Teatment options of my arrhythmia

[VLC]

I was diagnosed with arrhythmia a little over 2 years ago.  I've been placed on beta blockers since then and have had my meds adjusted 4 times since then.  Each time they work for awhile and then my arrhythmia starts to get worse again.  I know I'm going to have to adjust it again soon because I have all the symptoms back again and I'm wondering if changing meds again is all I'm going to be able to do or if there's a better option for me.  It's my family doctor treating me; I've only seen a heart specialist once and my family doctor says he can manage my treatment himself for now and says changing my meds is the best option right now.  I just want another opinion for now because I can't see the heart specialist again without my family doctor's referral.  Thanks, VLC

[bigmick]

Off-thread I'm afraid, but REAL tough to get a Q to this board! And I'm asking Hankstar having ascertained that he is one dude who seems to know his stuff helping, as he kindly does, lots of folks here with good info.

I'm a 42 yr old healthy male 6'4" 220 lbs and quite fit living in England. I've had a 15 yr history of GERD, anxiety, and ectopy. Over last four years I've had 5 episodes of AF - all 3-5 hrs duration and starting in the early am and converting before getting up. I also get quite a few ectopics - 10 on a good day and a couple of hundred on a bad day: also one or two short runs of ectopics on most days - 2-6 seconds typically. I appreciate that I am a vagal lone AFr with a normal heart (echo, stress ECG etc). I am on no drugs and never have been. IMHO they appear to be very mimited as regards their 'benefits' for individuals such as myself. I am by nature somewhat anxious and obsessive, and have come from a violent and traumatic childhood at the hands of a mentally-ill adoptive father. I am somewhat hypochondriacal and VERY heart-aware! I am in psychotherapy and have been on and off SSRIs for seven years, but have recently (with Doc's approval) changed to 5HTP. I have, over this last decade, become well educated to PhD standard.

Now to my question. I have over the last 5 years had the occasional flurry of fast ectopy (?) which lasts but a few seconds (self limiting). It always originates whilst at rest (often driving) and has happened only a few times. BUT, when it happens it kinda feels like a real fast fluttery feeling in my throat and starts to make me feel a little light/hot/thick headed before it self-terminates with something of a large 'thump'. My question to Hankstar and you other folks here is what would you guess that these little episodes are?? All my Holters over the years have shown isolated PVCs (mostly up until five years ago) and isolated PACs (as opposed to PVCs during the last five years). Sod's Law says that one of these little flurries will not happen whilst on a Holter! Do you reckon that these sound like shorst salvos of fast HR SVT? I know they don't last long, but they have on occasion really had me catching my breath and getting panicky since I fear that such an episode would bring me close to passing out if it persisted for more than 10 seconds. Docs and Cardios tell me it's just runs of ectopics and that my biggest problem in worrying about it. Any views and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes to all,

Big Mick

[Cleveland Clinic]

VLC,

Im sorry Ill need to know more about your arrhythmia as there are multiple arrythmia that people experiece, each with different treatment options.

Generally, you should have the help of a heart specialist to oversee arrythmia treatment.

good luck

[Dr. Erik]

You need to state the type of Arrhythmia. Is it PVC's , PAC's or Atrial Fibrillation or SVT? If it's A-fib or SVT you should be seeing a Cardiologist. If your primary won't refer you back to the Cardiologist, maybe you should get a new Doctor.