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more than frequent PVC and PACs

Hi there.  I'm a 33 year old woman and for the past week, i've been having PVC/PACs every day.  I don't drink coffee or soda and eat well for the most part.  I feel the pause in the heartbeat followed by a strong heartbeat and assume that it is PVC.  I've seen my primary care physician and he's referred me to a cardiologist.  I'm still waiting for an appointment.  My doctor was unable to hear the pause, as it did not occur in the office.  It usually occurs while i'm just relaxing, in the car, watching tv, reading, knitting, standing around, etc.  If my mind is not completely occupied, then i notice it.  I've read forums and "know" i'm not supposed to worry, but it's so hard when i've been feeling these for a week straight now.  They occur sometimes 2x a minute for hours on end.  Then i'll get a break in the day where i only feel a few, then again all night - 2x a minute or 1 every 2 minutes, etc.  The doctor did check my blood and found my iron levels and red blood count to be very low.  He says i'm anemic and to take iron suppliments.  Any thoughts?
Thanks!
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Avatar universal
Hi Annbez,
I just googled WPW and it's my worst nightmare that something that seems so common like PVCs can actually be something like WPW and cause sudden death.  According to wikipedia, "the incidence of WPW syndrome is between 0.9 and 3% of the general population".  Do you have experience with someone that has WPW?  Why would you think it was WPW or suggest that i ask about it?  Back in 2002, I had a stress test done along with echocardio, wore a monitor for 24 hours etc.  Granted, I did not feel a PVC during those tests, but if there was something wrong structurally with my heart, would something have shown up on these tests to indicate that I had WPW?
(now i'm really freaked out and the cardiologist still hasn't called me back with an appt)
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525161 tn?1213270435
Only a cardiologist can make the diagnosis but inquire about WPW.
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21064 tn?1309308733
Ditto on everything that e.r. boy said!  

I've had PVCs for at least 30 years and at times they were as frequent as 15+ per minute, for hours on end.  They do come and go and trying to find a "trigger" for them can be exhausting.  One day, you may notice they're simple just not there.  Just when you decide they're gone......they show up again.  We absolutely tend to notice them more during quiet times (watching TV, typing on the computer, lying down, reading.....).  When we're busy, we tend not to be aware of them.

Good luck with the cardio appointment!
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Avatar universal
Welcome to the club. Unfortunately it's not a membership you will enjoy like a gym or golf membership. You have a condition which will make no sense at all. The good thing is that for most people it waxes and wanes throughout their lives. I went through 3 years without one noticed PVC. Get checked out. if your heart is fine there is absolutely nothing to worry about. The thing that works best for me is aerobic exercise. Getting your heart rate to 70-80% max a few times a week seems to reset your nervous system and lessens the frequency of them (or at least the sensation of them). As for supplements, my cardiologist recommends Magnesium. its rare they  ever recommend any supplement.
The worst thing to do is panic about them. They like that and it will be a vicious circle. Get another condition that will diffuse your attention from the PVC's like smashing your toe into a coffee table. Kidding. I've had them for 10 years now and had every test imaginable done including an angiogram which is very invasive. All tests were negative. The day they find a pill that cures these buggers is the day I run naked through the streets. Cheers


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