arrythmia acid reflux Peter

[theoldfoxx]

I have the same question Peter has.  Where in the world is the research being done on the cure for arrythmia?  Surely docs have narrowed the condition's cure down to more than what I am reading on here.  I agree with Peter that it appears to have something to do with food and the vagus nerve.  I would really like to connect with Peter since my symptoms sound exactly like his and I have been doing what he has done in terms of treatment.  I also take Pantaloc which seems to help with the racing heart and I am also an exercise fanatic. etc. etc.  My email address is ... ***@****... I would welcome anyone's input to a solution to this.  I guess if docs aren't researching this condition, then I will have to.  Contact me if you wish to help me with my quest!

[G-nat]

Hello to all,

I recently discovered this forum, and I am so surprised at how many people suffer from heart arrhythmias!  Anyway, I just want to say it's nice to hear from all of you, and that I sympathize.
I don't know if I have anything to offer, but I just thought, at the very least, I could be compassionate.

I want to say first that I think that anxiety is a natural response to palpitations, whether or not you are diagnosed with some sort of anxiety disorder.  It's actually a common mistake that doctors make, to pass off heart palpitations as anxiety or panic attack.  I really think that the bottom line is, if it bothers you enough to find a support group like this on the internet, you owe it to yourself to get it thoroughly checked out.  For example, ask for an event monitor; if your doc won't prescribe one, find a new doc who will.  I, for example, have had palpitations since I was 10 years old; I can remember almost passing out after swimming, and the cardiologists my mother took me to then and as a teenager completely ignored me because I had a "normal heart," and because I was young.  I'm 27 now, and I just found out I have episodes of VT; it's non-sustained now, thankfully, but I believe it wasn't so when I was younger.  They only found it because I was on an event monitor.  They've since also realized I have episodes of SVT; so, the diagnosis is two arrhythmias, and a recommended EP study, hopefully ablation as well.  I'm on Diltiazem now but it doesn't prevent the VT, unfortunately.

So, anyway, I just want to say I completely understand those of you who feel possibly ignored/anxious/frustrated, etc.

Oh, and I also am a GERD sufferer.  I think there is probably some kind of exacerbation from the GERD at times, but I don't think that is the cause of my arrhythmias.  I am sure there are many GERD sufferers who are without heart issues.  The body is made up of many different interconnected parts, so of course I am sure there are many possibilities for varied interactions.  For example, I know for a fact that my arrhythmias are worse around my period, but that doesn't mean my hormonal changes CAUSE my arrhythmias; they simply exacerbate them.

I know that at the end of the day I simply have to trust that my situation is in God's hands.  Prayer helps me a lot.  I know it's easier said than done, but that's what I have to offer.

Natalie

[moro62]

After reading some of the responses, I feel less alone with my arrhythmias. I have been dwelling on this condition for the past month, and I am relieved to know that there are many others out there that feel like me.  It is a helpless feeling not being able to control your heart rate and it can be very scary. I have had bouts with arrhrythmias since I was about 14, I am now 44, and after a recent trip to the emergency room, that was the longest bout I have ever had, I was put on Toprol. I think that is working so far. The cardiologist claims that I would be a good candidate for ablation. I don't know if I am ready for this procedure or not. My arrhythmias have not been that frequent, and they are brought on when I use decongestants(Sudafed)mainly. I guess I will have to live with a stuffy head for the rest of my life. Anyway, I just wanted to express my gratitude for this site and relieve some of my concerns.

[dietz38]

It's very comforting to read that there are more people out there going through the same stuff I am.  I am a 44 y/o woman and have palpitations for about 20 years.  Until 2 years ago, I attributed them to stress, bad eating habits, drinking caffeine, chocolate, etc., but then I had a bout of very fast beating palpitations that did not let up for what seemed like HOURS.  Took a trip to the ER, had the ekg, holter, echo, blood work, etc., everything came back normal.  I followed up with a wonderful cardiologist here in FL who assured me that MANY MANY people have palpitations, just some are more sensitive to them than others and that they will not kill me.  REgardless, to ease my fears, he put me on 50mg Toprol and they all but disappeared, with the exceptions of a few PVCs, which I could totally live with.
Then last weekend, the terrible non-stop run ons of palpitations (Supraventricular tachys) broke through my medication and completely FREAKED ME OUT, so back to the ER, more blood work, another ekg, holter monitor, which caught a really good episode!  Followed up with my cardiologist who read my results, smiled and said, "you're normal, try not to let them bother you"., then he upped my Toprox to twice a day to get me to relax a bit.,  so it's been 5 days and I still get the occasional PVC, but they don't ignite the string of run-ons that I get so freaked out over!   I also have had major heart-burn for about 2 months now, not sure if this is part of the problem, but after reading everyone's posting here, it seems it may be.  also, I'm SOOOOO PMSY, and am sure I am in the throes of perimenopause.  One of the main symptoms of this lovely "naturally occuring event" is freakin' palpitations.  So my husband, bless his little normal beating heart, says "try to figure out a way for them to live with you, and not have YOU trying to figure out how to live with THEM!"  and he's right, I've let these things consume my life, which is usually very happy and upbeat, but last month or so, they're all I think about.  Knowing there are HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS of fellow sufferers out there helps and maybe we can all relax just a bit and not let our stress feed the little boogers!

[AdrienneB]

HELP!  I am a 65 year old man, jogger in great health.

I have had skipped beats for years but recently, I had a few episodes where my heart went on runs and then stopped and then I was able to stabalize myself.

I was concerned so I went to the doctor and they told me I needed to get a defribullator/pacer put in.  So I did.  Then they put me on Sotalol, which seemed to increase the frequency of the palpations, next they tried Toprol XL which was fine for a few days w/o any episodes.  

They went to release me on the Toprol XL, but I got on the treadmill, and could not even pass a brisk walking exercise.  When my heartbeat got up past 65 beats per minute, I felt dizzy and had another episode where my heartrate went up to 220 beats per minute, and I almost passed out. In the last 2 weeks, I have had an increased number of these "atrial runs", quick bursts of atrial tachycardia that start and stop suddenly.

Since I failed the treadmill test, they decided to change my meds to arrythmol (aka propafenone), but keep me on the Toprol XL, as well.  

I have been fine for 3 days (on propafenone) and they want to release me, but I have to pass the walking treadmill test first.  

HOWEVER, I have noticed that each time I have one of these arrythmia runs, or when I am just on the edge of having one, I have burping and my stomach is upset with gas.  I told my cardiologists this, that the two happen at the same time, but they seem to dismiss my concerns.

PLEASE HELP, I see all the postings, but no solutions on this issue.  PLEASE SOMEONE PROVIDE me with the name of a doctor/doctors/medical center, which can help me.  ALSO: please anyone who has had these symptoms, please contact me.  My cell phone is 717-580-3538.  PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE.  

I NEED HELP BECAUSE next they are saying that if the arrythmol does not work, they want to do the ablation.  I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE who can give me a SOLUTION.  Thank you.

[Lori D]

Wow - I'm so glad I found this site!  I'm 43 years old, and have been suffering from that "lump in your throat" feeling (diagnosed as acid reflux disease) for 5 years now  I also have heart palpitations.  The throat symptom went away when I started taking 40 mg of Prilosec daily, and was under control until recently.  Within the last couple of months, it's back with a vengence.

About 3 years ago, I started to have heart palpitations.  A cardiac workup didn't reveal much of anything, so I was told that they happen sometimes & I could just live with them, or try Beta Blockers.  The palpitations got gradually worse, until they were occurring daily with increased duration.  So I finally gave in & started taking Toprol XL about 1.5 months ago.  It helps with the palpitations, but now my acid reflux is out of control again.

I went to talk to my gen'l doctor about the acid reflux, and he did tell me that beta blockers like Toprol can cause add'l GERD symptoms.  Lovely.  But while I was there, he also felt a nodule on my thyroid - so I have to go & see an endocrinologist, too.  And I'm wondering whether that's the "lump" that I've been feeling in my throat?

Anyway - I'm glad I'm not crazy.  I've always thought that the palpitations were worse after eating, and they were somehow related to my acid reflux.  Problem is - do I have to choose between living with the palpitations (if I stop the Toprol) or the acid reflux (if I continue on the Toprol)?  I'm so confused.

Considering the number of people who write in & say that they have both conditions, and one seems to affect the other, there ought to be some medical research being done!!

[alexware]

I am with you guys. Two years ago I started having similar problems and I thought it was due to a Candida Albicans infection so I went into a Candida diet (0 sugars or high glycemic index carbohidrates) and I got EXCELLENT int 8 months. After that I forgot about the problem and started eating and drinking the same **** and got sick again. Right now I am not sure if it is Candida or other parasite-fungus-bacteria...but it is FOOD related. I have bad GERD can't swallow, lots of gas, sinus-throat problems, heart racing sometimes (I thought it was adrenaline rushes), dizziness, weakness. There is something about the blurbs too. This is very weird since I have been always very healthy and I am 31 years old. I believe doctors either dont tell or dont know what's going on. Whats happen when health institutions make BIG mistakes???? they tell or they try to hide it??? I dont know...just thinking a lot about this ****..

[bigbrowndog]

Well kids, I guess I have to join the club.

I developed a weird little burping sensation with
my heart rate sometimes speeding up and sometimes
skipping about 2 days ago. Well isn't this fun?

I found this article that does tie hiatal hernia
with palpitations: http://ww3.komotv.com/global/story.asp?s=1230509

I was glad to find this forum. Even though I'm a nurse,
it was very helpful to read all of the input and descriptions
that people gave, so I didn't give in to panic.

I am going to try to sleep with my head elevated, but
this contradicts my chronic sinus issue.  :sigh:

Remember when we ran around and played as kids,
and had no cares in the world? :)

[taurusthecat]

Wow. I have just stumbled across this forum and this thread. Amazing how we all seem to have the same situation more or less. My situation is that I have some kind of irregular heart beat, it will race at speeds of anything up to 220 for a short while, I get dizzy, sweat, my throat seems to swell up, my chest wall moves violently I feel dreadful and feel like I'm going to die. Then eventually my heart will stop beating for a couple of seconds, then it sort of "swallows" and returns to normal again. Like other posters here, there is no pattern to this happening, it comes and goes, sometimes there is a long gap in time between attacks and other times it will happen a few times in the same month. Also I get smaller attacks where my heart just seems to bounce around irregularly, but nothing as bad as the bad ones described above. I had an attack about 6 years back where it wouldn't stop and I had to admit myself to hospital, they gave me some strong drug to slow down my heart beat and monitored me, after that I went to a specialist who told me I had 2 nerves regulating my heart and that I should have the extra one burnt with a laser (ablation?). But that if it also got the other nerve, I would have to have a pacemaker put in, so I never got it done as I was too scared.  I also get bad acid reflux, recently, I have had to go on to those pump-blocker things, as my stomach swelled up to 3 times it's normal size and I was feeling extremely ill and weak with dreadful acid reflux. The pills ("Somac") worked within one day and I felt normal after 2.  I have had a the halter test done a couple of times, but they always come back saying "your results are normal", the last time this happened I had an attack the very next day, so I don't know what use these tests are to people in our position. This attack came about the same time as I was getting my doctor to look into my stomach problem, but in the past I have not noticed any link. He tested me for bacteria in my gut and found something there which he said was known to cause my stomach symptoms. He prescribed me antibiotics to get rid of the two types which were there and told me that once they were gone, to stop taking to Somac (pump-blocker drugs)and see if the symptoms came back. They did, and now I have to go to see him this week for a "breath test". I am very interested to read here a possible link between my stomach issue and the heart issue I suffer. By the way, I have only just discovered that the supplement "Coenzyme Q10" (available from health food stores where you get your other vitamins) is well known as a treatment for heart conditions. This enzyme is a powerful antioxidant and is found in high concentrations in cells where a high amount of energy is required. This is why it is found in large concentrations in organs like the heart and brain and liver and kidneys. As we age this enzyme is reduced/depleted and they have done much study on the benefits of using this enzyme as a dietary supplement to help treat heart problems like cardiomyopathy and also Parkinson's Disease amongst other things. Coenzyme Q10 is vital for the production of energy in the mitachondira of each and every cell in our bodies, and if you have not heard of this substance, I strongly suggest you have a look, here is one site I found yesterday......  

http://www.coenzymeq10.it/summary/summary.html

I went out and bought a bottle of it and am on day 2. It seems this substance is of great benefit to those of us with heart problems and as it is non-toxic and has no side-effects, after reading all about it, you should consider adding it to your daily diet, or at least doing a yahoo or google search for coenzymeq10 and reading about it. It's not a newly discovered drug or anything, it was discovered in the 1950's but is not patentable (our bodies make it to some degree) and therefore of no interest to the drug companies. But it is bigger than I realised and for people like us, well worth looking into.

I'm glad to have found this forum, and am looking forward to learning about the possible link between my reflux and my heart problem.  As I learn anything new myself, I will certainly post my findings here to share with you all.

Taurusthecat

[Bennett41]

I can trace to the second when my gastro/heart problems started, roughly 8 years ago.  I was sitting down, leaned forward, and felt something like a "bloop" between my stomach and chest -- like the way a balloon pushes out one side when it is squeezed.  From that point I would have heart arrhythmias associated with a lot of stomach gas.  Much of my experience over the following years would seem like repeating much of what is posted here, so I won't go into details.  I'll just make a couple comments that I hope might be of help.

First, the worst part of it was the panic when my heart either raced or skipped beats.  Once I found it wasn't life-threatening, accepted that doctors weren't going to help, and found that I could control the problem, I was a lot better off.  I learned that staying calm, getting upright and finding a way to release the gas in my stomach made the problem go away.

Second, I can identify three factors that bring the problem on for me.  Raw onions, being overtired, and working toward a high-stress deadline without eating.  I avoid these things.

Third, the arrhythmias are ALWAYS preceeded by gas pressure. (Sorry doctors, it's just true)  This is speculation, because I haven't been diagnosed, but I think I may have a hiatal hernia (where the stomach pushes through a gap in the diaphragm) and that somehow this causes the arrhythmias.  

I can deal with it.  I don't expect to be cured.  I hope this is of some help.  Cheers.

[tel]

It was great finding this site!  I have had Gerd/acid reflux most of my life, and then started having what i think are PVC's. I have been to the emergency room twice, but not managed to see a proper cardiologist yet for confirmation. I was sure there was a connection to my stomach, but get laughed at by doctors etc.
I was offered a proton pump inhibitor for the reflux, but on looking at the net, decided I did not really want to take such a strong drug. More research said GIVE UP CARBOHYDRATES (that is bread, potatoes, pasta, rice etc,) It worked!  After 3 days, I was cured. ( I still have a problem at Xmas etc, wih so much tempting food. After a couple of weeks, I found that for me rice, porridge and cornflakes have no effect, and i can eat a buscuit or small slice of cake, as long as I don't overindulge. As a result, I eat a lot more vegetables and fruit, which can do nothing but good.

[slazz]

Thought I would "google" my concern and came upon this forum...amazing!  I am not crazy...I have had a terrible episode of palpatations (for a month or better now).  I believe one issue feeds the other. I've had the problem for about 25 years on an off, anxiety too...and was diagnosed with GERD about a year ago (Aciphex helps that). Thought I was "cured" of this last "episode" after a few days of relief but then I ate something with tomato sauce tonight (a no, no with my acid reflux condition) and sure enough, the heart started to race within minutes after eating and the burps were erupting like crazy.  Something told me that perhaps they were related and so I decided to check it out on line (to relieve any anxieties) and I found this forum. I can't say it's a "%&*#@" getting old because I am a young 56 but like I said before, this started happening to me many, many years ago.  Hey friends, we're not going to kick the bucket over this, just be uncomfortable.  Thanks for all your posts!

Sandi

[OWEN10]

I AM A 35 YEAR OLD WOMAN WITH ACID REFLUX, ANXIETY DISORDER, AND AFIB. I TAKE MEDICATION FOR ALL THREE, BUT SYMPTOMS OF EACH EXACERBATE THE OTHERS. AS KELLEE SAID, I TOO FEEL MY GERD DOESN'T HELP MY AFIB, AND VICE VERSA. RIGHT NOW I AM SUFFERING WITH SEVERE GERD AND IT IS MAKING MY HEART RACE MADLY. I SAW DR. TWO DAYS AGO, THEY DID AN EKG (NORMAL) AND I AM AWAITING BLOOD TEST RESULTS(CARDIAC ENZYMES, THYROID PANEL, ETC) I HAVE TO GO NEXT WEEK TO CARDIOLOGIST TO BE FITTED WITH HOLTER MONITOR (TWICE IN 3 YEARS) TO CHECK PROGRESS. I AM GETTING VERY ANNOYED WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS STANCE OF "TAKE AN ASPIRIN AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING". I AM A PROFESSIONAL, WITH A HIGH STRESS JOB, AND CANNOT AFFORD TO FEEL THIS WAY. I GET NO ANSWERS, SINCE THEY RUN TEST AFTER TEST WHICH SAYS SITUATION NORMAL. WELL, SINCE I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AFIB, AND GERD, I DON'T THINK SITUATION IS NORMAL. I AM TRULY SUFFERING, AND NEED REASSURANCE THAT EITHER CONDITION WILL NOT ESCALATE INTO A SERIOUS MEDICAL EMERGENCY. DOES MY STORY SOUND FAMILIAR??

[Kellee]

I am a 40 yo Fe with severe acid reflux. I have had palpitations for over 7 years and a recent bout of atrial fib. Rushed to the ER by my husband. I had extensive work-up's. Endoscopy showed moderate gastritis and cardiac showed dehydration, low magnesium and low potassium (which caused the a fib) according to the cardiologists. I drink too much coffee. I have my masters in nursing, and work with 14 physicians. I have asked numerous physicians that same question, can there be any relationship between reflux and palpatations? They all say, probably not. I just do not believe it!  I know the human body well, (a nurse for >18 years) I know my symptoms well.  There has to be some relationship. I have read some obscure articles regarding the vagus nerve relating to it. I think some physicians need to do some major research work on this.

[sockeye]

Hopefully someone can tell my if the following is common with arrythmia? My doctor doesn't seem as concerned about the missed heart beats as I am.
I noticed my heart skipping beats last Christmas and went to the doctor. He said that I may have been drinking more alcohol and coffee than usual.I stopped drinking coffe and alcohol and the heart beat went back to normal for about six months.
In June I went for a jog in the evening and felt my heart pounding and missing beats. I was certain that I was going to die. It went back to normal after about 20 minutes. The doctor said he could not find anything wrong and not to worry.
I booked a heart scan and ecg for the end of August to verify his findings. The day before the tests I had another event like June. The scan showed no sings of heart disease and the ecg was normal. My heart rate was about 50bpm though.
I have constant chest pain; my heart rate varies between 50 and 70bpm and regularly skips; the pulse is sometimes very faint and sometimes normal and I have indigestion but not reflux.
The common link in the June and August events was that I was perspiring during the day and may have been slightly dehydrated.
I haven't read on this site about electrlyte imbalance causing the arrythmia.
Does anyone have similar symptoms and any ideas?

[Showard]

I just found this forum. My sister and I too have arrhythmias and at times pretty bad. I've had them for 32 yrs and she's had them for 12 yrs. We take no drugs of any kind. Mine seem to be getting worse lately. I had terrible pain which was probably reflux that lasted 5 hrs and felt like I was swallowing a golf ball with spikes. I then went on a low calorie diet with 1 gallon water per day to heal my body. After 3 wks, I'd lie down at might and they started getting really bad. Would last from 3 min to 45. Never had any other tests other than ekg's which showed normal and never went to the doctor when these started. I feel great during this time other than being so scared. It's got to be happening because of reflux, hiatal hernias, etc. My sister says the same thing.
drrath.com a german MD is treating people with cellular nutrition and he states that probably 100 million people have arryhthmias. I'm having special blood work done to test mineral counts. The answer has to be with electrolyte balance, and treating reflux, indigestion, stomach ulcers....
Great forum for people with this issue.

Shirley

[Cherry B]

HOW DO I POST THIS QUESTION TO GET A DOCTOR TO ANSWER?  My problem: I am facing an ablation Aug. 30 to correct PAT, and then I found this site, wow, stunned.  I have been on 25 mg. daily for 30 years, of first lanoxin and later toprol no problems, all heart tests fine.  Last Sept. while on vacation in Az. I had arrhythmia so bad I could not stop it and we had to cut the vacation short.  Since that time my life has been pure hell, going from cardiologist to cardiologist, no help.  My Rx has been increased a good many times and the A. still breaks through.  Nothing has helped me at all.  I have told FOUR cardio guys I am certain the burping is connected and in fact causes my A. and have been disreguarded as a nut case.  I had A. 20 times last month.  This past Saturday I went on Prilosec and have not had any arrhythmia, not even once!  QUESTION:  Do any of you know of perople like myself who had been CURED of arrhythmia by curing the gas, acid reflux?  Or does the A. just return when off of the Rx.?  Also---HOW do I post this question and have a doctor answer?  I sure do NOT want the ablation if unnecessary, and TIME is of the essence for me to find some answers before Aug. 30.  Thanking you in advance.  Cherry B.

[pebo]

I am a 57 year old male in good health. I jog 2-3 times a week sometimes for 10K distances. I first noticed extra beats in 1990 following a bout of Afib brought on by overindulgence with alcohol (holiday heart syndrome) they called it after numerous tests. I have not had Afib since as I basically avoid alcohol, caffeine etc that trigger arrythmias.

I still have bouts of extra beats on an irregular basis, I can go for months while only noticing several a week. I have inverted T Waves on some EKG readings but generally feel good overall. I was on atenolol for about 2 yrs but stopped many years ago as I prefer not taking meds. I have two occasions where extra beats are bother me for a period of a week, I am having one now as I write. I was dwelling on my condition and decidinig whether to see a doctor when I decided to go workout as I was frustrated with myself. I noticed during my 40 min aerobic workout that there were no skipped beats and apparent normal elevated rythym from exercise---about 30 mins after I stared returning to skipped/extra beats.

I repeated this morning with an exercise routine and again didn't notice any abnormalities until after when resting. Has anyone else noticed this phenomena? I do appreciate all the posts as I take solace in the knowledge shared by so many others. I hope my condition does not get worse.

Thanks and good luck to us all---I also would love to see a cure for this annoying condition but understand there are more serious matters for the medical world to deal with.

[dawna75]

HI EVERYONE!!I WAS READING ON ONE OF THE WEBSITES(SORRY CANT REMEMBER WHICH ONE CAUSE I READ SO MANY DIFFERENT ONES)THAT RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TYPE OF BACTERIA THAT CAUSES ULCERS AND OTHER CERTAIN STOMACH PROBLEMS TO CERTAIN TYPE OF HEART ARRHYTHMIAS.I AM WILLING TO BUY INTO THIS BECAUSE I NEVER HAD STOMACH PROBLEMS OR HEART ISSUES UNTIL 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY CAME ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME.I HAVE RAPID HEART RATE AND PALPATATIONS.IHAD NOTICED DURING THE SAME TIME I BEGAN HAVING INDIGESTION AND ALL THAT WONDERFUL STUFF.IM 30 YEARS OLD AND FEEL LIKE IM AN OLD LADY.THIS LIMITS ALL THAT I DO FOR FEAR OF AN ONSET OF RAPID HEART RATE OR THE PALPS.THE DOCS SAY IM FINE AND ALL IS NORMAL.IF IT WAS "NORMAL"THEN WHY DONT THEY SAY A "NORMAL RESTING HEART RATE IS 60 TO 120 WITH A FEW SKIPPED BEATS HERE AND THERE."LOLANYWAY I THINK THIS SITE IS GREAT AND MAYBE SOMEDAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSES THIS CRAZY THING CALLED ARRHYTHMIA!!!

[Caseous]

Hi, everyone.  I perused the archives a bit but have a question.  I'm a 38 year old male who just started getting PVCs.  The first time I noticed it was when I'm running.  I've traced it somewhat to changes in my heart rate, such as when I'm warming up.  I run every day and wonder if this is a sign of "overdoing it."  I also get them in runs that seem to come and go and those seem tied to digestion, if anything.  Echo & stress are normal.  I have been diagnosed with GERD and take a Prilosec each morning (going back to the doctor to decide how long to do this).  I'm learning to live with them as so many here seem to be doing successfully.  My main question is this:  It seems like each time I notice a PVC, it is followed by a burp.  I've read some stuff about the v -nerve but wondered if anyone could shed some light on this?  If you see a guy run by you burping pretty regularly, that's me:).

Thanks,

C.

[upbeat63]

Have any of you heard whether or not increasing PVCs up to constant bigeminy can lead to further complications. I seem to remember reading that higher frequency PVCs (1000+/hr) can sometimes lead to v-tach, but that was on this board and not in a research paper.

I've lived with mine for 22 years and I feel good otherwise, but because they keep increasing I'm getting back to the worried stage. Any thoughts are welcome. (ps I'm expecting to get an echocardiogram done which should relieve some of this anxiety.)

I hope it lessens everyone's worry to read about all the people who have PVCs for years and years and years without any complication, but I guess we still all wonder about the exceptions. I've read about three people on this board who have extremely high frequency PVCs in the range like I do, who are in their 40's and have had PVCs for ever. And have two have developed a cardiomyopathy and one has some sort of heart dysfunction. So you do begin to wonder if there is just more to learn.

[Wackybody]

Hey, thanks.  That is actually the best thing I have ever heard about these, by far.  My mother is 74 with CAD, Type II DM, COPD, and has had these all her life, as well.  Her lungs are getting worse, but her heart is strong!

[Wackybody]

Here is what I've found out about the benign arrhythmias in the almost 30 years that I've lived with them.  I am speaking of palpitations, PACs, PVCs, and the rest of the fun stuff that comes with them after you have been checked by a doctor and told that they "won't kill you but may FEEL like they will".  Yes, nervous system spikes can cause them.  Also, being perfectly relaxed can cause them.  Yes, there is research being done on arrhythmias, but it is more likely on the dangerous kind, as was mentioned by the MD on this forum.  Beta blockers help with the tachy arrythmias, but do nothing for the erratic ones.  Antiarrhythmic drugs can help or kill you.  Why bother?  These things come and go, with almost NO rhyme or reason.  You really NEVER get used to them.  Ignoring them is the best thing you can do.  Dwelling on them makes them worse, yet sometimes you can't help it.  I usually get them more when I am tired, and worrying makes me tired.  Sometimes I get depressed, and then one day I'll wake up and they'll be almost gone for a long period.  (They are never completely gone and like I said, it has been 30 years).  I have tried everything I've read about, vitamins, exercise, different foods....I could go on for days about what I've learned. But I still have them.  I am in nursing school, and will keep on trying things.  I'm learning plenty about the body, and if I come up with anything, I'll surely let you know.  Oh, did I mention that my mother and grandmother had them, and my daughters both do, too?  Nice thing to pass on.

[arthur]

A wasted question.
There's plenty of research on arrhythmias, and you can find quite a bit looking through PubMed.  A lot is known, and like any medical procedure, the curative ablation approach is used only when warranted (risk v benefit).  I think that many folks with insistent benign arrhythmias would be happy to undergo a risky procedure, but that's not considered an ethical approach by those most aware of the risks.

Again, the mechanisms behind the generation of a premature beat are indeed well understood.  Less well understood is why they show up in folks who have not experienced them until now.  The relationsip between premature beats and nervous system spikes (like digestion, bending over, exercise, GERD, etc) are no mystery either.

Read up.

-Arthur

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

I do not see a question here.  If you want to make a general comment, that is OK, but please do so in a threads so that others who have been waiting can post.
Thanks