[yelad99]

Hello everyone I am new and have been feeling crazy PAC's/PVC's for about 2years now and drive my cardioligist crazy even to this day. I am a 4 time cancer survivor and think that I developed the beats during some stressful times I've had. They still scare the hell out of me but I kind of got used to them. Some are different from others I think thats what scares me they all dont feel the same exact way. I dont know but I really am glad there are other people out there that feel these too (not glad anyone feels them but glad I'm not alone) when I tell people about these their eyes get huge and they first tell me I should go to the doctors ASAP and they still dont understand so I just dont tell anyone. I'll tell you what Ive been through Chemo (A ton) Radiation (A ton too) and 4 huge surgeries 1 that I wasnt even supposed to make it out of and these things drive me crazier than anything else. I would like to talk to other people about these and what they do, and how they cope, and if there is anythign out there that calms these down. I talk to my Cardio and he doesnt tell me anythign he just makes me feel like I'm wasting his time.
Well I do hope to hear from someone. Hope everyone is well and glad to be on here
Pete

[bigmoo]

Hey Pete, I'm new here too, it seems like a nice avenue to be able to express yourself to others who can relate to your issues.

I'm sure there will be others that will be of more help to you than I can, but I just wanted to say welcome.

I know what you mean about the doctors, when they don't find anything wrong, they treat you like your're just over reacting.

I still say that 90% of these PVC's and PAC's are directly related to STRESS. I fully believe mine are.

Open yourself up to this forum and I'm sure you will at least get some comforting advice, as well as peace of mind knowing that you are not alone.

[DaniRae]

Hi there! First of all, I am sorry you are having so much trouble from the anxiety etc., due to PVCs/PACs, but I can also totally relate. Also, congratulations on your amazing story of kicking cancers a$$, wonderful news my friend!

My cardio and electrophysiologist basically told me there was nothing more they could do for me, and to stop worrying about the extra beats so much. Pfffft! Easier said then done but I have kind of gotten used to them. The big ones, the ones that really rock my body, they still scare the crap out of me. The little ones I can just kind of go about my business after they make me a pause a bit.
My family makes me forget them the most and yet makes me fear them more.... When I look into my kids eyes, and see them growing up so fast, I realize I need to enjoy every single moment, not dwell on my heart.... then I also think OMG I can't leave them, what if this turns into something more serious like VT etc.... So many different scenarios, just wish I had a crystal ball.
I am on Zoloft for the anxiety and I also have Xanax for "as needed" they make things a bit more bearable. These beats seem to come in waves, I will have a lot of time where I only feel a very few a day, gentle little ones, then I have days were I feel hard ones all day long. I do think stress can contribute to them (even my electrophysiologist said that), as well as caffeine, lack of sleep, hormones, cold medicines or any stimulant along those lines. I have cut back on caffeine, I drink very minimal. I also allow things to "roll of my shoulders" a bit more. I stop and smell the roses, take a deep breath of fresh air and try to see the blessings in everything that has happened. My faith as been my biggest advocate along with my family. I pray for God to take the fear, the anxiety and allow my to accept what I truly cannot change.
I have also heard of people taking Magnesium supplements. I take a low dose as well as fish oil/Omega.
My cardio and electrophysiologist said medicine was not needed for me, that it's just about learning to live with the feeling. So... that is what I shall do
You will find many helpful friends here, many who understand and can really relate. It helps to not feel alone (or tell someone you have an arrhythmia and them freak out - that does nothing for our "reassurance").

Hugz !~ Dani

[yelad99]

I totally hear ya about this being caused by stress! I started getting these during my third occurrence of cancer and I'm sure it was all because of Stress the more I got cancer the more I got stressed. Now being the fourth time and I'm done with this fourth time thank god its a good thing and I can put this behind me for now. Now the skipping heart beats and the chronic pain linger.
And Dani, I totally hear ya about the little ones I feel the same exact way I get these little ones and I can just move one and be fine I think about them but only for a second. Its the big ones the ones that rock my body that scares the crap out of me. What also scares me is that I have chronic pain in my chest. The last surgery that I had was very close too the bottom of my chest its where the incision ended. They took part of my diaghram and my xyhpoid process was damaged during the procedure (Which is totally normal for the surgery I had) and when I walk around too much or use my body too much it causes extreme pain that radiates up my chest and into my back and arms etc etc. Wicked scary haha! The doc keep telling me and telling me its chronic pain and Ive had several ultrasounds many many many EKG's, a stress test, all sorts of blood work and I even bought a stupid blood pressure cuff so I could check my BP on a regular basis. They think I'm crazy but when you get chest pain and these things its hard to get back to normal.
I too am on Zanex and it does help a little but obviously just a band-aid. The doc just started me on Lexapro that I just started ive tried many of those but haven't had any luck but they said this one should be good so I'm hoping that it improves my state of living. I do really need to try and chill on the caffeine but I cant part from my morning coffee. I don't notice any difference in PAC/PVC's during my morning coffee but I do notice if I have a cup of coffee later on in the day I will notice more of them.
I know i'll be find though deep down I do. And I also just pray (let me tell you its helped in the past) and hope that I can live my life to the fullest and just be happy. I have good friends and a great family I needed people during my cancer treatments and my Mom was right by my side for every single one of them and thank god for her. SO having loving family is good. My Mom Dad Bro and Sis have been great and those are the people that were all there when I actually needed someone. Its funny how some friends do just disappear when stuff like this happens but who needs those people. I do ask anyone though are your cardiologist supportive of you feeling these or are they like mine give you a arrogant grin and laugh at me like I'm crazy. Bothers the heck out of me. He says there is so much money and time wasted for cardiac tests every year because of these. I bet if he had them he would want a work up too to make sure there is nothing wrong with his heart I guarantee it! Again, thank you guys for your response it means allot.

[DaniRae]

so true! I really wish I could find a doctor who also suffered from PVCs. I would be so much happier lol

I have chest pain (always on my left side), used to be right about my left chests but now is also sometimes directly below it). Well the Cardio and electrophysiologist said it's no way from the PVCs etc., and my echo was normal so it's not that. My Primary Care ran a bunch of tests. I had a Chest CT scan, MRI, sonagrams, blood work etc., all came back normal for my lungs, gallbladder, etc etc.... but they noticed a bit of disc misplacment in my neck. Good news right? Well my doc said that that along with my tightness from anxiety could radiate pain to the chest. PFFFT! Still hurts and still scares me, thinking its my heart. But I have noticed when I let it go a bit, I forget it and it's not nearly as often or as bad. So I do know my mind plays tricks on me as well.
Yea and having a loving family is awesome. My dad has Stage 4 Cancer and I take him to his treatments etc., that is a huge stress on me because there is no option of surgery etc. I hate it. Then raising the family, work etc... it all adds up but I do try to have "me" time, even if it's sleeping on the air mattress and having a movie night with the kids, it's relaxing.

[Katie]

DaniRae: the kid thing is actually what makes ne super emotional and scared. I'm afraid they'll either forget me ( I have a 1 year old) or be heartbroken (my 4 year old is my side kick). It's really scary to think of leaving them behind but what I remind myself is my heart is in God's hands and its all a journey and if He takes me then He will surely take care of my kids. And His plan is better than mine. That has given me ALOT of reassurance in the last couple months. I think maybe sometimes all the fear is the unknown and what's going to happen to me, my kids etc., can be so consuming to me and it makes me a bad mom because the worry wears me down, so I try to remind myself it's not my plan that's the best because Gods plan is the best. ( sorry to all the non-religious people)

[bypeep]

Originally Posted by yelad99

when I tell people about these their eyes get huge and they first tell me I should go to the doctors ASAP and they still dont understand so I just dont tell anyone.

This part of your post is priceless and describes the true nature of the sufferer vs. the rest of the world. People DON'T understand unless they've experienced it.

On Thanksgiving my grandmother was asking about my upcoming MRI and Reveal implant and she said, "So your heart just beats really fast?" Almost as though she was dismissing it as something that everyone has experienced.

No, Nany. Yes, it's beating fast, but the beats are abnormal because they're only coming from my ventricles. I get so frustrated with people saying to me "Oh, I get that too!" when I have my doubts about the likelihood that they have, lol.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I understand where you're coming from. They are so stressful, terrifying at times - annoying at the least.

My biological father recently developed PAC's and he's been consumed with fear over them. He cannot understand how grateful I'd be if that was the only thing that they'd found wrong with my rhythm. No matter how many times I tell him that his PAC's and SVT are completely harmless, he doubts me. Maybe that's how my doctor feels when he tries to reassure me that I'm not going to keel over from my NSVT.

Stressful events have always triggered my heart, but it's usually when the stress is settling down. During the peak of the event, whether it's minutes or days, my heart acts like a trooper. But, the moment I begin to feel emotional relief it starts acting up. No clue why, but man it's annoying as anything.

Sugar is my ultimate trigger. I used to blame it on the coffee and now I realize since switching to Splenda that it was never the caffeine, always the glucose. I can't even eat a single, solitary cookie during ovulation/menstruation without it causing me grief beyond compare. For whatever reason, donuts, cookies, cake - just one mind you - will set my heart off and a lot of it tends to be positional. If I eat a bagel, I'm fine. A donut and then I bend over? Bam, bam, bambubuhbuhbuhbuhbuh--------BAM! I asked my electrophysiologist two weeks ago why this was and he had no answer. I think it's pretty significant that the few times in my life I've had what felt like a neverending run of PVC's was right after a high-sugar content snack. My worst run on July 26, 2010 was right after I'd eaten some of those fluffed mousse cookies. The one they caught on monitor the day after my wedding happened a little while after I ate two of my wedding cupcakes. The one that happened a few weeks ago was right after I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I know this sounds completely whacky, but sugar causes this for me - well... sugar combined with fluctuating hormones. Any other time of the month sugar will just produce a singlet or couplet. Get my ovaries working overtime and I get a run that can last between 9 and I'm guessing 50 beats.

I hope that you are able to get some relief from these, whether it be via medication to lessen their intrusion on your life, or just mental relief by getting to the point that you can accept and ignore them. Best wishes!

ps: I'm glad to hear that you are in remission. Hopefully it'll be perpetual!

[Katie]

Sugar is a source for me too, but sometimes I wonder if it's all hormones though because I crave sugar at those times.