PVC causing lightheadedness

[dpleiman]

Hello, I am a 38 year old female, hypothyroid from hashimotos and benign PVC's.... no other conditions that i know of, i am normal weight and height normal blood pressure, i don't excercise as much as i should but have a 1 year old that keeps me busy... Non-smoker and social drinker.

I have had a few EKG's over the past 10 years and all were normal, an ER diagnosed me with benign PVC's after an EKG about 10 years ago. I went to a cardiologist when my PVC's increased 2 years ago and he told me the same thing with only an EKG and no further testing.

I'm hypothyroid and on 118.5mcg of synthroid daily.. my PVC's are worse when my thyroid levels are out of range.

I have read conflicting information about PVC's and lightheadedness and just needed some clarity.

The feeling i get is during a PVC episode and it feels like my heart stops beating and then the big THUMP which i know is the normal feeling for a PVC and not actually what is happening.. however, during the "stopped beat feeling" and before the big thump, i get a very brief "1 second or less" lightheaded sensation, i can describe it as the same sensation as if you cut the circulation to your brain for a brief moment"... It doesn't happen with every PVC because some of my PVC's seem to be singles and some longer runs, sometimes i get this sensation and sometimes not. I'm very aware of my breathing during this time too and know that it is not from holding my breath.

I have also coorelated an increase in my PVC's sometimes with symptoms of excessive gas and stomach pressure with rumbling and question vagel response due to lightheadedness, PVC's and tachycardia after eating heavy meals. I don't know how all of this is inter-related but i know it is..

Should i consider re-evaluation with this lightheaded symptom or is it normal with PVCs?

Thank you for your time

[MusicBear]

MusicBear
I feel exactly the same sensations; just had it happen again today!  It also seems like my vision gets darker, like blacking out!  I feel like the world is slipping away from me.  Anyone else notice this darkening of vision during these episodes?  It is so frightening!
1 min

[MusicBear]

I feel exactly the same sensations; just had it happen again today!  It also seems like my vision gets darker, like blacking out!  I feel like the world is slipping away from me.  Anyone else notice this darkening of vision during these episodes?  It is so frightening!

[MusicBear]

Sorry for the duplicate post... Please delete this post.

[tinboat]

My pvc seem to trigger most often with upset stomach or w acid reflux and stress or dehydration. I take propranolol as needed but have found that OTC Zantac has helped alot as well. More recently, I am learning of the benefits of magnesium for arrhythmia and have begun a daily regimen. There doesn't seem to be a single solution for my pvc- I can experience several thousand per day. However, I believe that focusing on equilibrium is proving to be more helpful than any single solution. That said when I'm experiencing a particularly hard day w pvc, my focus falls onto making sure I'm properly hydrated, that I have something for sour stomach, that I have access to potassium and magnesium supplements, and ultimately propranolol if my stress levels seem to be the culprit. These things are helpful to me, maybe they may work for you as well.

[gothic_beauty]

I too have experienced a sort of lightheaded feeling during PVCs. Like you, it doesn't happen every time my heart skips a beat, just sometimes, especially when the skipped beat is a longer one. You describe it really well as a sensation that everything sort of stops for a minute. However, I have had every test in the book, and my cardiologist assures me that my PVCs are benign and most likely brought on by stress. I am gradually learning to treat the condition not as something scary, but as just another unique attribute that makes me who I am. That being said, like James and many of us on this board, I can predict when I am going to have a 'bad' day for PVCs, and that can be a harder storm to weather. The bottom line is not to worry. You will live to see another day, I promise :)

[JamesAA]

Same here.  I'm 39, and have been convinced by my cardiologist that I'm fine even though it sure as hell feels like something is wrong.   Most of my PVCs do NOT produce lightheadedness at all, but earlier tonight I had one, and like you, for a split second I felt faint/light headed...probably because of lack of blood to the brain as bigkev alluded to.  Makes sense.  This sensation is probably more likely to happen when the HR is lower too...just guessing.  It happened to me while I was shopping and I was like "this is it...I'm gonna die now."  But apparently these symptoms are benign....they just feel impending.  I still HATE them even though I know they are benign, because when they occur a part of me believes that the Drs are wrong and that something IS wrong lol.  I also can predict when I'm gonna have a bad pvc day.  My heart just feels "funny" that day.  I think many other PVC sufferers have claimed this before too.

[Egrimes]

Thank you for your post. I am a 22 year old male and Recently I have found out I have PVC and will be going to the cardiologist tomorrow. The way you explained it is perfect. I haven't been able to explain exactly how I feel to others but you helped me better pin point the way that I feel. All that you said is exactly how I feel, can be very scary at times especially with worse episodes

[dpleiman]

Thank you for deleting the duplicate, i originally posted the question on the wrong forum and didn't know how to delete it so i i came over here and re-posted and then someone "moved" my original to this forum creating a "duplicate" :) anway.. sorry about that and thanks for clearing that for me.

bigkev414 -

Thank you for your response, it gives me some relief to know that other people have the same symptoms and that it is common. These PVC's seem to create a lot of worry for people, i hope we can find relief from them or atleast relief from the worry of them :)

thank you again...

[bigkev414]

I get the same thing; you described it perfectly. - depends how bad the onset is whether I get the sudden split second light headed 'turn' and kind of lose the plot. For me it's normal. It's because when the PVC kicks in our heart misses a beat or two and the blood isn't being pumped properly to the brain. That's my theory anyway. Mind you, some people have told me I haven't got any brains, so......
Re the stomach, tachycardia, gas, vagus etc it's exactly what I get and  right now as I'm typing this I'm having a problem because I'm bent forward with a full, gassy stomach. As I weigh about 260lbs just imagine how much trouble I have with my stomach being full!
Anway, I've been having these problems for over 15 years, and I'm still here. For me, what you describe is 'normal' when these 'turns' come on. Bet others will reply the same.

[Jerry_NJ]

Sorry I can't help with your post, but I post here to notify that I have deleted you duplicate post.  It appears to my scan to be exactly the same as the post above.

Hope you get some helpful inputs.