Holter Monitor Results - I am very worried!

[Barbara]

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.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Donna,

Thank you for sharing your experiences, good advice indeed.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear David,

I would suggest that since your symptoms have changed you should have a physical examination and evaluation to make sure that your heart is strong.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Karen,
Thanks for the words of wisdom.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Sara,

I would recommend a new physician first and then would likely recommend a holter monitor to characterize these 'spells".  It is not normal to feel this dizzy from single PVC's this may represent an arrhythmia from the top partof your heart or atrium.

[SHER]

The kind doc wrote
>>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.<<

I trust you mean beta blockers are the therapy of choice IF they so bother the patient.. but if they are of little consequence you don't HAVE to take the beta blockers, right? My cardiologist said he didn't think I needed any meds..and I already tend to have low blood pressure so I'm quite happy to go without...

One more thing... I DID notice, when i had the documented 3 pvcs, a sort of weak feeling .... not a blacking out or anything.. sort of a momentary weak... sort of "all out " feeling.. very ,very short lived ( a second or two).. is this a common subjective feeling to these kinds of palps?

I am now on  prozac and a little bit of xanax and doing better. I still have the palps.. but i seem to be having fewer and i'm no so anxious about exercising.. so i'm back to walking a bit.

I confess i still drink coffee.. a little bit !!!!

Thanks for your time, great info  -- and PATIENCE with all of us who are ( I HOPE!) the "worried well"...

Best,
Sher