I feel helpless and scared..PVC's

[Ezra30]

Hello -
I have read numerous posts on PVC's but I just need someone to let me know what they think.  Two years ago I started getting a few PVC's.  I knew what they were before they diagnosed me.  Well, once they diagnosed me and I started thinking about them, I would have intense bouts of bigeminy.  They haven't given me a holter because I went into the ER and they kept me there for four hours recording my most horrendous bout of PVC's (that was a lucky catch of them I suppose) Anyways, since I have been to two doctors and they had a consulation for a cardiologist, because I couldn't get in for 3 months...the cardiologist studied my EKG and rythm strip and said that they were stress induced PVC's and to not treat them except for reduction of sugar, stress and caffine.  There are days where I don't feel any (not that I don't have any, I get tired of feeling my pulse) and some days where I swear I am in bigeminy for the entire day...meaning that would be more than 20,000 a day.  So I am so scared and confused that even if I don't have them everyday, but I have them some days...that I will get cardio myopathy.  My doctor says they are not worried about it.  The cardiologist did not feel it was necessary to put me on beta blockers and because I am trying to get pregnant they didn't want to put me on anxiety pills.  Now I don't want to get pregnant because I heard they increase with pregnancy...I am only 27 years old and I am scared that I am going to get cardio myopathy...I am pretty much over the fear of dropping dead from these, but I am scared of developing CM.  I don't know what to think anymore. I have read posts that say people have thousands a day and are fine and I read others that get CM and I read an article that said if you have CM you only live for two years - that to me seems very serious.....kind of freaking out here....trying not too....really am....but I just need some insight.  Thanks -

[artskip]

I can say don't worry about the PVC's but that's easier said than done. What you need to do is accept them for what they are, and how they affect you. If you can do that then you can learn to live with them (or around them). When I was pregnant my PVC's were not that bad. My heart would race alittle when I climbed a flight of steps.
My daughter is your age and she gets SVT when she gets stressed or anxious, the Dr. gave her a beta blocker but she decided not to take it. Xanax helps her, she only takes it when needed.

[Ezra30]

Thank you for answering..the last line of your post was very, very eye opening. Thank you again for your support.

[upbeat633]

First of all, congratulations on not worrying about your pvcs, that's quite a feat. Most people can't shake that.

Second, all of the doctors I have ever talked to about my pvcs have told me that getting pregnant if I had pvcs, would probably lessen them for the duration of the pregnancy. Some women might develope pvcs while pregnant, but I've been told by doctors that if you have pvcs already they will probably get better! I would talk to your doctor about this.

And lastly, the risk of developing a CM with high frequency pvcs is there, but it is extremely uncommon. Another poster on this site--Momto3, did develop a CM but she had high frequency in the range of 20,000 for *years and years* and her doctors just monitored her with echocardiograms--but keep in mind she also had mitral valve prolapse. (Momto3 if you're out there, please respond because I would not want to get the details of your story wrong).

I have had pvcs for 27 years, 10 of which were over 10,000/day, and the last 3 of which have been over 24,000/day, now probably in the 30,000 range. My last echo was ok--no enlargement. I understand your concern, please look through the archives here and you'll find plenty of us who have talked about this topic. I hope that reading some of these posts will help put your mind at ease, but if you still have questions I would talk to your doctor. You will most likely get the same information, but having a doctor answer your concern might make you feel better. Please don't swap your initial concern about pvcs for a concern about a different heart condition that is unlikely to occur because of pvcs.

[Sculpey5]

Hi,
I've never heard of developing CM from pvcs & rhythym disturbances, but you could post that as a question to one of the doctors here.    I am 54 and have been dealing with these for at least 7 or 8 years.  Last night had a really scary bout of heart going eratic before settling in to the just plan old pvs.  It depresses me too. because I think I am never going to live a normal life without fear of getting pvc attacks out somewhere.
Good luck to you.