also, unlike most of you, they don't bother me so much when I'm just lying around.  I just make myself fall asleep.  The bother my while I'm trying to run around at my job and they are bad.  I am a nurse and must rely on myself to take care of others and sometimes they make me feel like I'm the one going to drop dead.  I've had them for over 30 years.  I get bouts of sometimes bigeminy for as long as 8 straight weeks and STILL have not gotten used to the feeling when they come back after giving me a lovely rest of some months.  My mother just passed and I am going off of a horrible med so, of course,  I now have to deal with these, too.  What a wonderful life.  I, too, pray. A lot.  lol.

[julesluvsdrew]

Oh good,im glad you were able to get the echo done!Tomorrow you will see whats going on!Let us know how everything goes!Your in my prayers:)

[blessed994]

Thank you.  Thank you!!!  

Today (Monday) I I dropped off some copies of my chart from my previous cardiologist to my cardiologist that I will be seeing on Tues 7/8.  Then I found that my echocardiogram also scheduled for 7/8 was cancelled due to the technician needing to work at another office.  I just busted out crying (this was my second cancellation) and they found some way to take me right in and perform my echocardiogram.  I will talk to the cardiologist about the results tomorrow.  

[julesluvsdrew]

Sometimes I forget to let God carry some of this burden!!!!!!Let him deal with all my pvcs!LOL LOL...Really though,when its happening in the moment its almost as if it has this power over me to not be able to deal!Well obviously were all "dealing" but it can make ya crazy!Especially when your trying to work or trying to sleep...(those are the worst times for me)I try to remind myself daily that im alive and that there are many others who have it much worse then me...

[woodruff]

One of the interesting techniques Dr. Claire Weekes suggests in her books is--rather than making the pvcs go away (which ain't gonna happen)--to concentrate on them, or whatever physical symptom is bothering you, and see if you can actually make it all worse.  You will not be able to.

[Hukeedo]

I am dealing with bad PCV's as well. It hinders my ability to  sleep and just sit and watch TV. If i am constantly busy, they are not so bad and i don't notice them, but my inabitlity to sleep most nights and trying to stay constantly busy is tiring me out rapidly. I try and block them out and when they happen, just say, ok, i'm fine and it will pass. Reading peoples stories on here really helps me, knowing i'm not alone and i will be ok.
I am going to the doctor's this week and hopefully get somethign to relieve them. Even if it's a pat on the back and him to say:"You're ok"!

[blessed994]

I really need to add more prayer to my "adjustment to PVCs" routine.  I know that will help.  I pray every day but I need to specifically pray for my ability to live my best life inspite of the "beat."

I heard from my cardiologist's nurse this morning and tomorrow during my scheduled visit I will get a echocardiogram, possibly an event monitor etc.

This will only be my second visit with this cardiologist.  I initially saw him two weeks ago with no PVCs during the visit.   He is highly recommended.  I had not seen my previous
cardiologist in two years.  I am going to pick up my old records (stress test etc, records)
today.  Although my new cardiologist has requested those records, the previous cardilogist's office can't seem to send my records after two written requests.  

[blessed994]

Nights are the hardest for me.  I think I stay almost "overactive" all day and evening just to not sit down with my problems (pvcs,etc)  Then I am so tired at night and can't get the rest because I can feel "every beat."  

I was on zoloft for two years due to depression some years ago.  Gained 60+ pounds and no longer take it.  I do think that I could use some help dealing with adjusting
to my aging body that won't "act right."  

Thanks for all of your responses.  It helps..when the docs, monitors, nurses, meds can't help.  

[woodruff]

First, as Momto3 notes, finding the best SSRI is really an individual experience.  I was lucky in that my shrink really knows his pharmacology, so we didn't have to foofle around with a trial of ten drugs before finding one that was agreeable.  He knows that I have labile hypertension, which makes some SSRIs better than others.  He also knew that I preferred to feel sleepy rather than jumpy, which eliminated other choices.

I taper gradually off any SSRI, because we are dealing with re-setting the body's own neurotransmitter levels, and that takes time.  However, some SSRIs are notorious for requiring a LONG TIME to taper off.  Effexor is one of these.  I take a low dose (25mg) of Zoloft when needed, and tapering off it is easy for me,:  I go to half a pill each day for a week, then half a pill every other day for a week, and I'm finished.  When quitting, at least the first time, it's best to check with the doc to get the routine.  Some people may need longer, and a gradual taper is just a prudent idea, anyhow.

[julesluvsdrew]

I know how you feel.Even though we are all "used"to having pvcs..it doesnt seem to help when they come on all day long!It really does make life distracting and sometimes impossible to get things done.My problem is when Im going to sleep (or should I say,trying to).My advice,the only thing I do as a constant is to pray:)

[Momto3]

I find that if I am moving around, I am less focused on the PVC's.  The quiet times are tough....At night, I would watch late night TV until I fell asleep.  Other times, just getting up to walk around for a few minutes sometimes helped.  For the times when nothing worked (there were plenty of those), I just accepted them and tried not to let them bother me.

Some people have very good luck with SSRI's and as blessed994 said, it may only take a brief time for the patient to reap the benefits and get back on track.  As with all meds, there are side effects, so finding the right one is important.

[artskip]

Thats a good idea, cause these PVC's are getting me down. I've never taken an SSRI. Are ther any problems with coming off of them?

[woodruff]

Since you have had these for over 20 years, you pretty much know what is going on.  You are seeing your cardio on Tuesday, and if he says your ticker is OK, please ask for a referral to a nice shrink.  Speaking from experience--long experience--I find that from time to time, when I have bouts of these things, the best solution is a few months (about four) on a good SSRI, to let "the alarm system cool off," as my shrink puts it.  Zoloft works beautifully for me.  I'm a very fast responder, and on the right drug, within one day (yes, this is unusually fast), my awareness of the pvcs drops off, and within a week or so, the actual frequency of the extra beats diminishes.

I only have to do this every few years, but it seems to be a lifelong thing.