arrhythmia

[bama jane]

I am 55, I have multiple rhythm problems. paroxysmal atrial tach, pvc's, pacs, junctional and accelerated junctional rhythms, and once they caught wandering pace maker, also sinus arrhythmia and sinus tach. Trigeminy, bigeminy, couplets.  (Sructurally normal heart.}  I have had these every day for seven years to varying degree.  Had a failed ablation attempt 7 years ago and had Dr. Natalie look at my records and said there isn't much they can do.Questions are:
1.Why do some irregular beats cause shortness of breath and a weak feeling and others I just feel the movemnet in my chest? Some single misbeats cause weakness where a run of pat will not.
2.I read that having more than 6 extra beats a minute you should call a doctor.  Does that mean consistently more than 6 extra beats a minute because I have that happen often times but not all day long.
3.These have a big effect on my life, at times over whelming, affecting my sleep ( haven't slept through the night in 7 years) and really all aspects of my life and my family's as well, is there anything new on the horizion to help with rhythm probems with no known heart disease.  I have tried most of the blockers and once in the hospital flecinide. Some made it much worse. (more arrhythmia)Atenol helps with the racing but not with all the extra beats.
4.What advice would you give to someone you are close to on living with this.  As hard as I try when it gets bad it scares me. I still exercise daily and am thin and don't eat or drink any of the things that can cause problems.

[rhythmAKL]

I forgot to post that in my EKG and monitoring, I did have non sustained SVT....and pretty often.  That is such a bad feeling and I think that is why they put me on the meds rather than telling me it is benign again.

[rhythmAKL]

Finally, I was brave enough to look on the computer for Arrhthymia again and found this forum.  I am 45 and just spent 6 days in the hospital after an emergency room visit on Aug.4.  Long story shortened(i hope), I have been diagnosed with PVC's and PAC's since my early 20's.  I was also told I had Dysautonomia by a cardiologist, which is an imbalance of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.  I've had multiple Echocardiograms, even one in the hospital.  Anyway, the cardiologist also ordered an MRI of my heart to make sure I did not have something rare...some kind of Atria Dysplasia??  I was on a monitor for the whole time I was there.  The MRI and Echo reports were good, but my NEW cardiologist has given me 3 meds, beta blocker, anti-arrhythmia, and diazipam.  He also suggested a 24 hour iv drip of the anti arrhythima drug before I left the hospital since he said it would help me feel better quicker. He said this particular med is slow loading and I need to get my heart to behave asap.  These meds are very scarey to me and I have not read ALL the side effects of the Pacerone because the few I read really made me scared, but as long as I am feeling better I will take it. I hope it will continue to make me feel better,not worse. IN the past, the beta blockers made it worse. I believe I have anxiety to the point of PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder) because the spells that I have had in the past have been terrifying and too frequent. Now even when I feel my heart still trying to beat irregularly, I feel sooooo uneasy and lethargic.  I have never been one to take medications as I have always tried to control this by alternative practices.  Acupuncture, Herbs, Minerals, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Reiki, Polarity Therapy etc...  All to no lasting relief.  This time, I went to the ER because I felt like I could no longer endure the fast irregular beat, with the panic it was bringing.  It is so scary. I was breathless even when I was not on my feet. I've cried and cried recently because I have tried so hard for so long to treat this and it has only worsened.  I hope the new medications will continue to help, but they only help symptoms and I pray for a cure. My Dr. said I was anaemic and my T3 thyroid hormone is extremely low, just prior to the ER visit and admit.  I sure pray alot every day and try to remain calm....I haven't taken the diazapam in a few days as I am so concerned about what I am taking for the heart already.  I just hope there's going to be many more posts that I can read to help me be reassured on a daily basis.  If there's a link to the heart beats being so chaotic to my anaemia and low thyroid maybe I can be cured eventually.  My brother is 38 and experiences the same symptoms from time to time and they are telling him just what they USED to tell me, they're benign.  My 24 yo son even has symptoms sometimes when he is stressed or excited.  Anxiety plays a big part I believe, but mine got way way too wacky.  IF anyone is on meds and still feels uneasy sometimes, please tell me of your experience.  I am eased by knowing I am not alone, but when it is happening, I feel so alone and afraid.
Bless us all for what we are enduring.  I long to know why it happens. The arrhythmia feelings are so traumatic sometimes, and when it is happening, it is really hard to think of something else as a distraction. Any ideas?  Where can I read about DR. Natalie?  I read somewhere in a post he's great.

[Cozzy]

The Anxiety side is hard and difficult to overcome but as a doctor said to me once. This is happening to you now but u must decide do u want it to control your life because it will if u ponder on it. and true to his words I have found yer they are happening and they are evil and horrible but if u try to focus on something else then they subside although they dont go completely. there are specific beta blockers which block the effect of adrenaline on the heart but these come with side effects. although I have read in most cases they improve your quality of life. The force you feel is because of the pause has caused blood to collect in the ventricles so the following beat will have a higher contractile force. Therefore I dont think it could cause that much damage to the heart muscle. I find that coffee and tea and cola and certain foods also bring on these extra beats on esp pre packaged sandwiches probably due to the salt content. I am no doctor so dont take my word for it, just try experimenting with diet and other options. sometimes if I feel panicky I take herbal supplements e.g. valirium which help reduce my anxiety and inturn these extra beats.

[mochoc]

I am 55 yr old with history of pvc's my entire adult life. My 30 yr old daughter has had pvc's and arrhythmias her whole adult life.  Currently is hospitalized while they try flecinide to alleviate some of the pvc's (10 to 12 per minute). She had an ablation 4/2005, it seemed to work, but now has eveloped new symptoms.....and of course anxiety is a big issue....it is hard to focus when our heart feels out of control.

[bama jane]

I also notice that when I rest my neck on my hand a certain way it causes pc's.  Now I know why! Tickertock l have also read that Tambocoor should not be used if you have coronary artery disease.Does anyone else get weak from their arrhythmia? My father had afib which was constant and developed congestive heart failure and died so my concern is that I am on his path since his rhythm problems started out just like mine, even at the same age, but he also had lung disease which was a factor as well. I just wonder how much afib is genetic.

[bama jane]

I also notice that when I rest my neck on my hand a certain way it causes pc's.  Now I know why! Tickertock l have also read that Tambocoor should not be used if you have coronary artery disease.Does anyone else get weak from their arrhythmia? My father had afib which was constant and developed congestive heart failure and died so my concern is that I am on his path since his rhythm problems started out just like mine, even at the same age, but he also had lung disease which was a factor as well. I just wonder how much afib is genetic.