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Holter Monitor Results - I am very worried!
Some background: I am a 35 yr. old female. 3 years ago I was diagnosed as having had a silent heart attack. The only symptom I had was palpitations, which I mentioned to my Internist during a routine exam. An ekg showed abnormal results, and an echo showed a small area of damage. I subsequently had a thallium stress test and a heart catheterization, which showed the damage from a "moderate" heart attack, although I had normal coronary arteries. My EF is 50%. None of my doctors could give me any reason for the MI, and they couldn't tell me when it happened. I do not smoke, do not take drugs, drink very rarely and am otherwise healthy, although I could stand to lose 30 lbs.
I recently wore a 24-hour holter monitor to evaluate my frequent palpitations. My internist told me that the monitor showed that PVCs occurred 1% of the time over the 24 hours - she said this was ok. However, she said that there was 1 occurrance of 3 PVCs in a row during the 24 hrs. She said that this was somewhat concerning, and that she recommended I start taking beta blockers. She didn't seem too concerned, but I read somewhere that 3 or more PVCs in a row was called V-tach, and that this is a very dangerous rhythm, possibly leading to sudden cardiac death. Should I be very concerned about this? Do I really need to take beta blockers?
What are the chances that this could be a life-threatening condition? I have an appt. with an electrophysiologist next week, and I am very worried about this.
Thank you in advance for any info you can give me.
I recently wore a 24-hour holter monitor to evaluate my frequent palpitations. My internist told me that the monitor showed that PVCs occurred 1% of the time over the 24 hours - she said this was ok. However, she said that there was 1 occurrance of 3 PVCs in a row during the 24 hrs. She said that this was somewhat concerning, and that she recommended I start taking beta blockers. She didn't seem too concerned, but I read somewhere that 3 or more PVCs in a row was called V-tach, and that this is a very dangerous rhythm, possibly leading to sudden cardiac death. Should I be very concerned about this? Do I really need to take beta blockers?
What are the chances that this could be a life-threatening condition? I have an appt. with an electrophysiologist next week, and I am very worried about this.
Thank you in advance for any info you can give me.
I just found this fourm. I'm a 37 year old male and first noticed my heart skip a beat when I was 13 or 14 years old. When I was about 15, I remember taking a Dimetap decongestant when you still needed a prescription for them, and my heart experienced a couple sudden onsets of very rapid heart rate, then it would click back to normal instantly. Stopped the Dimetap, problem gone. Since then, have had periods in my life (e.g. weeks, months) when what doctors told me were PVC's would be prevelent. Usually, they could be corralated with periods of mental and/or physical stress (i.e. college, post-grad school, and increased exercise regime.) I'm in good shape, work-out 4-5 days per week with weight lifting,and mountain biking. I'm 175 lbs.,and 5-11 tall. My question for the doctors or anyone who can shed light on it is for the past year or so, my PVC's? occur in runs or salvos lasting upto a couple hours straight. No let up, just feels like my heart rythem is totally out of whack. They occur usually right when I lay down to sleep at night (not if i lay down during the day though.) They seem to come on more if I lay on my left side. If I get up, they'll usually continue. They usually occur between 12:30 am -4:30 am., then there gone. Alcohol makes them worse a few hour after I've had a couple of beers. Flour in food products, or starchy (pizza dough like doughs) bring them on more often than not. Why are they more prvelant now? Why has my pattern changed?(i.e., used to get them sporadically anytime of day, now almost exclusively at bedtime?) Is the fact that my heart just freaks-out for hours straight a a dangerous thing? Or can PVc's, pac's or whatever they are do this and be inoccuous? Please someone help with an answer. Finally, other's have spoke of having 3,5, etc., PVC's in a row. Whats that mean? I mean mine seem to go for hours, or is my heart beating normally in between the PVC's or whatever and I just don't know it? Thanks. This is a great website.
David, what you are experiencing is very common and it is a condition that has hit many of us. The following are a common thread of syptoms:
Usually the heart is perfectly normal.
PVCs are very common at night, and can go on for
hours. Laying on the left side seems to make them
much more noticable.
Certain foods, caffine, alcohol, some medications, stress
and in females, hormonal changes can result in PVCs in
some women.
Some people will experience mutiple PVCs, which can be felt
as a long extended flutter. Singular PVCs can be felt as
one "flip flop" with pauses in between. Some can also feel
PVCs with every second or third beat.
It is also very common to go into "remissions" where the
heart will go back to feeling relatively normal for days,
weeks even years before suffering another bout.
Hope this has been helpful.
Usually the heart is perfectly normal.
PVCs are very common at night, and can go on for
hours. Laying on the left side seems to make them
much more noticable.
Certain foods, caffine, alcohol, some medications, stress
and in females, hormonal changes can result in PVCs in
some women.
Some people will experience mutiple PVCs, which can be felt
as a long extended flutter. Singular PVCs can be felt as
one "flip flop" with pauses in between. Some can also feel
PVCs with every second or third beat.
It is also very common to go into "remissions" where the
heart will go back to feeling relatively normal for days,
weeks even years before suffering another bout.
Hope this has been helpful.
I am having what feels like 30 seconds of PVC's at a time, accompanied by pretty bad dizziness. My last holter monitor revealed them, 6 years back, since then they have gotten much worse. I feel them all day long. They are induced very badly by exercising, and I get what feels like 10 or 15 in a row, not always completely skipped, but diminished beats.
Does anyone know what this is called??
Is this V-tach? Does V-tach have another name?
I called the cardiologist last night and he totally brushed me off and told me to relax... I said, "I am relaxed, I am laying on the floor." I was just watching tv when it came on, and became intensely dizzy. Took my pulse after and was 88. Didn't feel like anything except a bad run of skipped beats.
I want answers! This is very debilitating. Cannot do any exercise anymore.
When I called doc I said, "Hi, I just had a dizzy spell..." and he cut me off and said "How old are you," and I said "25" and he said, "Relax." I said, "I felt my heart do something funny and have an arrhythmia, should I go to the ER and have an EKG?" and he said, "No." and hung up on me. It was awful. I felt patronized.
Please, can anyone offer insight. I do no drugs, am not overweight, don't drink alcohol or caffeine.
Does anyone know what this is called??
Is this V-tach? Does V-tach have another name?
I called the cardiologist last night and he totally brushed me off and told me to relax... I said, "I am relaxed, I am laying on the floor." I was just watching tv when it came on, and became intensely dizzy. Took my pulse after and was 88. Didn't feel like anything except a bad run of skipped beats.
I want answers! This is very debilitating. Cannot do any exercise anymore.
When I called doc I said, "Hi, I just had a dizzy spell..." and he cut me off and said "How old are you," and I said "25" and he said, "Relax." I said, "I felt my heart do something funny and have an arrhythmia, should I go to the ER and have an EKG?" and he said, "No." and hung up on me. It was awful. I felt patronized.
Please, can anyone offer insight. I do no drugs, am not overweight, don't drink alcohol or caffeine.
Dear Sher,
These PVC's of triplets are of little consequence but can be frightening to look at. Beta blockers are the therapy of choice in this case.
These PVC's of triplets are of little consequence but can be frightening to look at. Beta blockers are the therapy of choice in this case.
Dear Heidi,
In general, if your heart is normal, these runs are of little consequence if they are less than 7 beats. YOu may want to clarify your findings with your local physician.
In general, if your heart is normal, these runs are of little consequence if they are less than 7 beats. YOu may want to clarify your findings with your local physician.
Dear KB,
This is the correct information. These are likely nothing to worry about.
This is the correct information. These are likely nothing to worry about.
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