frequent heart palpitations

[belinny]

I am 34 years old with a history of having heart palpitations since I was in my early teens.  My mother has them quite bad but has never been tested for it.  My grandmother now has a pacemaker that she totally depends on 100%.  I had my third child on July 13 and during the pregnancy they were the worst that they have ever been.  At Christmas last year I had them repeatly one after another after I had gone to bed.  I lost count in a half an hour that is how many that I was having.  I didn't faint and I wasn't short of breath but I did wonder if I should go to the emergency room.  On a good day I will still have them, sometimes 2-3 in a row.  They have been to the point where it seems to actually stop and I can count up to 2 or three before the next beat.  I am about 50lbs overweight but I am trying.  I have taken off 50lbs in the past two years.  I seem to be healthy as far as everything else goes.  I have had ekg and I did have a heart monitor put on for a day but that was years ago.  I was wondering if I should be tested again?  My doctor did tell me that he would test me again if it really bothers me but he doesn't think that it is anything to worry about.  I just wonder if this is going to steadily increase with my age and if I am going to have to worry about a pacemaker too.  My heart rate for the most part will run high (90-100)but after I had the baby it tends to run in the 60's for the most part.  Sometimes I have a tightness or heavy feeling around my throat and upper chest area but I have never fainted,been short of breath or had pain.  Thank you.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Belinny,

Sorry to hear you are struggling.  You are not alone -- I see people all the time with similar concerns.

I was wondering if I should be tested again?

I usually give the same advice your doctor gave you.  I would consider retesting if you are very concerned.  The reason I would retest is not because I am concerned.  We know that young people with normal hearts do very well with PVCs.  I would retest because sometimes people need the reassurance of normal test results to know they are doing ok.  If you think this will help, it is reasonable to pursue repeat tests.



I just wonder if this is going to steadily increase with my age and if I am going to have to worry about a pacemaker too.

There is no way to know the answer to whether your PVCs will increase over time.  I should also emphasize that I have never seen a study that PVCs are related to the need for pacemakers or conduction system disease.


I hope this answers your questions.  Good luck and thanks for posting.

[gismatrix]

I have been told that the scars caused by ablating (RF energy application) can possibly create additional foci from which PVC can originate.  My problem seems to be consistent with anxiety and/or eating.  My lastest episode of bigeminy was after climbing several steps and fearing it might happen...sure enough it did.  

I plan to exercise more and see how it goes.  I definately have a faster heartbeat after eating and have more pvcs.  It could be blood sugar or something... really don't know.  

I must agree that I do not feel the same since this whole thing started back on Feb 2006.  Maybe I "listen in" too much.  

My EP told me that my pvcs and bigeminy are benign... but I sure feel anxious at times when I don't think I am worrying about my heart or health.  I guess I have to just press on (put my faith in God) and try to get through this.

[gismatrix]

I hate PVCs just as much as the rest of you do.  Lately, when I get really anxious, I go into bigeminy and it takes a while for it to calm down and return to normal sinus rhythm.  I had two avnrt ablations this year (the latest on July 25th with "knock on wood" no SVT yet.  However, I get more pvcs than ever before and the bigeminy.  Is is possible that this bigeminy will go away with time assuming I can get the anxiety under control?  I also have peptic ulcers and GERD which exacerbates my pvcs.  Does anyone know if it is safe for me to exercise with this bigeminy happening and if it will potentially help lessen or eliminate the episodes?  Any insight is appreciated.

-Bill

[BRAZZY3]

I need some answers Mr. Dr recently stopped my Coreg for 2nd time because I was having side effects crying & low libido.  1st time off I felt fine he did this one week off to see if symptoms improve then he did one week on to see if they came back.  This was after MUGA scan showed no weakness in heart & EF was up to 63%.  My dose was 6.25 2x daily.  After second removal two days later I was sleeping and felt heart racing I jumped up and yelled my husband's name.  He was startled...I took my pressure in both arms readings were 167/94 hr 99 & 157/80 hr 102 normally my pressure is much lower took reading few minutes later was normal but for the rest of the nite I could not sleep, I just felt weird in my chest.  Can PVC's cause such frightening feelings?  Was diagnosed w/DCM 2/24/06...

[Fran71]

I wonder why so many people on this forum with PVCs also have SVT. Are the two related? PVCs are in the ventricles; what's the connection between them and supraventricular tachycardia? Just wondering.

[dmil241]

There is no connection because supraventricular means "above the ventricals". SVT would be associated more with PACs. I think most people on this forum suffer from both and simply call them all PVCs. I know that some people say they can feel the differnce but personally I doubt it. I know people who have been hooked up to monitor swearing they are having numerous PVCs and they are actually having PACs. I believe and I may be wrong that you can only tell the difference by watching a monitor. I know that most people won't like this idea. It does not have anything to do with how hard the thud is because that is related to how full either the atrium or the ventrical has gotten prior to pumping the blood out.