Tired and scared

[Remedios]

I'm 37, just quit smoking few weeks ago. Started having palps over a year ago. Had Holter done last July and it showed about 12 PVCs per hour and about 2 PACs. Just had it repeated it's now 1.6% off all beats (with modestly frequent bigeminy and trigeminy). Echo was essentially normal, with trace tricuspid regurgitation. Palpitations increase as day goes by and eating makes them terrible. This is taking over my life. Rarely it goes more than a minute without feeling one. I am really scared. I can't believe that this is normal. At times they leave me breathless and I can't tell if I'm having any chest discomfort as I am so tense that it's hard to differentiate between what true  symptoms are and anxiety. I do not know what to do.

[jkfrench]

if you are worried, just break it in half and take it at night to see how you tolerate it.  I love tenormin.  I've been taking 1/4 of a 25mg in the am and pm and it keeps my heartrate under 90.   The skips have started up again and that is why I started taking 1/4 in the am too.  I think it is helping with that.  I had a total of 20 skips more or less today.
Frenchie

[Remedios]

So, after all this time I finally caved in and asked for BB. Dr. prescribed athenol..25mg...did not start it yet...kinda worried about side effects...

[jkfrench]

I would talk to him about beta blockers.  That is great that you have a working relationship with your doctor.  The tenormin is great because you can take it as needed.  It really did help with mine up until a few months ago.  Again, probably hormones due to pre menapause (I'm 48)
There are other great medicines out there too.  
I know, I believe my doctor to when he tells me I'm fine.  He even goes as far as to say..go scuba diving, go sky diving...but the feeling that comes along when they get out of control keeps me from doing much of anything.  I'm even not happy about going to my hair appointment tomorrow.  These things never used to bother me when I just felt a few a day.
frenchie

[patjd]

I know exactly what you are going through.  A few months ago I was having sinus tach, pvcs and pacs.  I was terrified.  I think that anxiety is fuel for the fire.  The more stressed you get about it, the more they come!  Your doctor needs to reassure you that you will not die from this, and you will start to feel better.  I am on a beta blocker which controls most of my symptoms.  I hope you find something that works for you.  It may suck, but you can deal with it and try to minimize your stress!!!

[Remedios]

My doc ( I work in a cardiology office ) also happens to be an EP. He seems to think it's " just a benign ectopy"...and I am more than willing to believe him...but with this many, it seems my brain is incapable of accepting it after all this time...

I should probally talk to him about beta blocade or something

[Brooke_38]

I'm sorry that you are feeling so horrible. Congrats on quitting smoking! This is an important first step on the road to helping you reduce these ectopics and feeling better. I absolutely agree with your attitude toward what you're experiencing.

It should be reassuring for you to know that your echo was "normal" Trace regurgitation, whether it be Mitral or Tricuspid, is a common finding in just about everyone of us. I beleive that if you looked at 10 echo reports, 7 of them would state trace regurgitation.

I know how frustrating it is to feel the way you do and be told "it's normal." You are left thinking "how can this be?" Anxiety can definitely increase these PVC's/PAC's to increase in number. Has your Dr discussed medication to reduce your symptoms?

[jkfrench]

It is just the worst way to live isn't it.  Did your doctor give you a clean bill of health?  If he did, they say not to worry.  I know how hard that is.  I used to feel about 10 flutters throughout the day.  A few months ago, I  started feeling them all day and it hasn't let up much.  My doctor says whether I have 10 or 10,000 it just doesn't matter.  I'm beginning to think that it is because I feel them that my mind is telling me I am sick and that makes me tired and scared.  If I didn't feel them maybe I wouldn't worry so much.

Eating makes them bad for me right now too.  I just had a few crackers and that set it off for an hour last night.  The breathless feeling is normal too.  I have a friend who says whenever she talks and has pvc's you can tell because she exhales harder during the sentence.

I am taking 1/4 of a tenormin and it used to help.  I think I'm going to try to take 1/4 in the am and 1/4 in the pm.  I loved how it worked for years.  It wouldn't take all the pvc's away but it would supress them so that they were barely noticable.

Good luck and don't worry
Frenchie