ventricular tachycardia

[awlright10]

I've suffered from arrhythmias most of my adult life, pvcs, pacs, svts, palpitations that were diagnosed as panic disorder, etc. The prevelent arrhythmia I've had has been pvcs. Sometimes these can run for months and suddenly vanish. As I've aged the arrhythmias have grown worse. Starting in November I experienced palpitations that seemd to be set off by pvcs during sleep (when most of my arrhythmias have occurred) as many as four times a night.This has led to a substantial loss of sleep.  I saw a cardiologist who ordered a 24hr holter monitor, (I've had many) and later on seeing a run of five VTs ordered an event monitor for 21 days. (I've also had event monitor before). On that monitor two runs of VT appeared on the tape lasting 20 seconds at 138bpm. I did not feel them. I saw an electrophysiologist who is the chief of the arrhythmia clinic at a well know hospital in NY and is a full professor of medicine at a well known university..He reviewed my case, saw a recent echo and stress test and told me my VTs were benign. This was done over the phone and I did not have an opportunity to ask why or how he had arrived at the conclusion that they were benign. I had read that they were extremely dangerous and were the cause of cardiac arrest. Please forgive the long introdcution to my question. Under what conditions in an older adult can VT be seen as benign?  

[nervouslady]

I feel mine, they are disturbing, to say the least.  I seem to always get them at rest, and that is another sign that they are benign (so the fact that you get them in your sleep is a good thing, if you got them while exercising, that raises eyebrows - I'm talking about the VT, not PVCs).   It is kind of like a quivering feeling, mine starts out with an obvious, jolting feeling that my heart is way off beat and then I get several light, staccato beats very distinct but faint, and quick, in a row, then it resets itself to a normal rhythm.

I've also have a fluttering feeling, at the base and center of my neck is where I feel it most.  that might be VT, I never got one while wearing the monitor so I have no idea what that is.  But that feels like a rapid, fluttering feeling.  It feels very different from what was recorded as VT, so I'm thinking it's something else...?  Don't know.

[paanda2]

what symptoms do you have/what does this feel like? I have had two episodes of something that i am guessing could be this. at first i thought it was an anxiety attack. does it feel like your heart just "quivers" or is like a PVC but longer? mine lasted about 5 seconds. i didn't pass out or anything, but felt that "feeling" you get with a PVC, but longer.

[nervouslady]

Hi - you and me have basically the same thing -  I have had PVCs for over a decade and then a couple years ago I started getting these runs that lasted longer.  I finally got someone to check them out for me (it's hard for people to take arrhythmia seriously when they hear you have anxiety/panic) and mine, too, are short runs of VT (nonsustained ventricular tachycardia).   They looked at my heart in great detail - echo, MRI, EKG, ecg, 1 month event monitor, 24 hour holtor monitor - and determined that mine, too are benign.  They are only of concern if you are getting dizzy or passing out from them, and usually they have to last over 30 seconds for that to happen.  Otherwise, they are just really annoying.

I read all of the same stuff you did too and thought I was going to drop dead at any moment.  It's not true.  We will be fine, we just have these stupid arrhythmias.  90% of people have arrhythmia, most don't feel them or even know they are there.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

It is natural to think death when we hear those 2 letters....VT. There are a group of arrhythmic conditions which give rise to sustained ventricular tachycardia but, in the absence of any structural heart disease or defect, are not life threatening and termed "benign". Many choose to go through an ablation procedre, while some may choose antiarrhythmic medications.

Many have RVOT-VT(Right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia) which is usaully a benign VT. I had this form of VT and was fortunate to have had an ablation procedure for it last Aug. There are a few members here who have also recently had the same procedure done.

Hope that you are able to have this resolved:)