Aa
PVC's...How can some people never feel them?
I'm frustrated when Dr.'s tell me that everyone gets PVC's and most people never notice them. Well, there has got to be a medical difference between the PVC's that people get every day and don't feel and the ones that are described here on the forums. I mean the PVC's that we get can knock us off our feet. They make us short of breath, dizzy, give us that horrible sinking sensation in our stomachs, that choking feeling in our throats, make us anxious, gives us anxiety, gerd, increased belching, adrenaline rushes, chest tightness, need I say more. I wish there was more research done on these kind of PVC's. How can these experiences be considered normal and benign. It baffles me that they can classify these in the same category as the harmless extra beats that people get every day going unnoticed.
I think the difference is not in the type or severity of the irregular rhythms - there was a recent post here of a woman who had her condition discovered through a routine physical - she never noticed anything.
I also have a father that's had atrial fib for awhile, and the first time he noticed was laying down to go to sleep and hearing what sounded like a hummingbird's heartbeat in his ear. Otherwise, he felt nothing.
So I think the difference is in different people's abilities to sense things. Some people can't tell one musical note from another. 75% of people can't taste the bitter flavor of broccoli florets (I'm one of that can't). Some people have huge pain thresholds. And some can feel every single PVC.
I used to. I don't so much anymore, but I think it's just because I've gotten a little desensitized to them. I also think some are different than others - a nurse told me the other day I have PAC's and PVC's, and I'm not sure, but I think the PAC's are less noticeable for me, and maybe that's because it's a smaller portion of muscle tissue contracting out of time. If I'm sitting at the computer with a resting heart rate in the high 50's and I get a PVC, it feels much bigger.
I'm getting pretty much all the sensations you're getting for your PVC's but for a slightly different reason. I used to get the same ones for PVC's, too. Jittery, nervous, anxious, a reflex to want to swallow (which might be what's causing your belching), sensations of chest tightness (which for me I actually think are stomach issues and not chest ones).
The mind can make the body do some crazy things.
How are you sleeping lately? Do you find yourself easily irritated? Do you seem just a little jumpier than usual? Those are usually signs for me that I'm on the stress train and need to get off on the next exit.
Here are some things I do to unplug or de-stress when PVC's have started or I can tell I've been jumpier than I usually am:
*Drink some lemon balm tea (check into it; I recommend it). It's mild, the herb is used as flavoring in foods you eat and you can buy seed packets of it at your local garden center, so it's pretty safe. Valerian root tea is supposed to be a bit more powerful, though it smells like a locker room, and you're supposed to drink it for a week or so before it starts to have any effect. Plus, I've read where people drinking that for palps get the palps worse when they stop drinking it.
*Alter my schedule to put a few more breaks in during the day, just to walk around or whatever.
*I'm kind of a workaholic, and if given the chance I'll spend nearly every waking hour working on something (or posting on this site ;) ), so I'll try to set an evening time where, when that time arrives, I put away all work, grab some light reading, climb into bed and relax. For me this has to be done for at least a week to have any effect.
*Exercise. Sometimes it doesn't need to be anything more than a very slow walk outdoors or an a treadmill. Like you, I'm pretty active; I run a construction-related company and do physical work at least 8hrs a day (though some of that is spent driving a truck). But sometimes I just need that extra "me" time to bump my HR a little and not worry about deadlines or customers or whatever.
*Identify current issues and upcoming events that might be causing the palps. The stress of the holidays will often do this for me, and once they start, they can carry over until well past the holidays (probably because of worry). Sometimes these things can't be avoided, but if you can recognize what they are, you might be able to mentally work through the issues and how you'll deal with them, giving you some peace of mind.
*Have a little faith. I'm not extremely religious, but we do attend church. Sometimes, just giving in and thinking "whatever will be, will be, I put myself in Your hands" can help take the anxiety away, and in turn reduce the PVC's.
*Try some of the things people mention on this site - magnesium supplements, fish oil, maybe have your electrolyte levels checked.
*Do you live in a northern climate? I do, and I swear that in winter, when the sun starts going down at 4:30pm and it's cloudy during the day, I must get a touch of seasonal affective disorder. Maybe it's because I'm in the sun all day for 8 months, then I get no sun for 4. But that can also cause depression and anxiety, and the anxiety can feed into...well, you already know that. I bought one of those lights a week ago, still don't know if it's doing what I want, but something you might consider. (Maybe Frenchie can adopt a family of 4 and two dogs for the winters?)
*Talk with friends or family. Not necessarily about the heart issues, but about anything. Get some live human contact. I would also bet that if you talked to your parents that they might have similar experiences to share. That can be cathartic. Knowing that both my parents have a-fib was a little disconcerting, but also comforting, since they are both still alive and doing fine, leading active lives.
Those are a few of the tools I use to try to rein in my PVC's. You're still a rookie at 'em, but you'll get the hang of it.
I also have a father that's had atrial fib for awhile, and the first time he noticed was laying down to go to sleep and hearing what sounded like a hummingbird's heartbeat in his ear. Otherwise, he felt nothing.
So I think the difference is in different people's abilities to sense things. Some people can't tell one musical note from another. 75% of people can't taste the bitter flavor of broccoli florets (I'm one of that can't). Some people have huge pain thresholds. And some can feel every single PVC.
I used to. I don't so much anymore, but I think it's just because I've gotten a little desensitized to them. I also think some are different than others - a nurse told me the other day I have PAC's and PVC's, and I'm not sure, but I think the PAC's are less noticeable for me, and maybe that's because it's a smaller portion of muscle tissue contracting out of time. If I'm sitting at the computer with a resting heart rate in the high 50's and I get a PVC, it feels much bigger.
I'm getting pretty much all the sensations you're getting for your PVC's but for a slightly different reason. I used to get the same ones for PVC's, too. Jittery, nervous, anxious, a reflex to want to swallow (which might be what's causing your belching), sensations of chest tightness (which for me I actually think are stomach issues and not chest ones).
The mind can make the body do some crazy things.
How are you sleeping lately? Do you find yourself easily irritated? Do you seem just a little jumpier than usual? Those are usually signs for me that I'm on the stress train and need to get off on the next exit.
Here are some things I do to unplug or de-stress when PVC's have started or I can tell I've been jumpier than I usually am:
*Drink some lemon balm tea (check into it; I recommend it). It's mild, the herb is used as flavoring in foods you eat and you can buy seed packets of it at your local garden center, so it's pretty safe. Valerian root tea is supposed to be a bit more powerful, though it smells like a locker room, and you're supposed to drink it for a week or so before it starts to have any effect. Plus, I've read where people drinking that for palps get the palps worse when they stop drinking it.
*Alter my schedule to put a few more breaks in during the day, just to walk around or whatever.
*I'm kind of a workaholic, and if given the chance I'll spend nearly every waking hour working on something (or posting on this site ;) ), so I'll try to set an evening time where, when that time arrives, I put away all work, grab some light reading, climb into bed and relax. For me this has to be done for at least a week to have any effect.
*Exercise. Sometimes it doesn't need to be anything more than a very slow walk outdoors or an a treadmill. Like you, I'm pretty active; I run a construction-related company and do physical work at least 8hrs a day (though some of that is spent driving a truck). But sometimes I just need that extra "me" time to bump my HR a little and not worry about deadlines or customers or whatever.
*Identify current issues and upcoming events that might be causing the palps. The stress of the holidays will often do this for me, and once they start, they can carry over until well past the holidays (probably because of worry). Sometimes these things can't be avoided, but if you can recognize what they are, you might be able to mentally work through the issues and how you'll deal with them, giving you some peace of mind.
*Have a little faith. I'm not extremely religious, but we do attend church. Sometimes, just giving in and thinking "whatever will be, will be, I put myself in Your hands" can help take the anxiety away, and in turn reduce the PVC's.
*Try some of the things people mention on this site - magnesium supplements, fish oil, maybe have your electrolyte levels checked.
*Do you live in a northern climate? I do, and I swear that in winter, when the sun starts going down at 4:30pm and it's cloudy during the day, I must get a touch of seasonal affective disorder. Maybe it's because I'm in the sun all day for 8 months, then I get no sun for 4. But that can also cause depression and anxiety, and the anxiety can feed into...well, you already know that. I bought one of those lights a week ago, still don't know if it's doing what I want, but something you might consider. (Maybe Frenchie can adopt a family of 4 and two dogs for the winters?)
*Talk with friends or family. Not necessarily about the heart issues, but about anything. Get some live human contact. I would also bet that if you talked to your parents that they might have similar experiences to share. That can be cathartic. Knowing that both my parents have a-fib was a little disconcerting, but also comforting, since they are both still alive and doing fine, leading active lives.
Those are a few of the tools I use to try to rein in my PVC's. You're still a rookie at 'em, but you'll get the hang of it.
1 Comments
I logged in just to thank you for this post. I am a newbie to feeling my PVCs, and I've been checked by a bunch of doctors who all attest I have a totally benign condition. (Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome with a weak/intermittent delta wave, causes PVCs, PACs, and PSVT pretty regularly.)
Benign. 100%. It doesn't feel that way! It is really, really hard to accept that something that can feel so bad can really be harmless.
Your post really helped me to put what I was feeling into perspective, and you've helped me put my mind at ease.
Benign. 100%. It doesn't feel that way! It is really, really hard to accept that something that can feel so bad can really be harmless.
Your post really helped me to put what I was feeling into perspective, and you've helped me put my mind at ease.
I relate to your post as so very many of us do oceanminded. When they do find the ability to fix this permanantly.....in the meantime, we are all here to help support you and each other with understanding, love and compassion to help get us through our rough times with it. Everyone is seeking and in most cases a, positive way of thought or manner, that helps them cope and deal with the stress of it all. And sometimes it just helps so much just to have someone listen to our thoughts............we are here.
Peace, Healing and Comfort be unto you this day and always oceanminded and everyone.
Bon-Bon
Peace, Healing and Comfort be unto you this day and always oceanminded and everyone.
Bon-Bon
Thank you SassyLassie. I too understand the anxiety and frustration that comes along with having these things, how they make us feel and all the horrible thoughts esp. during terrible episodes and wanting to find the answer and fix it. Like the rest of us, I am trying to find the bestest way to cope through my experiences and to help others through tough times too when and if I can. My heart goes out to everyone that is suffering with these things.
Bon-Bon
Bon-Bon
Makes sense to me, Bon-Bon; and, having a positive attitude like that can only make you healthier, I have heard that our way of thinking can certainly determine our quality of life. Sounds good to me, good post, Bon-Bon.
Guess what guys! I have often set and pondered, 'Is there any good that can come out of having these things?'.
Thus far, I've come up with one that seems to help "me" a bit. At the risk of running everyone away due to possibly thinking that I may be a little looney, and I wouldn't blame you, here it is nonethless. The very thing that I was fearing that could cause death because its regarding the "heart" is probably the most unlikely thing I would die from. I may be wrong on this; but, its my understanding that PVC's originate from one or more sites that are separate from the natural pacemaker site (at least that's what my doc told me). So....I'm think'n......uhmmmm.... in the unlikely event that my "natural" pacemaker were to fail, I would have several more sites that would have no problem randomly kick'n in, and gett'n some action in, right?! Yeepeee! Then, in that case, it could be a lifesaver instead of a lifetaker.
The heart that wouldn't die, imagine that. Uhmmm, what if we began think'n that we may actually have "better working" hearts than many....just a thought.
I hope I still have some friends after this.......
Live, love and giggles for everyone on this blessed day.
Bon-Bon
Thus far, I've come up with one that seems to help "me" a bit. At the risk of running everyone away due to possibly thinking that I may be a little looney, and I wouldn't blame you, here it is nonethless. The very thing that I was fearing that could cause death because its regarding the "heart" is probably the most unlikely thing I would die from. I may be wrong on this; but, its my understanding that PVC's originate from one or more sites that are separate from the natural pacemaker site (at least that's what my doc told me). So....I'm think'n......uhmmmm.... in the unlikely event that my "natural" pacemaker were to fail, I would have several more sites that would have no problem randomly kick'n in, and gett'n some action in, right?! Yeepeee! Then, in that case, it could be a lifesaver instead of a lifetaker.
The heart that wouldn't die, imagine that. Uhmmm, what if we began think'n that we may actually have "better working" hearts than many....just a thought.
I hope I still have some friends after this.......
Live, love and giggles for everyone on this blessed day.
Bon-Bon
All the above comments are outstanding and have helped me. I want to add that I feel the reason some of us feel them more is due to our bodies being in a very sensitized state. I know the more uptight or anxious I am about my heart and health, the more I feel every little "blip". I guess we are just more intune with our bodies, and we tend to "listen in" more than others.
I know I sure hate the anxiety symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness, etc, and I will get those, even without PVC's at times, again, due to just plain ole nervers. UGH!!
I know I sure hate the anxiety symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness, etc, and I will get those, even without PVC's at times, again, due to just plain ole nervers. UGH!!
The big THUMP you feel also has a lot to do with, the amoutn of blood you ventricles have to pump out after the premature beat. The longer the pause, that usually means that your lower chambers really have to beat hard to get the overfilling blood out of your heart. When I get my PvC's they will almost knock me off my feet.
Thanks for the laugh Nervouslady.
I am positive it is how hyper sensitive ones body is. To start anyway. If we are extra senstive then when we feel our first thump that isn't normal we panic which of course leads to more which in turn makes us more sensitive. I feel every little thing going on. As a matter of fact a couple of years ago I was wearing the holter and pushing the button every time I felt a skip. My doctor told me half the time I was pushing it, my heart was beating normally. Who knows what I am feeling. The problem with people like us (well me) is that we not only need to be told we won't die from these, but we need to understand why. If we don't, we start to focus inward to every sensation so that we can try to figure it out for ourselves. Before we know it, we are sensitized to every feeling we have. It is really hard to break that pattern.
Frenchie
Regard
I am positive it is how hyper sensitive ones body is. To start anyway. If we are extra senstive then when we feel our first thump that isn't normal we panic which of course leads to more which in turn makes us more sensitive. I feel every little thing going on. As a matter of fact a couple of years ago I was wearing the holter and pushing the button every time I felt a skip. My doctor told me half the time I was pushing it, my heart was beating normally. Who knows what I am feeling. The problem with people like us (well me) is that we not only need to be told we won't die from these, but we need to understand why. If we don't, we start to focus inward to every sensation so that we can try to figure it out for ourselves. Before we know it, we are sensitized to every feeling we have. It is really hard to break that pattern.
Frenchie
Regard
oops, my above post should read i HAVE a grandmother, not I am a grandmother. LOL, I'm not 102.
I can't imagine not feeling them either. The ones I do feel are so strong! That being said, my last holtor monitor did pick up some that I didn't feel, which surprised me, so even I am not feeling all of them and I'm quite sensitive.
My drs told me that as different as we all are on the outside, we are equally different on the inside. Some people do not feel anything. I know it's hard to believe but their bodies are just not as sensitive as ours are. I can't believe that there are people that can drink heavily and get up the next day, or drink every day and go to work, etc. If I have two drinks someone is carrying me home and the next day or two I'm sick and my heart is flip flopping around. Or people that go to Starbucks 20 times a day drinking triple espressos - doesn't bother them one bit. I'd never be able to handle that, too much caffiene - I'd seriously have to go to the hospital if I had a couple cups of strong coffee.
I think it's a burden to be so sensitive to anything. No question on that. But the good side is that it forces us to take better care of ourselves - we have to live cleaner and healthier because our bodies don't tolerate anything else, and we will probably live longer, healthier lives than those who aren't as sensitive. I am a grandmother who has the same sensitivity as me, she will be 102 in May. And she's had these skips most of her life, too, I believe.
My drs told me that as different as we all are on the outside, we are equally different on the inside. Some people do not feel anything. I know it's hard to believe but their bodies are just not as sensitive as ours are. I can't believe that there are people that can drink heavily and get up the next day, or drink every day and go to work, etc. If I have two drinks someone is carrying me home and the next day or two I'm sick and my heart is flip flopping around. Or people that go to Starbucks 20 times a day drinking triple espressos - doesn't bother them one bit. I'd never be able to handle that, too much caffiene - I'd seriously have to go to the hospital if I had a couple cups of strong coffee.
I think it's a burden to be so sensitive to anything. No question on that. But the good side is that it forces us to take better care of ourselves - we have to live cleaner and healthier because our bodies don't tolerate anything else, and we will probably live longer, healthier lives than those who aren't as sensitive. I am a grandmother who has the same sensitivity as me, she will be 102 in May. And she's had these skips most of her life, too, I believe.
I'm with you - I like to lie in bed at night and read but I don't dare rest the book on my chest or it bounces up and down a bit. My first memory of my heart was about age 7. I found if I leaned against my desk, my body would rock back and forth in rhythm with my heart beat. No one probably noticed but I felt embarrassed and would lean back quickly. When I was in my 20's and much thinner (ahem) my husband could watch my pulse in my chest and abdomen; he could also tell when I was tachy that way. I've never tried the teeth clicking game. Funny. Well, I'm happy to feel my heart beating; the alternative wouldn't be so good.
It's funny - if I stare at an interior wall in my house, I can see my pulse via altered visual perception at the perimeter of my vision. Like the curve of my eye's lenses change with each pulse. Laying in bed last night I watched my heart bump the remote control up and down while I watched TV. If I hold my mouth open just so, my teeth will click together with every pulse. If I lay on the floor on my side, sometimes I can see my whole body rocking just a little with every --woosh-- of my heart.
And it's always been that way. So I'm often curious when someone reports something like that as an unusual symptom. Like you, after a lifetime of feeling them, I think I'd be uncomfortable if I couldn't feel them.
And it's always been that way. So I'm often curious when someone reports something like that as an unusual symptom. Like you, after a lifetime of feeling them, I think I'd be uncomfortable if I couldn't feel them.
I've read that it makes a difference where the early signal occurs in the beat. Even that micro second of coming earlier than just early can make a difference in how it feels or how long the compensatory pause lasts.
Also, some of us just feel things more acutely. I can feel my heartbeat (regular or not) about 80% of the time. Even now, sitting at the computer, I can feel the thump, thump, thump along with the premature beats and mini tachy's. Actually, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable not feeling a heart beat. :-)
Also, some of us just feel things more acutely. I can feel my heartbeat (regular or not) about 80% of the time. Even now, sitting at the computer, I can feel the thump, thump, thump along with the premature beats and mini tachy's. Actually, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable not feeling a heart beat. :-)
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