PVCs- Ventricular ectopy

[M-chi]

Hello, I have been having tons of pvcs since last may.  It is almost a year. This past year has really been a horrible one for me.  I have so many pvcs and ventricular couplets, triplets.  I have bigeminy and trigeminy as well at times.  This skipping heart beat has made me literally go off my rocker at times and has really altered my life.  I am 39 years old and otherwise healthy.  Have had echocardiograms where my ejection fraction is 75% and am told is excellent, have had stress tests, have worn numerous holter monitors where they have recorded skipped beats or pvcs, triplets and couplets and I have had as much as 3,050 pvcs in a 24 hour period.  I am worried.  The pvcs feel uncomfortable.  I am awakened in the middle of the night with them, I am awakened in the early morning such as 4:00 am like this morning and they continue to bother me.  I don't understand this.  My cardiologist tells me that I have a structurally normal heart and not to worry.  I feel like I have popcorn popping inside my chest.  It happens a lot when I am trying to exercise.  I have tried magnesium and sometimes have felt that it made it worse.  I am trying fish oil(salmon oil) which was recommended by my naturopath and have not taken it daily. I am on clonazepam for the anxiety that the pvcs cause me.  Now, here I am this morning after having been awake since 4:00 am and trying to do my work, but I just keep having the pvcs.  Any suggestions or ideas?  I am SCARED.  They happen at slightest movements and even when I take a deep breath in.  email me please at principessa_chi***@****  Thanks.

[Remington]

I'm wondering if you noticed the PVCs get worse with cold or alternatively better with heat on the chest. I have had bouts of PVCs since last Novemeber, and noticed that when it got unbearable, a heat pad on the chest calmed it right down. Give it a go, and let me know if ot works.

[jaz5802]

I am just about to turn 44 years old, female, very healthy and active.  Have had PVCs since I was 17 on and off during my life but mostly off.  Episodes seem to have been during stressful times.  My question is: I've read that hormones-premenopause can cause PVCs to be worse; that our bodies actually become more sensitive to them.  Has anyone else heard of this too?  I am wondering if the last 2 years of my PVCs are related to this change.  My nutritionist says my adrenals are exhausted -- I believe it.  Burning the candle at both ends for quite some time.

Any thoughts would be great!  Thanks!

[valger]

Hi everyone, it helps so much to read all of your posts, I feel like nobody has this but me usually!  I have had PVC's and PAC's for about 10 years now, but after I went through menopause, they seemed to diminish greatly, so I have been having a great year or so.  I'm only 43, but been through menopause already.  But, all of a sudden, out of the blue, back come the PVC's.  The thing that has me worried this time, is that if I sit around all day, I can feel fine pretty much, but they come on if I try to exercise or walk up hills, or stimulate my heart in any other way, such as a hot shower.  Do any of you have this experience?  I remember my palpitations before were more like, they would come when I was in bed, or just sitting around also, this seems to be kind of the reverse.  I went to the ER one day, and everything came out normal, except for my glucose test, which was 197, which was too high.  I went to a cardiologist and wore a holter, but the weird thing is, I went for a walk purposely when I had it on, so I would catch some, and I did, and I put it in the diary, but when the nurse called she said that when I put my entries in, there was nothing on the moniter.  This confuses me, cause I know what a PVC feels like!  She said I had PVC's and PAC's at other times, though.  I suppose I have a structurally normal heart, I had a couple of echos, and they never said anything.  Anyway, thanks for any advice, by the way, I don't smoke or drink or do caffeine, but I am overweight,  Thanks!!  Val

[karie]

I too have suffered with Pvc's, Pac's and recorded svt. I love days when my heart is functioning normal without any thmups in my chest. I follow my cardiologist advice on diet, exercise But still find it overwhelming. Considering Inderal at the hospital. It is so hard when your heart acts up. Hard to relax even after a vigorous day.
Do you have low b/p or a slow resting heart beat ?
Have you had extensive cardiac tests ?
Thanks

[valentine]

I am a 26 year old female and I am also a PVC sufferer.  I have been having them now for about 6 or 7 years but they seem to have gotten worse in the last couple of years.  I have been for all of the tests and am told that my heart is structurally normal.  Even after 7 years and all those tests, I still find myself getting anxious about them whenever they occur (which can be often).  I guess it is natural for us to get freaked out when we notice one of our vital organs doing something funny!  For the most part, however, I have learned to live with them and have accepted the fact that they are not going to kill me and I am not having a heart attack whenever I get them.  I have debated going on medication for them but have been warned that sometimes the side effects of the medications are worse than the actual PVCs.  I would love to try something herbal if anyone has any suggestions.

Anyhow - about flying...do not let it frighten you.  I think what makes flying scary is the fact that we cannot get out if we need to.  I have thought about the same thing but have travelled many times over the years.  If it happens, make sure you sit back and tell yourself that this WILL NOT kill you.  You just have to ride it out and let it take its course.  Close your eyes and tell yourself that you are going to be fine (over and over if you have to).  Breathe in and out slowly and steadily.  Always have a glass of water or juice on hand - I find that sometimes that makes me relax a bit.  Ultimately you have no control over them happening so you just have to learn to deal with them and accept them.  This is a very hard thing to do.  Like I said, I still struggle with this myself but it has gotten better over the years.  

If anyone wants to chat about PVCs and their experiences, my email is ***@****.  I know that sometimes it feels better to talk these things out with people who know how you feel!!

[GES]

Sorry about everyone's problem.  I have had PVCs since 1995, (26years old)I have noticed if I mentally block them out, they go away.  I have been to two different cardiologists and have had EKGs, ECHOs, carried a holter, 3 stress tests and they have all been normal.  I also get a physical for work every year with an EKG.  No abnormalilities.  When I start to stress out, I get more and then I worry more about them.  I fly for business 2-3 times a week, so my advice is to get a good book and read, you will be ok. I am on the site because I have been having them lately.  Its just nice to have a forum to talk about them.

[Ianna]

Hello M,
-
I use the same trick Hank describes; only the Inderal-propanolol which is a beta-blocker and a bit of an anxiety-killer, I use once every day at a low dose against high BP, PVCs and palps.
Works well for me.
-
Have a safe, anxiety- and PVC-free(?) trip!!
-
Bey >    - *Ianna* -

[Jade'sMom]

I'm wondering-

I have also experienced PVC's, but in the last few weeks I have had a few "good" ones that made me dizzy and tingly down my arms. I have been diagnosed with Trace MVP. Would I be considered to have a normal structural heart?

These make me nervous. I am afraid my heart will become erratic.

Thanks for any info.

[M-chi]

PVCs and flying:  Hello all fellow pvc sufferers.  I have an upcoming trip where I will have to fly.  I am TERRIFIED.  I have pvcs every day and some worse than others.  What can I do on the airplane not to get pvcs?  Any suggestions or tricks from others on what you do to lessen pvcs?  Suggestions are welcome.  Email:  principessa_chi***@****

[PAT65]

Hi! I haven't commented in quite a while but your situation seems so similar to my own that I thought I would try to offer a few words of comfort. Coincidentally I also started having loads of PVCs last may ( what brought it on I'm still trying to figure out) anyway I went to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. I was having several PVCs a minute. Since then, like you I have had all the tests including a holter that showed I had over 9,000 PVcs in 24hrs. To me that seems like a lot but to the cardiologist it is nothing. I also have a structually normal heart and am 37 yrs. old. I also tried different things for the anxiety these things caused but the meds made me feel out of it. It has been a long year hasn't it. I still have them as frequently but I guess after almost a year and I'm still kicking I guess I'll make it a few more years so I try not to worry too much about it. Threre are days that are unbearable however. I do take cardizem 240mg, whether it really helps or not i'm not sure but in some weird way it makes me feel better to know I am doing "something" about it. Good luck

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

M-chi,

Sorry to read of your ordeal.

Although PVCs in a person with a structurally normal heart do not carry an adverse prognosis, they can be very distressing and uncomfortable.  Some medicines can help, particularly beta-blockers, but these are not right for everyone.  Other non-invasive treatments include alternative therapies such as bio-feedback and tai-chi.

Some PVCs are amenable to ablation therapy, but this should only be considered after consultation with an electrophysiologist at a major center.

Good luck.