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Living With Pvc's....

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dmunsie

October 8th, 2007

Here's some tips for those suffering from pvc's...

Disclaimer: Im not a doc, just a guy (45) who has had these all his life.

1) Quit worrying about them. This will only make them worse, not that they actually get worse, it's your body tuning into them and noticing every beat, thump, etc, your heart makes. I'm sure some of you can't stand the sound of your heart beating at night and will sleep with the tv or radio on to tune out your heart beat. Sound familiar? Wink

2) Read #1 again. Seriously, one thing you have to realize is, there really isn't a whole lot you can do about PVC's. Accept the fact that you are alive right now and do something productive with your life today, tomorrow and beyond.

3) Get off the caffeine, chocolate, candy, sugar, aspertine, etc. Drink plenty of water, your body needs it!

4) Work out everyday! For some weird reason, the majority of people suffering from pvc's feel better when working out. PVC's should not stop you from working out, etc. There could be other factors that do, but if all you're diagnosed is with PVC's, then feel free to workout. I would suggest walking, 30-60min everyday.

5) Accept the fact that you'll go days, weeks, months, without them and "uh oh...they're back!". Again read #1. Usually stress, diet, etc, will trigger them so find out what's different and usually you can stop them. In my case it's almost always "I havn't had any for a while so why not dig into some candy bars, cookies, etc" then a few days later my heart is going wacky for a few days.

6) Sleep. Avoid this and they will get worse, plain and simple.

7) The "thump" you feel is usually not the pvc but the heart "resetting" itself electronically. This is a good thing. The only time to get remotely concerned is if you have a "run" of pvcs that you can feel, if that happens stay calm and cool, relax, the more you tighten up and get nervous the more adrenaline you're sending through your system causing the heart to beat faster, etc, etc. One Doctor told me, go ahead and faint, at least that will calm you down quicker! Smile

lol..

Go into a Hospital and talk to the cancer patients. They would trade places with you in....you guessed it....a heart beat. Wink

This can be a wake up call for those that need it.

9) The going crazy part. Seems like a horrible pattern that happens to all first time suffers. You feel your heart skipping a few beats, you go to the Doctor, they tell you "you have pvc's", you research, research, etc, etc, feel EVERY single pvc, you start having panic attacks, "im going to die!!!!!", it takes control of you, you're convinced you're going to die, you get all kinds of checkups, tests, etc. You're probably in the majority if nothing wrong was found in your tests, but still YOU'RE convinced something is wrong, you may be right who knows, you're still alive though, days, weeks, months go by, you're STILL convinced something is wrong, looking back....perhaps you could have done something with that time instead of freaking out? Wink

Think about that one for a while...

10) PVC's, like any heart arrythmia, can be scary, but the quicker you learn to just deal with it and not freak out when an episode happens, the better you'll be and you can slowly get your life back. The sweats, nervousness, chest tightness, etc, that usually follows an episode is 99% of the time caused not by your heart but your brain sending signals to your body to "run, get away from this, we're freaking out!!!"

Relax, breath, work out, eat right, sleep, etc. If after all that..you STILL have pvcs, well guess what...that's your heart. That's how it works for you and your body. Live with it, accept it, etc. Continuing to be mentally negative about your heart can do all kinds of weird things to your body and your mind. Good luck, stay calm...guess what...you're still alive if you're reading this. Wink

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First Helper dmunsie

Users who thank dmunsie for this post: DiegoV sianybuk Mikla

Baggman

replied September 30th, 2009

Good Advise

Good Advice! I've been living with these things on and off for almost 20 years. I sometimes go years without any symptoms, and until last year, had mostly forgotten about them until they came back with a vengeance. Had the usual tests; Stress test, echo, EKG, etc. all normal, so thank God for that.

My Cardiologist recommended Toprol XL, but I'm so against the Beta Blocker, as I had too many side effects. So, instead, I went with Xanax, which believe it or not, not only reduced their frequency, but the intensity of these little nasties. As I told my MD with regard to Xanax and PVCs, as far as I'm concerned, if I don't feel them, they don't exist!

As for those of you who continue caffeine and nicotine consumption, shame on you! Would you give a drowning man a bucket of water?

After you've done your research on PVCs, STOP! You've probably learned all you're ever going to learn. Instead, a better way to spend your time would be to research and experiment with self meditation, relaxation techniques, and proper breathing, as these WILL help you, I promise.

One other thing I've found to help with regard to diet is to eat as closely as possible a diabetic's diet, take your vitamins, a good quality omega 3 supplement, and you might try Magnesium. And of course, a daily brisk walk is always recommended.

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sonnur

replied October 21st, 2009

skipped heart beat
hello,

have you heard AVENTURINE stone (mineral)? if you buy an aventurine necklage or bracelet and use it on your body, you could feel better... please try it!

sonnur

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tlbrown10

replied October 26th, 2009

pvc's

Thanks for the good advice. I have been telling myself all of this....but the mind won't stop worrying. I guess my biggest problem is that when I went to the doctor, he didn't actually give what my heart is doing a "name". He just said that the stress I had been under causes to much adreneline and causes the bottom chambers of the heart to act like a pacemaker and misfire. I have read alot on PVC's and it sounds exactly like what I am experiencing. Usually when I lay down at night, set down to watch t.v, or have too much alcohol. Sometimes it just feels like a pause or a catch and that is it for hours, then other times it feels like my heart is going to flop out of my chest and can go on for hours. It usually settles down some if I get up and walk around. The doc did an EKG, which was normal, and my heart did act up once when he was listening to it. He prescribed Toprol XL 25 mg, but I haven't taken it, too many reviews that scared me about it. My blood pressure isn't really high, 121/80 about an hour ago; however my heart rate is a little on the higher range....usually around 75 resting. I am female, 41, 5'8" and unfortunatley 170 pounds. I know that I need to loose 25-30 pounds. I guess the long and short of this post is that I wish my doctor would have given what I am experiencing a name so that I would know what I am dealing with. I have had every stress realted illness possible.....IBS, colitis, panic attacks, depression, migraines......

This with my heart has been going on for a little over a month now, on a daily basis. So I tell myself that I would probably already be dead if it was something more than that, but wonder if I should have more tests done to be sure that PVC's is truly what I am dealing with.

Thanks for "listening".
Teresa

Thanks agin

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tlbrown10

replied October 26th, 2009

pvc's

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davew42

replied January 20th, 2010

Mine are almost the opposite of the above I get them in flurrys that last sometimes weeks..
Mine are more felt when Moving I am fine when I wake up,

Walking downstairs into the shower it will "skip" 4 to 5 times, Then In the shower While I move or bend to scrub, 12 to 15 more times. Then the walk up the steps back to more of the same 12 to 15 more times..
After I get dressed and sit down I am fine..
Sitting at my desk at work I am fine.. Getting up to walk to the bathrrom or to carry a computer over to a customer or even to stand up and talk to a customer..
There they are
major "skiping" and pass out feeling I can not live life sitting and not moving, it is not me..

stress test was done in December it was fine
Echo was just done early Jan 10, it was fine

In the summer i was biking 14 miles per night after work with my sons every night
now it is winter and I am afraid to even walk down the steps.
I was at the oral surgeon last week and scared him so bad with the pvcs that he refused to extract my 2nd tooth and told me no more appointments until my cardioligist called him.
These things are taking over my life and it is hard to deal with..
I am 42 and had my first episode when i was 14.. This year has been the worst for me.

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waltonward

replied March 20th, 2012

Your PVC's are identical to mine. The more I move the worse they are. The doctor acts like it is nothing to worry about but it will give you alot of anxiety. I am the same age as you. Have had them off and on for years but this episode now has lasted over a week on a daily basis with the pvc's lasting all day. I am feeling them back to back. If I raise my arms, bend over, doing anything involving moving there they are. Back to back episodes! I'm tired and drained!

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jaug17

replied March 25th, 2012

PVCs on the shower

Davew42, I get most of my PVCs in the shower. You mentioned a somewhat similar tendency. Have you learned anything new to connect PVCs to the showering experience since you last reported?

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abracos

replied May 1st, 2010

PVC sufferers please read

Hey DaveW42

While occasional PVCs are in fact a normal occurrence that are worsened by stress, caffeine, etc, RUNS of PVCS (in a row) are not. In fact, in the medical field (I am a RN), runs of PVCs that last longer than 3 beats are called ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach)and this CAN be very dangerous if your rhythm stays that way for any period of time. The "passing out" feeling in THAT case is in fact the brain suffering a lack of oxygen from an inadequate circulation of blood during periods of V-Tach. You need to wear a holter monitor until one such run is captured for analyzing and for SURE go to the hospital if you are experiencing an irregular heartbeat that is symptomatic (ex feeling "faint").

Harmless PVCs are asymptomatic in nature.

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Marth

replied February 12th, 2011

here I am, 58 years old, still breathing, and still dealing with pvc's since I was 20 years old. In the last two weeks, I've had a major return of them after being almost pvc free for a few years. And they're still scary. Always will be. But benign. They are disruptive as davew42 said but I hate to see anyone get into a funk because of them. I have many times and it's easy to get into the "unfair" state of mind, but the fact is some of us "suffer" from this malady and some don't. Don't let life pass you by, waiting to "feel better". And frequent pvc's are not any more dangerous than occasional. You have to know the difference between what's called "couplets" and "bigeminy". What the RN is referring to is pvc's that happen in a row without a normal beat in between. Two pvc's in a row are called couplets. If there are more than two in a row then you're getting into v-tach. When you get bigeminy which I've had lasting for hours at a time, you get a normal beat followed by an extra beat, then normal and extra beat, normal and extra beat etc etc etc. This is bigeminy. And I've had that for months at a time. Very upsetting, very tiring, very uncomfortable, but benign. I take toprol xl for years now. And it stopped the bigeminy. But I still get those upsetting outbreaks of frequent pvc's for weeks at a time. Like I said, I'm having an outbreak now after a few years of just occasional ones. And dmunsie's post is helping me to cope and I thank him for that. Sometimes alittle reassurance goes a long way with these little demons! And davew42, I've had pvc's that were worse when standing and bending etc. And I've had pvc's that were worse when sitting. There's no rhyme or reason with these things. I've been in situations where I would almost refuse to get up and I'd sit for hours just to avoid the pvc's. And then there were times where I'd refuse to sit and I'd stand for hours to avoid them. All I can say is try not to get into that crazy behavior. Easier said than done though. Been there, done that. Just remember, I've had these for many years and at 58 I'm still alive! Oh, one more thing. "Harmless PVCs are asymptomatic in nature" is so not true. Ask any electrophysiologist!!

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keko

replied March 16th, 2011

PVCs Big, Small, and in between.

Hello Marth and All, I was thrilled to see that people are still commenting about PVCs. I too, have PVCs and have had them for nearly 6 years (I am a 49 year old, athletic female). As many have said, mine come and go and they occur at random which drives me insane- if they are random I have no sense of control. What Marth and others have said is true, we can't control when they show up of if they are "Big" or small. It's been over a year since I had a "Big" one and yesterday while working at my computer it suddenly felt as if my heart stopped - there was what felt like a long pause which, in reality, was probably 2-3 seconds. I then felt a flush and by the time i thought to take my pulse (on my neck) to see if I could feel the PVCs, my heart was beating quickly and in rythym (no pvcs). I'm sure my heart raced in response to my fear - adrenaline. Anyway, I called my cardiologist and he said he wasn't concerned that it was very likely a pvc. I've had stress-echos (normal except for the pvc while in recovery), EKGs (normal) and my physician has heard pvcs while listening to my heart. He insists they are benign but a nuisance. What WAS VERY reassuring was that he explained that although my heart felt like it "stopped", it really didn't and that the heart has a built in system for the pause and for returning to a normal beat. He said that some people with PVCs might pass out but they won't go into cardiac arrest.

I've had several colonoscopies and discovered that if I became dehydrated, my PVCs really kicked up. I also cut out all caffeine because chocolate, coffee, tea, all increased my PVCs. I try to get a good night's sleep because if I don't, they increase and then I'm afraid to fall asleep because I'm afraid I'll wakeup with them in the middle of the night. Crazy making.

I think I would feel better if I understood WHY PVCs are benign. I don't understand enough about what exactly is happening to the heart electrophysiologically with PVCs - does anyone else? Thanks Smile

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Marth

replied March 18th, 2011

Keko, not sure about "exactly" what's happening to the heart except that PVC stands for premature ventricular contraction which means the ventricle of the heart is having a premature (early) contraction (beat). And then the pause you feel is the heart pausing to reset itself. When I was in my early thirties I would get pauses that were long enough to make me get "black" in my eyes and when I asked the doctor what could happen to me, he said I'd pass out and then wake up again...not pass out and DIE! lol But that didn't make me feel any better since I had a one year old at the time and with my vivid imagination I could picture her all alone with mommy laying on the floor! My kids are now adults and I never did pass out! Right now I'm pvc free again after about a month in february of almost constant ones. I also get PAC's which are premature contractions in the atrium of the heart. They were found on a 30 day monitor that I wore years ago.
I just had a CT 3D scan of my heart, due to other issues..and my heart is completely normal in structure and there are no blockages. Good to know. lol

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beatsuk

replied June 17th, 2011

As I understand it, he pause is because the heart chamber has got a bit of extra blood in it (because the previous beat came fractionally early) and it requires a stronger beat to clear the chamber - hence feeling that little flip in your chest. It is easy to call them 'missed beats' but in fact the heart never stops beating, it's just that the previous beat was fractionally early.

From what I have read, if your heart is structurally sound (echocardiogram and ekg would show this) then pvcs are no threat to health. I have thousands a day on occasion, but all test results are fine and dr told me they will not affect longevity. They cause me huge amounts of anxiety however.

Most inportant is to have all the appropriate tests and then try to deal with the anxiety. I have not found any solution, though a heavy meal can start them off sometimes.

There is an excellent cardiologist on All Experts (David Richardson) who gives very reassuring comments on pvcs - basically harmless if you have had all the tests.

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GEugenesS

replied October 28th, 2011

PVC's after surgery

I never had any pvc's until after some minor surgery in July. I went to a heart specialist and they measured them at >13,000 a day. Clearly to me, something during surgery caused it but everyone says there is no connection. I was riding a bicycle 3 times a week in the foothills (at 68 years old). Now with the beta blockers i was given, i can hardley get out of the driveway. I am now thinking of quiting the beta blockers and just taking my chances.

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Michele28

replied April 14th, 2012

Thank you to all the people in these posts who encourage us to get on with our lives. I agree, it doesn't help to freak out. I've had them sitting, lying down, standing, walking, no rhyme nor reason. It's annoying, but I'm still alive. I have only had them for 2 years, I had a stretch of a little over a year with none (although my cardiologist says I just didn't feel them), and they just recently returned. At about the same time the stress in my life increased, go figure. Annoying, but there is so much worse than this. I have had 2 complete cardiac workups in 2 years, and have passed with flying colors. I'm going to choose to focus on the fact that I have a healthy heart, and try to reduce the stress in my life. I also cheat on sugar and caffeine, and am trying to give those things up. Let's carry on, leading meaningful, productive lives and remember that these come and go, but there is so much beauty and goodness in the world to be involved in. Focusing on benign PVC's distracts you from all the good stuff.

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adrh

replied April 26th, 2012

Pvcs

I find sites like this very helpful when I'm having a bad time with these things. Reassuring. I've had them for 26 years. They used to only be 1 or 2 maybe once a month or more. For the past year and a half, I have had bad runs that have ranged from one a day or even two or three days to one every 5 minutes for several hours. I've had several months where I've felt "almost" normal and then I gets bad runs like now. I agree with you Keko, about the randomness and no sense of warning or control. I was walking across a parking lot a few weeks ago, feeling great and all of a sudden, had one on top of another for about 7 seconds or so. Didn't feel like it was going to stop no matter how much I coughed. Thought I was going to pass out. I went to see my cardiologist and told him I was afraid it wouldn't get back on track and he acted like it was nothing to worry about. He upped my metoprolol from .25ml to .50. I went back to the .25. Didn't help at all. If they were all " small" ones I could ignore them but they are not. They are disruptive. It does help to read all of your experiences though. Always good advice. Thank you all. I'll just ride it out again and look forward to better days. By the way, dmunsie, that cancer patient comment is something that I always tell myself when this happens. Makes me feel thankful. Take care all Smile

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kymanne1

replied May 26th, 2012

pvc

I use to have PVC once a month at most. I started taking Zoloft and noticed I was having them 5x or more a night. After day 4 on Zoloft I stopped taking them but the PVC got worse. I freaked out and went to the E.R. They did a blood test:normal, ECG x2 Normal, a Chest Xray Normal, 2 Echo grams. Normal.
I was hooked up to a ecg monitor all night and every time i had a flutter it registered as PVC on the monitor.
The machine prints out anything irregular, and it never printed out those. The doctor did not even address it.
Did i have the proper tests to rule out structural damage? i am freaking out by these...

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rockergirl1

replied October 13th, 2012

PVC's

I've been having PVC's for almost 3 years. The last few weeks have been worse. I am on atenolol 25 mg for 3 years. I have really been paying close attention to food I have been eating. The palpitations get much worse after eating meals with carbs. I have basically stopped drinking coffee and cut back on chocolate consumption Sad

I am also on Synthroid 75 mg for about 5 years. I'm almost 40 year old. I am active person and run a few times a week. I am not overweight. I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what triggers them. I have had EKG's and worn Holter montitors twice. The results were "harmless" PVC's. My mother also started with this condition at the exact same age as I did. I started taking my multivitamin every day thinking it was a potassium, B12, or magnesium issue. For a few days I felt great and thought I solved the problem. I actually stopped taking the atenolol for about 2 weeks. I don't like taking the med because I cannot perform physical activity at "normal" person rates, because it slows the heart down too much. But much to my disappointment, the PVC's returned stronger than ever. Went back on the atenolol. It does calm them down, but I can still feel them throughout the day, mostly when I am sitting at a desk. So, not sure if it is food intolerance, perimenopausal issues, stress, or something else. I swear I will get to the bottom of it because I hate feeling like this all the time.

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Mikla

replied October 13th, 2012

Re: Living With Pvc's....

Excellent post... thanks!

I know lots of folks have PVCs and I have had them for MANY years (54 yrs old). I have had several tests and my doctor says I appear to be very healthy so not to worry. I continue to get them constantly throughout the day so my curiosity go the better of me and I picked up a portable ECG device (Heal Force Prince 180b) and the 3 lead accessory along with some electrodes. Thought I would post a couple of pics...

First, my normal ECG:

You can see it is very typical and you can see the P, QRS and T waves.

Now, here is a pic when I am having PVCs...

You can see the wide QRS wave (the tall spike) and how frequently it happens.

These two measurements were done within 30 minutes of each other (first the PVC and 30 minutes later the normal measurement). It has been another 45 minutes and I am having non-stop PVCs again.

I have stopped worrying too much about them, but it is definitely odd when I go to bed and can feel the "da dump... da dump.......DUMP"

I also have a heart stethoscope (Littmann Cardiology II SE) and will listen to the PVCs... is sounds more like "DUMP..Da..da..da.........DUMP..Da..da..da "

Like you suggest... since I do not have a known heart problem, I do not worry about them as much... but still find them a bit fascinating.

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	Tags: Heart Disease, panic attacks, Heart Attack, working out, Arrythmia, caffeine, attacks, beating, Stress, Cancer

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