How Do Deal With PVCs?

[goingcrazy1029]

I recently was diagnosed with PVCs and they are driving me crazy. When they first appeared, it would be a few days a month during the afternoon for about 20 minutes. They have progressively worsened. They now come any time of day except when I am sleeping (knock on wood) and can last from a few minutes to off and on episodes for half the day. There are some days that I don't have them but those days seem to be lessening. I have had all the tests...echo, carotoid ultrasound, nuclear stress, holter monitor, event monitor for three weeks, etc. Doc says they are benign and my heart is fine. They certainly don't feel so benign when they are happening to you. I try to not let them bother me but it is so difficult. I recently started a low dose of a beta blocker but it really doesn't seem to be helping. I have stayed away from all caffeine...don't drink alcohol either. Someone told me to make sure I stay hydrated so I have been drinking more water but nothing seems to really help.  I just find it difficult to believe that there are no real causes for this. I keep thinking there must be a trigger but I can not seem to pinpoint it. Any thoughts on this? How do you deal with them?

[Mom2four85]

he should know that it will cause electrolyte imbalance which is a common cause of pvc's - and may not have tested yours (blood test) to check them or if he did yours were low

I had regular sodium levels which vary only slightly if you look in normal levels I believe 136-139/140ish and the normal sodium intake for a patient with ANS (autonomic nervous system) problems like me is 10,000+ grams of sodium daily - dr's prescribe this kind of treatment all the time to keep bp up and they don't question the side effects...

rest assured most likely your pvc's are benign and something environmental or lifestyle has triggered them to where you feel them...most have them all our lives and never feel them .  I've dealt with roughly 50,000 pvc's daily, VT runs, fainting episodes so I understand about how you're feeling.  It wasn't until mine messed up my LV and my heart enlarged that I started having major health problems; which is very rare.

if you don't ask your first but try to see if exercise helps them; some patients find it lessens them and helps cope with these dreaded things - also your dr may want to up your meds or try a different on - each betablocker may affect each of us differently

[goingcrazy1029]

Haven't had gatorade/powerade in awhile...been trying to drink flavored water...some of those do have electrolytes in them. Doc told me to drink gatorade for the potassium, sodium and magnesium...would think he would know it could cause an electrolyte imbalance.

I truly believe there is something that triggers the PVCs...sure wish I knew what it was though. I need to keep a log sort of like what you do when you are trying to find out what you are allergic to.

Right now it is past midnight and I am having PVCs. I am tired but can't fall asleep because of them. They are so darn frustrating.

[Mom2four85]

hmmm Cindy, I wonder how often that might be one of the causes? gatorade is a very popular; I really need some info on this if you have it - going to see if I can find some also..

goingcrazy1029 do you notice any difference when you drink gatorade? keep a log or the heart rhythm tracker here and see if you do and make notes; this may be a problem I've been having also

[cindy707]

The main reason we are told to steer clear of gatorade type of products or anything with electrolytes in them is that they can set off an electrolyte  imbalance in our bodies which can definately bring on PVC's in a vengence if your electrolye balance goes out of whack.....

[Mom2four85]

the only thing I would ask about the gatorade is the sodium content - my dr's put me on it as a replacement for regular water due to ANS (autonomic nervous system) dysfunction; some of it is loaded with sodium and I am allowed to drink as much as I can daily ugh! talk about fluid retention

there's no easy way to deal with pvc's; I call them the purple people eaters - and would love to be rid of them once and for all but they just love me so much even surgery, meds and other treatments they keep finding me

luckily for me through process of elimination I found I don't have any food/drink triggers and coffee is a treasure these days =)

[goingcrazy1029]

Just wondering why you said no gatorade or vitamin water. My cardiologist recommended drinking gatorade for the potassium so I have been drinking powerade zero. Also, some of the vitamin zero waters have good vitamins and potassium too. I read the labels to make sure there are no additives that may cause an increase of heartrate. Isn't caffeine free coke/pepsi okay too? I don't have it alot but everyone once in awhile I crave a cola so I drink caffeine free.

Thanks for your imput.

[cindy707]

The basic rules for engagement w. PVC's are: limit caffeine yes...but this does not mean just coffee....its iced tea, its sodas with any coloring in the them other than root beer, no red wine, no chocolate, no drinks with electolytes in them like gatorade, limit the sugar, limit the stress, hydrate w. plain water not vitamin water, try to get a full nite of sleep, no ginseng type of products, no over the counter cold meds or inhalers without your docs approval, those are the very basics....if you are having what is called "breakthroughs" on the beta blocker and the doc may have to switch you around or slightly increase the dosage to a longer lasting blocker.  There is no easy way thru PVC's as far as i am concerned...i went from the treatment to the cure for me anyway which was an ablation.  You are very very right...they definately don't feel so benign when they are happening and you are scared witless....the causes of PVC's are actually electrically based in the firing of the heart electrical system based out of the brain of the heart or the sinus node....just about anything can cause it to happen and the Mayo Clinic has a great website explaining it all to anyone and how to deal....good luck and been there done that but now for me its a thing of the past.....