UC and PVC's

[Oxman]

Has anyone out there been diagnosed with PVC's (basically skipped heart beats). I have had UC for 20+ years and have managed the disease with diet and exercise (8 times on prednisone and tpn once). Basically symptom free except very loose stools once per day. All this being said I just started noticing skipped heart beats. I called up my Cardiologist buddy and he said it sounds like PVC. PVS's have a link to potassium/magnesium/calcium imbalances. I suspect that those of us with UC probably have a lot of imbalances in our body chemisty due to the fact we poop a lot of the good nutrients out before they are able to be taken up by our bodies. Anyone else out there with a similar issue?

[Lucky0317]

Hi Oxman, I've had crohns for 17 yrs, since I was  18. Have had surgery, been on all the meds. (You know how it goes) I found out the hard way about a year ago exactly what low potassium can do to a body. One of the symptoms is a irregular heartbeat. Low potassium can be caused by diarrhea or chronic loose stools. I ve had my potassium drop on me 4-5 times now in the last year, it seems like once it happens it will happen again & again, quicker & easier each time. I'm actually on a potassium drink 4 times a day now because it dropped last week and I didnt have a change in my bathroom routine but I do have loose BM's as I've had surgery & have what they call short bowel syndrome on top of my crohns. Just means I don't digest certain things as well cuz I don't have enough intestine to get the job done. (the fun never stops?) There are a lot of symptoms for low potassium, you can do your own research if your interested.  But I wouldn't just accept skipped heartbeats or in my case it feels like a flutter in my chest, just because we CAN be low in certain vitamins & nutrients doesn't mean HAVE stay that way. Take care

[April2]

I was diagnosed with PVC's around the same time I found out I had Crohns (3 1/2 years ago). I too believe there's a link between digestive diseases and PVC's.
Overall, I've done pretty well and haven't had as bad of symptoms as some and I'm thankful for that.