PVC Studies Indicate Danger?

[ladyjake]

Well, having suffered with PVC's for years and having the stuffing scared out of me for the equal amount of time, going through all the testing and doctors visits which all indicated that PVC's are benign, I made the mistake of going on-line and doing research.  Everything I found said that PVC's were not as benign as I was led to believe.  What the heck?  So much for my educational experience of setting my mind at rest.  The information varied from, many people have them, they are the most common form of arrhythmias to one that stated that a young man had 1 PVC and dropped dead (how they figured out he had just 1, I can't explain).  Most of the studies and information I found spent a heck of a lot more time talking about the dangers that PVC's represent, including VT and SCD, whether or not you have heart disease (although this does increase the probability).

Usually the tests I had done (including a week long study) either did not pick up any or if lucky, they picked up 1 or 2.  Of course, after the tests, all the skipping kicks back in.  So, here I am with these annoying episodes that knock the wind out of me, hurt and have increased in frequency.  And now the studies refute what all the doctors say.  Why in the world did I want to educate myself?  

Any suggestions on how to deal with this information?  Thank you

[upbeat633]

looks like you are breaking the cycle, you are moving down the list, whether you know it or not, you've just accomplished #10 with your post to Crezelda. Way to go!

ps, I try to practice #10 when I can, it helps to get me out of repeating the first ones.

[Momto3]

Hi and welcome to the PVC Club!!  Not a great membership to have, but nonetheless, not too bad : )

The PVCs themselves are not a problem.  However, they can indicate an underlying problem.  That's why the Holter, EKG, echocardiogram are helpful.  They are meant to identify the types of problems that could be going on.  If those tests are clear (a great thing), you're dealing with benign PVCs.  Think of it like having bothersome daily/weekly headaches.  You think the worst, you have "the tests" and are told you have migraines.  Not serious, but they can be difficult to deal with.

In someone with a structurally normal heart, they are not going to cause a dangerous rhythm.  For years, I had over 20,000 a day and never ended up in a serious arrythmia.

Check out Dr. McWilliams' responses on the EXPERT forum.  Search that particular forum for "PVCs and dangerous arrythmia."  You may feel more reassured : )

Feel better

[ladyjake]

Good old Google!!  In our case, I think it would be wiser not to use it for this.  I was happier not reading that negative information.  From what I gathered and from what you read, PVC's can indicate a problem.  Which if you look on the positive side, we have had workups, tests and conversations galore with our doctors, they would have ruled this out.  That's good news.  When they say "don't worry...they mean it".  As far as triggering a serious arrythmia, again, if I remember correctly, they refer to existing conditions which our doctors would be able to determine if we are at risk for.    

Having these things hit is very frightening.  Along with the fright, we then can step over into a panic attack, which just makes them worse.  It does sound as if you had a panic attack and probably were doing a lot of shallow breathing and not getting enough oxygen.  As to getting up and going upstairs, if you were still having the tail end of the panic attack, that could account for the dizziness.  If the blue tinge continues to occur, I would call the doctor and ask him about it.

I have a Generalized Anxiety Disorder where I loose my equilibrium, get dizzy and have a hard time breathing and thinking, get cold and shakey, almost black out and my most favorite symptom of all, being scared to death over everything and nothing.  The strange thing is that when I'm in an 'anxiety' mode, I usually do not have the PVC's.  They come whenever least expected and during happy, calm moments.  Go figure!  This is probably better addressed in an 'anxiety/panic forum', but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone in experincing the panic symptoms.  There is a good book out there for those panic attacks (Coping with Anxiety) and it covers pretty much most of the suggested techniques you will find if you 'google' (this is one topic that is safe to google).  

This forum is wonderful and the people walking us through these experiences really help us to see that a lot of our fears are just that...fears.   Sometimes when I have an episode, it stops me in my tracks and it takes a day or two to get over it.  I've had about 2 to 3 months of things things kicking off numerous times every day....which is a lot more than I normally experience, which is why I 'googled'.  Thank goodness I found this forum and these compassionate ladies and gentlemen can reassure me, and you, that we are not alone and that when the doctor says "don't worry",  we need to go on with our lives.  So, take heart, (sorry about the pun), what we have is benign and we have to learn how to cope with them.  We've taken an important step and that is in joining this forum.

[Crezelda]

oi, i'm here too, i was told i have nothing to worry about, but yesterday i had a whole cluster of them and my chest felt like things werent in thier right place, and then my hands and feet went cold and blue ( could be panic attack + cold basement + inactivity/sitting down) and i started panicking....soooo i look up google...  Plus my ex who i keep close with is as paranoid as i am, and he starts panicking too, which of course makes me worse. I skip my excercize today, and buy some bananas and apricots ( a banana a day  in my cerial has really helped with me).
anyways i just went up a flight of stairs from sitting down and got dizzy so i'm all panicked again.....

firstly my questions are ( to sort out my rambling)
1.It states PVCs can indicate problems, are ALL of these problems spotted from a 24 hour holder, echo ( heart ultrasound) and radioactive dye tests?
2. can a PVC trigger a serious arrythmia?

[ladyjake]

I am happy the ablations worked so well.  Thank you for sending the post from 'Skippy Heart'.  I think I am stuck in looping through steps 1 to 6 with a periodic step into # 7.  You would think that after years of dealing with pvc's, I'd have learned to deal with them.  Like so many others have expressed, they really can take over one's life.  I need to get to steps 8, 9 and 10.

Thank you again.  

[Momto3]

It took me a LONG time to believe the doctors!  I had been to a couple of doctors, including internists, cardios, EPs...same thing...benign!  I kept thinking, "Well, they just don't get it!  There is NO way this is normal!"  Turns out they were right : )

I guess I felt most of them...LOL.  It sounds odd but I was so used to be in bigeminy that it was "normal" for me.  If I had a run of PVCs I was more aware.  I no longer have all those PVCs.  I had 2 ablations in 2003 and now when I get a couple of PVCs, I really notice them.  I think I notice an occasional PVC more than having them all day.  It was just so normal for me.  After the ablations it was a little freaky having the normal lub-dub...Now, I'm used to it : )

What you're feeling is really, really common so don't beat yourself up.  Take it from those of us who have been there, done that...your doctors are right and you really are fine.  The doctor on the EXPERT forum is wonderful!  Hey, here's one of my favorite PVC posts...A friend of mine wrote this and I'll bet you will be able to relate:

From Skippy Heart - 2006
"Here are (in my experience), the phases you go through dealing with PVCs. From the responses on the forum, they seem to be a fairly commonCommon cold experience:

1) You are sure you are going to die, and every beat brings about other symptoms like light-headedness, breathlessness, high-blood pressure (all anxiety related).

2) You go to the ER a few times. They bring you in right away, then send you home telling you there's nothing wrong (they're right)

3) You go to a cardio, get a full workup (and pass with flying colors)

4) You don't believe the doctors, keep having anxiety attacks, read everything about PVCs on the internet everyday, become agoraphobic, and try to isolate every trigger (there is no one trigger except anxiety).

5) You try to will them away (you can't cause you're still thinking about them)

6) You become anxious thinking your PVCs are going to get worse (and they do, since anxiety is the one common denominator)

7) One day you get pissed off, and go about your life regardless of the PVCs, figuring who cares if they kill you since you're at your wit's end anyway (you live)

8) You start to realize nothing bad ever actually happens to you while having pvcs, start going about your normal life, and start ignoring them and forgetting about them (they don't go away yet)

9) You start really forgetting about them (they never go away completely, but occur much less often, and you don't care about them anyway)

10) You troll the forums to help other people :)

[ladyjake]

Oh my gosh.  I am now sitting here laughing.  Thank you, thank you.  I have spent the last few hours doing exactly what you commented on.  I really am spending way too much time trying to catch those sneaky little devils and I really don't know why.  If they happen, I feel them, if they don't, then I guess I just gotta try and make sure another one isn't happening--and I then I feel a lot of funny things I really didn't need to know about.  So, you really have me pegged.  When one hits, it takes me hours to get over it.  And that is exactly what I need to do...get over it.  Thank you for the reality check and the laughter at myself (says I as my right hand wants to move toward my left wrist).  I am still laughing, by the way.  Thank you so very much.

All of you are wonderful.

[ladyjake]

Hi and thank you for your response.  Sometimes I think I may be in a short line for the looney bin with these things, not there yet and don't want to be.  Please tell me you didn't 'feel' all those PVC's and it sounds like they have diminished?  

I have visited the EXPERT FORUM and found that the doctor reinforces what my doctors have said.....'don't worry about them'.  Great news and I probably need somebody to bop me on the head so I really believe it.  I've had them for over half my life and they have really taken away a lot of 'living'.  It gets to the point where they control your life instead of you controlling it.  

I really do need to be grounded.   Thanks again

[bigglenn357]

The most harmful thing about pvcs I have found is worring about them!! Stop checking your pulse every time you have one,live your life and I know they are a ***** when you have bad episodes back to back but all in all I will bet you will be here tomorrow!! Relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Momto3]

I'm with Brooke_38 on this one.  You'll make yourself crazy (no, you're not there yet..lol) by reading up on what's on the net.  If you want some valid advice, suggestions, information, check out the Heart Rhythm EXPERT forum.  The doctor has answered many questions from people who have visited the forums with the same fears.  You are definitely not alone, and we'll do our best to keep you grounded : )

I used to have over 20,000 PVCs a day, still benign.  Try not to worry : )

connie

[Brooke_38]

You are very welcome. You are absolutely right...no more "google" for you:)

[ladyjake]

Hi and thank you for your comments.  You are so right!  I just wish that the articles and information I found had spent more time on the fact that the majority of those pesky things are benign.  The sad thing is, the information was in some of the major hospital and well known medical sites.  I'm sure that the doctors I've seen have a handle on what is going on.  It's just frustrating that they haven't been able to capture the severe episodes that I live with and can only describe to them.

It is comforting to have this forum available to 'talk' with others that are dealing with heart related issues.  Only those that live with the same kind of situation can really understand what we go through.  AND, most certainly, I now would not recommend doing a 'google' search to anyone.

Thank you again and I am so glad that you are here to help those of us needing advice and words of comfort.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

FIrst, let me say that surfing the internet can be a very dangerous playground. PVC's occuring in healthy hearts are considered benign. I am not sure where you read the very scary things you did, but they are probably very, very rare. Listen to what your Dr's are telling you. Getting yourself worked up over this will only make them worse. I have been in V-Tach with a HR of 250+, fortunately I survived and had an ablation for it last Aug.

So my suggestion to you on how to deal with the info you discovered on the internet....Ignore it! If you want to be educated, stay her and talk to people who are walking along the same path:)