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Trying to accept PVC's, and unexplained pain, medication questions
I'm really trying to accept that I have palpitations and they are benign. This has been the most frustrating thing I have ever gone through. Exacerbating the situation is occassional chest pain and other various upper body pains that sound like heart related symptoms.
My paplitations are getting worse. Still no runs from what I can tell, but I am having a higher frequency.
I've tried calcium channel blockers and beta blockers. The beta blocker (inderal la 60) works better, but when I exercise my heart rate will not go above 80% of max, which makes it hard aerobic wise. The calcium channel blocker (cardizem la, 180mg) doesn't seem to do much.
Q's
1. Is there a beta blocker that seems to have a lesser effect on heart rate, or is this just what they do?
2. Should I take a long acting beta blocker?
3. Is it normal for PVC's to go away when I do exercise? (when my rate is above 120 they are very minimal if not non-existant. Is this above a "good sign"
4. Here is the toughy for me, particulaly when I have other problem. I'm only 35, 7 months ago I had none of these things. I know they are supposidely benign, but for me, rationally something had to "change" for them to come on. I have ecg's from my physical a year ago - NO PVC's. Now, I can show anywhere from 5-20 in a 5 minute tracing. Something had to "Change" right? that is where I have to think there is a solution, or a cause... or a PROBLEM.
5. Are there blood tests that I could request that might show something? (hormonal, electrolytes, other?)
6. Other than a stress echo, other tests?
thank
My paplitations are getting worse. Still no runs from what I can tell, but I am having a higher frequency.
I've tried calcium channel blockers and beta blockers. The beta blocker (inderal la 60) works better, but when I exercise my heart rate will not go above 80% of max, which makes it hard aerobic wise. The calcium channel blocker (cardizem la, 180mg) doesn't seem to do much.
Q's
1. Is there a beta blocker that seems to have a lesser effect on heart rate, or is this just what they do?
2. Should I take a long acting beta blocker?
3. Is it normal for PVC's to go away when I do exercise? (when my rate is above 120 they are very minimal if not non-existant. Is this above a "good sign"
4. Here is the toughy for me, particulaly when I have other problem. I'm only 35, 7 months ago I had none of these things. I know they are supposidely benign, but for me, rationally something had to "change" for them to come on. I have ecg's from my physical a year ago - NO PVC's. Now, I can show anywhere from 5-20 in a 5 minute tracing. Something had to "Change" right? that is where I have to think there is a solution, or a cause... or a PROBLEM.
5. Are there blood tests that I could request that might show something? (hormonal, electrolytes, other?)
6. Other than a stress echo, other tests?
thank
I've tried magnesium supplements. I didn't feel any effect on my PVCs, good or bad. I guess it's just like with beta blockers. For some they work wonders - so far they do for me most of the time - others don't get any real benefit from them.
My EP doc did not warn me that the additional PVCs were a potential consequence of ablation. Also, I have not heard the docs thoughts about the potential of them diminishing over time.
I go to get my Holter monitor in the morning. I will try ask about the PVCs and whether they should lessen in frequency at that time.
Do your PVCs get worse with exercise or exertion, or immediately afterwards? Perhaps only when your heart is slow?
For me, when I put a load on my heart (exertion) like walking up a large flight of stairs, I get terrible PVCs afterward that sometimes puts me in bigeminy for a few minutes. I hate this feeling, and if I could get to the point where I only had a few pvcs here and there I could probably learn to live with it (especially if I felt it was not getting worse).
One thing that concerns me is that I was evaluated for ARVD after my second ablation via a MRI. The MRI found that I did not have dysplasia (ARVD), but my LV ejection fraction was 50% and my right was 35%. I understand this is lower than normal. An echo I had in Feb of this year listed my LVEF as 55%. I am worried about the 5% drop.... I don't know if this is due to the PVCs making the muscles weaker or if the ablation actually lowered the ejection fraction. I realize the interpretation of the echo can be off a couple of points too.
Maybe the beta blocker will work for me as it has for others. I am ready to try almost anything to find some relief.
Please email me if anyone would like to talk more.
Good luck and God Bless
I go to get my Holter monitor in the morning. I will try ask about the PVCs and whether they should lessen in frequency at that time.
Do your PVCs get worse with exercise or exertion, or immediately afterwards? Perhaps only when your heart is slow?
For me, when I put a load on my heart (exertion) like walking up a large flight of stairs, I get terrible PVCs afterward that sometimes puts me in bigeminy for a few minutes. I hate this feeling, and if I could get to the point where I only had a few pvcs here and there I could probably learn to live with it (especially if I felt it was not getting worse).
One thing that concerns me is that I was evaluated for ARVD after my second ablation via a MRI. The MRI found that I did not have dysplasia (ARVD), but my LV ejection fraction was 50% and my right was 35%. I understand this is lower than normal. An echo I had in Feb of this year listed my LVEF as 55%. I am worried about the 5% drop.... I don't know if this is due to the PVCs making the muscles weaker or if the ablation actually lowered the ejection fraction. I realize the interpretation of the echo can be off a couple of points too.
Maybe the beta blocker will work for me as it has for others. I am ready to try almost anything to find some relief.
Please email me if anyone would like to talk more.
Good luck and God Bless
HI,
Thanks for replying. I was wondering what your EP is telling you about the PVCs you are having now - does he/she think they will subside?? I can't seem to get a direct answer from my EP. He did tell me that I may "feel like mt heart is going to go into SVT for a few weeks after ablation but it won't" That is what he told me before ablation. Nobody ever mentioned having skipped beats 24/7 three months after ablation. Just curious - did you have cryo or radiofrequency for yours? My first was cryo, second was RF. Also I had a cardionet monitor for 2 weeks. Mine showed many Premature junctional contractions, PACs and a few PVCs. Are you sure yours are true PVCs? Are you having any trouble with shortness of breath or activity ontolerance?? This has been bad for me. I hopefully will get some answers this week when I see EP and cardio. Keep posting and let me know if you have anything new. Take care and thanks again for responding.......
Thanks for replying. I was wondering what your EP is telling you about the PVCs you are having now - does he/she think they will subside?? I can't seem to get a direct answer from my EP. He did tell me that I may "feel like mt heart is going to go into SVT for a few weeks after ablation but it won't" That is what he told me before ablation. Nobody ever mentioned having skipped beats 24/7 three months after ablation. Just curious - did you have cryo or radiofrequency for yours? My first was cryo, second was RF. Also I had a cardionet monitor for 2 weeks. Mine showed many Premature junctional contractions, PACs and a few PVCs. Are you sure yours are true PVCs? Are you having any trouble with shortness of breath or activity ontolerance?? This has been bad for me. I hopefully will get some answers this week when I see EP and cardio. Keep posting and let me know if you have anything new. Take care and thanks again for responding.......
Watch supplementing magnesium. You may get more palpitations instead of less. Your doctor should be aware of any supplementation for your safety.
Anyhow, I can relate to the frustration of ectopic beats. I'm the opposite, mine come with exercise. It sometimes makes it difficult to stay active, but on my cardiologist's advice I have kept plugging along and keeping fit. They come in patches for many of us, and a few months back I hit a horrid patch. I was convinced something horrible must be wrong with me, but I checked out okay. They are still there more than before, but they're easing up. I'm looking forward to my next palpitation-free stretch, and hopefully yours will come soon too! ;) Hang in there.
Anyhow, I can relate to the frustration of ectopic beats. I'm the opposite, mine come with exercise. It sometimes makes it difficult to stay active, but on my cardiologist's advice I have kept plugging along and keeping fit. They come in patches for many of us, and a few months back I hit a horrid patch. I was convinced something horrible must be wrong with me, but I checked out okay. They are still there more than before, but they're easing up. I'm looking forward to my next palpitation-free stretch, and hopefully yours will come soon too! ;) Hang in there.
A few questions for you:
Have you asked your cardiologist the questions you ask here?
Have you typed "pvcs" into the search box up on the right of the page? If you do, you will learn a lot about these strange beats, and how so many of us cope with them.
Myself, I have had pvcs for years. At one point, I wore a Holter which showed that I was getting over 4800 pvcs and a fair number of couplets in 24 hours. I also have mild aortic incompetence (my aortic valve doesn't shut all the way when it's supposed to).
I go to the gym and exercise hard six days a week. This routine seems to make no significant difference in the number of pvcs I get, but since I'm still alive, I figure I have nothing to lose, exept pounds I don't need. The exercise is good for the space between my ears, and is good for the rest of my body as well, so I do it.
As for anxiety, in all seriousness, I suggest seeing a psychiatrist. I have done that, and, for a period of time, have taken the medication he recommended. It's very, very difficult to get anxiety "under control" without help. The way it works is that when you try to "control" it, it winds up controlling you.
Have you asked your cardiologist the questions you ask here?
Have you typed "pvcs" into the search box up on the right of the page? If you do, you will learn a lot about these strange beats, and how so many of us cope with them.
Myself, I have had pvcs for years. At one point, I wore a Holter which showed that I was getting over 4800 pvcs and a fair number of couplets in 24 hours. I also have mild aortic incompetence (my aortic valve doesn't shut all the way when it's supposed to).
I go to the gym and exercise hard six days a week. This routine seems to make no significant difference in the number of pvcs I get, but since I'm still alive, I figure I have nothing to lose, exept pounds I don't need. The exercise is good for the space between my ears, and is good for the rest of my body as well, so I do it.
As for anxiety, in all seriousness, I suggest seeing a psychiatrist. I have done that, and, for a period of time, have taken the medication he recommended. It's very, very difficult to get anxiety "under control" without help. The way it works is that when you try to "control" it, it winds up controlling you.
Hi all to make a long story short i was having them to the tune of about 10 a minute... Went to an electro and he dx me Toprol XL After about 1.5 yrs on the Toprol im relatively pvc free on MOST days... It took a long time to work.... (i guess it is helping) but ive had relief now for a bout 6 months... i had sudden onset of them like eddie at 49yrs old... im now almost 52 good luck all... these have changed my life too...but there is hope....
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