How to keep living like this?

[Carey01]

Hi everyone-

After a brief reprieve from the PSC's, PVC's they are back with a vengance.  Skipping every 4 or 5 beats for 2 days now.  Last time this happened it went on for 2 weeks.  I take HBP medication and Metoprolol to try to control the problem.  Everytime it hits, I think Im gonna die.  Yes, I have had all the tests and my Dr says they are "benign."

This has caused me to become agoraphobic! I dont know how to live with them!  I dont want to shop, go on vacation -- nothing!    Im supposed to go see a therapist in a month but I really dont know how that can help.  Looking for words of wisdom from anyone please! :(  

[DeltaDawn23]

I know it's hard to remember it's benign when you're in the middle of an episode.  Sometimes I can quiet things down and sometimes it's like a knee jerk reaction -- it goes from irregular beat to panic instantly!  There's no time to think, "this really isn't serious and isn't going to hurt me."  The adrenaline surge is not at all helpful in this situation.  Deeper and slower breathing, visualization, and positive self-talk help me.  This is a breathing exercise I learned:  Expel your breath through your mouth, inhale thru your nose to the count of 4, hold your breath to the count of 7, exhale thru your mouth to the count of 8.  Do this 4 times until you are used to it, then 2 sets of 4.  It will slow your heart rate down very quickly and seems to help with irregular beats.  It is calming.  Sometimes if one can get one's breathing under control, your thoughts (like I'm going to die) slow down too.  I got this from a handout at a Preventive Cardiology Program.

[Carey01]

I have had 2 events in my life of A Fib too.  That was horrifying.  And thats what upsets me.  They say it CANT morph into something else and then it seems like it does.  My Dr said the A Fib wasnt related to the PVC, PAC's.  I find that hard to swallow since they are both rhythm issues. He told me today that he promises I will not die from the PVC's.  I guess I have to keep remembering that.  

[DeltaDawn23]

I have Afib, pvc's and pacs.  Under pretty good control right now, but I have been where you are.  I also suffered from agoraphobia.  There are a lot of tricks you can learn to slow things down and quell the panic.  I still have Xanax on hand and take a low dose, as well as Atenolol, and right now I am on Norpace, soon to be discontinued -- which is causing me some minor panic right now.  Hang in there -- keep talking to your doctor about how this is affecting your lifestyle -- the squeaky wheel is the one that gets attention.  Good luck to you.  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

[dolphin8808]

I know it's rough! I often say that I would be fine if I at least didn't feel them. But obviously we feel every single one~....

[achillea]

To see how many of us have these, and how we feel, just type "PVCs" into the search function.

If you read, read, read, you will begin to understand.   Doing a lot of your own research will help.

[Carey01]

HEre I am a couple days later -- STILL have them.  Like every 8 or 9 beats.  And I feel EVERY single one of them! Does anyone else get them like that?  I feel like its never gonna stop!

[dolphin8808]

I KNOW how tough it is! I have been there in your shoes. I had to take my children with me and go stay with my mother I was such a mess. I am lucky to take medication (Zoloft) which helps me a lot. I also have Xanax on hand which helps to calm my nerves. But therapy is truly a blessing!

Your therapist (as long as they are familiar with anxiety) can teach you ways to talk yourself down from a scare. They can teach you how to retrain your brain and still live life.

Its a tough road and the PVCs are such a horrible feelings but you have to remember, you are going to be just fine. Even your doc told you that. You have to trust them, easier said then done I know.

[achillea]

Since you have seen that benign PVCs are harmless but virtually impossible to control, you have accurately pinpointed the rel-life problem for yourself:  You do not know how to live with these odd veats, and fear of them has caused you to become agoraphobic.

Here is a discussion of agoraphobia and how it is treated:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001921/

As the article says, a two proned approach is best.  A therapist can teach you cognitive-behavioral techniques for dealing with the fear--but for real effectiveness, you will probably also have to see a psychatrist for medication.

In my experience with this problem, various types of medication can get you out of the acute phase and back into your normal activites very, very quickly.  I am an unusually fast responder to SSRIs, and within a day--a day--I can feel a dimuniton of those panicky sensations.

However, it is worth noting that some SSRIs are more calming than others, that sometimes it takes a couple of tries to find the right one, and that you normally need at least two full weeks to see the real effect.  In the meantime, the psychiatrist can give you mild, short-term medication to bridge the gap.

I keep using the term 'psychiatrist' because although GPs can prescribe medications, they do not generally have enough experience to oversee emotional problems effectively.

Since you have tried the standard medications for PVCs. it would appear you are not among those who opposed to the use of meds for other conditions?  If this is the case, you are on the fast track to a calmer life.  However, there are many, many people who are violently opposed to the use of meds for anxiety or panic.