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Questions about multiple PVC's

Taterbug
  • By Taterbug
  • Posted March 23, 2009 at 4:08 pm · 15 replies
  • In Help desk
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

I have been diagnosed with PVC's. My doc says they are nothing to worry about, they're "normal". Ok, ok...maybe they are normal. I have had all the tests and the latest test was a heart cath to make sure my arteries are ok. Came back normal.

Last night when I was laying down, I had the usual skipping heart every other beat (I'm told that's normal). My concern that prompted me to call the dr again is it didn't have an 'in between' beat last night. It did it twice and both time it lasted under 15 seconds. After punching myself in the chest and taking a few deep breaths it went back to every other beat or every two beats. Just when I think I'm getting back to "normal" I end up with another symptom.

I guess my question is...what is it called when you have a continued amout of PVC's...like a cluster of 5-6 skipped beats in a row. And is this something more I should be concerned about?

Thank you in advance for the response,
Michele

Explore topics in this discussion:

Toprol XL Dizziness Surgery Cardizem Verapamil Syncope Anxiety Beta blockers Pain Metoprolol Pacemaker Stress

15 replies

AndreaA

pardon the spelling, but I believe multiple skipped beats are "bigeminies" and "trigeminies" - when the pvcs cluster, it IS a concern, so follow up with your doctor and also ask him what your "corrected qt interval" is - if it is over 450 and you also have pvcs, you should see an electrophysiologist. Keep us posted and stay well!

DrD11

Arrythmia,is"What is called"
Yes,it is of concern.
It is the same as the sprak plugs in the car in a car
start to misfire.
What cause it(to misfire)? Anything,especially stimulants.Caffein is number one.

Taterbug

Well, the drs office called me back finally and wanted to schedule me with an electrophysiologist. Waiting now for that office to call me back.

The doc at first told me that this type of arrythmia is nothing to worry about. This was back in Nov. My GP wanted me to wear the 30 day monitor and record when I was having symptoms. So I did. Back then they were far & few between so he put me on some meds to hopefully eliminate the skipped beats. Since then I have developed chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, headaches and PVC's gallore. My BP has gone into the cautious zone since then. So, in the past 4 months I have had bloodwork, ekg's, stress echos, more bloodwork, and a heart cath. All of which came back normal. I guess now my cardio can't help me anymore so now I'm going to go to the electrophysiologist.

Since all of this has started I have cut back to one cup of "weak" coffee a day and that's the only amount of caffine I have. But the PVC's have gotten worse and so has the pain.

I will keep you posted on what the "new" doc says.

Thank you for your replies,
Michele

trrn

I've had PVC's since last May. I thought it was a Medifast diet that I was on. So, I stopped it. It's been about 10 months and they are still here. I have them every day. I been to the cardiologist, have had stress test, holter monitor X2 and event monitor X2. Tried beta blocker continue to have PVC's but they were less noticable. The monitor showed couplets and even triplets. Stopped beta blocker because of the dry cough and being so tired. I decided that I was just going to "put up with them". I'm 46 year old, I think it's hormonal. I see that there is much info on the websites pertaining to PVC's and women.

Bigeminey is a PVC after every normal heart beat. Normal heart beat then a PVC, a normal heart beat, then a PVC etc.. Trigeminey is a PVC that occurs on every third heart beat. Couplets are two in a row, triplets are three in a row. V-tach (depends on the research is 3 or more in a row, some research states 6 or more).

It's nice to see that I'm not alone.

Taterbug

Well, from what I see...there's a lot of women on here with arrhythmia's. I have probably said this before but, I walked into the cardio's office and he had said, "you have PVC's and they are completely normal". Well, I here to tell ya, this is not normal. They haven't gotten better with the meds, they've gotten worse. I used to have them every 5 or 6 beats...had spaces in between. Now, they are so bad sometimes I can't catch my breath. Especially when I now have them every beat, no spaces in between. I will be happy to get back to the ones that happen every now and then. That I can handle. Thank you for your responses...it IS nice to know I'm not the only one.

Michele

Jdaddy

I don't have any real answers for you but hope that you find the right doc. You may want to try Dr. Ackerman at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN - at least have your test results reviewed by him. He is an expert on QT intervals,

I also recommend that have your kids tested: 12 lead EKG and an Echo for starters. Dr Barry Marron in Chicago is a good one to try.

Do you know health history on both sides of your family (Has anyone died for any reason under the age of 50?) - You talked about dizziness and excessive fatigue - how about fainting (syncope)? - all can be indicators of a problem.

If you need more info or have questions, I'll try to help. I'm a CPR/AED trainer - but not a medical professional.

Good Luck,

Jeffsdad

south127

I know exactly how you feel. I was told to just ignore my multiple PVC's. I wore a 30 day monitor that revealed I was having 8,000-10,000 PVC's PAC's a day. I almost ignored myself to death. In October 2007, out of the blue (and it was always when I was resting) my heart started beating erratically and my heart rate went to 165. I tried every method to slow it down, medication, vasovagal manuevers but it continued for almost 45 minutes. We finally called an ambulance, the staff kept administering nitro which shot my heart rate to 222. When it got that high I was give Adenosine twice to stop my heart in order to restart it. I was in the hospital for 8 days because my heart rate was all of the place. I was given an ablation, which was only partially successful. I am taking Toprol Xl which has been slowly increased from 12.5 mg to 150 mg. They have also discovered blockages in my LAD and I now have two stents. I had my first event in a year two weeks and I take all of them seriously.

DrD11

Could you all share the information Re:
Lipid profile,specificaly H.D.L.?

careh

Dear Taterbug...I hate it when doctors say "it's normal" to feel this awful! I also have multiple PVC's along with PAC's, AV node re-entrant tachycardia, Inappropriate sinus tachycardia, and SVT and was told that it is all just a nuisance condition by my uncaring "you're uninsured, sorry no tests" cardiologist. (He is now going on tests from 2002 and 2004 for heaven's sake!) I don't go a single day without symptoms several times, especially at night for some reason. I also can't lean over and walk very far without horrible SOB and light headedness, along with a horrible feeling of pressure on my chest. If this is just a nuisance, I'd sure hate to really have something wrong!
Hang in there, my friend, and know you are not alone. Please let us know what your new doc says!
Carolyn

trrn

Here I go again. PVC, normal, normal PVC, normal normal, PVC normal normal PVC normal...blah , blah blah.
I am tired of this. Will it ever go away. It is scary. I'm OK when I'm at the Docs and they tell me it is "normal", "don't think about it", "nothing will happened". But when you sit at home at night and all of a sudden you get them. It stinks. I've had them everyday for a year. Started Last May out of the blue. And they are still here. Some days worse than others. I have them everyday. Of course when I had my holter monitor I only had 52 in 24 hours. Lately, I've been getting 52 to 15 minutes. Had an event monitor on it showed couplets and three in a row. Since I'm at the age (46), maybe it's hormonal. I don't feel stress until I get them....thanks for listening.

Taterbug

Are you on any kind of medicine? I started taking Verapimil and I haven't felt better. I started taking this med for my migraines and it killed 2 birds with one stone. I just wish they could've done this 6 months ago before I spent all the money on tests.

trrn

No, I'm not on anything yet. May consider trying again. Had a beta blocker. Hated it. Everywhere I read and per my Doc. the PVC's are less dangerous than being placed on a cardiac med. Long terms effects of cardiac meds are unknown. I fear being put on them and never being able to get off.

Today, my PVCs are rare. I may have had 5 all day and I've been up 9 hours. It's a good day today. If they continue to go crazy, I'll consider verapamil, in fact my family Doc recommended since I can't tolerate atenonol.

Taterbug

I can't handle the beta blockers either. I get terrible headaches 20 min after I take them. So, I quit taking those and started on Cardizem (calcium channel blocker). Those did nothing but make my BP worse. I quit taking that all together and told myself maybe no medicine is the best medicine. Well, I was wrong...that's what sparked the 3-day migraine. So, now that I'm on Verapamil I feel great. I did have a bad "shakey" day. Probably from the heat. I got too hot and shakey from sitting at my boys baseball game. So, I went and sat in the shade with a bottled water. BP got up to 150s/90s. That's when the PVC's kicked back in. But today is a better day. I hope you get some relief soon...PVC's can make you feel nuts.

Michele

sloopy

Hi, I'm new to this board but so glad I found it. I've had pvc's since I was a teen and had an ablatia done several years ago. For some reason, the pvc's have come back with a vengeance this last year. It's driving me nuts! I'm now on metoprolol. I can't tell it really helps much. The pvc's make me very nervous and jittery. My GP thinks the anxiety is what is causing the pvc's. The cardiologist thinks the pvc's are causing the anxiety. I can't even get them to agree on it! I think it's hormonal but neither one of them believe that. Have any of you tried taking magnesium or potassium supplements? Do they work?

jacy1

I can really relate to everyone who experiences the " this arryntmia is nothing to worry about etc etc." My arrythmia is in the atrium and are Premature Atrial contractions. I have a pacemaker that started all this stuff for me. If I have one more doctor tell me that " most people don't have problems after a Pacemaker implant or most people don't feel the PAC's I am going to slug them. It certainly is not : normal for people to feel this miserable with the arrythmia or this weak and have chest pains all the time. Been through all the tests, no CHF or CAD not valve issues etc, but after five years ( since surgery) have had all the tests and they don't know why I am having these isuues. My blood pressure is so low ( 78/55) and I can't get my heart rate past 52 - They are going to try settin my lower limit on the pacemaker to 70 to see if that helps. Last weeks appointment yielded the followig comment " you probably won't ever feel better". I am beginning to hate the medical preofession.

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