pacs in clusters

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

4 days now of having heart pacs, went dr yesterday had a keg, caught one pac so guessing thats what they all are, making me scared, no chest pains , no sob, have not ate bad or took anything to cause them, don't think i am under stress so just don't know, anyone get them out of blue like this for days

[MichelleP_3811]

Yes, they are random and inconsistent in how they operate.  The best thing you can do is try to ignore them.  As well avoid things like caffeine, sugar, and carbohydrates.  Watch stress and anxiety and manage stomach issues.  As well drink lots of water.  If you have no concerning symptoms except feeling your heart jump around a bit do your best to work on the fear because that will only make things worse.  I try to look at them as simple extra beats.  I had an svt when I had a very fast heart rate so a few extra beats here and there is really no big deal.  Your heart can handle it.  Take care and hope you are able to get on top of the fear.    

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

Thank you so much for helping me out, yes it has started my anxiety up for sure, they scare me and I woke up with the again today grrrrr, I keep living have not let them stop me but I am not enjoying my days right now.  Not sure why they came but have notice as I get older 56 now they come for longer times now, not a few here and there, it's days they stay.    Hope you have a great weekend

[MichelleP_3811]

What I mean is if your ekg only caught one pac that means you aren't having a crazy lot of them all the time.  Isolated ectopics even hundreds or thousands a day are not considered a major health risk.  The threshold is something like 20,000 a day though that number could be smaller but it sounds like the beats are isolated enough for you that they should pose no danger.  Obviously you would want a doctor to sign off on your health but from what I have read they are just more of a nuisance.  How is your bp?  If the ectopics are super bothersome the doctors will generally try a small dose of beta blockers which has been a big help for some.    

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

i was having them a lot but as always when i got to the Drs office to get the EKG they stopped lol but one tiny one showed up on the few seconds they recorded, so they saw it as a pac.   i have had thousands a day and i do take a BB, but i have break throws , i have had maybe 7-9 this morning . i don't have the anxiety until i start pacs and than i have the anxiety.   my blood pressure is good it was 128/57/65 yesterday today its well right now its 129/66 pulse 51 so runs good .

when having a dangerous rhythm other than pacs/pvcs/  is the heart rate most the time fast ?

[MichelleP_3811]

Yes, that happens to a lot of people. Not sure why but it is frustrating.  It would make things so much easier if our most concerning symptoms showed up right as we are getting the ekg but odds are they won't.  But again, the amount you are having isn't a real concern so the less you stress about them the less of them you will have.  If you get anxious when you feel one then you may very well trigger yourself to have more that you may not have had, had you not stressed about it.  Easier said than done, I know but just try to take a deep breath when one happens and remind yourself that you are not in any danger and see if that helps.  

To answer your question it isn't just a fast heart rate that is a danger but having too many of them which most doctors rate at 20,000 or more a day or if they get caught in a reentry pattern which would likely cause a faster than normal rate but usually it is more so the pvcs in high numbers that are the danger as opposed to pacs.  Atria issues, beyond afib, are not considered a big threat.  Sustained atrial tachycardia can wear out the heart eventually and the danger with afib is with blood clots more than anything else but you need not worry about any of that because you are not having any of those issues.  

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

Wow thank you so so much, you have always been a great help to me, your very sweet to take your time to always be there for others, I know I have posted a lot last 7 days but just not used to them like this and this long, was having them  5 in 5 mins last night than they go away for 20 than come back, no fast heart rate, no sob, no chest pains just pacs and anxiety, going take some Ativan today try get back where it's ok to have them, I have not let them stop me from living everyday, they just go with me but make my days no fun.  I guess trying to figure out Why they started really bothers me I know I can't fix them or try to not do what ever caused them because I don't know what did, lol thank you again

[MichelleP_3811]

I think you hit on something very key.  The need to know why.  Unfortunately I don't think there is a clear answer as to why.  For the most part the ability for the heart to throw extra beats is actually mother natures way of protecting you if something were to happen and the regular pacemaker the SA node stopped functioning.  the heart knows what to do to initiate a beat from somewhere else to keep the heart pumping.  For whatever reason those back ups spots for a better term can get triggered and once they do they become sensitive to getting triggered again.  Adrenaline is a big factor as well.  But the truth is you are right, there may not be anything you can do to totally fix them, nothing that doesn't pose a bigger risk to you than living with the issue so acceptance is key.  Many people live their lives with a lot of health issues.  Those of us with heart issues are not alone as well.  But it is good to hear for the most part you are not letting it stop you from living because that would make for a very sad life indeed.  But I know it takes time to get past the fear and to a place of trusting your heart.  I had an svt my whole life that I didn't think much of because the rapid beat episodes always stopped on their own.  it wasn't' until I got diagnosed that the fear crept in.  and quite frankly I was for some reason more afraid of the ectopic beats then I was the svt because they can go on all day long.  But with time I saw that my heart was still going and nothing drastic was coming of them so I learned to trust.  You will too.  Just keep working on releasing the fear when it rises and one day you will have forgotten all about it.  I'm here to talk if you ever need to.  Take care.  ;)

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

so i went to ER yesterday, they hooked me up it stop doing it , figures, i had like 6-7 tiny pacs, dr said keg looked good, now today they have been going all day, driving me nuts,   wish i could feel secure in the 6-7 they saw that they are all pacs, but my mind wants to tell me different. should i try and get a heart monitor from my cardio dr or am i beating a dead horse

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

Still lots flutters 9 days now grrrr

[MichelleP_3811]

If you have never had a holter it may be a good idea to get a baseline but odds are it still won't ease your mind.  In general it is the idea of having them at all that is upsetting and worrisome not necessarily how many.  If you knew how many you could wind up obsessing about it but if you think it is something you want to try then ask your cardiologist for a monitor. You honestly have to go by what you feel is right for you. It is your life after all.  In the end though working on the fear this is bringing up is something you may still have to face.  But maybe use it as a way to tell your mind that the results are for peace of mind not fear and see if it helps.  Take care.