PVC Help!

Question

2 days ago I started getting PVC's.  I went to the ER, as being a healthy 28 y/o male I have never had anything like this.  I would get one every 6-10 beats.  Yesterday I got them every 4th, and today I get them consistently every 3rd beat (2 reg. beats one skipped).  Er said I was fine, have a cardiologist appointment tomorrow.  Should I be worried that they are getting more frequent?

bbxx · Answer

The only way to know if they are benign or not is to catch them and also they need to know that your heart is healthy, so you will most likely have an  (echo).

IMFletcher · Answer

Hi there - As a healthy 28 year old, you are likely just experiencing benign PVCs. Although the sensations are alarming, there is likely nothing wrong with your heart. Your cardiologist will likely give you an echocardiogram (totally painless), a stress test (always good to have), and possibly a stress echo. The ER doctors obviously ran enough diagnostics to satisfy themselves that you are in no danger. The fact that you were having the PVCs during your tests (I assume you had multiple ECGs), means that the origin and structure of the premature meats were recorded and analyzed. Many of us have had similar experiences, and had episodes high frequency benign PVCs. Try and stay calm, and know that if you were in any immediate danger, you wouldn't have been sent home. The doctors see these heart rhythm abnormalities every day, and always err on the side of caution. You are young and healthy. Keep us posted, good luck!!

IMFletcher · Answer

sorry - "premature beats" not "meats" LOL!!

LUKE22 · Answer

You've found the best place to learn about PVC's. A lot of us have them,mine started
 about 22 years ago, and learning how to deal with them is the biggest hurdle. Yes they scare you sometimes but for me knowing that I wasn't alone helped me a lot and  having a place to talk about it also helps. Hang in there and visit here whenever you need some encouragement.

dmacd74 · Answer

Pay attention to all the responses above and try not to let your anxiety run away with you.  Chances are VERY high that your pvcs are completely benign.  But they do get crazy with anxiety and can sometimes get chronic.  They feed on adrenaline, like little monsters.  When your doctor says, "you are fine, your heart is normal", believe it and try not to obsess about them - then you'll end up like me - tee hee!  Please, don't worry too much!

wishifeltnormal · Answer

Thanks for all the positive words of encouragement.  It was great finding this site a few days ago as each day I am able to relax more and more knowing this is something many people go through, without complication.  I'm hoping and positive that the cardiologist will give me a clean bill of health.

My question to a lot of you then becomes...I am a very athletic person, I row competitively and am just starting back up training for some triathlons.  Are PVC's something you've noticed limit physical activity?  Have you heard that you shouldn't push yourself as hard having them?  Lastly, has anyone drank while having them?  I am not a big drinker but a glass of wine or two on a friday night?  Bad idea?

curmudgen · Answer

If you have no cardiovascular disease and your have benign arrhythmia a glass of wine and exercise shouldn't be a problem. These are the questions you should be asking your cardiologist. Since each of us have their own set of unique PAC's/PVC's it is unwise to take advice over the internet.

wishifeltnormal · Answer

True, and I will be asking my doctor all of these questions, and taking his advice.  Nonetheless it is still nice to hear from other people and their experiences in such instances.

mzak69 · Answer

Do you notice more PVCs after physical activity? I am in the same situation as you with benign PVCs and I'm very active. I notice more of them a few hours after strenuous activity. My nights are worse than my days, making it difficult to fall asleep.

dmacd74 · Answer

I was noticing more during and after exercise, now I notice more at rest, so they did the old switcheroo on me.  Doctors said, exercise, exercise, exercise.  They said, your pvcs/pacs are benign - keep exercising.

wishifeltnormal · Answer

To add to my confusion, I had just accepted that I was going to have these, and after 3 straight days of PVC's every few seconds they stopped yesterday afternoon for 2 hours.  I got them again last night for a few minutes, and a few of them were painful and sending pains into my shoulder/back/arm.  Very scary!  At night I was having dull pains the few times I go them in my left chest/side.  The cardiologist scheduled the complete workup already, but it does make me nervous going into the weekend.  I haven't had any at all today.  I don't know what's going on with me!  

Anyone else ever experience anything like this?  I can assure you it is not stress, as I have been very relaxed the past 2 days knowing it is "probably" nothing.

I did experience more after workouts.  Was too focused to notice them during.

donna4140 · Answer

Hi ,I get those all the time,and  Ive gotten so used to them after having them for years..Sometimes mine will last for days or up to 2 weeks and then just suddenly dissappear.I'll get them too after working out sometimes,so I limit what I do.Sometimes I get them because of something I ate.Keep track of the things you eat,and see if you get them then,then eliminate those things.I avoid anything hot & spicy,and never drink anything carbonated. If Im belchy I seem to get alot more palps.Ask your cardiologist about being put on a events monitor so they can determine what they are. Thats how I found out I had atrial tach and afib.

justanumber · Answer

don't worry about PVC's. they are very normal. be happy that you are not me. i am 30 yrs. old and have been diagnosed with hypertension,anxiety and atrial fibrillation. i can't work out because my heart goes up to 185 bpm. i am obese and i have no family and i can not cook. i eat junk everyday and little things make me very anxious. i don't think that i can survive another trip to the ER. when you are having PVC's,just remember that there are people who are in much worse shape and i'm sure that it will calm you down.

sleepsleep · Answer

Someone above mentioned : 

The only way to know if they are benign or not is to catch them and also they need to know that your heart is healthy, so you will most likely have an  (echo). 

Is that really the case? 
Ive been checked (ECG) and (Stress Test / Bike test) - And they did not pick any of my extrasystoles up on the screen, but said everything looked great. 

So just wanna know if that should be a certainty?

donna4140 · Answer

I had those things done too,and my palps were never picked up.It was when I was put on an events recorder that they discovered I had atrial tach.

sleepsleep · Answer

Well Ive had a 24/h holter too, but no one seams to know where the results from back then are atm. So the guess is that it did not show anything of interest since nothing was really noted.

donna4140 · Answer

A holter monitor is different then a events recorder.A holter monitor only monitors for 24 hrs. A events recorder monitors you for 30 days.Or until you have an episode. They are bound to catch something on there within 30 days. Mine only took 2 weeks.Ask for a events recorder not a holter monitor.

tom_h · Answer

In addition to what Donna said, a Holter can also record different angles whereas a long term monitor is two leads and records only one angle.  When they hook you up to a Holter, the tech will place a number of electrodes across your chest, and along your intercostals.  With a long term, the initial two electrodes are attached, one above the breast (male or female) and the other diagonally almost on the side.  Each day, new electrodes are affixed replacing the ones removed during showering or bathing. With only 2 electrodes to deal with, the wearer can assume a normal daily lifestyle with the light wires and the palm size recorder tucked in a pocket or on an arm band.