Hi, I know from working for a card that these findings are normal at age 53 but all that aside, any Doc or staff that is rude to the patient and doesn't take the time to fully explain things is unacceptable. I would find a new doc with better bedside manner and a more compassionate staff. I know my boss wouldn't accept that behavior in his office!
I was thinking about changing my cardio dr. because he doesn't explain things to me & he's in a hurry to get out. His nurse if rude to say the least. He is suppose to be very good, but he leaves me hanging on to questions, like my last echo report that said mildly thickened mitral with mild annular calcification. aortic normal with mild aortic root calcification. I was told it was great in the office, but when I recieved it in the mail, I was concerned, so I called. The nurse was very rude & said I was told it was normal. I recieved a letter that stated there is nothing pathologic about these findings and it has not compromised your valves to any extent. I can't decide if I need to switch. Know they are busy.
Yes, when they chemically convert you back to a normal rhythm, they give you Adenosine through IV, it literally stops your heart for a second and then it goes back into normal rhythm. I haven't had to have that done for awhile since I am learning to convert myself, but its no fun to say the least. I think the hot flash feeling you get when this happens is more fear than anything, I have been there!! But the doc I work for (and he is also my cardiologist) assures me that with a structurally sound heart these things are not life threatening and (in his words) I should just deal with it. (lets just say his bedside manner with me is not fabulous, he talks to me more like a friend than a patient and employee lol) and that if I'm gonna freak out every time it happens just get the ablation, but I'm like you, I really don't wanna risk causing more damage and right now with no insurance I can't so it anyway.
What do you mean you sometimes need to be chemically converted? You mean go to the ER and get on IV drip before it converts back to normal?
I felt a hot flash go over me & like I wan't getting enough blood to my brain like I might pass out if it didn't go back to normal. I never want to feel that again! I was suppose to go in for a EP study over a year ago and they canceled me the night before & never rescheduled me. I was only having frequent PVC's and unifocal, benign. I hate to think of them burning my heart & possibly causing something different. But, I am so tired of dealing with it!
It's great having others here to talk to that are going through the same thing. I appreciate everyone helping each other through all our crazy flippin heartbeats:)
Yep it sounds like PSVT (another one of the fabulous crazy beats I get)I drop into PSVT or SVT a few times a year (somewhat less since the Metoprolol) and sometimes need to be chemically converted (which stinks btw) but again it is a benign condition. I think its another perk of just having rhythm issues. Some people on here dealt with them all their lives until they were ablated. Personally I have no insurance and can't afford an ablation right now, and as long as they're infrequent I'm not rushing into it. When they become a real aggravation (and I hear they increase with age) then I will seriously consider getting it done. And believe me, I know how tiresome annoying and frustrating all this is, after decades I should...especially when you're doing fine for months and then they sneak back up on you...hang in there and keep us posted!
Yes! Thyroid medication doesn't replace everything that our thyroid does. My doctor told me that I wouldn't regulate temperature as well & I know it! That means that when I have night sweats and hot flashes, it's worse.
Today I had a different crazy beat that was like a machine gun firing off. I was sitting at my computer and all normal when all of a sudden it went super fast fluttering for about 5 sec. then BAM normal beating but started beating faster & harder for a min or two. That was the adrenaline kicking in. Scared me to death. Jkfrench said sounded like psvt that she gets sometimes. I might go ahead and try to get back in to my cardio or EP soon. Maybe should go get another echo since that one was 1 1/2 years ago. Maybe a different med. I'm so tired of all this.
I must admit that I've never had them with the frequency that you describe (knock on wood) but definitley know the feeling of having periodic pvc episodes. I believe mine are correlated to my diet and the level of my sugar intake.
In any event, I think most of us can relate to the thought of, 'are they gone forever?' being dashed by their sudden return. Even at the frequency you describe, they are benign in a healthy heart which you have. I have read though that greater than 10% of one's total beats can be a strain on the heart though. Even at 6 per minute though, that likely doesn't equal 10% of your beats unless you have a rather slow resting heart rate.