[Heathie]

First of all, I am new to this site and very glad that I found out! This may be a little long but I'd like to give everyone a little background info on me.

I'm 25 years old, healthy weight, no major health problems, non smoker, non drinker, etc. When I was 20, I gave birth to my first child. 6 months after that, while at the doctor for a completely different reason, it was noticed that my heart rate was fast. I had never had an issue with my heart before. So my GP did an EKG and told me that I was in SVT and to go to the ER to convert it. By the time I got to the ER, I was out of SVT and just in Sinus Tachycardia. It took them 2 days to get my heart lower than 100 for some unknown reason. I had echo, EKG, and chest x-ray, all clear. Hospital cardio thought it was a reaction to energy drinks so I cut out all caffeine and was started on Atenlol. A few months after that, I noticed my first ever skipped beat. So I went to my GP, we played around with dosages and different beta blockers and eventually I ended up on Coreg. No change however so I finally had a 24hr heart monitor. Results were short bursts of SVT, PVC's and tachycardia. Referred to cardioloigists after that. Had EKG, blood work, echo...all normal. First cardio wanted to do an EP study but I was too scared so I sought a 2nd opinion. Had another echo, EKG, stress test, blood work, event monitor for 30 days, all tests were normal, but monitor showed PVC's, sinus tach, and sinus arrythmia. So referred to an Electrophysiologist. He weaned me off of the Coreg to complete another 2 week heart monitor and discuss possible ablation. However, I became pregnant unexpectedly while on the monitor and had to stay off Beta Blocker permentantly. electrophysiologist said I had pacemaker cells in my lower heart but benign and that I would be fine until after pregnancy when we could play around with meds or try for ablation. So fast forward to now...I'm almost 7 months pregnant and have started experiencing PVC's in a bigeminal and trigeminal pattern for the last month. At first it was just a few short bursts that I could break by deep breathing, coughing, or position change. However, it has now become more constant. It will last for 30 seconds or more, convert to normal rhythm for a few beats, then the bigeminy returns. If I am active, I usually don't notice the rhythm. It is also worse when lying on my left side. Sometimes I get extreme hot flashes with it (and being pregnant). I finally got a hold of my electrophysiologist and he ordered me a low dose beta blocker. Haven't picked it up yet. However I am scared to death! I can handle the isolated PVC here and there, I can even handle my usual of 6 or 10 a minute. But I hate hate hate this every other beat stuff! I am so scared it is dangerous or that it means my heart can't handle the pregnancy. I know I've made it this far with only 2 more months to go but what will happen in the next 2 months? Every day just keeps getting worse. Can my heart handle this? Sorry for such a long post, especially since it is my first but I have so much anxiety and worry over these things. I spend every day checking my pulse 309822 times and feeling as if today is the day something big happens and I croak over. I have a 4 year old I have to be here for! Thanks in advance!

[jkfrench]

Hi Heathie,
I am so sorry you are having to deal with PVCs while being pregnant. I Remember having a big increase in PVCs and SVT while I was pregnant. I think if you were at risk, your doctors would let you know. I just had an appointment with my cardiologist and he said that they don't even consider ablation unless there are over 10,000 PVCs in 24 hours and even then, they try to manage them with meds before ablation. Do you know how many you are actually having in 24 hours? I think you should call your doctor again and tell him they are coming every other beat. He can reassure you that you will be fine. My doctor also said that he has patients in bigeminy and they don't even feel it. Therefore they don't treat it. I think you wil be fine and if you try to stop feeling your pulse, maybe your anxiety will decrease which will help too.
We have all been there. Come back as often as you need to for support. I'm sure others will comment soon. You will be fine. Your heart can handle this because according to your doctors, all tests were normal. Hopefully they will go away after your baby is born! Hormones are a bitch and really cause these PVCs to act up as well. Hang in there!!!
Jodie

[Heathie]

Thank u for replying jodie! Its always comforting to find someone else that understands. People without PVCs just can't fully sympathize. No doctor has ever told me how many. I've always been curious. Before pregnancy, I know I felt in the upper hundreds, if not low thousands on a bad day. However bow, im sure its over 10,000 bc of the bigeminy. Someties I can't feel the bigeminy but other times I get that big catch inn my chest. MY electrophysiologist does know about it. I left a message with his nurse. Its so hard getting ahold of anyone there. He called me in Meteropol (sp?) 12 mgs to take twice a day. Im stating it later today. Does anyone elses ovcs come in bigeminal patterns? It just seems this would wear out the heart! Again, thank u Jodie & id be interested in hearing how labor went for u with PVCs.

[DaniRae]

I am so sorry you are having this. Jodie is right, it's a total bitch to deal with this and the hormones. Your doc doesn't seem all that concerned, he just wants to get you treated, which is great! So to me, he just wants to get them to a manageable level... I have also heard of many who had Albation and it helped. The anxiety sucks, makes it so much worse and these things are horrible. When I was first diagnosed all I thought of was OMG my kids are going to lose me. And I have read all over the place that during pregnancy PVCs increase.

So sorry you are dealing and Jodie is right, feel free to come here to vent etc. We are all here for you!
Hugz ~ Dani

[jkfrench]

my PVC's weren't too bad during labor and delivery. I remember being scared because I was getting them, and they called my cardiologist and he told them that my heart is fine and not to worry about it, so they didn't which helped me not to worry so much.
I'm having a bad day today too so I know how you feel. Hang in there. You will be fine. -
Try to remember that your electrophysiologist didn't even want to see you! Imagine that. You are getting this increase in PVC's and he just called in some meds! He must not be worried and he is the doctor! Hopefully this will help. If it doesn't, try the Atenolol. That helps me most of the time. (except for today!!! LOL)
Jodie

[Heathie]

Thank you everybody for your reply. I would never wish PVC's on anybody but it's always nice to know someone else deals with these things too. I always feel so isolated and alone because of them. My dad has skips, but like 1-2 a week! I can't imagine how wonderful that might be! I would take 100 a day! Instead of this constant beat...beat...skip...beat...beat...skip. Ugh! The doctor started me on Meteropolol, 12.5 mgs 2x's daily. It hasn't effected the PVC's or bigeminy at all. Still about 75% of my waking hours are spent in bigeminy. But it has decreased the intensity so the feeling of it isn't as unpleasant, though still total hell. I always feel bad complaining over something like this when there's people dying of terminal illnesses that would take a lifetime of skipped beats over their condition. I just get so frustrated! I'll have good deals where I feel all powerful and convince myself that I'm taking my life back and these things aren't going to kill me.Then the very next, I'm worried about some weird rhythm I had over a year ago that wasn't captured and then I start worrying over the PVC's. Sorry to complain, I just needed to vent and want to thank everyone that has read and replied, and everyone that will read and reply in the future!

[DaniRae]

It is nice knowing we aren't alone. Helps so much... My doc told me that sometimes its normal to be abnormal. Which is true but doesn't mean we have to like it! lol

And I am the same, some days I think No big deal! I can kick this! Then the next I am scared to move too much.

You are doing great. Do you know what you are having yet? Boy or girl?