How common is 5 pvc's in a row

[ljd]

Hi,

Can anyone out there tell me how common it is to get 4 or 5 skipped beats in a row?  I am talking skip, skip, skip, skip then beat.  I was getting regular runs of pvc, but occasionally I get a run of 4-5 in a row.  Should I worry?  Thanks again for your help.

[upbeat633]

Well, certainly we're all going to die of something, but I don't think it's pvcs that will do us in!

I too have had my share of planned trips to the E.R., but have never made it out the front door of my house. By the time I decide, ok, this is it, I usually start to feel a little better. And as time passes, a little better yet. It's like--once I've made the decision to go, the stress starts to reduce, I'm back in control.

Like you, I struggle trying to decide whether my lightheadedness is from the pvcs, the beta-blockers, anxiety or any number of different reasons. So I've just decided to think it's not my heart (based on what the E.P said, and what every other doctor/cardiologist has told me). I don't have the symptom all day long, but I definetly get pvcs ALL day long.

Chin up until Tuesday, you'll make it, and you'll get your questions answered by your doc.

[piperrhiannon]

thank you so much for posting what your doctor said.  I've had a lot of "skipped beats" recently but today had five or six in a row and it really scared me.  I've had an echo and more EKGs than I can count, and they were all "essentially normal" whatever that means.  I'd heard that more than 3 in a row could lead to serious problems, even sudden death, and I'm a major hypochondriac so naturally I was starting to draft my will ;)  But I googled "pvcs in a row" (note: I don't know that that's what I'm having, since it's never been "caught on tape" but I think that's what my doctor said they probably were) and came here, and now I'm much less worried.  

My heart is fine aside from it's hopping, skipping and jumping, so I guess the likelihood of my dying immediately is pretty low.  I'll still call my doctor on Tuesday just in case, but at least now I don't have to panic while I wait.  I thought about going to the ER but I don't really think it's necessary.  (I wouldn't have even if I hadn't found this thread, because I haven't had another weird beat since and my heart rate is elevated but not horribly high considering I stupidly fell asleep before taking my atenolol last night.)

I am very dizzy/lightheaded but I'm also on a really heavy day of my period (worst I've had in ages), and I've been having medication issues, so it COULD be related to the heart skipping, or it could not have anything to do with it.  Sigh.  It's so confusing!  Sucks being a hypochondriac with a medical problem no one can diagnose.  Suddenly everything becomes certain death.  

[cowboy1]

Hi, i have had my pvc's for about 15 years and have had about every test known to man done to me. my heart is normal and the docs insist to me also that the rythmns ar non lethal.  I have never passed out due to the pvc's, ( i understand that if you do they take it much more seriously)  .

take care everyone

[julianne07]

I have had PVC's for over a year now, and they got really bad in the fall/winter  PVC's every other beat. I recently found out I am hypothyroid and was put medication and they GOT BETTER. I hardly even have any now, its amazing how one system throws off another!!!

[ljd]

Thank you so much-it is so reassuring to read this.  This forum is such a great support group!

[upbeat633]

I have had several long runs of pvcs and been told benign, benign, benign (if structurally normal heart). A recent E.P. told me no matter the frequency, no matter the pattern, pvcs as singles, couplets, triplets, runs, are still benign. Lucky me.

It is hard to accept, I agree.

He didn't seem too impressed when he estimated that I have 30,000pvcs per day, he didn't seem too impressed that I could have 10, 12, or 62 pvcs. It's called non-sustrained ventricular tachycardia if under 30 seconds, and idiopathic ventricular rhythm if above 30 seconds. His point being, that in a structurally normal heart, it's just another pattern. "your electrical system will always over-ride a dangerous rhythm if your heart is structurally normal" was his re-assurance, that and his comment that I was not in the record books yet, that was a real hoot.

[ljd]

Hi,

I feel exactly the same.  My whole life is different.  I am scared all of the time and afraid that something bad is going to happen any minute.  I believe it was something like ventricular arrythmia.  I had googled pvc's on an ekg and this website listed all the possible complications of pvc's.  Definitely not something to read.  I just came from the cardiologist today who doesn't even want to do another holter.  Just said increase the toprol and try to live with them.  It is way too hard!!  I come to this forum and it does help alot.  It is reassuring to know so many people have them and have lived with them for years.

[kate9106]

I am curious where you read that 3 in a row can lead to a fatal arrythmia?  I too have these "runs" and they scare me to death.  This forum has helped me a lot but I still cannot accept that these are not going to kill me.  My entire life has changed because of these skipped heart beats and I am a different person.  No matter how many doctors tell me that it is benign I guess I just cannot accept it and it is so frustrating.  

[ljd]

Thanks for your quick response.  I had all the tests done 2 years ago and my cardio doesn't feel the need to do anymore (2nd opinion cardio says the same)  I just read somewhere that more than 3 in  a row can lead to a fatal arrythmia and that freaked me out.

[poohbear2026]

Hi, I am not sure how common they are but I recently had a 4 beat run of pvcs caught on a holter monitor.  My cardiologist said I needed to have an echo and a nuclear stress test because of them.  All tests came back normal so most everyone says as long as your heart is structurally normal then it is okay.  Although I still get scared when they happen.  If I were you I would go and at least have an echo done to make sure everything is structurally good and maybe they will put you on a 30 day monitor to catch the runs you are having.

[taratownsend]

Hi,

I also have that too. I have had up to 12 pvc's in a row i think the EP specialist calls it runs of pvc's. My EP told my it is of no harm to me unless it lasts like that for several minutes.

But if you are concerned (sp?) then i would have your cardiologist check it out.

Tara :-)