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Skipped Beats, PVC's etc.
I started again to have these feelings of skipped heart beats beginning on 7/23. Sometimes maybe 2 per minute but may go as high as 10 per minute. The come and go during the day which is very frustrating. I have been taking 12.5 mg of Paxil CR for anxiety for about two years now. I haven't had any issues with these skipped beats since 3/03. Then all of a sudden they return. In March I went to see a cardiologist I met during my anxiety issues and he assured me that my heart was in great shape and these skipped beats can re-surface and disappear just like that. In 2000 I developed anxiety symptoms and was treated for them. I had numerous tests at a cardiologist's offce during this time since some of my anxiety symptoms were causing what I thought were heart issues. I had a stress echo in 9/99 and a cardiolite stress test in 6/01. All negative. Twenty-one day event monitor, X-rays and numerous blood tests along with re-visits to a cardiologist since 2000.
I am an avid cyclist and tennis player three times a week. I drink coffee in the morning but it is a light caffeine version. Alcohol on the weekends and sometimes during the week with neighbors. I am not overweight and watch what I eat.
Giving you all this backgound, why do these skipped hearts beats keep coming and going. They create a very uncomfortable, anxious feeling when they happen and I am quite sure they feed my anxiety. Can I do anything about them. Are they serious? Do you have any advice or should I expect to live with them.
I am an avid cyclist and tennis player three times a week. I drink coffee in the morning but it is a light caffeine version. Alcohol on the weekends and sometimes during the week with neighbors. I am not overweight and watch what I eat.
Giving you all this backgound, why do these skipped hearts beats keep coming and going. They create a very uncomfortable, anxious feeling when they happen and I am quite sure they feed my anxiety. Can I do anything about them. Are they serious? Do you have any advice or should I expect to live with them.
Keevil,
Thanks for the post.
First, have your extra beats actually ever been documented as PVC's? You say that everything was "negative", so I'm not sure if they were or not?
I'll assume that the skipped beats are indeed PVCs for the purpose of my reply. The natural history of PVCs is that they come and go sporadically, most often without provocation. A few people are able to identify triggers, but more are not. You mentioned some of the triggers in some people: anxiety, caffeine, alcohol -- but most people do not include these as their triggers.
The most common therapy for the PVCs is beta-blocker therapy, but this has downsides as well for some people, most notably fatigue. Other therapies are possible, and need to be tailored to the individual. In rare, extreme cases, some people undergo ablation therapy. Forming a relationship with an understanding doctor is a good first step at treatment. Alternative therapies are sometimes effective as well, and may include Tai Chi, yoga, and biofeedback.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the post.
First, have your extra beats actually ever been documented as PVC's? You say that everything was "negative", so I'm not sure if they were or not?
I'll assume that the skipped beats are indeed PVCs for the purpose of my reply. The natural history of PVCs is that they come and go sporadically, most often without provocation. A few people are able to identify triggers, but more are not. You mentioned some of the triggers in some people: anxiety, caffeine, alcohol -- but most people do not include these as their triggers.
The most common therapy for the PVCs is beta-blocker therapy, but this has downsides as well for some people, most notably fatigue. Other therapies are possible, and need to be tailored to the individual. In rare, extreme cases, some people undergo ablation therapy. Forming a relationship with an understanding doctor is a good first step at treatment. Alternative therapies are sometimes effective as well, and may include Tai Chi, yoga, and biofeedback.
Hope that helps.
Worry not! These are very common and are totally benign. They come and go at any tme for no reason. They won't alter your life expectancy. They are annoying. A Beta Blocker can diminish them and may even stop them. I've had them for 17 years ( I am 35). I use to be afraid of them and go to the ER and have numerous tests that were all normal. Alcohol can make them worse as can even a little caffeine. Relax and enjoy life. Good luck!
I'd say that if your cardiologist says your heart is all good then stop worrying too much about your heartbeats.
Since you exercise and still get PVC's, there may be four factors (besides anxiety) that may cause PVC's: not enough magnesium, not enough fish oil or fatty fish (omega-3 acids containing DHA/EPA), consumption of transfatty acids (from partially hydrogenated oils), and poor sleeping habits (evidence shows that staying up late in the evening and sleeping late in the morning triggers PVC's). You can easily eat more fish or take fish oil, sleep better, and get more magnesium from supplements or from a better diet. Note that PVC's don't go away quickly. It takes time for your body to adjust and for the nutrition to fully permeate your body.
Fish oil is very effective and reduces the risk of cardic deaths signficantly. It "lubricates" your heart cells and if the pacemaker cells get overexcited (which can be dangerous), the omega-3 fatty acids are released to your blood and they quickly stablize the heartbeats. Magnesium also relaxes the heartbeats as well.
-jeff
Since you exercise and still get PVC's, there may be four factors (besides anxiety) that may cause PVC's: not enough magnesium, not enough fish oil or fatty fish (omega-3 acids containing DHA/EPA), consumption of transfatty acids (from partially hydrogenated oils), and poor sleeping habits (evidence shows that staying up late in the evening and sleeping late in the morning triggers PVC's). You can easily eat more fish or take fish oil, sleep better, and get more magnesium from supplements or from a better diet. Note that PVC's don't go away quickly. It takes time for your body to adjust and for the nutrition to fully permeate your body.
Fish oil is very effective and reduces the risk of cardic deaths signficantly. It "lubricates" your heart cells and if the pacemaker cells get overexcited (which can be dangerous), the omega-3 fatty acids are released to your blood and they quickly stablize the heartbeats. Magnesium also relaxes the heartbeats as well.
-jeff
I'm agree with what has been said thus far..I've had them for 5 year, I'm 36 now. They come and go, though I've found that if I cut out the alcohol, they are less prevalent (took about a year!). Also, I take magnesium, folic acid and vitamin C daily. Could be psychological, but it seems to help. If I'm anxious they will kick up. I also note that if I'm stressed out from being at work, when I get home they may flair up, only exercise seems to alleviate them.
I caution you on taking beta blockers. If the PAC's or PVc's are induced through heightened parasympathetic tone, (you notice them more in the evening) beta blockers may make them worse. All of these comments are just my opinion, and speaking with a EP Doc would be the best.
I caution you on taking beta blockers. If the PAC's or PVc's are induced through heightened parasympathetic tone, (you notice them more in the evening) beta blockers may make them worse. All of these comments are just my opinion, and speaking with a EP Doc would be the best.
Hi,
I just read this new post and it sounds like my heart. I have PAC/PVC's and they drive me crazy.
Sometimes I get so depressed over it, that I just want to die. Funny how you worry about your heart not working right, but get so frustrated about living with it.
Usually my skipped beats flare up when I am stressed out. We recently moved (hubby is military) and once again I am dealing with it. Before we moved it got pretty bad ( like 1 extra beat every minute or so) that the doctor suggested a betablocker (Lopressor). I tried it and it worked great for the skipped beats, but then after about 5 weeks of taking it I was feeling really week and nauseated that I stopped taking it.
Now I am once again faced with sitting here my heart jumping around like crazy and I am scared, anxious and just don't know what to do anymore.
I started taking more magnesium since Wednesday, how long should it take until Magnesium can have an effect?
I would appreciate anybodys insight and help and am very open to any suggestions.
On Monday I am going to have another holter done, I guess just to reassure myself once again.
Thanks,
Anja
I just read this new post and it sounds like my heart. I have PAC/PVC's and they drive me crazy.
Sometimes I get so depressed over it, that I just want to die. Funny how you worry about your heart not working right, but get so frustrated about living with it.
Usually my skipped beats flare up when I am stressed out. We recently moved (hubby is military) and once again I am dealing with it. Before we moved it got pretty bad ( like 1 extra beat every minute or so) that the doctor suggested a betablocker (Lopressor). I tried it and it worked great for the skipped beats, but then after about 5 weeks of taking it I was feeling really week and nauseated that I stopped taking it.
Now I am once again faced with sitting here my heart jumping around like crazy and I am scared, anxious and just don't know what to do anymore.
I started taking more magnesium since Wednesday, how long should it take until Magnesium can have an effect?
I would appreciate anybodys insight and help and am very open to any suggestions.
On Monday I am going to have another holter done, I guess just to reassure myself once again.
Thanks,
Anja
Hello everyone and fellow PVCers. I have been suffering with PVCs since a sudden onset about a year ago. I have several PVCs a minute. It seems like I have kind of gotton used to them but they do seem to dominate everything I do. How do I know one or two PVCs together will not become one big long dangerous run of them? I have a normal healthy heart as do most other pVC sufferers so does that mean my healthy heart will not let a run of PVCs occur? PVCs are considered a benign phenomenom but they sure can make you feel bad! I've tried many types of relief and am currently on cardizem. It is not helping much but my Dr insists its the best drug for me. If my PVCs are so benign why do I need to be on cardizem (The side efects are rough for me).If anyone has any more tips or has tried cardizem I would love to hear from you.
I started getting PVC's about 6 months ago and they seem to be getting worse,Does anyone know what might cause PVCs to be much more frequent lying down versus sitting up? I only notice maybe 10 PVC's during the day but when I lay down to goto sleep I can get up to 6-10+ PVC's per minute and its very difficult to fall asleep,If I just lay there and try to relax rather than freak out they usualy reduce in frequency enough for me to fall asleep.. and If I sit up in bed they stop happening completly,anyone else experiance this? I've had a Echocardiogram / 24hr holter / Treadmill stress test done wich all came back normal except for PVC's .Doc says not to worry but should I go back considering they're increasing in frequency? ...This is becoming a very bad experiance =( I'm 30 years old,Male ..Thanks in advance.
I get skipped beats daily. Sometimes they are really bad, about one every five minutes for a few hours. Other times I go for weeks with maybe just about 5 per day. I got them already when I was very, very young. Now I'm a 74 year old senior and still get them. So you see, you not going to die from them :-) If you have been checked out by a cardiologist and your heart is okay, don't worry about them.
Just my opinion but I think I found out why the seem more prominent when lying down (particularly face down) or lying on your left hand side...this is because the heart beats are felt more closely and sensed more in those positions...lie on your left with your right hand under your side and you can clearly feel every beat, more so on breathing out
I started with PVCs only 3 weeks ago, after a party where I had a few too many beers, the first week was terrible with dizzy fainting feelings and a tingling going up into my head/scalp, and the extra beats seemed almost every beat for a half hour 2 or 3 times a day...now I am having just 2 or 3 flutters a day and no fainting or dizzy feelings, ECG was normal and the Doc said my heart was good
I started with PVCs only 3 weeks ago, after a party where I had a few too many beers, the first week was terrible with dizzy fainting feelings and a tingling going up into my head/scalp, and the extra beats seemed almost every beat for a half hour 2 or 3 times a day...now I am having just 2 or 3 flutters a day and no fainting or dizzy feelings, ECG was normal and the Doc said my heart was good
I really recommend taking magnesium supplements. My PVC's have all but vanished. Ask your doctor if it's OK for you.
Lots of good information from everyone here -- I hope that sufferers reading this will be encouraged to know that others are out there dealing with this also and that there are things that can be done to cope. I am not sure, however, that anything short of an ablation can be done to get rid of pvcs/pacs. Believe me, I have tried it all! I am 37 and my last holter showed 10,197 pvcs in a 24 hour period (although they let up quite a bit at night and during exercise, so really I was feeling almost all 10K during waking hours! Imagine that!!!) so I do know what I am talking about. I agree with Hankstar about betablockers. A low dose on an "as needed" basis and/or an anti-anxiety medication is going to be your best bet if you have no underlying heart disease. I have found that it doesn't do much to reduce mine (obviously, LOL!) and in fact, when I doubled up on it to try to get relief, my pvcs worsened quite a bit and began to turn into short runs of vtach. Awful. What does work is the support of friends, family and fellow sufferers. Magnesium does help but it takes surprisingly high amounts to do so and should be done under the supervision of your cardiologist or internist. I also think that omega3s are highly promising and when I am consistent my levels go way down. In women, hormones do play a role (but what we are supposed to do about that is a good question). Emotional or social stress is the WORST trigger of pvcs, so dealing with your "issues" is a great idea.
Perhaps most important is to change your attitude about them altogether. Accept them instead of fighting them. Invite them in (they'll show up anyway) and in doing so, you won't be as bothered by them. That is not to say you should not take this "condition" seriously and do all the necessary tests. Given the high numbers I endure, I am finding that I want to get second and third opinions about how to treat these from reputable electrophysiologists in my area. I may even decide to do an ablation. But in the meantime, I am learning to live with them and in doing so... I am getting far fewer pvcs! Once upon a time, getting rid of the pvcs was my goal. But when I began to shift my goal away from total elimination (impossible anyway) to LIVING with them successfully, things changed. I still get scared when I get a run of them because that does feel very nasty and the body can't help but react. But my reaction is much shorter and less intensely fearful than ever before and, you guessed it, they aren't at 10,000 plus anymore...
p.s. YES, they always get worse when I lie down! I can be ok sitting up, but when I am enduring a pvc "storm" time, as soon as I lie down at night they come every third beat or so. It makes getting to sleep impossible. I just ride it out and wait until I am so exhausted that I can't help but fall asleep. Not much of a solution, sorry about that, but I have not found anything very helpful when they are so bad. I have begun to resign myself to having some nights like that. And so far, the storm has always let up... eventually. I am very interested in the suggestion to try to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier... very simple but perhaps effective. I'll try it!
Perhaps most important is to change your attitude about them altogether. Accept them instead of fighting them. Invite them in (they'll show up anyway) and in doing so, you won't be as bothered by them. That is not to say you should not take this "condition" seriously and do all the necessary tests. Given the high numbers I endure, I am finding that I want to get second and third opinions about how to treat these from reputable electrophysiologists in my area. I may even decide to do an ablation. But in the meantime, I am learning to live with them and in doing so... I am getting far fewer pvcs! Once upon a time, getting rid of the pvcs was my goal. But when I began to shift my goal away from total elimination (impossible anyway) to LIVING with them successfully, things changed. I still get scared when I get a run of them because that does feel very nasty and the body can't help but react. But my reaction is much shorter and less intensely fearful than ever before and, you guessed it, they aren't at 10,000 plus anymore...
p.s. YES, they always get worse when I lie down! I can be ok sitting up, but when I am enduring a pvc "storm" time, as soon as I lie down at night they come every third beat or so. It makes getting to sleep impossible. I just ride it out and wait until I am so exhausted that I can't help but fall asleep. Not much of a solution, sorry about that, but I have not found anything very helpful when they are so bad. I have begun to resign myself to having some nights like that. And so far, the storm has always let up... eventually. I am very interested in the suggestion to try to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier... very simple but perhaps effective. I'll try it!
I just have to agree with you about living with the PVCs. I had my last holter in June on what I thought was a good day. Imagine my surprise when I still had 8,000+ PVCs in 24hrs. I had 9,000+ PVCs when I was not on any medication. The cardizem just doesn't work as well as the Dr. thinks it does. I think I've come to the conclusion that PVCs are "Normal" for me. Everybody is different and what might be normal for one may not be normal for another. I have started taking a low dose of xanax (.125mg) each evening to help with the sleep thing. A lack of enough quality sleep seems to be a big trigger for me. I used to take the Xanax only occasionally until a friend told me I needed to keep a certain level in my body. I just started so I hope it will help with the anxiety part of the PVCs because sometimes the "out of control" feeling can be as bad as the actual problem. Keep me posted how you are doing with your thousands of PVCs. (
I only get skipped beats when I bend over. Anyone else suffer from this? I've had it now for 8 and a half years. All heart tests have been okay.
Just wanted to say that I take the standard 250mg Magnesium supplements as sold in grocery stores. It does the trick. Hope it helps some of you.
Hi Sheryl,
I noticed a post on another forum by someone saying bending over triggered their PVCs...so I passed your comments on to them
The forum was at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeoplewithPVCs/
I noticed a post on another forum by someone saying bending over triggered their PVCs...so I passed your comments on to them
The forum was at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeoplewithPVCs/
Hankster!!!
I am SOOOO Glad I read your post!!!! PLEASE I hope you read this. I have been trying to find the causes of my bigeminy for 7 months now. I have been on toprol for over a year. It helped for awhile - then all of a sudden I got bigeminy and it was a wierd kind - it only happens after I mildly exert myself and then sit down - then here they come - runs of them. My husband has told me "its the beta blocker - get off it" - I told him no way. I want to try to cut down and get off it. Now that I have been on it so long Im afriad. Can you give me pointers on how to lower it without experiencing too many side effects. I really want to see if its the beta blocker causing it. I have suspected it at times, because I never had this before - but eveyr dr will swear that Im insane. Beta blockers are supposed to STOP this they say. LOL - anyway I only take 25 ml as it is - (I halve the 50 mls) there is a 25 ml pill that I think I can halve...how did you cut down?? When I just went down from 25 to 12...I got some real hard pvcs - I didnt like that - is there a way to say spread it out time-wise instead of lowering the dosage so fast??? I take them at bedtime...thanks for any help you can give me Hank - you the first person Ive seen that said it could be beta blocker related after longterm use! THANK YOU! You may have saved my miserable pvc living life !LLOLOL -
sheila (Oh my email is ***@****) if you wish to answer me directly.
thanks!
I am SOOOO Glad I read your post!!!! PLEASE I hope you read this. I have been trying to find the causes of my bigeminy for 7 months now. I have been on toprol for over a year. It helped for awhile - then all of a sudden I got bigeminy and it was a wierd kind - it only happens after I mildly exert myself and then sit down - then here they come - runs of them. My husband has told me "its the beta blocker - get off it" - I told him no way. I want to try to cut down and get off it. Now that I have been on it so long Im afriad. Can you give me pointers on how to lower it without experiencing too many side effects. I really want to see if its the beta blocker causing it. I have suspected it at times, because I never had this before - but eveyr dr will swear that Im insane. Beta blockers are supposed to STOP this they say. LOL - anyway I only take 25 ml as it is - (I halve the 50 mls) there is a 25 ml pill that I think I can halve...how did you cut down?? When I just went down from 25 to 12...I got some real hard pvcs - I didnt like that - is there a way to say spread it out time-wise instead of lowering the dosage so fast??? I take them at bedtime...thanks for any help you can give me Hank - you the first person Ive seen that said it could be beta blocker related after longterm use! THANK YOU! You may have saved my miserable pvc living life !LLOLOL -
sheila (Oh my email is ***@****) if you wish to answer me directly.
thanks!
i get skips (pacs, pvcs) most often when i bend over, especially at the waist. so now i try to bend at the knees, which looks a bit strange, but seems to do the trick. the dreaded double beats also seem to occur when i take deep breaths from the chest, during the first minute or three of exercise, and, to a lesser degree, when i recline on my couch in the evening. and then there are times when, seemingly unprovoked, the beats come out and terrorize me for a few days without end.
i agree that mag, fish oil are helpful. as is proper hydration, regular exercise, and a positive mindset. mostly though, they still arise despite my best efforts at preventative measures. put mildly, they suck. thanks for the interesting comments.
i agree that mag, fish oil are helpful. as is proper hydration, regular exercise, and a positive mindset. mostly though, they still arise despite my best efforts at preventative measures. put mildly, they suck. thanks for the interesting comments.
Thanks so much for your comments. pfd -- my heart skips a LOT of beats when I bend over, but only on the inhale...once I exhale, the beat returns to normal. It scares me half to death, although in the 8 and a half years I've had this nothing has happened to me and all my heart tests have been fine. I get days, like today, when I'm more scared than usual. Just took a xanax; not that it will help my heart, but it will calm me down. I panic so easily. Sometimes I don't even want to leave my house I'm so scared. Steve & pfd (or anyone else) who would like to email me on this: ***@****. Thanks for sharing; it helps to know I'm not alone!
Hi Everyone, Ive been having many pvc's for the last month ( around 5 to 10 per minute on average) and sometimes get a relief from the time to time. for the most part its been 24/7. Im sure if most of you are like me, you try to find ways to relieve the irregular beats, without the use of meds ( which really dont seem to work anyway). Well tonight 8/4/2003 Im excited because I found something that works!! Im gonna have to look into the legal stuff first, so someone doesnt steal my idea ( thats the world we live in) but i will keep you all informed about it. Hang in there people, dont let your heart bring you down.
Hi Everyone, Ive been having many pvc's for the last month ( around 5 to 10 per minute on average) and sometimes get a relief from the time to time. for the most part its been 24/7. Im sure if most of you are like me, you try to find ways to relieve the irregular beats, without the use of meds ( which really dont seem to work anyway). Well tonight 8/4/2003 Im excited because I found something that works!! Im gonna have to look into the legal stuff first, so someone doesnt steal my idea ( thats the world we live in) but i will keep you all informed about it. Hang in there people, dont let your heart bring you down.
MikeP
MikeP
Hi everyone -- I need help. As I've stated in my earlier post, I only get pvc's when I bend over. Well, I can't seem to stop "testing" myself by bending over...and then of course I get the pvc's and get terribly frightened. I'm trying to overcome my fear of them but to no avail. I woke up very depressed this morning, knowing that I have to face these dang pvc's again. They're ruining my life! Does anyone else get them when they bend over? Please email me: ***@****. Thank you!
hey everyone. I am brand new to this forum and found it by accident. I cannot TELL you people how great I feel right now. I am the only one in my circle of friends/contacts that has PVCs. I , too, have gone through the battery of heart tests, and worry constantly about these. I am 29 years old and I have had them since I was around 12 years old I believe. They literally terrify me at times, depending on the frequency. Reading some of the posts on this board however amazes me, it seems I am lucky in that I get (depending on the day) 5-20 PVCs per day. They range from barely noticeable to extremely violent and sometimes bi or trigemy (though very rarely). I used to smoke and drink on occasion and I have cut out all stimulants including caffiene. I know that I am a very high-strung person and in times of high stress (like now) they really, really bother me. Much like many of you, I have had my PVCs documented and diagnosed with the advice that I am fine and i simply need to find ways of relieving my stress. Unfortunately when i have bad PVC episodes it does nothing but severely increase my stress. Vicious cycle.
:( In any case, I am so glad i found this forum and just know, all of you, that there's one more scared guy in the world that has what all of you have.
:( In any case, I am so glad i found this forum and just know, all of you, that there's one more scared guy in the world that has what all of you have.
Hi Tommy...welcome to the forum. I, too, live in constant fear of my pvc's. I am downright obsessed with them. I've had tests, all of which came back fine, but I still get scared when my heart beats irregularly. So, you're not alone! Good luck.
I am very familiar with experiencing pvc's when bending over. that started for me when i was a young teen, now im 40. I rememeber as a teen bending over to pick up my bike, and my heart would go into a steady pvc heart rate, one after another, sometimes for a minute. I would take a deep breath, and the force down holding my breath to try to stop it, so i know the feeling of getting pvc's when bending over.
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