PVC after meals

I am a 23 year old female and have been having PVC's (premature ventricular contractions). I first noticed palpitations two years ago. It feels like your heart is skipping a beat yet there is a very powerful heartbeat afterwards. Sometimes mine are accompanied by shortness of breath, especially if I have several in one minute. I had a normal EKG at my primary care physician last year and no follow up, so I just tried to forget about about it. This year they returned. I went ahead and made an appointment with a cardiologist. I had another normal EKG which was to no surprize since my palpitations do not occur often enough to show up on an EKG. A 24hour holter montior, however, confirmed that I have PVCs. We did a stress echo which was normal except for PVCs and PACs (premature atrial contractions) in the recovery period. He also ran preliminary lab work which came out normal (no electrolyte imbalances).

I started doing some research on my own. Then I read online about reactive hypoglycemia and asked my cardiologist to do a glucose tolerance test (GTT). He wasn't convinced of the idea but after some persuasion he wrote the order. Note: dont do the 3 hour GTT for diabetics but the 4-hour GTT for reactive hypoglycemia.  Your blood is taken after a 12-hour fast. Then you are given a glucose challenge (a sugary drink), and your blood is taken at one hours intervals for for 4 hours.  The test itself is really a pain but I am happy I did it. It turns out my blood sugar drops extremely low after meals and this is accompanied by heart palpitations.

It is worth checking it out if your doctor cannot come up with a reason for your PVCs.


This discussion is related to PVC'S.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Thank you for posting this valuable information regarding your history of palpitations (PAC's&PVC's). It seems that your persistance paid off and you were able to determine the cause.

I hope that the members here, who are still in search but have not found answers will be helped by your suggestion!

[jkfrench]

So what do you do for it?  I had someone mention to me that mine could be related to low blood sugar since they seem to come around the same time of day and after I eat dinner.  
Frenchie

[marshaldillon]

Very Ineresting. Mine only occur after a meal for about an hour.

[SassyLassie]

I have hypoglycemia, mine was discovered when I did a 6 hour GTT, no fun at all. yes, those palps can sure be related to that. I get them after I eat too, especially if it is a big meal and I feel really bloated. I also have a hiatal hernia, and that can cause mine as well.

Frenchi, try to eat smaller meals throughout the day, this helps keep the blood sugar more stable. Also, try to avoid refined sugars and carbohydrates, follow a low glycemic index diet, I am pretty sure you can find these on the net. Also, for a supplement, take Chromium, it is also called GTF, meaning "glucose tolerance factor" this is one mineral that most folks that have any type of blood sugar disorder are low in.

Doing these protocols may take awhile to take hold, but, they do work and you should feel better all over in general.

Hugs
Susie

[missy538]

Thank you for your comments. I am just now noticing responses to my post about my PVC's after meals.

My cardiologist ended up doing an MRI of my heart two years ago to take a look at the structural integrity and make sure there were no abnormalities. Everything from that exam turned out fine. From his point of view, there was no structural explanation for the PVC & PAC's.

He referred me to an endocrinologist who did a 4 hour glucose tolerance test (GTT). While it showed that I have reactive hypoglycemia, he also could find no reason why, no insulom as or horomone disorders, no thyroid disease and just told me to eat regularly and gave me some other nutrition advice (funny enough, I am a nutritionist so this was all common sense to me and highly annoying since no one can tell me WHY).

Here I am two years later with no explanation of my reactive hypoglycemia. I have one uncle who also suffers from similar symtoms (symptoms), it could be genetic I suppose.

I am not completely convinced it isn't some sort of food intolerance or allergy. It seems to happen after eating large amounts of carbohydrates (complex or simple) or drinking alcohol. I also experience bloating. Caffeine has no effect on my PVCs. Although stress and sleep I'm sure play some sort of role.I am also beginning to wonder if it is related to my Asthma. Sorry, I wish it was more clear cut than this! Good luck.