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PVCs causing other symptoms?
Hi Doctor. I have a question about PVCs.
About me: 34yr old male, nonsmoker, light drinker, frequent exerciser, and I watch what I eat. I have some family history of heart disease (father has several stints, grandmother died of heart attack in 40s). BP normal, cholesterol is slightly low (total=120) and resting pulse is around 55-60bpm.
Symptoms: Over the summer I began getting palpitations a few times a week, which I basically ignored. Then about 6 weeks ago, the palps increased dramatically. I had them almost all day, every day. Sometimes they would make me feel like I couldn't breath, like they were inside my throat. In addition, I began feeling mildly lightheaded a few times a day and had an occasional minor pain in my chest. About 3 weeks ago I developed a distinct pulsing/throbbing sensation on the back of my head, behind my left ear. It almost feels like its on my scalp. It is concentrated in that location but tends to radiate out to the back and top of my head, and sometimes it seems to promote a mild headache. This sensation is with me all day long, every day.
Treatments: I've seen my PCP who referred me to a Cardiologist. After an EKG, stress echo, and bloodwork including a thyroid check, I was told I have RVOT PVCs. The echo and bloodwork came back normal. I was told not to worry, they are very common, and that I could either live with them, try a beta-blocker, or an ablation. Because of the other symptoms I have described above, I elected to try a beta-blocker. I was prescribed 20mg of Nadolol per day, which I have been on for one week. Its done a fantastic job of settling down the PVCs, as I now only get a few a day. The problem is, that throbbing/pulsing sensation in my head persists, as well as the lightheaded spells. I just don't feel normal, even though the PVCs have been reduced.
Do you believe my PVCs can be causing these other symptoms? If not, any thoughts what it could be or what my next steps should be?
Thank you!
About me: 34yr old male, nonsmoker, light drinker, frequent exerciser, and I watch what I eat. I have some family history of heart disease (father has several stints, grandmother died of heart attack in 40s). BP normal, cholesterol is slightly low (total=120) and resting pulse is around 55-60bpm.
Symptoms: Over the summer I began getting palpitations a few times a week, which I basically ignored. Then about 6 weeks ago, the palps increased dramatically. I had them almost all day, every day. Sometimes they would make me feel like I couldn't breath, like they were inside my throat. In addition, I began feeling mildly lightheaded a few times a day and had an occasional minor pain in my chest. About 3 weeks ago I developed a distinct pulsing/throbbing sensation on the back of my head, behind my left ear. It almost feels like its on my scalp. It is concentrated in that location but tends to radiate out to the back and top of my head, and sometimes it seems to promote a mild headache. This sensation is with me all day long, every day.
Treatments: I've seen my PCP who referred me to a Cardiologist. After an EKG, stress echo, and bloodwork including a thyroid check, I was told I have RVOT PVCs. The echo and bloodwork came back normal. I was told not to worry, they are very common, and that I could either live with them, try a beta-blocker, or an ablation. Because of the other symptoms I have described above, I elected to try a beta-blocker. I was prescribed 20mg of Nadolol per day, which I have been on for one week. Its done a fantastic job of settling down the PVCs, as I now only get a few a day. The problem is, that throbbing/pulsing sensation in my head persists, as well as the lightheaded spells. I just don't feel normal, even though the PVCs have been reduced.
Do you believe my PVCs can be causing these other symptoms? If not, any thoughts what it could be or what my next steps should be?
Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That is a tough question. I am going to give you my honest answer that is not supported by any clinical trials, it is just what i think happens.
For some people, I think PVCs are like a Chinese water torture. This constant, unpredictable sensation that scares people and truly increases their stress and anxiety. In some people it causes the genuine fear that they are going to drop dead even though all the studies suggest the contrary. I think some people have a physical reaction to the PVCs and their constant stress and it makes them more acutely aware of other sensations and in some cases super sensitive to them.
If you PVCs calm down and you start to feel better, it would not surprise if you slowly started feeling better. I do not think these sensations are directly related to the PVCs or caused by the PVCs, but I do think they play a role. In my experience, this will get better with time and may return if the PVCs.
I hope this answers your question and I wish you a speedy recovery and believe you will feel better soon.
For some people, I think PVCs are like a Chinese water torture. This constant, unpredictable sensation that scares people and truly increases their stress and anxiety. In some people it causes the genuine fear that they are going to drop dead even though all the studies suggest the contrary. I think some people have a physical reaction to the PVCs and their constant stress and it makes them more acutely aware of other sensations and in some cases super sensitive to them.
If you PVCs calm down and you start to feel better, it would not surprise if you slowly started feeling better. I do not think these sensations are directly related to the PVCs or caused by the PVCs, but I do think they play a role. In my experience, this will get better with time and may return if the PVCs.
I hope this answers your question and I wish you a speedy recovery and believe you will feel better soon.
I have had pvcs for quite some time - off and on for a number of years - I am 59 and had an episode a year ago that last a few months - had a relatively calm summer and then went to my ob-gyn for my annual physical and found that my blood pressure was up from 120/70 to 168/98 - I was told once again that my pvcs were benign and not to worry about them and probably my blood pressure would go down - blood pressure remained high over a 3 week period but during this time (about two weeks ago) I started having this horrible pulsating feeling in the back of my head - almost constant - I have to take a xanax at night to sleep - I have been monitoring my blood pressure at home and at night it is still high - 145/90 - I am taking metiorolol 50mg - which supposedly is a low dose - had an mri and an mra performed last week - have not gotten the results - today was the first day that I am also experiencing mild headache along with the pulsating sensation. No one can understand how it feels unless they experience it.
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