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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.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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