Are PVC's

[debigriffs]

I'm a 46 yr old fem. fit & in good health, B/P 110/70. In June '02, I got sick with an illness which had the major symptom of orthostatic hypotension & other organ symptoms. After 1 wk I could only crawl on my hands/knees due to fainting/weakness.I was sent to Stanford Med Ctr for 10 days.Had an echocardiogram, blood tests, tilt table testing, etc.I was on IV only for 10 days.Their diag: Orthostatic hypotension & gave proamitine. Proamitine made me sick & altered.They sent me home 2 days later & my GP took me off Proamitine as he thought I had a bad virus.After 9 wks I started to get better,no more cardiac symptoms,just getting my strength & life back.Then in March 03, I had tightness in my chest, squeezing in left arm.I went to the ER. B/P was 160/100 and pulse was 180.EKG showed no abnormalities.I was given an Ativan and refered to a cardiologist.I did a Holter monitor and a stress echo.Holter showed several instances of 148 BPM while showering, or just sitting and several PAC/PVC's some coming every other beat.Stress echo showed several PAC's & PVC's that lessened with exercise. After reviewing the Stress Echo/Holter,was told I have benign PVC's & PAC's and just deal with them or take beta blockers.I asked why all of a sudden I started having PAC's PVC's they said they didn't know.I asked if they would go away-they said no.Can someone tell me why these all of a sudden cropped up, and what can be done for them? I have multiple per minute and am uncomfortable. Are these as benign as they say? Organs just don't start acting up for no reason do they? What can I do? Thanks!

[valger]

Hi, wow, this board is so much help!  I can't believe the numbers on how many PVC's some people get each day.  I was adding it up, and I figure if I'm getting 5 or more per minute, then I'm in the thousands also.  So, this isn't really a bad thing?  I was thinking maybe I should go back in and have another holter moniter since they've increased so much since my last holter.  On my last holter, I was only having a few a day, and they've increased to a few a minute.  This seems to be totally going along with menopause, but that's a guess, the doctors sure don't know why I have them.  I have had the thallium stress test, and blood tests, and other things, but I was just thinking that the holter might be good again.  How do you guys deal with so many a day?  I was just out with my little daughter, and she was playing around, and I couldn't even sit there and relax since I was having so many, it just makes you kind of tense.  Especially if I'm out somewhere far from home with her.  Do most doctors say you should have an abablation if you are in the thousands per day?  I've tried medication before, but for me, it made it worse, and I hate being on any medication.  I also read a study where people on medication had  more of a risk of sudden death than those who weren't on anything.  I think I have anxiety about this cause my Dad, who was 69, had sudden death.  He had restrictive cardiomyopathy, but we still don't really know why.  He was very healthy all his life, and he was a runner, ate good, just very healthy.  I don't know if any of you have heard of this, but they think he might have had amyloidosis.  Kind of a rare disease in which plasma proteins stick to organs, and they can stick to your heart, and cause the cardiomyopathy.  Anyway, he just passed away sitting on the couch with my Mom.  So, I feel even worse having all these palpitations, thinking it must be something hereditary.  But, then, that's why this board makes me feel better, cause I realize there's other people out there with as many as I have.  Thanks for all of the help!!  Take care, Val

[jaz5802]

I heard that there MAY be a risk when having PVCs during or after exercise. I don't remember exactly how the doctor worded it. In layman's terms the "may" referred to people who did not have structurally sound hearts and other issues going on -- some of which weren't even heart related.  Even when those conditions existed for this select group of people, it was still a "may."  

Keep on exercising.  Not exercising would be harmful to your body (and mind)!  I get them before, during and after -- sometimes a little, sometimes a lot! Remember: MAY be a risk -- not definitely a risk.  Try to put it in perspective.  :-)

Beth

[vansharma]

Wow- I never knew there were so many of us out there with
these annoying and scary PVCs.  Well, I started getting these about 3 years ago and was told by my doctor not to worry.
I did see a cardiologist but they never told me anything that made me feel better, or worse for that matter. I recently had a baby and during my pregnancy I did not experience many PVCs and even up until a year later I was almost PVC free!  I thought pregnancy cured me.  Well recently I started a weight loss regimen and started exercising and they came back.  
Now I am worried that they are here to stay again.  Its weird.
I have been exercising for a while now but they came back all of a sudden.  I noticed them particularly today AFTER my exercise session.  I heard this could be a bad thing.  Do any of you know what the risks are with increased PVCs after exercise?

[Momto3]

Count me in on the hormone hypothesis~~  I have had pvc's for 20+ years and for the most part I have accepted that my heart just beats to a different drummer.  

There are several of us "frequent fliers" (a term I coined for those of us who are reaching the high numbers) out here, and we're here to tell ya....hang in there!  I know...I know....easier said than done, but seriously anxiety is a precursor (at least for me).  Like some of the others, my numbers reach into the 20,000+ range (per day).  I was taking beta blockers for many years, but eventually decided to just deal with the buggers.....We need to remember to look on the bright side, "it's still ticking" : )

[CLM]

I am positive that perimenopause shifts in hormones play a major role!  I am at my worst at ovulation and pms (I am 37).  My pvcs also flared up in early pregnancy with my second (I was 32) but settled down until about two years ago.

I am up to very high levels on my bad days -- 10,197pvcs were recorded on my holter this past week -- so it is going to be ablation all the way for me!  I am hoping this will head off major menopause crazy beats.  I don't think I could take it!  (I am unifocal so maybe there is hope for me... I will certainly post if/when this takes place)  Hang in there everyone!

[jaz5802]

Thanks Chris for posting.  I await any news you have/get regarding PVCs and us women-folk!  My cardio won't do any albation (says no need for me), but I sure don't look forward to these getting any worse as I get closer to the big M!

Thanks for sharing.........

Beth