Non sustained VT

[BlondieCO]

Hi,
I wrote a while back before tests. PVCs started 11 days after gallbladder surgery.  Began during PMS, lasted 10 days thru my cycle and ended with it.  Went to ER they said they were benign, had couplets, sometimes 30-40 PVCS an hour for 5-7 hours straight and then none.  My GP sent me to have tests done. Echo normal (mild regurg); stress excellent; then holter.  I wore the holter during the start of my next cycle and had only one event of PVCs, this was the only event I have had since the run of 10 days.  I was at my computer and felt a big "thunk," scared me, I got dizzy for the first time.  My GP said the holter showed a run of 11 non sustained PVCs?  He told me it could have caused sudden death and scared me to death.  He has put me on 25 mg of Atenolol a day and I have a referral to a cardio.  I finally found a website that says women get frequent PVCs premenstrually and during early menopause.  There HAS to be a link, it's the ONLY time I get them.  My question is will the Atenolol keep the run from happening again, I am very scared, I have two kids and I don't know how I can get only one event out of the blue like that. I don't drink caffiene, good amount of stress, but I am scared to exercise now.  The stress test did not bring on PVCs.

[oakroom]

see what i mean about being a novice. i don't know what kind of rhythm. the ER nurse told me they shock people with that kind of rhthym....1 cardio tells me it's a life threatening rhythm the other, the specialist, says he has 4 other patients like me and seems to think once all the tests are reviewed, that it'll be nothing. But I saw your note on another posting about ARVD - I am a first generation Italian. So I went and looked it up and found that an MRI isn't necessarily conclusive either. So now i'm thinking if i MAY have something that rare, that I may need to look for someone who may have more experience in this. Do you know?

[hankstar]

Sorry to hear of your ordeal, if you had a cath  and showed no blockage , then you have to no coronary heart disease or any significant blockages. That is good.

Sometime PVCs are more frequent with a slow heart beat and vice versa. Taking atenolol and still having PVCs is nothing to worry about , probably will keep your heart from going erratic anyhow if even an increase in PVCs.First did they tell you what your heart showed on the stress test, what kind of rhythm, a-fib, SVT, NSVT or very frequent PVC or PACs, you should know what the rhythm was for discontinuing the test.

A recommendation of a MRI and and EP would suggest they are probably checking you for ARVD (arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia) fatty  fibrous tissue in the right ventricle that can ventricular arrhythmias.

  Please note these are my opinions only and might have no relationship to your problem. I am not a MD.

Good luck.

[Gaspipe]

Hi I think you need to find out why you "failed" your stress tests. Your heart cath ruled out CAD so why did you fail? If it was an arrthymia what type? Why are you taking the meds your on? Why is one Doc more concerned than another?What's the game plan your docs have in mind? Good Luck

[Erik36]

Sounds like your on the right path. Good luck!


Erik

[oakroom]

Reading everyone's comments, I feel like such a novice in this arena. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this....I'm a 45yr old woman, no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol and just lost 30lbs over the last 6 months. About 3 weeks ago I went to the ER because I felt some chest pressure and short of breath. Chest x-ray was ok and no blood clots but was told to have the nuclear stress test the next morning. After horribly failing the treadmill (EKG was going nuts), I was sent back to the ER. They did a catherization and found no blockage. I was put on calcium blockers and told to come back for treadmill test in 5 days. Failed again and put on 50mg of atenolol and referred to an electrophysiologist and for an MRI. Side note- my father died of a heart attack at age 47 and without an autoposy, no one knows with 100% certainty it was his arteries (tho that's what was thought). Anyway - had an echo done and another treadmill and still having irregular heartbeats. The specialist put me on 75mg of atenolol and am wearing an event monitor. So now it's been 2.5 weeks with medication and i still have good and bad days (i've recorded slow heart beats and PVC's on the monitor). 1 cardiologist seems more concerned than the other and i'm stuck in the middle of not knowing anything. 10 days and no MRI results given to me. With all this info - are these PVC's still with atenolol concerning or not? would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this.....tks.

[BlondieCO]

I just saw my cardio.  She was great, lots of info.  She told me she does think there is a correlation between dips in hormones and PVCs for "some" women. She treats more than a few of them.  She told me my GP should not have told me I would drop dead from NVST.  I did have one run of 11, and no other PVCs during the 24 hr test.  She told me that the Atenolol should help if I get anymore, but I will get a cardiolite stress exam as well. She told me women can have normal regualr stress tests, but to be accurate I need the dye in me to see if there is any chance of CVD.  My echo showed my heart pumps strongly which takes away another risk factor.  She has ordered a holter during my next cycle (sorry guys) as she thinks there is a correlation.  She also told me that because I seem to get PVCs only during that time that she feels that lowers my risk from anything happening with NVST.  I hope she's right.  Thanks to everyone who gave input, I'll take the 25 mg of Atenolol and hope for the best.