[poohbear2026]

HI all I have been having some kind of skips all day. It seems like they are 6-10 a minute. They have been getting gradually worse over the last 3 days. And I am having those morbid thoughts again. I am so freaked out and just think it is different this time. I am so afraid I am going to die from these things. I go for my cardiac MRI in about 2 weeks and I guess I am just so worked up about that.

[fluttery]

I'm sorry you're having such a hard go of it lately poohbear. I know what you mean about them changing because it feels like mine started changing lately too. I used to only get them when resting but now i get them at other times, like during exercise and i'm worried my heart is breaking down electrically.

I think it's great that your going for an MRI - I heard those are supposed to be the gold standard of tests to see how good your heart struicture is. I know its so hard to, but try not to think bad thoughts now. the doctors haven't even been able to see whether what you have is serious or not, so why worry until theres a reason to?

I know, easier said then done. I'll be thinking about you, though.

[poohbear2026]

Thanks for your reply. I just hate these skips and wish they would just go away. I don't know what else I should do. I am going to a chiropractor hoping to get some relief and I am also considering acupuncture. I just don't know if anyone will be able to convince me that I am not dying.

[Jeff]

Hi poohbear,

Sometimes I'm not sure if I should say this when I say it, because I'm afraid it sounds like an "Oh yeah? Listen to how bad it is for me!" kind of post. And that's not how I want it to sound.

Back in 2006 I was having skipped beats every 4-6 beats, every day, 24/7, for somewhere around 8-10 months. Some days it would settle down to once every 15-20 beats, but not often.

Today I had about 7. Maybe 10.

So don't give up - I these cases where they are deemed benign by doctors, I think there are ways to figure out what particular cause is making your heart misfire, and make the PVC load drop quite a bit. Maybe not gone forever, but gone enough that you don't worry about them more than a few days every few months.

Stress is a big trigger for me, and the hard thing about stress is that there are just no outward signs of someone dealing with stress. No red skin, purple fingernails, nothing. So it feels very much like "all of a sudden" when the PVCs kick in. At least that's true for me, and reflecting on the previous weeks and months usually gives me some clues as to how I got to where my skipping heart is today.

Have you ever tried to track your bad days, kind of like a journal? (I do via Excel Spreadsheet) Or maybe track your food intake for awhile? They might give you some clues as to why your system feels the need for a little extra electricity in the power plant.

Hang in there, poohbear - we're with you.

Jeff

[jkfrench]

Hi poohbear2026
This is the typical pattern for PVC's and such. They settle for a while then the foci get irritated (for whatever reason..mine come from stress) and they start up. Even if they feel worse than the last time, they are still not going to hurt you. When I called the doctor sho was on call last time this happened to me he confirmed that. He said it doesn't matter how many you are having if your heart is structurally normal. Hopefully this mri test will give you the peace of mind you need for them to settle down. I know for me, that is what I need when they get really bad. Reassurance from my doctor.
Take care
Jodie

[poohbear2026]

Yes, stress is a big factor for me. It is usually something small that I will get worried about and then all of the sudden they get really bad. They used to go away for weeks at a time...but now I just get an occasional day or two that I will be free of them. Then like last night while just sitting watching tv my heart went into another episode of what they have said before as NSVT. I've read where NSVT is not good and even in normal hearts can later cause something bad.

[Jeff]

While NSVT can up the emotional ante, I've run across quite a few people that have been living with benign NSVT for decades and per doctors orders are not taking anything for it (i.e. the doctor thinks it's not dangerous).

But yeah, good on you for having it checked out - what could it hurt?