PVC's - Heart evaluation needed? By whom?

[KLT]

I have always had what I now know are frequent but harmless PVC's. Usually fairly isolated but occasionally in short runs. I had never seen a doctor for them, but had raised the issue in other exams and been reassured they're normal.  Last week they settled in as a completely irregular heartbeat, with the feeling of no regular rhythm at all for two days. On the third day, Saturday, I went to the nearby immediate care clinic for evaluation. By the time I got to the clinic the pattern had returned to normal with only occasional palpitations. The doctor did catch a few runs of irregular beats when he first listened to my heart, so ordered a EKG.  Most of the time I was there, I had a normal heart rhythm, although they did catch a few runs of PVC's (just minutes long)after I attempted to raise my heart rate.  The doctor said I had random patterns of bigeminy, trigeminy and quadgeminy.  He said that was harmless but a bit unusual -- he thought most people who have long runs of PVC's, usually settle into one pattern or another (bi- tri- or quad-geminy.) He ordered tests of my electrolytes, magnesium, calcium, postassium - all normal.  He, of course, suggested follow up this week with my doctor. My questions: 1)Is that really necessary if I'm a healthy athletic 40-yr old? 2)If so, should it be directly with a cardiologist? (I hate to pay for a visit with my regular doctor only to be referred on.) 3) Should I wait for another irreglar pattern? 4) My BP was 102/70, down from 120/70 a week earlier when I had my annual exam. Is that just a normal variation or could it be related?

[bumpbumpbump]

Today was the day... I found out that I too am a PVCer.  Finally I know what is going on in there.  How many nights have I laid awake listening to that odd and disconcerting rapid beat followed by an all-too-long pause.  I'm simply glad to know what it is all about... it is also encouraging to know that I am not alone in the world of PVC.  Let us press on.  Your fellow PVCer.

[bumpbumpbump]

Today was the day... I found out that I too am a PVCer.  Finally I know what is going on in there.  How many nights have I laid awake listening to that odd and disconcerting rapid beat followed by an all-too-long pause.  I'm simply glad to know what it is all about... it is also encouraging to know that I am not alone in the world of PVC.  Let us press on.  Your fellow PVCer.

[spachic1]

Hi mary,
Your story sounds alot like mine. I cherish the days i am pvc free to some extent. Not a day goes by without having at least a few. i think its more scarey when I have to tell someone that has no idea about pvc and watch there face turn to horror. WHAT! Your heart is skipping beats?? Thats crazy deb you should go to the er. O thats what I need to hear all right.. I have chest pain to when i have my episodes of pvc. I hate it and would some times like a choice that if it want to cut off my left arm my pvc's would leave for good.. LOL.. Sometimes my pvc run together. Thats what scares me the most. I have been taking magnesium, and calcium. I alse take 25mg of zoloft. This has helped so so much, I can't begin to tell you. I also started eatting better too. I am fit physically and to am 37 female. No blood pressure problem, but high on the cholesterol. I figure i work out every day why not eat what i want.. HMM... No deal my body says. So now i eat better and have always exercised. I really hope for you the best. Dont give up ever on this. Something will work for you.
take care   Deb  : )

[nikl]

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF IT IS BI'S TRI'S ETC WHEN YOUR HEART JUST FLUTTERS.  I WAS VERY ILL ONE DAY WITH STOMACH FLU AND RIGHT BEFORE I THREW UP I HAD QUITE A FLUTTER BUT DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS BI'S ETC AFTER THIS WNEVER HAD UPSET STOMACH HAD A SERIES.  IS THIS BAD? I'VE DONE ALL HEART TEST AND EVERYTHING NORMAL.

[mary jean]

PVC'S are very scary!!! maybe my story can help those with the same problems. i am a 36 year old female. not in too bad shape, but over weight.it started two years ago having a few palpitation . one or two a week. went to family doctor feeling my bp might be high. he put me on tizac180 for the high bp. he sent me to a cardio doc to check the palps. had a stress test,eco,blood work, 24 hr urine test,also wore two types of holters. one i wore longer than the other. all test came back ok.doc said i had no heart problems. over the last year the palps have gotten worse, and now having some chest pain. 4 months ago had the palps so bad i went to the hospital for help. they said i was anxious and was in a state of panic. of course this is what they saw,i was scared to death. my heart was racing 130bts and palping like crazy. they gave me a downer and sent me home. 6/28/03 i was back at the hospital. i was having alot of palps. 5-6 per min. some chest pain. the chest pain is what made me go to hospital. docs gave me toprol 25ml said my palps were benign. this new med. is not helping. still having alot of palps all day long. they do seem to let up when i go to bed, but they are waiting for me when i get up.told dont worry about them, but its hard when your heart wants to jump right out of your chest. docs said the chest pain may be from all the palps. feel like i have the flu. cold chills, head ache,eyes feel funny, just plain wore out. go to heart doc on 07/10/03. I have no stress in my life . the only meds i'm on are tizac 180, asprin 81ml, and toprol. i'm just wondering could the tizac be causing all the extra palps? guess i'll find out soon. with the help from god and doc i plan to put an end to these palps.

[Emi]

This is my first time on this site and I've read quite a bit about the PVC's. I don't have them nearly as much as some of you but I do have some. It started for me I think when I was 21, I was moving boxes and my heart started pounding faster and faster and skipping and just doing the jig for itself. Well I went to the emergency room and the doctor there gave me two shots of adenosine before it calmed everything down. He said I had SVT and that it would come and go for the rest of my life. But that it was harmless. Well ever since then I have skips all the time. My doctor said cut down on salt things like that but I still have them. I don't drink, I stopped smoking, I stopped caffeine. The works. But I'm a little nervous reading that they are supposed to stop with exercise. Lately they have increased with exercise. I was riding my bike and I had a few when I reached the top of the hill. No matter how many times you have one it still makes you stop for a second and readjust yourself. I'd love to find out what this means. There are so many questions. Are we more at risk for heart disease later? Is it hereditary? My biggest concern now is, is this going to cause me problems while I exercise? I've just started running in races and it scares me to think something will happen to me. Should I not be doing the extensive exercise that I'm doing? I have so many questions and nobody to answer them. Should these not be happening while I exercise?