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PVC's and related arrhythmias
I am a 49 year old male who since early child hood have had episodes of premature beats which are easily felt because I am thin. Past EKG's have usually shown normal sinus rhythms with occaisional pvcs.
Also on exercise I would have runs of rapid 120-140bpm (after) that sometimes went on for hours but kind of outgrew them. Some doctors hear a click or slight murmur. Recently have had more frequent bouts of premature beats that sometimes are accompanied by a spasm like sensation which can be felt with finger tips under the left breast. They only last afew seconds but also create a flush or rush sensation. I recently had a stress test, EKG, and a doppler echo. Stress test was normal and echo was also except for mild regurgitation of the tricuspid and slight of the mitral.
Through the years some doctors have said that I also have MVP but this has not been proven on the echo. I am currently wearing an event recorder and have had 30 events in two weeks which the doc says are benign. However, am scared about the shuddering sensations and incresing frequency of other symptoms. I don't smoke, drink, and have cut out all caffeine. I want to think that I am doing all that I can to ensure my kids have a dad to grow up with. However, the increasing frequency of the symptoms are robbing me of sleep and making me paranoid about travelling etc. They seem to come out of nowhere and last for varying lengths of time. Any suggetions would be most appreciated.
PS have never fainted with these symptoms but have felt faint occaisionally with them.
Also on exercise I would have runs of rapid 120-140bpm (after) that sometimes went on for hours but kind of outgrew them. Some doctors hear a click or slight murmur. Recently have had more frequent bouts of premature beats that sometimes are accompanied by a spasm like sensation which can be felt with finger tips under the left breast. They only last afew seconds but also create a flush or rush sensation. I recently had a stress test, EKG, and a doppler echo. Stress test was normal and echo was also except for mild regurgitation of the tricuspid and slight of the mitral.
Through the years some doctors have said that I also have MVP but this has not been proven on the echo. I am currently wearing an event recorder and have had 30 events in two weeks which the doc says are benign. However, am scared about the shuddering sensations and incresing frequency of other symptoms. I don't smoke, drink, and have cut out all caffeine. I want to think that I am doing all that I can to ensure my kids have a dad to grow up with. However, the increasing frequency of the symptoms are robbing me of sleep and making me paranoid about travelling etc. They seem to come out of nowhere and last for varying lengths of time. Any suggetions would be most appreciated.
PS have never fainted with these symptoms but have felt faint occaisionally with them.
After feeling like a fool following a visit to the ER, I was pleased to find this site...The doctors reaction to my PVC's was apathetic. He smiled and said most people do not feel them. Go home. easy for him to say..They control my life. I agree, they precipitate a panic attack....You get so you are afraid to try new things for fear of having an attack. I however do pass out with them. My doctor assures me that nothing is wrong, but as a woman who lives alone, fainting is a scary think. I hate to drive when I am like that. I fear that I shall pass out behind the wheel and kill someone. He does feel there is a connection with vaso vagal in my case and encourages me to stay well hydrated. Reduction in caffein and other stimulants doesn't make a difference, nor has the bata blockers. Today I am to double the dose of my meds. I have low blood pressure and the thought of lowering it even more does not excite me. I fear the dreaded fainting spells. I have been through numerous tests, including neuro-work ups. MVP abd PVC's are all that they find. I resent the doctors shrugging this off as merely an inconveinience. It creates a fear which in turn aggravates the symptoms. I am supposed to see my doctor for a follow up visit next week. I am so frustrated I don't htink I will go. He will say the same old thing, but not offer any relief for my symptoms.
I have the same thing as most of you. I am 29, dont drink or smoke, BUT I have a rather nasty caffeine habit. When I was in high school I developed PVC's, and I would usually average 1-2 a min. I can feel them also with my finger on the left side of my cheast. They feel like a big "thump" and then there is a pause.
When i got out of high school the calmed down alot, and caffeine does not seem to affect them. I have been having more bouts of the past few weeks due to college and general stress I think. I also cut back on my caffeine (did not intend to, just happend) and I think that lowering my caffeine intake may have made the PVC's become more frequent again. I also get a "head rush" when they happen. My only thing is that VERY rarely (like a few times a year) I will get a RUN of them where I will have like 5-10 PVC's in a few secs time, that is a bit scary. Doc has siad they are beign.
When i got out of high school the calmed down alot, and caffeine does not seem to affect them. I have been having more bouts of the past few weeks due to college and general stress I think. I also cut back on my caffeine (did not intend to, just happend) and I think that lowering my caffeine intake may have made the PVC's become more frequent again. I also get a "head rush" when they happen. My only thing is that VERY rarely (like a few times a year) I will get a RUN of them where I will have like 5-10 PVC's in a few secs time, that is a bit scary. Doc has siad they are beign.
Hi
I do have PVC's quite often too. After some negative testing (ECG, Stress-ECG..) I know that they are not dangerous. Nevertheless it feels scary to feel your heart working irregularly. I have noticed that the more I think of the PVC's the worse my heart gets. This gets me into anxiety, which worsens
my heartrate and so on and so on.
The more I think about life, plan, enjoy .... the better I feel and less PVC's do I have !!
Recently I decided that I wanted to hear my heartbeats myself and did some simple records on which I caught some PVC's and PAC's as well. If anyone is interested in getting such a short audio, mail to ***@**** . It is interesting to hear once yourself what your heartbeat does and not to feel it only.
Greetings
Loren
I do have PVC's quite often too. After some negative testing (ECG, Stress-ECG..) I know that they are not dangerous. Nevertheless it feels scary to feel your heart working irregularly. I have noticed that the more I think of the PVC's the worse my heart gets. This gets me into anxiety, which worsens
my heartrate and so on and so on.
The more I think about life, plan, enjoy .... the better I feel and less PVC's do I have !!
Recently I decided that I wanted to hear my heartbeats myself and did some simple records on which I caught some PVC's and PAC's as well. If anyone is interested in getting such a short audio, mail to ***@**** . It is interesting to hear once yourself what your heartbeat does and not to feel it only.
Greetings
Loren
To Linda Johnson and the rest of the Kindred Souls out there-
I understand the fearful and almost surreal feeling of the total change in your life so suddenly. I am 26 years old and 10 weeks pregnant with my first child.I was just told I have MVP with moderate to severe regurgitation (I had never been diagnosed with this before). The 2 cardiologists I have seen tell me (while I am sitting in front of them in their office) to proceed with the pregnancy (although I have already been told that may not be the case in subsequent pregnancies) and they foresee zero problems with this pregnancy itself, but use words on the follow up reports like "may need surgery in the future" and "severe and eccentric mitral regurgitation", "significant regurgitation", "unsafe leakage". The reports also show I have no current heart damage or enlargement. I have yet to have any symptoms except extreme anixety from the confusion and despair I feel thinking that I may not be able to properly care for my child or my biggest fear, surgery or DEATH. The doctors I deal with are somewhat uncompassionate and seem to want to rush you out of their office. One of the amazing things I experienced was filling out the initial paperwork at the cardiologist's office....all they seemed concerned with was my insurance. My attending doctor was going to fax over the necessary referral, but they wanted an original and made me sign a waiver agreeing to pay in full if that referral failed to get to their office in time. I was scared and the last thing one my mind was clerical rules. My other experience was lying on a table getting an ECHO and EKG and the Technician and assistant and cardiologist standing over me pointing to the screen, grimacing and speaking to each other in medical jargon i could not understand. When I asked what they were talking about, they were evasive. When I got dressed to leave they said "good luck". Wonderful.
I have suffered anxiety attacks since I was 13 and have been treated for general anixety disorder. Before finding out about my MVP, I hadn't had an panic attack for over 2 years and stopped taking the prescibed Xanax. I finally felt good. I thought I finally had a handle on things...until this. Now I am literally paralzed by fear and foreboding. I feel alone. I feel hopeless. I am truly in shock. The only time I feel better is reading the comments in this forum. We, the sufferers of this disorder or other related heart disorders, need to stick together, because obviously we cannot count on the professionals to give us the serious advice and support we need (or a straight answer).
I would appreciate any one who feels as I do, e-mailing me. I would like to give support and receive support from people who not only know, but feel what I feel. My e-mail address is Dollylo55@AOL.
Thank you and you all are in my prayers.
Jamie
I understand the fearful and almost surreal feeling of the total change in your life so suddenly. I am 26 years old and 10 weeks pregnant with my first child.I was just told I have MVP with moderate to severe regurgitation (I had never been diagnosed with this before). The 2 cardiologists I have seen tell me (while I am sitting in front of them in their office) to proceed with the pregnancy (although I have already been told that may not be the case in subsequent pregnancies) and they foresee zero problems with this pregnancy itself, but use words on the follow up reports like "may need surgery in the future" and "severe and eccentric mitral regurgitation", "significant regurgitation", "unsafe leakage". The reports also show I have no current heart damage or enlargement. I have yet to have any symptoms except extreme anixety from the confusion and despair I feel thinking that I may not be able to properly care for my child or my biggest fear, surgery or DEATH. The doctors I deal with are somewhat uncompassionate and seem to want to rush you out of their office. One of the amazing things I experienced was filling out the initial paperwork at the cardiologist's office....all they seemed concerned with was my insurance. My attending doctor was going to fax over the necessary referral, but they wanted an original and made me sign a waiver agreeing to pay in full if that referral failed to get to their office in time. I was scared and the last thing one my mind was clerical rules. My other experience was lying on a table getting an ECHO and EKG and the Technician and assistant and cardiologist standing over me pointing to the screen, grimacing and speaking to each other in medical jargon i could not understand. When I asked what they were talking about, they were evasive. When I got dressed to leave they said "good luck". Wonderful.
I have suffered anxiety attacks since I was 13 and have been treated for general anixety disorder. Before finding out about my MVP, I hadn't had an panic attack for over 2 years and stopped taking the prescibed Xanax. I finally felt good. I thought I finally had a handle on things...until this. Now I am literally paralzed by fear and foreboding. I feel alone. I feel hopeless. I am truly in shock. The only time I feel better is reading the comments in this forum. We, the sufferers of this disorder or other related heart disorders, need to stick together, because obviously we cannot count on the professionals to give us the serious advice and support we need (or a straight answer).
I would appreciate any one who feels as I do, e-mailing me. I would like to give support and receive support from people who not only know, but feel what I feel. My e-mail address is Dollylo55@AOL.
Thank you and you all are in my prayers.
Jamie
Susan, As you can see there are many who suffer from pvc's in many forms and numbers. Panic and anxiety tend to feed off the arrhythmias. I know myself that lying on either the right or left side make them worse. Also the shakiness and other related symptoms are common. I also have pvc's with long pauses where there are 2 or three in a row and these are especially troubling. Beta blockers work for some but all have side effects. I work two jobs and that is very difficult when experiencing these symptoms. Know you are not alone in your suffering and if you need to talk feel free to e-mail me or I am sure many of the other postee's for support.
Good luck and best regards
Good luck and best regards
Hello - this is a general message to all - basically I have been sitting here in amazement reading the comments on this forum and feeling so grateful that I am not alone!
I have had PVC's, PAC's and parxysomal tachycardia for 10 years now. It all started when I was pregnant and like others on this site I notice a distinct correlation between ovulation and just prior to my cycle.
My cardioligist has recently prescribed a calcium channel blocker which he says helps some people with these beats. Has anybody out there tried this? I don't like taking any medication, however take 1mg of valium at night to sleep better!
I work full time and WON'T LET THIS CONDITION BEAT ME!! Sometimes after I get a few PVC's in a row I break out in a sweat and feel as if I will pass out - does this happen to anyone else? Also does anyone have a dramatic increase in symptoms when lying down - especially on their left side? I can sometimes bring them on by lying down this way and then when I sit up they stop!
Like others I find all this very difficult to accept - I now suffer panic attacks - I am sure as a result of having had this horrible thing for so long now.
It has been a great comfort to read all of your comments and would appreciate any answers to my above questions.
Love to all
Susan in South Australia
I have had PVC's, PAC's and parxysomal tachycardia for 10 years now. It all started when I was pregnant and like others on this site I notice a distinct correlation between ovulation and just prior to my cycle.
My cardioligist has recently prescribed a calcium channel blocker which he says helps some people with these beats. Has anybody out there tried this? I don't like taking any medication, however take 1mg of valium at night to sleep better!
I work full time and WON'T LET THIS CONDITION BEAT ME!! Sometimes after I get a few PVC's in a row I break out in a sweat and feel as if I will pass out - does this happen to anyone else? Also does anyone have a dramatic increase in symptoms when lying down - especially on their left side? I can sometimes bring them on by lying down this way and then when I sit up they stop!
Like others I find all this very difficult to accept - I now suffer panic attacks - I am sure as a result of having had this horrible thing for so long now.
It has been a great comfort to read all of your comments and would appreciate any answers to my above questions.
Love to all
Susan in South Australia
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