Positional PVC's Anyone??

Hello all! Am I ever glad I found this site. I'm a newbie but definately not new to these dang pvc's. I was wondering if anyone else has what I call "positional pvc's"? By this I mean I can trigger them by lifting my right arm over my head, bending over, turning/twisting when only moving my upper chest, not turning my waist, reaching for things especially when reaching with my right arm over to the left side of my body. (Just seems to be my right arm) Even riding on a bumpy road can set them off which I think is very strange. Also with my last pregnancy, when the doc would have me lay on my back and she'd palpitate my belly it would set them off as well. Other things that trigger them are stretching while holding my breath, working on a burp that is stuck in my throat and talking without taking a breath. So basically anything can set them off! Just wondering if I'm the only weirdo here. If anyone else gets these "positional pvc's" please share.

[finetilthree]

I get every one that you just mentioned.

[tsco]

The funny part is the doctor will look at you stupid usually when you try and explain this.  It is real. I do the same thing. It doesn't always do it it seems like it is during certain periods. I can stretch and trigger it or bend over or twist.  I always wonder what is different to cause this. Right now I'm having problems with burping air. If I just burp I have a palpitation. It's driving me nuts.  Hopefully it will go away. I also have some stomach problems and noticed if I take prevacid to keep my stomach calm the positional pvcs diminish. Something in there has to be putting pressure on the heart  ???  Who Knows?
But your not alone

[SassyLassie]

Ohhhhh, yes, very definitely. I get them when I slouch in a chair. bend over, especially after eating or drinking water, when I lay on my left side, if I put my arms over my head, twist a certain way, you name it, all these positions can trigger them. Then, I have days when nothing does it, but, those are few, and I really enjoy those days.

I have told my doctor, but, I am not too sure she believes me, but, they ARE real, just the same.

Oh yes, I also get them when it is windy and cold, that is not fun as I live in a windy area and in winter it is really cold, brrrrrrr.

[marshaldillon]

I have shared this before on this site, but I only get PVC's after I eat. I noticed that I would get them each day after lunch as I would put my shoes on to go back to work ( I eat at home). As I pulled my leg up to tie my shoe, they would start up. If I stand up and put my shoes on they do not come. I am controlling them by merely doing wierd things like that. When I told my Doctor about this, he still had a spaced out look on his face as I left...kindof a duuhh look. So yes, position definitely triggers them.

[GranRon]

I've posted this before. My experiences are even more bizarre.  About 4 years ago, I started noticing that I experienced strings of PAC's or PVC's when I turned onto my right side in bed.  No explanation, it had not done that before.  In the next year or two it reversed to when I tried to sleep on my left side and stopped doing it when I was on my right side.  It has progressed now to having them no matter how I try to sleep!  It has become very difficult for me to get to sleep and I have finally just learned to will myself to sleep, no easy task.  I had my six month appointment with my cardiologist a few weeks ago, and, glory be, it showed up on the ECG.  It looked more like PAC's than PVC's and he said as long as I was asymptomatic, just live with it and take some atenolol if it helped.  The other option was to try something like amioderone, which is powerful stuff, and he preferred not to do that.  I am 66 and this all started when I was 62.  I have a theory that it is the result of increased, erratic vagal stimulation which could shift and increase over time.

[Michelle147]

Thank you so much for your replies. Makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one experiencing these bizarre things or that I'm only imagining them. I've mentioned a couple of them to my doc but he had no reply. I find it difficult to talk to anyone about them. I definately think there is a link to the stomach and vagal nerve as well as anxiety. Last August I was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding and I spent the entire summer worrying about what if I had a pvc attack up in front of the church in front of everyone. Well the big day came and just before walking down the aisle, boom, my heart starts skipping and I freak. I ended up having a panic attack and took off downstairs and stayed there for the rest of the ceremony. Didn't even get to see my sister get married. One of the most embarassing moments of my life. SassyLassie, mine are worse in the winter months as well. Strange. Oh and I've become superstitious over this too. Sometimes if I'm wearing a certain pair of jeans when I'm having a bad day I will refuse to wear those jeans ever again like it is the jeans fault! The only thing my doc wanted to give me was ativan for when they made me anxious but I never did fill the prescription. I went on magnesium back in november. They (the pvc's- I don't even like saying them) went away for 6 weeks but came back so I tried liquid magnesium which never helped. Yesterday I started taking the original supplement but doubled the dose so now I'm just waiting. I've read many good things on mag and heart rhythm but know it's not a miracle pill.  I've been dealing with this every day for 2 months now. I've had them for 10+ years (I'm 29) but usually they would come and go but this time they just don't want to bugger off. I'm glad I have a place to come to now for support. Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

[rhinoman]

I am now almost 60, in very good health, and have had these positional arrhythmias for years now - at least 20.  They are apparently harmless - if disturbing - as I have been very active physically the whole time.  I also get the same blank or dismissive responses from physicians when I mention it to them.

I am pretty certain I know what causes it.  I am very thin with small bone structure and have an enlarged heart from years of competitive exercise.  I think there is no question that my heart is rubbing against either the rib cage or sternum to trigger such episodes.  In addition the heart is in close proximity to the esophagus, so gases from burping can cause them.  Lying down after eat a big meal is likely to trigger them.  Leaning forward can trigger them. Even leaning forward over the handlebars during biking can cause them, such that straightening to an upright position reduces or stops them.

Mine occur most often when I first lie down to sleeping.  If they do not subside I sit up more in the bed.  I have had all combinations of this problem.   Usually straigtening up, either in bed, or getting up and standing stops them.  When they persist while standing I can stop them by suddenly jerking my chest.  What better proof can you have than this that it is mechanically triggered.

There is also no doubt in my mind that stress, caffeine, extreme fatigue and many other conditions can increase their frequency of occurrence.

With my small frame and enlarged heart there is no simple way to supppress them.  I do not want to take drugs because I fear they will diminish my exercise capabilities, which have keep me in excellent health and condition for years (e.g. blood pressure at levels of young people -110/70).

Art

[Skippi]

Amen to that! totally agree with you! I blame the vagus nerve that creates all this havoc with our hearts. I hate hate hate it, but love love love being with this community. You all understand as no one else does/can.

[AMASue]

Hi Michelle,
I have PVCs and they got so bad that I had an ablation last December.  But they "missed a spot", so my electrophysiologist recommended a "touch-up" ablation,
which I haven't done yet.  When you notice a run of PVCs, (bigeminy, trigeminy), try coughing hard.  I can usually get mine to re-set doing this. They also say taking magnesium and/or fish oil can help.  PVCs are definitely annoying - I sympathize with you!  I too think there is some connection between the stomach and heart because I too had my gallbladder removed, and I've always had stomach issues.  
Take care and take heart - there are apparently lots of us PVCer's out there! (Maybe we need to conduct an unofficial study!).

[jondsam]

Cant say I get them from any particular position as I get them always for no specific triggers.  They are just there to be a nuisance and probably cause  me cardiomyopathy in the not so near future.  

[lollol3]

i noticed that when i bend over i get them too.. but once i figured out one thing.... the only way to resolve this was to take up exercise for me. so what i did was basically do weight lifting  heavy squats with breathing pull overs...and after some week

oddly the PVC disappeared for many years!!!!!! cant explain why

[Nanasue4]

Yes, I basically have constant PVCs, but certain things - as you mentioned - do make them worse, especially emotional stress or too much caffeine.  I also notice I feel "weird" when it's a overcast/rainy day.  I've always wondered if the med Pitocin, that they give you when you're in labor, affects the heart because I started having all my heart problems after giving birth to my 3rd child.  Recently my EP gave me potassium as an experiment, and it does seem to help with the PVCs.  You just have to be careful not to take too much as it can build up and be toxic. Has any found anything else that helps ease the PVCs?

[espgb]

Hi Im 68 and have hadPVCs for years just lately much worse. I find laying on my left side in bed starts them off ,sometimes they ease when I turn over sometimes not always very uncomfortable.It is so good to read of others experiences and not feel so alone.
I am currently taking a serious drug called Flecainide and it seems to have stopped my PVCs almost completely I just get a run now and then, the only trouble is I don't like taking drug and hope I will be able to get off them at some time in the future. I wish you all well and a cure for PVCs .

[merileegal]

I've been a member for about a month I guess. I've learned so much from so many people that I don't feel as intimidated by the palpitations and tachycardias anymore. Thank goodness for this forum.

I've tried to figure out what causes my palps and like many caffeine, stress, and fatigue seem to be triggers especially the stress. Fish oil also seems to irritate my heart which is crazy because it helps so many others. I started taking magnesium and that seems to really help.As far as positional, any laying down position seems to bother me and leaning over front ways.  Good luck.

[jzinckgra]

How much magnesium/day is everyone taking? I am trying one capsule (300mg)/day.

[RNRita]

That's me....always trying to straighten up in bed or while watching a movie, etc.  I have tried to ignore them and be belligerent....I say, "I'm not moving, do what you want." (Yes, sometimes I simply MUST talk to them...lol)  Guess what? They DO what they want.  I lose.  I move.  hahahahahahaha

[emily745]

Wow,  I'm 32 years old and have had this for the past 4 years. I've been dismissed by doctors and cardiologists...  I'm having a flare up right now and it is terrible.  I can hardly move without setting off the pvcs.  I usually see an osteopath to help realign me and he helps a lot... although it feels like I'm going to die from arrythmias while he's working...  Thanks for all of your comments, at least I don't feel so alone...