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PAC'S/PVC'S

Hey guys well I already posted a question but as I read more I can relate to some of you and I hope you guys can help me not be worried.

In January of this year I started getting lots of skipped heart beats on a daily basis and it has been like that ever since. I constantly worry I'm gonna die in my sleep etc or that something is wrong constantly with my heart when I have them.
I've had an echocardiogram 6 ekg's lots of blood work and the doctors tell me everything is fine. I've ran er to er and they say it's all fine just keep ur pressure down and work on ur weight etc. Just that no matter how much they reassure me I still get scared that im gonna die any day in my sleep cuz of the pvc's/pac's.

I hope some of you guys can share your feelings etc because this is a great community so far from what I've seen and I know some of you can relate.

Jaro.
6 Responses
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967168 tn?1477584489
Stress & anxiety are probably our worst cuplrits and if we can help control our triggers, it may help some of our symptoms.  Even with my crazy amount of pvc's, I try not to let them bother me and only visited the ER once after a doctor gave me Toprol which made me extremely sick.

RF Ablation helped me for abit, but then my pvc's returned as well as pac's.  My EP has said another ablation is in order, but I'm waiting on that for now; too much happened during mine to have another right now.

For some of us, there are no triggers and for most of us, we will not die from pvc's or pac's, even then they are such a pain to deal with and don't let anyone, even a doctor tell you otherwise.  I get really ticked off when I read or hear someone say why do they bother you or they're nothing to worry about...[gets off my soapbox]

I've read only 1% of pvc's in patients are considered dangerous, but other research says 5%, so who knows what the real number is; that's not alot considering the enormous amount of patients who suffer pvc's.

It may be helpful to keep a journal and see if certain things make your pvc's better or worse.  Also, if you're still having trouble with anxiety or stress, it may be beneficial to talk to your doctor about an SSRI.

wow Crystal2214 you're the closest I've read to what my pvc's were, the most I've seen in researching since last July was 34,000.  I was surprised when my 24 holter said 54,000 and it went up when I was in the hospital [ugh]

Where are yours originating from? That I'm told is a big factor - mine originated from the back inside thin part of the heart that was extremely difficult to ablate.  Do you ever have VT or other issues?  I will caution you to watch your symptoms - pvc's can  cause cardiomyopathy - this happened to me and a couple of others here with high amounts of pvc's.

The most important thing each of us can do for ourselves is to be our own best advocates - get copies of your test results and keep track of what's going on with your body; ask questions and don't stop till you get answers. If I had done this I may have picked up years ago on things my doctor didn't tell me (like frequent bigeminy pvc's; RBBB) and stopped some of my health issues from escalating to the point they have.
Helpful - 0
1182699 tn?1297574784
I have PAC's and am very symptomatic...they totally drain me, yet they are harmless.  It is a terrible feeling and mine have directly resulted in anxiety and panic attacks.  I take a beta-blocker (1/2 of the minimum dose due to having low blood pressure) to help with the adrenaline, but I still get them.  I have to be very careful with what I eat...MSG and fried foods are the absolute worst.  When I have a few in a row I begin coughing to get the vagus nerve working, but that doesn't always help.  I do know anxiety will make them much worse as well.  I'm so sorry you are feeling bad..Keep us posted and I wish you all the best!  (I've had them for 15 years and I'm only 37)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You sound like me a year and a half ago. I too at the beginning went to multiple E.R.'s, had numerous tests and were told they were benign. The good news is that I'm still here even though I thought I could drop dead at any moment, the bad news is that I still get lots of PAC's/PVC's. I've chosen to live with them for now, I don't take meds or anything. I suggest you do the holter monitor and also try to identify any triggers. Lack of sleep, alcholol, caffenine, or anything that produces adrenaline in my body will set them off. I once had them all day for two weeks straight, then they suddenly subsided. They have a mind of there own. I think adrenaline in the body may be the main culprit. I know beta blockers can help with that but I haven't gone that route yet. The good news is that some people on this board have been living with them for over 30 years. It takes time to start to accept them as harmless and I still have days where they really get to me. Good luck and hang in there.
Helpful - 0
1215867 tn?1267991628
I feel just like you do everyday; I understand many days I question if I will die in my sleep. I ran to ER after ER too. Everyone thought i was crazy. You need to be persistent for you. Dont stop, there is probably something wrong; doesnt mean you are going to die. I understand what you are going through; I finally have my ablation scheduled for the end of this month; also Jerry knows alot he seems to be a good support person too. Dont be so scared! Just try to relax! The hardest part for me was feeling so isolated until I found this forum, and often I wish I could talk to a live person. The Cleveland Clinic has a nurse on here to talk to too!!!
Helpful - 0
1144520 tn?1277115601
Wow.
40,000 per day that's probably at least 30% of your total daily heartbeats.

I've had episodes that could last several hours,
where I had 1 in 3... but that was when i still had stomach issues which are now resolved.

Having the heart skip very often, or skipping twice or three times in a row can be very scary.
A few months ago I still suffered from fear everyday...
fear of dropping dead or dying in my sleep because of the heart.

I worry a lot less now that I've finally understould that even though it feels very unhealthy,
PVC's are  harmless...... in many cases...
Helpful - 0
1244042 tn?1269980489
I can definitely relate.  I am living w/ over 40,000 pvc's a day right now.  I do feel like you do every day.  It is so frustrating, and I need an ablation, but where I need it is very risky.  I am considering the cleveland clinic.  You may want to see an EP.   They will probably tell you they are benign, but it's worth getting checked out and getting a holter monitor to see what all is going on.  It's worth piece of mind.  
Helpful - 0
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