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PVC's
Hi, and thank you for taking time to respond.
I am a 42 yr. old female with a long history of benign PVC's.
This past July, I completed my annual Stress/Echo/EKG with a Cardiologist who also specializes in Electrophysiology. Tests revealed PVC's prior to 140 bpm, sinus tachy, and questionable mild regurgitation. No CAD or structural disease.
Due to panic, I ended my test at about 159 beats per minute and was short of my target area. Blood tests revealed low end of normal mag and potassium. Was started on MagOx and was instructed to increase potassium via eating habits. I was also given Xanax as needed.
Yesturday, I started having huge rolling PVC's every second to fourth beat for short periods followed by somewhat calmer (every sixth to tenth beat) periods. I can't remember ever having them so closely together except when my daughter suffered anesthesia induced lung collapse and this time, Xanax did nothing to calm me emotionally.
My questions are these:
Due to reflux, I take huge amounts of Calcium based antacids for days on ends. Could an overload of calcium be a source of increased PVC's?
I haven't had an holter done in 18 years. I feel this is because the doctors have always been able to catch my arrhythmia's on EKG's.
Should I request one at this time? Or would the 3 hour strips I had in the hospital while having PVC's be enough to catch other arrhythmia's?
Like most others, I go through series of these darn things.
Would beta-blockers during these bad times help? Can I take them as needed as well?
Thanks a million, I appreciate your insight
I am a 42 yr. old female with a long history of benign PVC's.
This past July, I completed my annual Stress/Echo/EKG with a Cardiologist who also specializes in Electrophysiology. Tests revealed PVC's prior to 140 bpm, sinus tachy, and questionable mild regurgitation. No CAD or structural disease.
Due to panic, I ended my test at about 159 beats per minute and was short of my target area. Blood tests revealed low end of normal mag and potassium. Was started on MagOx and was instructed to increase potassium via eating habits. I was also given Xanax as needed.
Yesturday, I started having huge rolling PVC's every second to fourth beat for short periods followed by somewhat calmer (every sixth to tenth beat) periods. I can't remember ever having them so closely together except when my daughter suffered anesthesia induced lung collapse and this time, Xanax did nothing to calm me emotionally.
My questions are these:
Due to reflux, I take huge amounts of Calcium based antacids for days on ends. Could an overload of calcium be a source of increased PVC's?
I haven't had an holter done in 18 years. I feel this is because the doctors have always been able to catch my arrhythmia's on EKG's.
Should I request one at this time? Or would the 3 hour strips I had in the hospital while having PVC's be enough to catch other arrhythmia's?
Like most others, I go through series of these darn things.
Would beta-blockers during these bad times help? Can I take them as needed as well?
Thanks a million, I appreciate your insight
Does anyone get the pressure in the face sensation i discribed on palps or just randomly when you feel something is going on with your heart?? thanks, i'd appreciate any comment :)
I forgot to answer your question. No, it doesn't seem to be any worse with exercise - I walk or run everyday. In fact, I don't see a pattern to the pains at all. Sometimes I wake up in a panic with shortness of breath and sometimes I'll feel pain just watching TV but most of the time this is on my mind and its hard to do my full time job, care for my baby and husband with all this going on.
I'd appreciate any help
I'd appreciate any help
Thank you so much for taking time to care about me. I appreciate your comments so much! I think you may be right on what I've read about panic disorder. I am seeing a therapist on Tuesday and hopefully she can help me. I just can't help but think there may be something wrong with my heart. I have had shortness of breath as well. Its been 4 weeks of these symptoms and I'm wondering if I'm not making them worse by worrying. My poor husband and baby need me and I'm hoping I can be there for them soon. I wish the symptoms would go away but I don't think there are any more tests they can do for me. Should I ask for an echo?
Thank you!
Thank you!
Hi there!
momto3girls, my heart rate has always been fast, but the first time I sought help for it I had tachy for 2 weeks straight! That was the worst. Now I usually get it after meals, and in the recovery phase after working out. I usually have PVCs with it, but not necessarily.
I notice many factors trigger tachy for me, but the worst, like I said, are meals and exercise. The problem is that you can't do without either of them! LOL. I'm taking 20 mg Inderal before lunch. My cardio said I can take 40 mg, but he also said I may develop resistance to the drug if I take too much. The CCF doctor who replied to my post on beta blocker said usually patients don't develop resistance. I'm really worried about this because so far the BB has been a miracle cure for me (except a few episodes when it just doesn't work...I guess way too much adrenaline). Anyway, most of the time Inderal both slows my HR down and eliminates PVCs. My PVCs are triggered by catecolamines like my sinus tachy. So usually I get them together, though I can have them separately also. Does that all sound like you, momto3girls?? :-)
Celeste: if it's fine with your cardiologist, please give the beta blocker a try!!! Hey I'm not a representative for a pharmaceutical company! LOL I say this because if I take it before a meal, afterwards I have very few symptoms. If I don't take it, I can be fine but most of the time I get tachy for hours like you!! Do give it a try. If it doesn't work you'll have other options. My cardio said that if I get worse he will try an antiarrhythmic. But for now we will wait. I'm still on a low dose of the BB so I know I can increase it before trying the potent drugs. He doesn't recommend ablation for me, because he said that even if I get rid of the PVCS I will still have the sinus tachy.
Good luck!!!
Fran
momto3girls, my heart rate has always been fast, but the first time I sought help for it I had tachy for 2 weeks straight! That was the worst. Now I usually get it after meals, and in the recovery phase after working out. I usually have PVCs with it, but not necessarily.
I notice many factors trigger tachy for me, but the worst, like I said, are meals and exercise. The problem is that you can't do without either of them! LOL. I'm taking 20 mg Inderal before lunch. My cardio said I can take 40 mg, but he also said I may develop resistance to the drug if I take too much. The CCF doctor who replied to my post on beta blocker said usually patients don't develop resistance. I'm really worried about this because so far the BB has been a miracle cure for me (except a few episodes when it just doesn't work...I guess way too much adrenaline). Anyway, most of the time Inderal both slows my HR down and eliminates PVCs. My PVCs are triggered by catecolamines like my sinus tachy. So usually I get them together, though I can have them separately also. Does that all sound like you, momto3girls?? :-)
Celeste: if it's fine with your cardiologist, please give the beta blocker a try!!! Hey I'm not a representative for a pharmaceutical company! LOL I say this because if I take it before a meal, afterwards I have very few symptoms. If I don't take it, I can be fine but most of the time I get tachy for hours like you!! Do give it a try. If it doesn't work you'll have other options. My cardio said that if I get worse he will try an antiarrhythmic. But for now we will wait. I'm still on a low dose of the BB so I know I can increase it before trying the potent drugs. He doesn't recommend ablation for me, because he said that even if I get rid of the PVCS I will still have the sinus tachy.
Good luck!!!
Fran
I'm sitting here bawling again, not in a bad way, but in relief.
You know, I wouldn't wish PAC's, PVC's on my worst enemy...but I have to tell you all what it means to know there are others out there that can understand and sympathize with what I'm dealing with. Thank you for sharing and caring from the bottom of my heart! Without you all, I just don't believe I could cope at times.
As far as tachy goes, I'm right there with you all. After meals is the worst for me also. Pizza is a killer and at times it lasts for hours after a big meal. My Cardiologist said it was normal to have an increase, but I don't know how to deal with it at times. Tonight has been horrible. I went to dinner with my family and the PVC's were bad enough that I couldn't eat. I was too worried about the tachy that I was sure would ensue.
At times, I spend 10 minutes running my wrists under ice cold water, bare down, hold my nose and blow air thru pursed lips, everything I know of that helps slow down the heart via the Vagal nerve. Usually, nothing helps. If the beta's don't help me, I will definetly follow with albation.
This is so depressing. <sigh>
cmiller~~ Thank you for your insight! I have followed many of your posts throughout the many months visiting here and you are so helpful. A true asset here.
I have often wondered about intracellular Mg due to my levels being so low on the standard Chem7 they run. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with hypokalemia and hypomag and have at least stayed in the low end of normal since then. I don't understand why the doctors have not checked me intracellular. I guess I will have to be insistant when I call my Cardio on Monday. Thank you again. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated!
You know, I wouldn't wish PAC's, PVC's on my worst enemy...but I have to tell you all what it means to know there are others out there that can understand and sympathize with what I'm dealing with. Thank you for sharing and caring from the bottom of my heart! Without you all, I just don't believe I could cope at times.
As far as tachy goes, I'm right there with you all. After meals is the worst for me also. Pizza is a killer and at times it lasts for hours after a big meal. My Cardiologist said it was normal to have an increase, but I don't know how to deal with it at times. Tonight has been horrible. I went to dinner with my family and the PVC's were bad enough that I couldn't eat. I was too worried about the tachy that I was sure would ensue.
At times, I spend 10 minutes running my wrists under ice cold water, bare down, hold my nose and blow air thru pursed lips, everything I know of that helps slow down the heart via the Vagal nerve. Usually, nothing helps. If the beta's don't help me, I will definetly follow with albation.
This is so depressing. <sigh>
cmiller~~ Thank you for your insight! I have followed many of your posts throughout the many months visiting here and you are so helpful. A true asset here.
I have often wondered about intracellular Mg due to my levels being so low on the standard Chem7 they run. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with hypokalemia and hypomag and have at least stayed in the low end of normal since then. I don't understand why the doctors have not checked me intracellular. I guess I will have to be insistant when I call my Cardio on Monday. Thank you again. Your wisdom is greatly appreciated!
... HAVE BEEN HAVING MOSTLY LEFT SIDED CHEST PAINS FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. I AM VERY CONCERNED NOW THEY ARE MOVING TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE MIDDLE OF THE STERNUM. I ALSO SOMETIMES FEEL PAINS IN MY LEFT SHOULDER, ARM, AND FINGERS.
Pains that migrate this way are not part of the usual picture of heart disease in either sex.
...BLOOD WORK, EKG MONITORING, CHEST X RAY, CT SCAN AND ALL CAME BACK NORMAL. MY CHOLESTEROL WAS 135 AND MY BP WAS GOOD. I HAVE NO HISTORY OF FAMILY HEART DISEASE. I HAVE HAD ANXIETY IN THE PAST BUT THIS FEELS DIFFERENT. I'M SCARED EVERYDAY OF DYING AND I JUST FEEL A DOOM CLOUD OVER MY HEAD.
You are a young woman, and therefore already at low risk for heart problems. Add to this your lack of a family history of this kind of disease, your low BP, low cholesterol, and good EKG and scan, and I think you can pretty much rule about a cardiac problem, especially--and this is important--if you can physically do your ordinary daily activities. Can you?
So, what to do now? Well, you could have yet another series of tests, but most likely, you'd get the same results. You could try the magnesium supplements some here have found useful. It probably wouldn't hurt, unless you took a form or amount that gave you diarrhea.
However, you several times mention feelings of doom, and while that can indeed be associated with heart attacks, it's much more characteristic of panic attack. Ask me how I know.
You may not like to hear this, but I suspect your distress may be a combo of hormones, which take a while to settle down after giving birth (and some cynics feel don't return to normal until some twenty-one years later), plus exhaustion, plus whatever evil gene it is that gives some of us hyperactive autonomic nervous systems.
Based on my own experience with panic attacks + PVCs, I'd suggest moving on to see a good psychiatrist. You're already on psych drugs, but they clearly aren't working, so seeing a shrink who specializes in this kind of therapy might shortcut the whole process for you. My own treatment has shown me that it may take a fair trial of several SSRIs, not just one, because people differ so widely. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. For example, Paxil makes me really nervous, while I find Zoloft calming.
Your fear of dying and not being able to care for your child is surprisingly common, by the way. It's something women report all the time here, and it's perfectly understandable. It's just that in your case, it's almost certainly not justified, and it's getting in the way of your enjoyment of your life, right?
A good shrink may also want to get you into some cognitive therapy to deal with non-productive fears, because such therapy in combination with the right drug is reported to get faster results than one or the other alone.
Pains that migrate this way are not part of the usual picture of heart disease in either sex.
...BLOOD WORK, EKG MONITORING, CHEST X RAY, CT SCAN AND ALL CAME BACK NORMAL. MY CHOLESTEROL WAS 135 AND MY BP WAS GOOD. I HAVE NO HISTORY OF FAMILY HEART DISEASE. I HAVE HAD ANXIETY IN THE PAST BUT THIS FEELS DIFFERENT. I'M SCARED EVERYDAY OF DYING AND I JUST FEEL A DOOM CLOUD OVER MY HEAD.
You are a young woman, and therefore already at low risk for heart problems. Add to this your lack of a family history of this kind of disease, your low BP, low cholesterol, and good EKG and scan, and I think you can pretty much rule about a cardiac problem, especially--and this is important--if you can physically do your ordinary daily activities. Can you?
So, what to do now? Well, you could have yet another series of tests, but most likely, you'd get the same results. You could try the magnesium supplements some here have found useful. It probably wouldn't hurt, unless you took a form or amount that gave you diarrhea.
However, you several times mention feelings of doom, and while that can indeed be associated with heart attacks, it's much more characteristic of panic attack. Ask me how I know.
You may not like to hear this, but I suspect your distress may be a combo of hormones, which take a while to settle down after giving birth (and some cynics feel don't return to normal until some twenty-one years later), plus exhaustion, plus whatever evil gene it is that gives some of us hyperactive autonomic nervous systems.
Based on my own experience with panic attacks + PVCs, I'd suggest moving on to see a good psychiatrist. You're already on psych drugs, but they clearly aren't working, so seeing a shrink who specializes in this kind of therapy might shortcut the whole process for you. My own treatment has shown me that it may take a fair trial of several SSRIs, not just one, because people differ so widely. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. For example, Paxil makes me really nervous, while I find Zoloft calming.
Your fear of dying and not being able to care for your child is surprisingly common, by the way. It's something women report all the time here, and it's perfectly understandable. It's just that in your case, it's almost certainly not justified, and it's getting in the way of your enjoyment of your life, right?
A good shrink may also want to get you into some cognitive therapy to deal with non-productive fears, because such therapy in combination with the right drug is reported to get faster results than one or the other alone.
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