Skipped heart beats

[Matt1975]

Hello-

                                                I am a 27 year old male that has been diagnosed with an anxiety/panic
disorder. Quite frequently, I have episodes where my heart seems to skip a beat. I can feel this when I take my pulse. Also, I feel a little bit of a thudding sensation in my chest/abdomen. These episodes occur most often when I am feeling anxious but not always.
I am in good health and am very physically fit. I have had three EKGs all of
                                                which have showed nothing unusual. The doctors I have seen always brush
                                                off my compliant as nothing or "I don't see it on the EKG". I am writing to see
                                                if there is some sort of medical/scientific explaination. What can I do about
                                                this problem because it really bothers me and triggers/exascerbates my
                                                anxiety?

                                                Thanks, Matt

[PAT65]

I just started on Tenormin(25mg twice a day) 2 days ago and am hoping it will decrease or better yet stop my PVCs. Anyone have an idea how long it needs to be in the system before seeing some results? I don't know much about Inderal but read that some people are having good results with their PVCs.If the DR. says its OK I may try that next. Not looking for a miracle just some peace!

[Arielle]

Hi Karie. Thanks for posting! I was diagnosed with MVPS about 15 years ago and that is when the PVC's started. Tenormin did the trick (50 mg. day) until after my cancer surgery (craniotomy) in December of last year. Took myself off Tenormin in April.  In late June of this year, the PVC's started up all over again and cardiologist first put me on 25 mg. of Corgard then switched me back to Tenormin (.25) because of the side effects I had from the Corgard.  I was fine on the Tenormin until October 2nd, the day after I learned my job was being eliminated due to reduction in work force.  They started up again and doc feels it is from stress, anxiety and smoking.  He is probably right about the smoking - causes more PVC's.  He told me to gradually either cut down or quit smoking and put me again on Ativan (.50) to help with the anxiety.  I had holter and thalium stress test done in late June - holter showed 3,000 PVC's and stress test was perfectly normal.  Had echo in early July which showed mild mitral regurg, an E/F within normal limits and heart pumping well. PVC's still haven't gone away and about 6 weeks ago, he did another holter at my insistence which showed over 6,000 PVC's.  He told me again that he was 99.9% sure that they were being caused by stress, anxiety and smoking and increased my Tenormin dosage to .75 mg.  I couldn't function on that because I was so tired all of the time so he bounced me back down to 50 mg. - .25 in the AM and .25 in the PM.  It doesn't interfere much with my sleep.  About 3-4 hours after I take the Tenormin in the AM, I begin to feel the side effects which I never felt before.  I get this weird feeling in my chest, heart seems to skip even more, I get very tired and I have now developed a rash on my abdomen.  I've talked to my cardiologist until I'm blue in the face and he strongly feels that since I did well on the Tenormin for 15 years, it can't be the medicine causing this.  My ENT doctor (who removed my tumor) strongly disagrees and said that because of my head surgery last December, my neurological system is not the same as a normal person's.  I just live with them now - I'm tired of arguing with the cardiologist about it.  He is well known and respected in his field, so I don't want to change cardiologists.  This is so frustrating, Karie, it truly is.  To everyone else who responded - thank you so much for being there.  This board is great!

[karie]

Does your cardiologist explain why you have so many pvc's ? Cause
Did diet and exercise changes help ?
What tests have you had lately ?
Do the pvc's keep you awake at night ? Disturbing your sleep ?
So frustrating, At what age did you start going to the cardiolgist ? Thanks for sharing

[rick1234]

geez.  sounds like you have been through quite the ordeal.  hang in there.

rick

[ojohnr]

pat, rich is correct.  my anxiety was taking over me and i was checking my pulsing every minute of the day.  i panic when i felt a skipped beat.  my doc just referred me to a psychoterapist to help me. today was the first time i went and somehow figuered out my anxiety and how to control it.  no medication, but work is needed.  i try not to think about it, but it is almost impossible.  i now listen to classical music to relaxe me and has worked for the past two weeks.  hopes this helps you.

[Arielle]

Hello everyone. I am 45yo female with history of MVPS. Was diagnosed 15 years ago and was on Tenormin (50 mg) for 14 years. Had 2 bouts with cancer in the last 6 years and am now in remission after chemo and radiation this past year.  The Tenormin always controlled the PVC's and I had no side effects from the med at all. This past April, I decided to stop taking the Tenormin - why I don't know.  Maybe after everything I'd been through I just couldn't take one more pill.  In late June, I developed tons of PVC's again and after thalium stress test, photos, EKG's, halter monitor and echo, everything was fine and cardiologist told me PVC's were benign and brought on by my anxiety.  Put me on Corgard and low-dose Ativan and as I developed severe fatigue from the Corgard (.25 mg. per day), he switched me back to Tenormin and everything was fine. I received a call on October 2nd that my job was being terminated due to reduction in work force (I had been on disability since May) and the day after, the PVC's started up again with a fury.  My smoking has increased (I know I shouldn't smoke) and make the frequency of the PVC's worse, I know.  Doc upped my Tenormin to .25 mg. two times a day but I am now getting side effects that I never had before and they aren't stopping the PVC's at all.  Fatigue, skin rash, dizziness to name a few.  My ENT says that it could be because of the head surgery I had last December to remove the cancerous tumor.  He said that my neurological system isn't exactly the same anymore and that this could make me susceptible to many meds.  I ran this by my cardiologist and asked him to change my beta-blocker.  He ran another holter and this time I had over 6,000 PVC's in a day!  He again told me that these were benign and were being caused by excessive smoking and anxiety over the loss of my job.  He upped my Ativan to .50 mg. once at noon and once before bed to help me sleep.  The Ativan does help me not feel the PVC's as much.  I am convinced, as is my ENT, that the Tenormin just isn't working for me anymore after 14 years being on it.  Cardiologist feels that since it worked for me when he put me back on it in July, that isn't the problem and told me to gradually quit smoking and try to remain calm.  He really is a sweetheart, but I don't believe his theory.  Anyone ever had a beta blocker stop working for them?  What is your take on this?  This board has helped me so much and I appreciate everyone's help and support.  Thank you so much!