[dr461]

I read this and had to repost, as it gives a medical professional's perspective in/re PVCs.

Hi there,
Firstly - please don't worry. I am a cardiac tech and work for a Professor of Cardiology/Electrophysiology.
Do you understand the mechanism of PVCs PAC's etc? I get them myself and worried myself stupid for years over them (yes bigeminy and trigeminy also). Did you know most people wearing a 24 hour Holter monitor will display both PVC's and PAC's? The difference is that most people simply don't notice them at all. So many people present to hospital because any strange sensation with your heart is naturally scary. The problem begins when these people present over and over again because they refuse to accept that their hearts are totally normal.
In an otherwise healthy heart they are benign and normal. In my case I just "let them happen" and within around 3 months I stopped feeling them - they're probably still there - I don't really know.
I did try beta blockers - for me it made them worse - my theory was it slowed my heart rate so there was extra time in between beats for the heart to fire off one of these 'extra' beats.

The hardest thing I had to do in my life was lie in bed and LET THEM HAPPEN but the more I did this the more I felt - VICTORY!!

If you want a detailed explanation of the mechanism of action I would be happy to explain - it's really quite simple.

Atrial fibrillation is entirely different as are most other arrhythmias and if you are a PVC/PAC sufferer you are at no more risk of developing other arrhythmias than the next person. Today's ablation techniques are fantastic for AF, SVT, AV node re-entry tachycardia, slow pathway ablations, Wolff Parkinson White syndrome etc. It has made such a difference to the lives of many many people.

The only other thing I found that helped was to keep well hydrated and to take omega 3 fish oils which have been documented to keep the tissues of the heart less "irritable" in terms of firing off additional beats. I also take 500 mg of magnesium every day.

Hope this helps. Happy to explain more if you wish.
In the meantime, get victory over them drug free!! Cheers, Susan.

[DaniRae]

I love this article!!!!!

[dr461]

Originally Posted by DaniRae

I love this article!!!!!

Thanks, I thought it summed it up for so many of us. We all worry too much. That is the biggest problem, if one has had a cardio workup, and still persists in getting scared and uptight. I am so guilty of that.

[mairegra]

I have actual symptoms with mine and in fact sometimes don't feel the PVCs but feel the weird feeling in my head and chest and if I feel my pulse can actually feel the PVCs causing it so ignoring them doesn't work for me.

[dr461]

My doctor has the same situation. He told me on Tuesday that he feels a "THUMP" while he's lying in bed, and his happen "frequently."

[DaniRae]

Its nice to have a doc who understands though

[Chaoticdopey]

Originally Posted by dr461

Thanks, I thought it summed it up for so many of us. We all worry too much. That is the biggest problem, if one has had a cardio workup, and still persists in getting scared and uptight. I am so guilty of that.

i think we are all guilty of that, i love the posts that you guys find, its helps me deal with this alittle more each day. ive been feeling these things for 4 months now and its getting easier not to go running to the ER because of posts on this site, thanks every one...

[dr461]

Originally Posted by Chaoticdopey

i think we are all guilty of that, i love the posts that you guys find, its helps me deal with this alittle more each day. ive been feeling these things for 4 months now and its getting easier not to go running to the ER because of posts on this site, thanks every one...

Absolutely. That is why it has been said over and over up here to NOT Google PVCs, and irregular beats, as you will find scary and very inaccurate trash going around on other websites. Some people post things that absolutely contradict what experts say in/re ectopic beats, and are figments of the imagination of idiots. The ones I've posted are some good ones I have found over the years, before finding this wonderful support forum.

[Susie]

Great article, I wish I would stop worrying, it has actually caused a mild, nervous breakdown according to my doctor. My holter monitor was good, but, it showed more than the other two I had in the past, so, now I am worried that I am getting worse. The one I wore in 2004 only showed 3, the one in 2009, showed 13 and the one I just took off showed 32. Some of them were runs, the other holters did not show that, I guessI could have had them but they did not act up during that time.

Anyway, thanks for posting, I am trying not to fear, but it is soooo hard, I have health anxiety big time.

Oh, I agree, googling PVC's and such will scare the be-jeepers out a person, I had to stop that.

[ctcsmith]

I just wanted to bump this up again to remind everyone about this great article!!