Supraventricular Bigeminy

[accounting]

Hello,

My last holter monitor demonstrated Supraventricular Bigeminy. They found 1000+ supraventricular beats at that time. I'm getting this type of arrhythmia daily for two years already. It kicks in only when the heart is at low BPM. It never happens when I'm active.

I've been given Motroprolol for taking during episodes but it doesn't seem to help.

What is an effective treatment for this type of rhythm?

Thanks




This discussion is related to sinus arrhythmia or bigeminy?.

[pacperson]

I'm sorry, I don't know a lot about MVP.
I do find reassurance is a great help for me. This link may help you feel better about the bigenimy.
Take care, hope you can get some rest.

http://www.drjohnm.org/2013/06/benign-pvcs-a-heart-rhythm-doctors-approach/

[lou4466]

Thankyou for your reply, I have seen a cardiologist ,I have mitral valve prolapse and they have attempted ablation but heart wouldn't miss behave on the day so I'm stuck like this, I take propranolol only as I have tried all other drugs,I haven't slept all night so I will try to see gp but what can anyone do !

[pacperson]

I had an ablation for atrial flutter 16 months ago. At my follow up appointment with the EP , I was told that if my symptoms changed, make another appointment to see him. In the last 2 months, my pvc's have started to become much more frequent, and it's common for me to feel a trigeminal pattern or one every 5-6 beats. I called the EP's office a few weeks back, haven't heard back from them. I had many tests done before the ablation , and I guess the EP doesn't think having more pvc's is cause enough to see me again.
Have you been tested thoroughly and how recently ? I know how frightening it is to have that many, but breathing deep and slow almost always helps me calm them down. If you do go in to the A and E, let us know what they say?
Be well.

[lou4466]

Hi I'm sitting alone with my heart having palpitations every other beat, do I go to A andE again or not!!it is so uncomfortable and I'm scared

[pvctom]

hi ,

I have PVCs almost daily, with some episodes being very disconcerting. they are uncomfortable, and inspite of being tested and told that they are benign, still scary. when mine are in a "vicious cycle", they can really be disruptive. i recently holtered for 41 recordable hours with 5300. I am taking lopressor 25mg twice daily, i think it helps, but also, bradycardia sometimes causes mine to act up. like yourself, when I am active, they seem to less bothersome.  

my best to you

[marlinspike]

Hi OP. I have had pvcs for 10 years, thousands a day at times. Last year I took myself to the ER because I was in bigeminy - every other beat was a pvc. I was on a monitor and they called a cardiologist. He was not concerned and said I could go home. The episide lasted a couple of hours. I mention this because it seems that the general approach is that even bigeminy is not concerning if you have had the correct tests and your issue has been identified as benign. Even 1,000 svb's a day is only about 1% of heartbeats. They don't seem concerned unless you have 10% plus a day. I find episodes of lots of pvcs very frightening, but no doctor I have seen has been concerned. They seem to start with beta blockers, with ablation as a last resort. Even then, my impression is that beta blockers is more to alleviate the sensations and anxiety.

[Artaud]

My last Holter showed 6000 PVCs, not something I'm happy about. The strange thing is that some, perhaps most, people that are plagued with them don't feel them at all, how that's possible is beyond me.

Treating them can introduce additional risks, whether from ablation (a surgical procedure) or anti-arrhythmic medications, which can cause potentially serious rhythm issues if not properly monitored while the patient is initially put on the medication or not properly followed-up. Some anti-arrhythmics require hospitalization to initiate in a patient to monitor for serious changes in the EKG.

Most Beta Blockers do not have the potential to cause additional rhythm issues.

The important thing is that you receive stress testing (echo or nuclear) to be sure nothing is wrong with the heart, and if you get a clean bill of health, if they say your rhythm disturbance is benign, it's best not to focus on them.

Some people use supplements, such as magnesium or Taurine, to try to control them, others may use a tranquilizer to take the edge off the anxiety some get by having them.

[Artaud]

Patience, acceptance, education.

The following article, by an Electrophysiologist, a heart rhythm specialist, touches on bigeminy. I get it often, more often when my heart rate is slow. It's quite common.

http://www.drjohnm.org/2013/06/benign-pvcs-a-heart-rhythm-doctors-approach/