I hate PVC's

[Darwingirl]

Just wondering if anyone ever feels or gets their pvc's like this........the other evening when I was at work I kept getting runs of about 5 pvc's in row. They would occur from half an hour apart to only minutes apart. I hadn't had any for about three weeks but then out of the blue they started. What scared me were the first ones. I didn't at first realise what was happening but it felt like my breath was caught then boom, another large pause boom for about 5 beats. I felt a little dizzy but no stars or blackening out. I freaked out and then of course all evening I kept getting them but not as strong. I had to walk around to help get rid of them every time they came. I know it was pvc's as I could really feel the pause and then the big beat but the force as I said freaked me. I am sure that I ovulated the day before...could they have been triggered by a large release of a hormone?????? or could they have just started as I was a little anxious about starting in a new ward??? All I know is that I had these bloody things.

Shazza

[alsk]

Hi there, I wanted to say that  you have many friends in your misery.  I am 38, and have had them for about 6 yrs.  Multiple ER visits for what I thought was surely the end, multiple Echos, multiple EKGs, multiple holter monitors....blah blah blah.  It is an unexplainable phenomenon, unfortunatley to us!  Cardio guys can "reassure" me every day of my life but when your ticker pauses and THUMPS, it makes me very afraid.  Here are some things that I have found:

Triggers:
Large meal
caffiene
dehydration (even mild)
stress
lack of sleep
and even after exercise, as my heart slows back to normal, they are at their worst!

What I do?  I have worried myself sick over these, many docs tell me "they are benign", or "dont worry, they cant hurt you".  I've worried into feeling "symptomatic" with that short of breath feeling, lump in the throat, and then panic sets in.......even have had a few FULL BLOWN panic attacks due to the impending feeling of doom.....you know, "this is it, they missed somthing, I'm going down".  What I have learned is we are a large group, there is no cure, and I've yet to hear of someone dying from them.  What I do is:  avoid caffiend at all costs, eat small meals, try to get enough sleep (had to quit night shift), and I keep Klonopin on hand for when they won't stop and panic begins to take over.  I take 2.5 mgs, maybe once or twice a week at most, and in about 20 minutes the PVCs are still there, but I am feeling a little less like I'm going to die, and it lets me function through them.  I have also found that if you can find ANYTHING to distract yourself, no, not deep breathing, etc. this makes you feel them worse, but I mean a get up and go, do something distraction, its amazing how quickly they go.  Best of luck and write any time, misery loves company!!

[GranRon]

When I was 22, I first started having runs of PVC's as you described.  I am now  65.  They were very scary and caused me great concern.  A number of things could cause them, over-excertion, stress, and the onset of a cold or flu virus.  I have also read that hormone imbalances could have the same effect.  Some of us just have super sensitive hearts and have to learn how to live with them, assuming the heart is otherwise healthy.