PVC couplet or.... SO AFRAID!

[iamfaithful]

I just had one PVC then a regular beat (I think) and then another PVC.  I haven't had that happen in a long time, so now I am in tears and afraid to move.  Rougly five minutes before it happened I ate a nice chunk of German Chocolate cake, but I can't believe that had anything to do with it since it was so soon after the fact.  I was in the bathroom when it happened and it scared me so badly I was afraid to walk back to my desk.  I am so depressed now and I have been doing so well.  This was not one of those hard beats, but this was the "drop" feelings you get.  Those are the worst to me, they kind of take your breath away (which is more the anxiety I think).  I know that my cycle comes on sometime late next week, but I can't believe.....I don't know anymore.  I am going to stop trying to figure this stuff out because it does nothing but make me more anxious.

I just found out this a.m. that a good friend of ours husband died Monday of a brain aneurysm, so I don't know if that's what it is or some other stuff that I am dealing with.  If it was just a single PVC it wouldn't have scared me as badly, but because it was one right after the other it feels AWFUL.
Okay, I am rambling now, grasping at straws.  Someone please help me.  I have gone thru these ugly PVC's moments before, but you tend to forget how bad and scary they are and make you feel when you have been feeling good for a while.

[iamfaithful]

Thanks so much for your post.  I am on Toporol-the generic form and I get anxious every single time I take my pill-imagine that, and I have been taking it since May of 07 :-)  It did help me but I am ready to get off of them because they make me so tired at times.  In the beginning my palps were so strong and frequent that the docotr told me I really needed to take something to lessen the intensity of them.

Let me tell you, this past summer I basically lived in the ER ;but it got so doggone expensive I think twice now about going-lol.  I am feeling better this afternoon, but this mornings incident is still in my head and I don't want to go into the weekend being afraid.  I want to enjoy my kids and husband, and I know they are tired of me one day being happy and the next moment I am a basketcase.  But that is what these PVC's do to me.

So you have never been on medication for these before?  Wow, I am mucho impressed.  But you know they use beta blockers for migraines and other things besides controlling heat palps right?   So think of it that way instead of a "heart" medication :-)

I hope you have a great weekend.

[poohbear2026]

Hi,  I also have those same fears and break down in tears when I have a bad episode.  I always think in the back of my mind that I am going to drop dead at any moment.  I had one a couple weeks back that felt like my heart completely stopped for a few seconds.  It scared me so bad I was at an urgent care twice that weekend.   It took me about a month to finally get over that scare.  I was so convinced that I was going to die.  I just went to a new cardiologist this week and he gave me Toprol XL to help but of course I haven't started it yet because I am afraid of taking heart meds.  I am scheduled to have another echo next week he said to make sure nothing has changed since my last one was about 10 yrs ago.  You're not alone in how you are feeling and apparently anxiety really can cause this.  I have suffered with these things for over 10 years and they still scare me.

Anita

[iamfaithful]

Hi all,

Well I had a really bad palp this a.m. and I'm still trying to get over it.  I was sitting in thehair dressers and it just came out of nowhere.  I started crying right then and there, but of course nobody noticed because I just kept wiping my face.  My body tingled all over I was so scared I was going to drop right there.  It's that time of the month, but who knows if that is the reason why.  I have had a lot going on the past week, but like I said, I really can't pinpoint them anymore; however, I keep trying I guess to keep myself sane.  Folk, I really feel like these PVC's are going to kill me, I'm not kidding.
Well, I am in CONSTANT prayer this a.m. that I can just keep plugging away thru work today and act like everything is normal.  You know, I really don't believe the doctors anymore saying that stress/anxiety is causing this......I feel like something is really wrong with me.  I just needed to get this off my chest.  I'm sorry for always repeating myself, but I'm just not dealing with this as well as I thought.

[melianne87]

Hi, I am new here.  I am a longtime sufferer of PVC's and my cardiologist just gave me some Cardizem LA 180mg.  Do you know anything about this medicine?  Is it safe, side effects, etc....?  She said my PVC's are caused by palpitations and who knows what is causing my palpitations!!!!  Could be stress, could be my diet, hormones, who knows, ya know?  Of course the Dr.'s and pharmacists are gonna say it's safe and all that.  I just want to know a fellow sufferer's opinion.  I am female, 38 years old, normal EKG, blood work, just these PVC's for about 15 years!!!  Take care.  I hope you or ANYONE can help!!  Thanks.

[acjviolin]

Bless your heart!  Your candor is a huge comfort to me, personally!  I thought that I was the only rambler in the bunch, and I'm new to this posting!  I am SO dynamically aware of every single bodily function, that I drive myself to distraction!  BUT, I can attest to the power of letting go...distracting my mind with something else...calling up someone...plunging my head into a sink of ice water, even! (helps with the racing heart thing!).  Just one solitary PVC beat can ruin my day, mentally!  And I'm living proof that one's mental state is directly linked to their weakest body member!  You are going to be just fine!  I promise!  I've had PVCs all day long for up to two weeks.  It's important to find your own coping routine.  Take a deep breath and tell yourself how healthy you are (I have to do this!).

[deedle1976]

Even if you do have couplets, it's very common. A recent study of 625 members of the general population with healthy hearts showed that 8.8% of them experienced at least one couplet in 24 hours.

[iamfaithful]

Thank everyone for the responses because it really helps me out.  I think I am coming down with some type of bug, the cold or possibly the flu.  I haven't been sick since I started having PVC's, so I am a little anxious about that, but whadyado?  I am drinking orange juice by the gallons so.... :-)

Once I got home yesterday evening I felt a little better, but was still somewhat afraid.  I actually welcomed taking my bb last night, when usually I hate taking my meds (it makes me anxious).  But you know what is so strange is I woke up to horrible pain in my mouth-my teeth were aching so badly and of course I looked up tooth pain and it stated how some tooth pain can come from having heart disease/heart attack or angina!!!  Now that is all I needed to see, now I am kind of obsessing over that.   I don't know what is going on lately.  I have been having more pains this week than I have in a LONG time i.e. pain under ribs, nauseated, scratchy throat.....that is why I am afraid that I am coming down with something.  I always get the scratchy throat and head fogginess when I get a cold-oh, and I get body aches too.  Okay, I'm rambling again.  But I'm also afraid now because of my tooth pain-goodness.

[PVC man]

Excellent advice from the posters.  Also, its possible that sometimes it may feel like there are no normal beats in between but there may well be.  I'll never forget that on a stress test once I began to get 'em and I could SWEAR  there were no normal beats.

When I finished the MD told me that there were plenty of normal beats in between...and I thought I was the KING of knowing EXACTLY how my heart was beating...LOL

Of course, if you keep getting skips that feel different or strange to you...get it checked out again because I think us PVC people ARE EXTREMELY AWARE of our own bodies (maybe that's the problem...lol.

Feel better!!

[SassyLassie]

I know the feeling, I can for days and weeks without any of these nasty things, then, bang, only one will happen, and it just ruins my entire day. I agree with everyone, I do not think you ever get used to them, and, the longer you go without any, the worse they feel.

I, too, get the "dropping feeling in the stomach" kind, I hate those. They scare me more than the others too. I really have no idea what the difference is, wish I did.

Anyway, try to stay calm, I know that is easier said than done, especially for me. They can turn a calm lake into a roaring ocean regarding fear and feelings.

Oh yes, maybe you have a hiatal hernia, sometimes these can cause those feelings, I have one, and if I eat too much or drink a lot of water, they act up more. Maybe that is why the cake did what it did, who knows about these darn things.

Hugs and comfort.
Susie

[dolfnlvr]

You'll be okay.  I know it's scary, especially since you are fairly new to these sensations, but you've been tested for heart conditions and they've all come back normal.  That being the case, what you just experienced is really okay.  Here's what you have to do now, and it's the hardest part of all.  You have to let it go.  You have to move on and try very hard to relax and forget about it.  The more you focus on the event, the more likely you are to have more, and they can get VERY persistent when you fall into that cycle.  Sit down, breathe, drink a glass of water, and try to move on.  

I know, it's harder than it sounds.  Did you see my post the other day?  I'm afraid to get a stomach bug because it causes my SVT to act up.  I was asking for ANY support to keep me from freaking out.  So, it gets to us all....but try...really try to let the event go so that you can avoid the cycle.  It takes a lot of practice...but coming here helps.

Take care...

[tsco]

I am sorry you feel bad.  Sometimes I get stuck with these things one after another for days and yes it is un-nerving.  I don't know if any of us can ever really get use to them when they hit so sudden.  Just try to do something to get your mind off of it.  You will be OK.  I have been doing this for years and I'm still OK.  It still stinks but I'm still OK.

[Barbmag]

I get bigeminy all the time, sometimes lasting for hours. I always get so anxious when I get them which just makes things worse so it's a vicious cycle at times. I can certainly relate to how you felt. Mostly mine seem to happen for no apparent reason, like if I am just sitting down reading or trying to get to sleep. If you get worried or they get worse, consult your doctor for reassurances, etc.

[iamfaithful]

I really appreciate your response.  You know I seem to go thru this every few weeks.... I will be feeling good and then BAM they come back and I am back on here posting like it was my first time :-)  I was trying to think of the term "bigeminy" but couldn't remember the spelling.  Have I ever asked this before, what is the difference between a "hard beat" and the "drop feelig" is there a difference.  The hard beats don't tend to scare me as badly as the dropped ones.  

Ha, I almost told the girl that was in the bathroom "call 911" but then I decided to calm down and breathe and walk slowly back to my desk.  It was hard, but I did it.  Now I am drinking lots of water and am sitting her tense waiting for the next string of them.  I am going to try to think positively.

[Momto3]

I'm glad you went back to your desk...you're gonna be OK.  

If you had a regular beat in between 2 PVC's, that is referred to as bigeminy.

Two PVC's strung together in a row (no regular beats in between) is a couplet.  With a normal cardiac workup, they are still benign.  I know they till feel really weird, but in someone with a sturcturally normal herat, they really are considered benign.

Oh, it could have been the cake (caffeine), but more likely, it was nothing in particular.

My condolences on the loss of your friend's husband.

You're gonna be OK.
connie