PVC/PAC Symptoms Increasing

Hello, A brief background: I'm 38 years old. I have been diagnosed with PVCs for 2 years and PAC's since last September. I'm on Metoprolol 50mgs. 2x a day. I notice that the PVC/PACs will pick up around ovulation and around my cycle. I can deal with that if I have to. BUT...for the last two months I've had to deal with these things all day every day. I did put a call into my EP doctor to let him know that my symptoms were increasing. He made a note of it and we may try to switch medicines. My appt. is in a couple of weeks. I get about 10-15 episodes an hour. I know that is not alot compared to some people, but it terrifies me. I can always tell when one is coming. It's like my heart stops and then beats real hard once and goes back into rhythm. I'm never dizzy. My BP is normal. No chest pain. Just annoying hard irregular thumps!

I've tried to ignore them. I guess they would've killed me by now if they were dangerous. But there's always a voice in the back of my mind that says, "what if this one kills me?"

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance from others who suffer from PVC's/PAC's. Do you have them every day? Do you ever think, "okay, this is it!" How do you deal with them?

P.S. my father died when I was 4 years old (he was 33) from v-tach caused by severe atherosclerosis, so I have been obssessed with my heart forever. He's not here for me to ask him if he ever suffered from these things.

Thanks for listening.

[bbxx]

Hi. You are not alone--I am having so many lately. Its been this way for a year. I know how scary it is. As I type this I have so many per minute. I can understand how scared you are. When they are every two beats or every other--I really freak out--never mind if they are couplets. You asked how we deal with them? In all honesty I sit here and pray that God will make it stop. Hows that for bravery? lol  I have other health issues that are debilitating but this is terrifying--yet here I sit--I have had them my whole life, but this past year has been disgusting how many I have! It seems to want to torment. If I were logical I would embrace death--no pvcs in heaven!

[Mom2four85]

as bbxx says it's not easy that's for sure and it can be scary no matter how many you get or what type they are; anyone who says they aren't either didn't have them or don't feel them :P

I've been on both sides...benign and malignant arrhythmia's, but no heart disease such as CAD as your dad had.  Probably if he had VTach he sufferered some type of tachycardia previously and just didn't complain about it or thought it was normal as I did.

There's not alot of research on malignant arrhythmia's but what I've found is most MA's are due to some type of organic heart disease problem  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2913541, but a MA can develop without cardiac disorders e.g. in long QT syndrome or WPW syndrome.

Since you've had a full cardiac workup and you're not symptomatic with them such as dizziness etc then you're probably just going through pvc runs and some tachycardia's. If you haven't had a workup, then one's in order as well as blood work to check your cholesterol/trigs and electrolyte levels.

With your dad dying at such a young age with CAD, it's important for you to know your numbers and keep a low fat healthy diet as possible; exercise even if mild walking and know the symptoms of a heart attack.

[Belle11296]

Thank you both for your comments.  It's just nice to know I'm not alone in this hell.  Seemed to have a better PVC/PAC day today.  I just keep praying and trying to forget about them (easier said than done!)  I have had every test known to man--EKGs, Holter, 30 day monitor, Stress Test, Echo, gallons of blood, etc.  All normal except a little elevated cholesterol.  I'm on 10 mg of Zocor for that and numbers have come way down, so I'm glad about that.  

My dad's autopsy said he had severe atherosclerosis, but he also smoke, had high blood pressure and a typical Italian diet.  I have never smoked.  I have great blood pressure.  I am currently working on dropping some weight.  So, I don't think I'm as bad off has he was, but I still worry.

Anyway,  thanks so much for your words.