PVC's are Back

[CareBear59]

I am a 47 year old female with PSVT that goes up to rates of 220 or 230ish since I was about 20 years old.  I started taking 25mg. of Atenolol about two years ago which does seem to help some.
I do still have some short bursts or breakthrough episodes that still always give me a scare.  Is this normal with what I have on the Atenolol?  I always worry still when they start that is has turned into a lethal arrythmia like V-Tach?  I can always stop the more sustained episoded that breakthrough with bearing down real hard for about 10 seconds.
Thanks for your help,
Carrie

[aussieman]

What made my palps stop cold (well at least for 2 years) was Flecanide. I know there are some bad stories about felcainide but in a structurally normal heart, it is relatively low risk and quite effective. When I started taking Flecainide it stopped the pacs stone cold dead. I could eat anything and do anything. Only problem is it's effectiveness has dwindled over time, but I did get a very good 2 years out of it. If you decide to go down this path, please check with your doctor first to make sure there are no underlying problems or issues with taking Flecainide.

[tsco]

That's exactly what mine is doing (PACs). Do you have spells that last days with the pac's.  What will make them stop (magic question)(stupid question).  The toprol XL is now making them go away at night while sleeping but they start when I get up in the morning. Especially bad right after eating (forceful).

[aussieman]

I've had both AF and alot of pacs and can tell the difference. To me, when I'm in AF, I have a very rapid and erratic pulse which jumps from 90 beats, to 150 beats back to 110 then up to 165 and so on....with pacs it's a regular beat but I feel the 'jolt' from the extra beats (which can actually feel like you're missing a beat). This can happen every other beat (bigeminy) or every 7th beat etc...

[va_tony]

PVCs, which take place in the ventricles, have nothing whatsoever to do with afib, which takes place in the atria. PACs on the other hand often trigger afib.  However, PACs alone are not sufficient to cause afib.  You also need a susceptible atria... one that's either enlarged (like mine) or electrophysically altered (chemically imbalanced, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, etc.). So it's unlikely that you develop afib in the near future. Don't worry about it.

PACs themselves are harmless and shouldn't affect one's ability to exercise unless you have many thousands a day. Exercise may sometimes cause more PACs however...  has to do with stretching of the pulmonaries, making the tissue electrically unstable and generating PACs.

It's hard to say why you are having more runs of PACs.  Could be due to stress or an electrolyte imbalance.  Are you drinking enough water during hot days?

Best of luck

Tony

[tsco]

I am encouraged to hear you do well with the heart stuff and still manage to work out.  Can you help me?  Does pac' and pvcs mean I have afib?  Seems when you research pacs especially it always links to afib somehow.  I have always (past 10 yrs) had these things every day here and there, not lasting for days like 'm having this summer.  Something must have changed.  Can't seem to sheke em this time.

[va_tony]

Sorry to hear you are having brief PVST episodes.  My understanding is that the atenolol is primarily to lower heart rate during episodes and to lessen the sensation of palps.  However, the med is not very effective in greatly reducing the number of episodes you have.  For that, you would need an anti-arrhythmic med (flecainide, sotolol, amiodarone, etc.). So, yes, yiour experiences sound normal. Fortunately, it appears the vagal manuevers are working well for you.

PSVT takes place in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) and although annoying is not life threatening. It can't progress to v-tach which takes place in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). Also, PVC's (the title of this thread is "PVCs are Back") are unrelated to PSVT as well.