What is a couplet?

[jpcox]

Hi guys, I am back again with another question. Is a couplet the same thing as NSVT? Would anyone mind telling me how they know they are having a couplet? I got ahold of my medical records and it said I have couplets, now I am anxious. The doctor never shared this with me. Any info would be great to calm the nerves.

Jennifer

[jpcox]

I have had several holter and event monitors since 2005. I am still feeling weak and just plain out of it.  I was attributing to they flurry of these beats to less sleep, and stress. I eat pretty healthy, besides on Father's Day I had a cheat day. I am constantly looking for the reason to these flare ups, but honestly they happen out of the blue. They stick around for a few days then go away for a few, this pattern has been going on for the past 3 years. Gosh, I am only 29 and have two little ones. I wish I could feel normal again.

Jennifer

[dolfnlvr]

Have you had a holter monitor record these all day events?  If not, you may want to double check with your doctor to make sure that there isn't something else going on.  At the same time, it would make sense that persistent PVC's/PAC's for a long period of time would result in listlessness.  Your heart pumps vital oxygen and sugar throughout your body so that your muscles and other cells can use those ingredients to release energy.  If you have multiple pauses and trips in a short period of time, you will suffer a mild form of oxygen deprivation.  It would make sense that you would feel run down and tired...like if you were anemic.  While this is not harmful (at least not if it's not a prolonged situation---days/weeks)...it certainly does not feel good, and too many days of this sort of rhythm in a row would have me back in the doctor's office if for no other reason then to beg for a treatment that might provide some relief.

I sure hope you feel better soon.'
April

[jpcox]

Thank you. All of that makes sense. This year I have noticed an very LONG pause, and I am wondering if it is when I have a couplet. I never seem to get any answer from my doctor, so after every visit I am just as confused as before I went.

One more question if you don't mind, when I have an irregular heartbeat that lasts all day is normal to feel weak, shaky legs, just complete out of it? Can these harmless heartbeats really cause so much discomfort?

Thanks, Jennifer

[dolfnlvr]

Oh...one more thing...the PAUSE, may seem a bit longer with a couplet as the blood pools in the atria while the ventricles do their blips.  Again, this is NOT DANGEROUS, but it does signify the difference in sensation.

[dolfnlvr]

I'm sure your doctor didn't mention this to you, because in his mind there is no distinction between a diagnosis of PVC's and you experiencing "couplets."  A couplet is when you have two PVC's in a row.   Like thump-thump-thump--trip trip PAUSE--thump-thump-thump.  A regular singleton PVC would be like thump-thump-thump-trip pause-thump-thump-thump.  

Couplets are no more dangerous then regular single PVC's and occur regularly in the population at large, but are most pronounced and noticed in those of us who are sensitive to the PVC's to begin with.

A triplet is just that....THREE PVC's in a row.  Feels kind of like your heart is tumbling over itself before it "resets."  Again, these are not dangerous in a structurally normal heart.

Hope this helps.  Please be at ease.... (and no a couplet is NOT the same as NSVT).

Take care,