PVC's

[Tgodwin]

Hi,

I'm 17, male and was just diagnosed with pvcs 3 months ago, it's been a really depressing 3 months.
So far i've only done the holter monitor and the doctor said i was fine, but I have an apt to see another cardiologist in 2 weeks for an ECG.
I just came here for some support i've been having a really hard time lately with this things, and i'm just not enjoying anything in life anymore. I guess i'm just looking for some reasurrance that these things are "normal" and I also have a few questions.

I guess my first question is does a person with PVC's have a higher risk at SCD?
And is it possible for someone with a normally structured heart to die from SCD?

That's the only thing im worried about I feel like there's no way I can get better because everytime im having a pvc episode thats the only thing I can think of. I'm too scared to research anything about SCD because im way too scared to read anything about it.

Thanks for reading, god bless you all

[proudusmcwife]

I certainly understand your fear.  PVC's are scary & can really bring you down!!  It took me several years to come to terms w/ them so to speak after I was diagnosed & I still struggle emotionally some days.  I have had them now for 11 yrs though & I am still kicking:)  I am new to this forum but there are some people on here who've had them for much much longer & know alot more than I do.  Hopefully some of them can post & help ease your mind.  

God Bless!

[marlinspike]

Hi. I can see you are going through what so many of us on this forum have experienced. PVC/PAC's  can be very frightening. At my worst I had thousands a day and was paralysed by anxiety over them, convinced that I was about to drop dead.

The good news is that if your heart is structurally normal - ecgs, monitors, and an echocardiogram will show this - you are at no more risk of sudden cardiac death than anyone else. The risk is not zero for anyone, but it is very low. I cannot find the link, but there was a large medical study which showed that people with benign pvc's do not have a shorter life-span than anyone else. These things are very unpleasant and frightening, but they will not kill you.

Here is an answer about pvc's from a different forum - it was from a cardiologist:

"PVC's are dangerous only in people with severely damaged hearts, like after acute myocardial infarction (major heart attack).  In people with no heart damage, PVC's are not dangerous but are normal cardiac events, even thousands a day, even runs of 4 or 5 in a row.

They are normal in the sense that about half of us have them, that they are easy to understand as normal cardiac events from knowledge of how the heart's electrical system is built, and that they don't mean you have heart disease or lead in the future to heart disease or any catastrophe".

Make sure you have all the tests and that your doctors are happy with the results. Then the hardest thing will be coming to terms with the fact that they are not harmful. Many of us on here have struggled with the anxiety they cause and I would hate for you to waste your life worrying about these things.

I hope this helps. Best wishes.

[Tgodwin]

I want to thank you both for your replies, I have just been having a awful week of these things. Thanks alot with that information you don't understand how much that has helped me just reading that. I guess now I just need to learn to live with them just like everyone else, i've only had them for 3 months and I know I have a long road ahead since alot of you have had these for 10+ years.
Again thanks proudusmcwife and marlinspike.

God Bless.

[mozellle]

I can uderstand your fear about PVC's but let your cardiologist ease your mind. I'm very much older than you, and  I started suffering with them about 12 years ago for a period of about 8 months-they were constant and had hundreds a day.  Had all the tests-EKG, ecchocardiogram, 30 day cardiac event monitor, and a stress test.  According to the cardiologist, my heart was fine, and they were benign.  

Throughout these last 12 years, they have recurred--go on for several months, and then disappear again.  I just went through the battery of tests again, because they are constant again.  It has been explained to me by different cardiologists each time they recur that they are harmless.  

I believe there are beta blockers to ease them, but that is only for your comfort according to each of my doctors.  I just learned to live with them.  Again, let your doctor ease your mind.  You are too young to worry about dying--I know it's scary to have these, but if your doctor reassures you that your heart is fine, then just go about your life as usual and enjoy yourself--you may be surprised to suddenly realize one day that they are no longer there.

[Tgodwin]

Thanks for the reply,
I havn't had a echocardiogram yet, the only thing I have done is a 24 monitor and have a event monitor for 30 days. I have a apt with a new cardiologist next week, I feel like they are just pushing me off because of my age and they just assume nothing is wrong, how should I go about asking him for all of these tests? If I ask him for a echo and a stress test will he HAVE to give me one? I just need to get these tests over with so I can try to enjoy my life a little bit instead of worrying.  I'm starting to get really depressed about this I thought I beat the depression about a month ago but here it is again! I can't do anything with my friends and family, everyone just went to go see a movie and I couldn't go, instead i'm sitting here alone in my house. I feel trapped, I always have the worst thoughts in my head, my mind is just racing with the "what ifs", I just feel so alone no one in my house understands what i'm going through, I hide my emotions from them so I guess they just assume im fine. Everyone goes out at night and I can't, the only thing I do is sit here alone and think that im dying. Sorry to spill my feelings out to you guys but really you are the only ones I can talk to that understands the pain I feel.
If anyone has some advice on beating this depression that comes along with these things please reply back or msg me.

Thanks, and god bless

[proudusmcwife]

The only thing I can suggest to you as far as the depression goes is discussing it with your Dr.  He/she may want you to try anti-depressants. You are young but unfortunately the palps don't discriminate!  Try talking to your friends and family about what you are feeling and going through.  I know that is sometimes easier said than done.  When you see your Cariologist, let him know how strongly you feel about getting everything ruled out for your own piece of mind.  You are the patient and have rights.  Will your parents be going with you?  Perhaps they could tell the Dr if you are not comfortable.

I wish there was more I could do to help you!!  

[mozellle]

My heart goes out to you.  You shouldn't be worrying the way you do.  You are not going to die from this.  You are on the right track by going to a cardiologist.  I agree with proudusmcwife that your parents should go with you.  You are only 17 and should have them with you when you see the doctor.  They  can tell with the 30 day event monitor exactly what goes on every day with your heart and they will take it from there. Please tell your family what you are feeling.  Once you do, you'll see how much better you will feel.
I hope things go well for you.