Coping with arrhythmia

[dbranden]

I have a question about coping with PVC's and PAC's. I've had these ectopics for nearly 10 years, and I've always struggled with the fear of them. Within the past year, I'm not sure if it is due to hormones (I am a 41 year old female) or what, but I've gone from having about 100 PAC's/PVC's a day to over 1,000. Just had a stress test with echo, and the results were benign. I try to relax, I take Magnesium supplements, etc. I've been told hundreds of times that they are benign. My EP said I would "die with them, not FROM them". But still the fear persists. Every happy moment that I have is clouded by them. I try my best to ignore them. There has to be someone here who has managed to overcome the fear. I just worry that they will get worse and worse, and I HATE the way that they feel. I would love to hear how others have dealt with the fear. I really want to move past the fear and focus on other things in my life.

[IMFletcher]

I have been suffering from PVCs for years. Recently the intensity and frequency of the PVCs has increased dramatically, and I can experience episodes where I get them every 3rd beat (trigeminy) for hours at a time. Sounds like you have had a full cardiac evaluation, and been told you have no underlying heart issues, so you can rest assured that the PVCs are benign. We all struggle with the sensations of PVCs/PACs when they occur, especially when the frequency is high - several per minute. My cardiologist told me the best "cure" would be to "stop worrying, ignore them, and focus your energy on enjoying your life, your family and friends, and especially your children". It is good advice, but it is very difficult to train your mind to not let the fear of PVCs/PACs consume you. If you read through all the PVC/PAC posts on this site, you will realize that there are many who suffer from the identical problem. Most people who have general anxiety about their health will find the sensations of PVCs very hard to ignore, and unfortunately the stress that ensues can often cause the problem to continue or intensify. Make sure you document your episodes, and try to identify potential triggers - stress, caffeine, alcohol, dehydration etc. Most sufferers report having higher incidence of PVCs while at rest, as the heart rate is lower, and the pause between beats is longer. As you know, magnesium is a popular choice to try to help curtail the problem, as is exercise, staying hydrated, and reducing stress. Try to learn to manage your anxiety when the PVCs when they flare up, and train yourself to stay busy or physically active (if possible). Distracting your mind from hyper focusing will be a useful skill. I firmly believe that less anxiety will result in less physical observance of PVCs and PACs. You really need to stay positive, and know that you are not in any danger. Best of luck, TM

[ireneo]

I'm in the same boat as Mom2four - I've had the arrhythmias for as long as I can remember so they feel "normal" to me. I don't like it when my heart takes off racing and I get light headed but I know it will kick back to normal in a matter of seconds or minutes. As for the ectopics, to me they're just a quick blip and they're gone. I average 1-5 a minute so I've become desensitized to them by now.  I keep saying I'm one of the lucky ones because I'm used to this goofy heart of mine.

As for you, I'm not sure what will convince your mind and emotions that they are pretty harmless, like having a heart hiccup. (right now my heart is erratic and feeling weird but I'd rather talk to you :-)  I wish I had a phrase to offer, an activity, a test that would ease your mind. It's been 10 years and you're still here. Experience has to count for something.

[Mom2four85]

We each have to find our own way to cope & deal with them, what works for me may not work for you and vice versa.  I've lived with arrhythmia's and fainting since age 9 so it just became part of my life and it became what was "normal" to me.

For me, I've never had a fear of them; just what would happen to my husband and kids if I die from them since I have do have a dangerous form of them.

I'm more anxious over my shortness of breath and fainting spells or thinking about the possibility of cancer than arrhythmia's; even with 10,000 - 50,000+ pvc's, pac's, psvt & NSVT runs.

If you've had all the tests, your heart is normal and the doctor's haven't found anything then you need to find what works for you to cope whether it be meds, talking to someone, completely ignoring them, meditation, exercise etc.

hopefully others have some suggestions for you also...no matter what we have and how many, it still isn't easy learning to deal with these things we just have to do the best we can to deal with them and know there's going to be good and bad days.