[jphilly76]

Hello all,

So, after becoming a member of this site, looking through some atricles, talking to a few doctors, early last week my PVC's either subsided or I wasn't aware of them... until monday. Now, they're back full strength (what feels like five or six per minute) and it's driving me crazy. I've started seeing a therapist to deal with the anxiety (ironically that was also monday), but it's really too early to reap any benefits.

So, here I am, palping away, trying not to get too excited about it. But, as we all know, it's really hard. It's so tough when none of my family or friends can relate to this condition - it feels really isolating. It's starting to get harder to carry on normally as these bloody things are really slamming away in my chest, and the uncomfortability is starting to really consume my mind.

I just wanted to get a little of this out, sometimes it helps to just get a little feedback and confirmation that I'm not the only one! I hope everyone is well, and if you're in the northeast I hope the snow's managable for you and you're safe! Anyway, for now, I sign off and palp away!

-Justin

[jkfrench]

Hey Justin~
I'm really sorry you are dealing with this. I remember sitting in church one morning getting about 5 or 6 a minute (or so I thought) and they were so hard and scared me so much that I thought for sure I would die right there. We went to lunch afterward and I couldn't eat because every skip was catching my breath. I called my doctor when I got home and of course being Sunday, the doctor on call returned my phone call. But, he said that it doesn't matter how many PVC's you get. It just doesn't. If your heart is structurally normal the number is insignificant. He really didn't even want to know how many I thought I was having. He just said to take an extra 1/4 of my atenolol until they settled down again. He didn't suggest I call my doctor on Monday, didn't tell me to get the ER ...nothing. He just wasn't concerned.
So I got up off my butt and took my walk (which is 30 minutes straight uphill) and when I got home I felt much better. I did follow up with my doctor and made him put a holter on. I really thought I was having 5 or 6 a minute but it turned out I had a total of 244 in 24 hours so nowhere near the amount it felt like. I'm sure that is what is happening with you too. Especially if they come in spurts. I guess I was having some periods where there were a few a minute but it wasn't 24/7. I had several periods with none. Try not to let them consume you but if they do, just call your doctor for reassurance. You will be fine. These things are a pain to live with but they will not hurt us.
You are having very common, even "normal" events happen, but anxiety distorts the perception of them as well as the frequency. For some people knowing this is enough. For people like us, we almost have to burn out on worrying about them before they subside. They will subside. That is always the first thing out of my doctors mouth. And he is right.
Just remind me of all this when they start up again and I'm looking for help on the board lol
Jodie

[jphilly76]

Thanks for the kind words,

The last 72hours have been sheer murder. I'v been having panic attacks that are lasting 10-12hours - it seems that only after I've completely exhausted my body's supply of adrenaline and endorphins that I start to feel any better. I spent Saturday night until 5:30am walking through center city Philly from ER to ER just convincing myself that if I was at least near a hospital, someone would see me lying on the sidewalk in time to fix me.

This condition is borderline UNBEARABLE at the moment, and I pray I come up with some productive way to deal soon. This is having a seriously negative impact on my life, my marriage, and my mind!

[poohbear2026]

I know how it feels to be like that. I now take Ativan when I am having bad episodes. I also take Paxil. They have also given me a beta blocker to take if I have any really bad episodes of the heart. I have put my husband through a lot the last 10 years. I hope you can find some help out of this, but it will get better. I know when I go into my episodes, they will last for weeks and I feel as if the I am going to die, then all of the sudden they are gone and I will feel like a new person.

Anita

[Jeff]

Yeah Jphilly, I don't know if you're taking anything for the anxiety, but I think your life is sufficiently out of kilter at the moment that you should give that some serious consideration to that. Maybe a benzodiazepine (like Ativan), which is fast acting but doesn't last long, or maybe an SSRI that's slow to kick in (5 days - 2 weeks for full effect), but keeps things on an even keel 24/7.

Walking through downtown Philly at 5am is not a way to go. Well, actually, you do that and maybe that IS the way you go. No need to worry about your heart giving out.

So call your family doc. Tell her/him you're having a hard time coping, and could s/he recommend an SSRI or Benzodiazepine. That might be all you need to take care of both problems.