PVC's

[blan3556]

I know you ae tired of PVC questions but I have a few.  My PVC's come and go.Each time I think this is it.I had a eho 2 years ago that show mild regurg and I have a slight murmur.  I had a 24 hour but did not keep the diary and it showed PVC's and sinus tach.
1.My PVC's sometimes get real bad, it feels like my heart will stop, is that normal?  Sometimes it flutters too is that OK?
2. When do these palps become dangerous?
3.  Because I did not keep the diary very accuratly does that mean my results are wrong?
4.  What causes sudden cardiac death, are palps a sign of this?
5.  I used to take atenenol but stopped taking them about 5 months ago. Can I take an atenenol here and there when the palps get bad or is that dangerous?
6.Should I be on meds for the palps, one doctor said I should the other said I didn't.
7.  How often should I get these test redone, I had them 2 years ago should I get them done again?
8.Is there anything I can do to alleviate these palps, I take Zoloft and multi vit, iron and calcium.
9. I heard that magnesium helps, is it safe to take?
10.  Do I have any limitations in my life because of these palps?
11.  Is there anything I should watch for that when these palps happen make them more sinister?
12.  How do I know my palps are just the benign ones and haven't become more than just benign?
I am sorry, you don't know how hard these are to live with...thank you so much..God Bless

[Cleveland Clinic]

blan,

Lots of questions....same answers. I dont get tired of PVC questions, it really has shown me how much peoiple suffer from them.  

You are like many people here, wanting specific answers and reassurance  
about each specific component of your PVCs.

PVCs with a normal heart (as it sounds like yours is) are benign, but can be very bothersome.  They do not progress to more dangerous arrythmias. There are a lot of opinions and medication options...what works for some doesnt work for others. Beta blockers such as atenolol fit into this category.

Some have found benefit with magnesium. Its safe but can cause loose stools.

There are no limitations. Take care of yourself.

These probably arent going to go away, but they certainly are not going to kill you. I would look into other ways of coping with the fact you have them and not overly focus on them.

Good luck

[upbeat63]

fearfactor is correct, you may need to take toperol for a period of time before you notice a difference. If Inderol worked immediately for you, that was a bonus, but not all beta-blockers are alike. Give it some time.

In the meantime, you might ask your doctor about an anti-anxiety med. I've been struggling with 20,000/per day, doing ok for the most part, but over the past couple of days I've had a pretty hard time. Thank goodness I have some xanax stashed away for times like these. I'm trying the toperol again too(12.5 mg/day) because I'm getting pretty constant trigeminy, but if I don't have anxiety on top of it, I think I can handle it. The toperol even at this low dose, does seem to make me feel a bit sluggish, but I could stand to slow down a bit, I think that's what gets me in trouble in the first place, on the go go go.

Like momto3 said, once you get used to PVCs, you just figure it's your "norm". By the way, momto3, how many PVCs do you figure you get now, even after your ablation (?). ARe you still taking medication as needed?

[stlcard1521]

swimming and/or jogging 2-3 times a week have greatly reduced my PVCs. Beta blockers didnt do anything for me, then i started training for an swim meet and found I went from having about 1 a minute, up to 5-10 a minute at their worst to noticing only a couple an hour.

[fearfactor]

Hi - Toprol isn't going to work instantly.  I take a very tiny dose for anxiety-related tachycardia and PVCs (12.5 mg a day) and it took about 2 weeks to really start working.  Also, you may want to consider anxiety meds - there is nothing to be ashamed of if you have anxiety.  I have had it all my life, will have it for the rest of my life.  If it wasn't for anxiety meds there would be no way I'd have a family, be in law school, etc.  If your PVCs are driving you to distraction I'd say consider anxiety drugs.  The old stigmas that you're "crazy" if you take them are so outdated!  :)

[madgeOwens]

I went to cardiology today, they said I had 7000 pvc and pac's during 24 hour halter........the inderol was working for a bit and now he switched me to toprol xl 50, which is metroporolo? right? and I took that first and it didnt work, well I was on 25 mg....and it made me tired all the time.......Im ready to cry....the old there is nothing wrong with your heart is driving me nuts.....should I be taking anxiety medicine instead? I dont have anxiety until I have sob etc.....this is rediculous.

[tickertock]

See question posted on 11/16/2005 Understanding what its about by Cherly M

See Comment 12 , I suggested on that same thread that I suspected that losartan might be responsible for controlling my PVCs, I really don't know by since I been on Cozaar(losartan)I haven't any significant amount of PVCs at all.

[tickertock]

Very interesting that you should mention the hyzaar connection in the reduction of PVCs, I was always suspicious that losartan combined with the atenolol controlled my pvcs to a very satisfactory , almost non existent level.

I also take a diuretic hydrochorothiazide 12.5mg daily, Hyzaar is a combination of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide combined. I always suspected it reduced my PVCs and the atenolol controlled mostly the sinus tachycardia. It would be very interesting to know if any else had  similiar results with Cozaar or Hyzaar.

[jmjm530]

I also have PVC's from time to time. Last for maybe a few weeks and then gone for a while. What seems to bring them on for me is a change in exercise patterns. Too much exercise or too little seem to bring them on. Lately I started taking Hyzaar (Cozaar plus Hydrochlorothiazide) for my BP and my PVC's stopped. Could be a coincidence. Anyone else taking Hyzaar and any recent threads on this?

-- Jim

[flip-flop]

PVC's definitely are not fun and I have had them as long as I can remember. I am 49 now and still skipping away at times. I avoid all the triggers I can for PVS's like caffeine and MSG and that does help. But I decided over the summer to try magnesium. I know a lot of drs. don't think supplements work but magnesium has helped me a lot. Now maybe it is just a placebo effect but I am having less palps since starting on it. Placebo effect or not...I don't really care. I am just grateful it is helping me a little....

Tina

[madgeOwens]

Thanks for your help.  I will try this drug for a month, but its 50mg...I will be totally wiped out, and I am helping my husband who has bladder cancer, so its tough to be nursing someone when you are pooped all the time ugh........I am going to see about anxiety meds too I think........whatever will help is ok with me.........Its like a vicious circle, I get pvc,s which give me the sob chest pain and then I get anxiety over that and it makes it worse..............the Inderol worked really great but was starting to wane after a month......thanks so much

[upbeat63]

I am awakened frequently in the night, so much so, that I usually just roll over and go back to sleep. I have found that if I become too fully awake, yes, it does take me awhile to fall back to sleep. I have practiced ignorning them so much throughout the day, I just think it extends into my semi-conscious mind at night. My worst trigger is lack of sleep, and even though I wake up often, I've told myself more that if I don't sleep I won't feel well the next day. So, I have also found that if they are really thumping when I first go to bed, I've caught myself thinking they are almost like a lullabye--that's very strange. But it helps me.

And, I agree with momto3. After 22 years of my own increasing PVCs, I was worried about developing a cardiomyopathy. It can happen, BUT IT DOESN"T ALWAYS. So be very mindful of how you feel and get the tests done to check your heart structure and even get it checked periodically. Find a great doctor you can trust and decide upon a schedule. Maybe it's very year, maybe it's every couple of years. Remember you are also responsible for your own health, so get a good doctor and work as a team, if it's one sided it doesn't work as well!!

Be thankful of the times you don't have them, but try not to stress when you do have them. My heart goes out to you it really does (PVCs and all). But just remember, they didn't get you last time, or the time before that, or the time before that, right?. Chances are they won't get you now or next time either. But having a competent doctor and getting a "normal" on your stress or echo or other tests is a blessing. Many blessings to you all. :-)

[Momto3]

We could have been twins.....When I read your posts, I'm like..I must know her!!!  So funny!  My pvcs became so frequent to me that oddly enough they were "normal" to me.  After several trips to the doctor and many tests, I figured I just beat to a different drummer. Now, that's not to say they didn't get to me....the digestive involvement and the anxiety made me so crazy - then the palps would pound.  Still benign...It actually took me a few months to "adjust" to life without thousands upon thousands of pvcs.  Sounds weird, but for me it felt "normal."  Now that I don't have as many, I really notice them...Strange how it all works : 0

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Connie

[jimmyb]

This kind of sucks... I have had pvcs since I as about 12...I'm 49 now. They were really bad for awhile a few years ago and I didn't know what to do. Had all the tests, all came back normal. Then they just went away. For about four or five years I ahve had hardly any. Now in the past couple of days they have started coming back. I hardly slept last night. Sometimes they are a precursor of an illness, and I had some stomach problems last night, so it could be a virus. I hate them! I usually have digestive problems with them, also. Anyone ever have pain with them? Not sharp pain but a dull pain from the heart missing so many beats? Doesn't last long but very annoying...

[skippyheart]

Love the headache analogy - thanks momto3!

Headaches are benign, but brain tumors are not.  Headaches are very rarely a sign of a brain tumor. If you have a history of headaches, and have been tested and given a clean bill of health, your headaches will never cause a brain tumor. If you did have a brain tumor, curing the headaches would do nothing for it anyway. PVCs in a healthy heart never degrade to vfib and cause sudden cardiac death.

I often have hundreds to thousands a day, and just had another stressecho (first in seven years - I'm 43). Did over 14 minutes on a bruce treadmill, EF around 73% - good shape for my age. So I asked my caridologist: If I was a pilot and having trigeminy (a normal heart rhythm for me at least a few minutes a day), would he get in a plane with me?  Of course, he said yes.

BTW, for those new to PVCs, I've certainly noticed, like many others, that the symptoms like breathlessness and lightheadedness are related to the anxiety, not the PVCs. Since I don't stress as much over the PVCs (took a long time!), I notice none of those symptoms, and can do anything while my heart flops away merrily.

Good luck to everyone - just think of it like having hiccups, cause if it wasn't our hearts we'd be more annoyed than afraid. I have a neighbor with MS, and figure that if this is my albatros, I shouldn't complain (too much :))

[mrbh]

Most folks I know claim that Atenolol is not very good when taken only as needed. Don't know why, but that seems to be the word.

I have lots of PVC's as well. Drives me crazy, so I understand your concern.

One suggestion from personal experience. Ask your doctor about some low dose Inderal (another beta blocker) to take for episodes. Inderal seems better suited to taking "as needed". Standard disclaimer...I'm not a doctor...your mileage may vary, etc.

Good Luck and feel better soon.

[bama jane]

Thanks for the input.   I just noticed how many people on here have palps that are associated with digestive problems. My stoamch growling can cause them for me too. I try to ignore them when I can.  Sometimes it's harder than others.  Mine somtimes leads to bouts of Tachycardia to about 160 bpm.  I hate waking from sleep with my heart that fast.  I do have a good doctor and have a yearly echo and stress test. Thanks again!

[Momto3]

Up until my ablations I was having 22,000+ pvcs per day.  I was in persistent bigeminy and was still told benign.  However, after years of living with pvcs (20+), I developed cardiomyopathy (a rare consequence) and was successfully ablated.  Fortunately (in some weird way), I am monitored frequently for a leaky mitral valve and they caught the CM.  

What's MOST important is finding a doctor you trust and believing in his/her medical judgment. If, for any reason, you do not feel confident, it is important to get a second, third, fourth opinion...Be your own best advocate.  

Figuring out your own personal triggers is tough.  In my case, caffeine was a major culprit, and MSG was among the others.  Can't even imagine how many pvcs I would have if I drank caffeinated products and lived on Chinese take out...YIKES!! I always knew those products would set things in motion.  

IMHO, a trusted doctor is the best medicine. I am still able to take Inderal on an as-needed basis for episodic events.  Is it not the same with atenolol?  I tried atenolol once and had a bad reaction, but Inderal in various doses worked well.  Hang in there everyone...Take care all!

connie

[bama jane]

you said you have thousands a day, do they wake you up at night or keep you from resting?  I have been going through a rough patch with them.  I too have had them every day for years and some times more than others along with some other rhythm problems.  I just get really tired from being awakened by them so much or waking up with shortness of breath from them. Any suggestions? I have gotten so many helpful hints on dealing with them from this forum.

[upbeat63]

Very good questions. I'm sure we are all waiting for the doctor to respond, trouble is there may not be a single, or simple answer. And more importantly, if you keep getting the same answer will you be in the right frame of mind to accept it. Sometimes I am, sometimes I'm not. Guess that's why I'm still here, but it's also to lend support since I've received so much.

I get thousands of PVCs per day, right now it's a PVC on every third beat, bummer, that's up a little from where I've been lately, but I understand and sympathize with everyone who gets even a single palpitation, PVC, PAC, they suck.

It's good to keep asking questions though, and making suggestions, because there are people on this forum who benefit from that information. I strongly believe that once you gain acceptance that PVCs aren't going to kill you, you can move forward with some solutions to minimizing their effect on your life.

For some that's avoiding the known triggers, and yes there are many, and they are different for each person. Some people find relief with medication, some with supplements, but there is no single thing that works the same way for all of us. I've tried a lot, and I still get thousands per day! Ugh, but I still keep trying. What else is there to do. I can focus on the positive or I can focus on the PVCs, if I, if you, focus on the PVCs it will drive you mad, I can promise you that... Tickertock is right, the heart does not, can not beat perfectly 100% of the time. It may be helpful to think of your PVCs as a normal variation, just the way your heart is supposed to be. I hope that helps. Here's wishing us all a palpation free Thanksgiving.

[dquenzer]

If you do a search on this site you will find your questions answered.  I understand the frustration and anxiety they can produce, since I was once a fellow sufferer or palps.  I had an ablation for AFIB and that took care of most of them.  That was a bonus from the ablation but some palps can't be fixed that way.  I was actually fortunate I developed AFIB so I could get the ablation.

There are no easy medical answers to eliminating them.  Meds can help but also produce more of them.  There is no scientific data that supplements work.  If there was the person who discovered the solution would be very rich as you can read from this site.

If your cardiologist isn't concerned you shouldn't be.  At that point you should focus on adjusting to them as something you will have to live with the best way possible.

[tickertock]

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=562

[Momto3]

I always think of pvcs as being similar to headaches.  Can't figure why we get them (some of us); where they originate; what triggers them; why they vary; and why they are not considered serious.  Migraine sufferers feel just like us - frustrated : (

Hope everyone has a splendid Thanksgiving!!!

connie

[tickertock]

Everyone gets PVCs or PACs at one time or another , about 20% of the general population if monitored for 24 hours would get a anywhere from a few to mutiple complex premature ventricular beats including NSVT. REF: http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=562

I think PVCs and Pacs are generally accepted as part of normal haert action, it would almost be impossible for your heart to beat perfectly all the time. I think its true that only 2% actually feel them, but everyone has them at sometime or another.

These are great questions and I feel the same way at times after battling anxiety from them for about 25 years.

[lolathechi]

I feel the same exact way you do!!!!!!

I know how awful and scary they are, I had one about 3 minutes ago, that scared me to death.. One of the long ones as I call them ... It feels like your heart stops forever.. those scare me the most.

All your questions are great!! I always wonder , how can these things not hurt you?? I have been told by one doctor, that everyone gets them, but 98% of people dont feel them.. Then I was told by another doctor that only 40% of the population has them... I hate them so much.. they make me so sad, depreesed and anxious.. I tried taking a anti-anxitey med for them.. but that put me in worse shape, I woke up with a extremly fast heart rate, one of the side effects from the med..

I have tried to figure out everything that triggers them and there is nothing that I think of.. yesteday I had about 10 pvcs, the day before about 100. I basically ate and did al the same things!!!

I know how you feel, you always think that one day one for these pvcs will get you and you will go itno a fatal arrythmia...

I guess we have to trutst our doctors and take their word, that they will not harm or hurt us in the setting of a strucally normal heart.. Hard to accept, but maybe one day we will ...