Another little ?

[WvMomof3]

I have a stupid little question...does a PAC feel different from a PVC...is one stronger than the other...also...sometimes when I think I am having a PAC or PVC...It feels like a flutter in my stomach...is it that way for anyone else...

I apologize in advance for my ?'s being so silly...I am just new to all this and need reassurance...

[Jerzeegal]

Well to be honest.. I have both but can't tell the difference. I will say tho that at times I do experience a sinking sensation and other times I have them with no symptoms at all other than the blip I feel tellin me they are there.

[GranRon]

PAC's and PVC's are both premature beats, there really is no such thing as a "skipped" beat.  A PAC will feel more like a sensation or light hiccup at the top of the sternum, the auricles are just below it.  A PVC will feel much stronger and the sensation is felt much lower, right above the stomach.  The reason it feels a lot stronger is because the left ventricle fills with more blood than usual, due to the longer interval that follows the premature beat.  There is a larger volume of blood being forced through the valves and that creates the heavier than usual "thump".  I also used to wonder what the difference was until I was in the ER once and watched both PAC's and PVC's on the ECG as I felt them in my chest.  It was quite interesting to watch and feel them at the same time.  The ER doc gave me Lopressor IR (intravenous) and they went away in less than 5 minutes.

  

[ireneo]

By the way, it's not a silly question. Many other people have wondered the same thing. And whether it's a PVC or a PAC, if your heart is in good shape otherwise, they're nothing more than a little heart hiccup.

[jkfrench]

hey there,
I think they feel different but the results of my holter argue that point.  And yes, it is common to feel them in your stomach.  I hate those because they kind of take your breath for a minute too.  They feel stronger.  I swore a couple of years back when I was having strong ones that I could feel in my stomach that they were pacs.  The holter said they were pvc's.  So, go figure.  I think it is more about the timing of the early beat versus whether it is a pac or pvc that causes us to feel some stronger than others.
Take care
Frenchie