Getting constant, but asymptomatic PVC's - is it worth seeing a doctor?

[KatieBu]

Hi there and thanks very much for taking my question. I am a 36-year-old woman. For the best part of the last year I have been suffering constant and frequent skipped heartbeats. It all seemed to start when I decided it was time I started to take regular exercise. Prior to that I used to get a very big PVC only once every two months or so. But now I seem to get around two to four a minute. They are stronger at the end of the day. They are very typical of other people's PVC's: an uncomfortable and annoying feeling of something flipping over in my chest. I don't get breathless or feel pain or anything like that, but sometimes there is a bit of a "rush". My father has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I had a scan for HCM about ten years ago and was told I was clear, though a small murmur was detected. I really don't want to give up exercise: I can't believe that it's bad for me... I don't have any particular stress in my life and haven't drunk caffeine for over a year. Also I drink alcohol in extreme moderation.

I keep thinking I ought to go and see my physician and get myself checked out, but haven't quite got around to it yet - mostly because everything I read seems to point to asymptomatic PVC's not being dangerous in most cases. Is it worth getting myself checked out? The PVC's are annoying, but I don't want to take any drugs if I can help it. I would rather just live with it.

Also, I'm interested in getting a cosmetic surgery procedure done which would necessitate a general anesthetic. Would the PVC's present any problem?

Thanks so much

Kate

[chaswriter]

I'm so glad I found this forum. I hate that anyone has PVCs, but at least we aren't alone.

I was diagnosed with PVCs about 8 months ago in the ER. The doctors and nurses assured me that's what was happening and there was nothing to worry about. What brought me to the ER was the frequency of the PVCs. I was having about 6-8 per minute and that really scared me. After I was told not to worry, I went on with my life, still having the PVCs on a daily basis, mostly when in a resting position, and especially if I lay on my left side or back.

Three days ago I was back in the ER. The PVCs were coming on strong and I was feeling light-headed and slightly disoriented. (I'm not sure if that was because of the PVCs or just general panic because I feared I was dying.) They hooked me up to the heart monitor, said it all looked fine. I wasn't happy with that so the doctor set me up to wear a holter monitor, which I did, for 24 hours.

Today I got the results. They said I was having "ventricular ectopy." Now that sounded scary, so when I got home I started to research it and, if I'm not mistaken, this is just another way to say PVC. When speaking with the nurse on the phone, she said I should see a doctor about the problem, but she in no way indicated a sense of high urgency.

I am going to check on this further, of course, but I would love to read some opinions from those of you who know a lot about this subject.

Thank you, and best of luck to everyone suffering from this.
Jeff

[freedancer]

I appreciate your interest.  I am 49, will be 50 in March.  I get between 5 and 6 hours of sleep a night.  I have severe headaches, diagnoised as migraines, probably caused most likely by the sever blow to my head two years ago April by an attack from a mental health patient.  I do have other aches and pains, hip pain, lower back and tail bone.  Neck, shoulder pain as well.  Most of the time, I can get out of bed fine but I am often tired, sometimes due to fatigue caused by a migraine the day before as they really take thier toll on my health.  Only complaints I have had to the doc have been the heart PVC's, migraines and hip pain.  I am in therapy for the hip at this time, possible bursitis but may need a shot.  I do fall a lot.  Just be walking along and down I go, someone saw me fall a few days ago and said my ankle twists in, not sure if it is a complication from the head injury.  I do take vitamins E, fish oil, and a liquid vitamin that has a lot of different things in it.  I also take some prescription meds.  That is all I can give you so far.  Thanks,  freedancer.

[caramich]

Hank/Freedancer:

Good questions because Freedancer jumped out at me like a neon sign.  Obviously you too..........  

I also have FM & CFS. Multiple health issues. Have been through the mill with the medical profession.  

I wonder how many people are taking medications or VITAMINS/SUPPLEMENTS that are causing PVC's?  I don't see that mentioned much but it definitely should be.  That's really one of the FIRST places I'd start quite honestly.  

Stress......someone said stress on another post and stress definitely aggravates mine but mine is pretty much 24/7 and that's not stress related. I'm high maintenance but even at my most relaxed I have the PVC's now.  I've been stressed and this is nothing.

I wonder for some of us if it's physical stress.  I do find it worrysome that some posters are blowing off all people who ask about PVC's because definitely it could be masking or signaling an underlying condition and anyone who has a medical symptom that is scaring or worrying them should get it checked out.  

Now there are the ones who are tested up and down and then still worry, post and panic.........  that's a different story.  Check it out, CYA, then if docs tell you it's ok, let it go!

[SouthJ]

I can't remember where I read it but there is documented research that those people with PVCs who took the beta blocker drugs suffered a higher degree of mortality than those who simply tolerated the PVCs and took no medicine. With all the problems caused by modern medication, I tend to shy away from medication that plays with the mind, heart, or stomach. This is one of the reasons I got the hell off PPIs (aciphex, prevacid, nexium) and began treating my acid reflux naturally with licorice root and better eating, weight loss, etc. Now I save $120 a month in prescription spending and have less trouble with my stomach than when I was taking those medications. It was also announced last month that medications for GERD increase your chances of getting serious illnesses like pnemonia because they decrease the stomach acid which kills the bacteria. We already know about Vioxx and what it has done.

I feel natural is the way to go in most circumstances. Healthy eating, exercise, and lots of rest are the best way to treat PVCs as long as you have a healthy heart. It's always best to be screened just in case, however. If you have PVCs and haven't been looked at by a cardiologist, you need to get to the doctor to rule out other problems.

[hankstar]

Good questions , I have ankylosing spondylitis,along with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome  secondary to the disease, PVCs and tachycardia are a complaint with certain connective diseases. Also this problem can cause depression and mood swings. Any chronic illness can.

Very good questions.

[caramich]

Are you sure that the PVC's aren't a symptom or side effect of something else?

Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions? (and hope I can find my way back to this thread).  I'm not a doctor by the way...just feel like one sometimes.  But you caught my eye.

How old are you?

Overachiever?

How is your sleep?

Do you have back pain? Arthritis?  Stomach problems?

Do you have odd pain or medical issues that pop up out of nowhere and come and go..... seems like it's "always something"?

Do you have bursts of energy where you go like crazy and then other periods where you are so fatigued that you can barely get out of bed?

Headaches?  Jaw pain?

Let me know.  Just yes/no, don't give a lot of personal details on the site, it's never a good idea.