Trying to Understand A Disturbing New Rhythm - PVC's

[uberdad1968]

After visiting the doctor a few months ago, I found out I was pre-diabetic with no symptoms. So, I started losing weight (about 45 pounds so far). For the first month, I struggled with crazy blood sugar instability. After that leveled out, I started having PVC's/PAC's. I've had them before. I'm 50 and have gone through similar bouts where something seems to trigger it. EKG's in the ER pick them up, and the doctors always say the same thing: Go home and calm down ;) Got it. So I don't obsess about them. Well, you know, I do obsess when they're frequent like they have been.

However, a few weeks ago, a really disturbing rhythm started appearing that I haven't felt in years. I think I've experienced this maybe three times in my life, prior, and of course I've never gotten it recorded. But, since I've had a few in the last month, I'm taking notice. It's not like a PVC -- the classic blurb, followed by a pause, followed by a thump (I think that's the medical term, lol) ... sometimes couplets or triplets if I'm anxious.

Instead -- and this is the only way I can describe it -- it's like a single BIG PVC followed by chaos. It lasts about five seconds and is followed by a really slow, HARD rhythm. It doesn't feel like a bump. It feels like a bump, followed by lots of quivering bumps and pauses. If you can imagine what the old airplane engines sound like when you had to manually crank the prop ... that's what it feels like. A crazy, sputtering mess. PVC's make me anxious. This just flat out scares the you know what out of me because it feels like ... well, you know. I can tell my blood pressure spikes because I can literally see my pulse in my eyes. I'm sure that's a produce of the intense amount of adrenaline that is dumping, but I'm not sure. Anyway, that goes away quickly and turns into normal anxiety tach ... which is then, of course, always followed by a bunch of PVC's. Those end up going on for a couple of hours while the mechanism slows down. I get PVC's -- at least with me.

If anyone can decipher this and share some experiences, that would be awesome! I'm scheduled to get into a cardiologist on 8/7 (and they squeezed me in for that). Until then. I'm Googling ;)

[DuelingChamber]

Ask to go home with a halter monitor, perhaps.

[klutzer25]

I totally know what you are talking about. Been there. I often have thousands of these PVCs a day. I have had this condition since 1978 and I'm 67 years old now. It does affect the quality of life. Doctors are not very sympathetic, especially if they have never experienced these irregular beats.  They just say they are benign. But that doesn't help you to cope. And it becomes a vicious cycle since you become anxious, and the anxiety over them causes adrenaline to be released, which in turn can cause more PVCs.  I had to raise 4 kids with this condition. Needless to say, I was crabby and miserable.  A year or two ago  I read a study that said people with this condition benefited from Acebutolol. Over the years I had been on several "beta blockers" but they didn't get rid of many of the PVCs and some caused depression. I asked my cardiologist if I could try it and he said that it was an older drug but worth a try. I am on 400mg twice a day and it has been like a miracle. I might get an occasional PVC in a month, but most of the time I am not aware of any at all.  Previously I had like 10,000 or more a day.  Not sure if everyone will get the great results I did, but it might be worth a try to ask for Acebutolol. I hope this has helped you. God bless.

[Jenn1302]

Have you seen a doctor about this. A holter or a loop monitor can really help shed some light on what's going on and what this is.

[uberdad1968]

I'm scheduled for the 1st week  in August, yes.

[Jenn1302]

Let us know how it goes