pvc's and anxiety

I have had pvc's most of my life.  They were benign and never posed a problem..  I am 59 yrs old now, extreme anxiety, asthma, acid reflux, IBS and other things wrong.  I am falling apart.  These PVC'S happen alot during the day and also with exertion.  I had a EKG, ECHOCARDIOGRAM w/contrast and wore a holter..  If during the echo test, if anything was majoring wrong they wouldn't let you even leave the building right?

[michellepetkus]

Yes, I do believe if you were in mortal danger you would have been advised to go to the ER.  I assume you are on meds for the anxiety and acid reflux?  Stomach issues can definitely ramp up the amount of pvcs you are feeling.  One thing you may want to try is beat blockers.  They sometimes help calm down the pvcs.  If you are not already I might also try to find someone to talk to.  The stress you are holding onto is very very likely making the pvcs worse.  Take care, I hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

[achillea]

Nope, if anything significant had shown up on any of your tests--or in your history--you would either have been admitted or told to make an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as possible.

You indicate you are aware of having anxiety (of course, asthma, acid reflux, and IBS will make you nuts anyhow).  Have you ever seen a specialist who deals with anxiety?  My own experience is that even one visit with a good shrink can help you enormously with the anxiety that makes any other physical symptom so much worse.

[jojokdz]

Thanks... I am on toprol for the pvc's.. but just recently put on another med on top of the toprol for high blood pressure.. And on meds for asthma and acid refux.. I just hope and pray this all helps and soon.. It ***** the life out of you.. It consumes your whole day...Thanks for listening.

[jojokdz]

Thanks.. I am sure the next thing will be the stress test.   I guess if I can rule out that my heart is good, and just have to live with the pvc's the rest of my life, so be it..  I just never had them happen with exertion..  and the short of breath thing too.  Does this happen  sometimes with Pvc's?  Just want to feel better...

[achillea]

jojo, honey; you have to pay attention.  Yes, you will probably have to live with PVCs the rest of your life, and yes, we do suffer shortness of breath and a host of other sensations that are related to panic and stress, though NOT to real heart problems, even though they feel like it.  

However, if you see a doc whose specialty is anxiety over strange bodily sensations that have NO clinical significance, you will get your life back.

[jojokdz]

When I have good days, I know all that you are saying, its the bad days, that it all so powerful and takes over.. it takes control.. I am seeing a psychologist.  But she is very sick, so I haven't seen her in 3 weeks.. so I need to find someone else to see in the meantime.  She is wonderful.  I lost my husband a year and half ago, so my life has been turned upside down.  So I need to try and calm down and realize the pvc's ARE gonna be there and I have lived almost 30 yrs of them.. thanks for all the advice.  !  

[achillea]

When dealing with severe anxiety, I have found that sometimes a psychologist, wonderful as she might be, is not enough.  For the bad events, I have had to go to a psychiatrist, an MD who deals with the medical aspect of panic.

Most people think of anxiety as something rather mild that you can get over if you get the right advice about how to put your life back together; you know--pull up your socks, woman!  

But panic and anxiety for some people are real medical issues, as much as diabetes, for example.  Since you have had this kind of problem for most of your life, I think you are in this group.

I suggest you make an appointment with a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety and panic.  You may find, as I did, that that kind of medical therapy will give you your life back.

[jojokdz]

THANKS...I will look up a psychiatrist instead of the psychologist I was seeing.  I have to get my life back.. I had such a good day, then I am having a anxiety attack as we speak.. My heart feels weak, and I feel like I can't breath.. my bp is good, just feel this way occasionally.. so sick of it ruining my day. And the best part is that I was in no way dwelling on anything.. just felt super.. they just come on... u r so right about getting help , medical therapy to try and give me a life period without stress...

[jojokdz]

anyone know what the difference is between a echo and a contrast echo.. ?   Will the contrast echo show enough on it  to determine if anything is wrong..?  Had 3 EKG'S bloodwork, holter and the echo w/contrast..  would pvc's cause short of breath with exertion?  I know they happen w/short of breath with resting, sitting... this is what concerns me is when this all happens sometimes when I am walking..

:(

[jrizzuto]

Jojo - you're singing my song. I am 55, been the poster boy for panic/anxiety/PVCS forever. One day I asked my doc this question...are the PVC's causing the anxiety or is the anxiety causing the PVCs?

She said the PVCs are causing the anxiety for sure in my case.

You have several issues that are affecting each other, did you know that GERD can also cause shortness of breath because when you sleep, you breathe the acid fumes which aggravates the bronchial tubes? Try apple cider vinegar by BRAGG, it helped my GERD bigtime. Also make sure you are taking a good multivitamin, nothing strong and nothing with that Ginko stuff. Sometimes small things help a lot.  

[jojokdz]

I have high blood pressure so of course more meds.. I wish I could get off them all.  I have so very much anxiety over life in general.  Then when the PVC'S start, the anxiety joins in, and my whole day is a mess..  It was almost 2 weeks since I had the echo done, and wore the holter... so I guess no news is goood news..  Seeing my Dr. today about the blood pressure meds.  Gonna tell him what a lousy week I have had with them.. I think he needs to lower the dosages or something because it made me so tired and my heart rate low.   I did make a appt with a psychiatrist, hopefully with some therapy I can get some peace in my life... thanks for listening...

[tom_h]

I read your recent post of today, and navigated back to this one. You said you saw a psychologist for your anxiety.  Did you see a "plain vanilla" one, or one who dealt with anxiety.  Also, are you on any anti-anxiety medication? Xanax, Venlafaxine, Paxil, etc?  My wife suffered from anxiety neurosis for many years.  Today, she lives a normal life, due to the help of a good psychologist, and a low maintenance dose of Venlafaxine, and an occasional Alprazolam (Xanax).

[jojokdz]

I appreciate ur advice.  Its funny u ask.  I have a appt. with a psychiatrist next week.. I have been seeing a psychologist for years..  I decided to do this as I am not getting any better.  Anxiety has took total control over my life.  And I need to get control over it!.. I am taking xanax as needed and was on zoloft, which did nothing!  I have tried a few of the anti-depressants and got no relief.  I am on Blood pressure meds, stomach pills, dang I dread being put on more meds.  I see this GP, who when u explain what ur feeling like, he puts u on something else on top of what u r already on.  I need to re-vamp and get some good Doctors that will help me, get my life back.. The anxiety makes my pvc's get worse!  I am not a depressed person as much as anxious!!!!  I will talk over this with my new Dr. I am seeing next week... thanks....:)

[Kim_1970]

I deal with both issues heart and anxiety.
.  
The big question is what comes first the chicken or the egg?

For me, I have always been a little on the anxious/type A/worrisome side and I think a lot. My brain is always on..

I am very aware of my body to the point of being hyper-sensitive at times.
Not everyone is but some of us are.
I have been in counseling for 3 years since all this heart business started and reared head.  
I know that anything my heart does that is not usual and "normal" makes me anxious.  I am just glad when the pvs, pacs do not cause me to be dizzy cause sometimes they do. I am working on learning how to ignore and not be fearful of them.
I also have svt, which it appears that you do not have. That makes me really lightheaded.

Its good that we are all on here researching our issue and that is a way of taking control and trying to "solve" or help our problems.
That is a way of trying to get control back.
I know I am open to anything that will help me feel better.

I am trying to be pro-active in my health.  Drink lots of water, NOOOO caffeine, eat good -plenty of protein, vegies, and fruit, vitamins and supplements. Walking when I can. I should do that more....

I hear getting adequate rest is helpful for just about everything including anxiety.  I have tried yoga for anxiety and it really helps too.

My counselor said its good to "Make a plan".  
She also said, "This is temporary."
I will NOT feel like this forever, and things do change.
(regarding how crummy I have felt for last 8 months)

I am going to bundle up and take a walk, get that blood flowing!

Take good care of yourself and I hope you find good advice here and your psych. - whomever you see.  

Kim