Horrible Palpitations

[KLB32]

I am getting horrible palpitations lately.  I have suffered from them for years but they have increased in intensity and frequency these last few days.  As a matter of fact, I was just talking to a co-worker and I had several occuring close together and it made me very nervous.  They were so hard hitting, I felt like I could barely speak and now my chest feels sore.

I talked to my Dr. today and he wants me to stop by the lab tonight for some in-depth blood work.  I really hope they find something because I'm so sick of this.

I have already had the usual tests:  EKGS (tons); Holter; Echo; Stress Test

[chris630]

When you say "palpitations" how would you describe them in more depth? Is it a sudden and extreme racing of your heart out of the blue or is it more a slow build up to a fast heart beat and then a slow decline back to a more normal rhythm?

[KLB32]

No, these are "skipped beats" (PVCs and PACs).

I have suffered from tachycardia in the past but I take a beta blocker now which helps the tachy but not the "skipped beats."  I have been in trigeminy on and off since Monday evening, too.  

[dolfnlvr]

I know that this is a pain in the neck.  We all have these times when they get nearly unbearable, and the cycle starts again.  Call Doctor, hope for new info, find more same ol' same ol' get frustrated and pray that they go away again this time.  

It's so annoying to know that we have little to no control over these things.  But, it is good to get checked whenever there is a shift in symptoms.  Though you'll probably find that everything is status quo, it seems to put us at ease to know that, and sometimes that's all it takes.

Momto3 had this AWESOME post awhile back that listed the "steps of living with PVC's"  It was priceless.  Maybe she'll revive the list (**HINT HINT)  :-)

[dolfnlvr]

Here's that list I was telling you about.  Momto3 was kind enough to find it for me!!!

"Here are (in my experience), the phases you go through dealing with PVCs. From the responses on the forum, they seem to be a fairly commonCommon cold experience:

1) You are sure you are going to die, and every beat brings about other symptoms like light-headedness, breathlessness, high-blood pressure (all anxiety related).

2) You go to the ER a few times. They bring you in right away, then send you home telling you there's nothing wrong (they're right)

3) You go to a cardio, get a full workup (and pass with flying colors)

4) You don't believe the doctors, keep having anxiety attacks, read everything about PVCs on the internet everyday, become agoraphobic, and try to isolate every trigger (there is no one trigger except anxiety).

5) You try to will them away (you can't cause you're still thinking about them)

6) You become anxious thinking your PVCs are going to get worse (and they do, since anxiety is the one common denominator)

7) One day you get pissed off, and go about your life regardless of the PVCs, figuring who cares if they kill you since you're at your wit's end anyway (you live)

8) You start to realize nothing bad ever actually happens to you while having pvcs, start going about your normal life, and start ignoring them and forgetting about them (they don't go away yet)

9) You start really forgetting about them (they never go away completely, but occur much less often, and you don't care about them anyway)

10) You troll the forums to help other people :)


AND---remember...this list is not a one way road....sometimes we fall backward and have to work our way back up to 10!!!

[KLB32]

Thank you for sharing the list!  It is so true.

I still swear there is something related to these palps and my menstrual cycle.  As soon as I hit 30 (I'll be 34 next month), they started.  Usually about a week before my period begins, the palps begin.  Then then increase until they usually either totally disappear or diminish after I start my period.

[RNRita]

That is a FINE list of steps, if I ever saw one.  I could have written that, it is so on the money.  And, yes, I do believe that menstruation is related.  ALL hormone induced things are.  Menopause, thyroid, anything.  Doesn't matter, the steps are still the same.  I've been repeating for 31 years.

[bobad]

Don't think for a moment that YOU are the cause of your PVC's/PAC's. It's not like that at all, and not your fault even in the slightest way.  It hasn't really been established that anxiety causes PVC's, but without a doubt, PVC's cause anxiety. Your brain is wired to your heart activity, and when the heart acts unusually, the brain automatically responds the best it can. The brain's response can sometimes make things seem worse than they are. You can do some things to control it, but it's largely controlled below your conscious level. Accepting the PVC's and convincing yourself they are harmless seems impossible, but with enough effort, you can have at least some success, and maybe a lot.

Best of luck!