[Jenna]

Hello all!

Its been a little bit since I've posted! I got a horrible flu, then Thanksgiving came, then trying to get back on track. Its been insane.

The skips have been behaving lately (knocking on wood over and over again). I can think of a few reasons for this. My last couple of posts I had thought out loud a bit about my heart rate/PVC connections and perhaps food intake affecting it as well.

Beginning around November 1st, I started my own experiment, weaning myself off the daily running and increasing my food intake. In my obsession with getting rid of palps, I had eliminated so many things in my diet, I don't think I was eating enough in the end. Then about 3 weeks ago I got that flu, with a nice high fever and a super duper increased heart rate. During the flu period, I got no palps. When I started to recover they came back a bit, then the sinus infection came on. Again, palps went away. But I have not been able to run, have been eating like a maniac and have noticed an increase in my resting heart rate. Before, it was about 40-50 resting. Now, its 65-70.

I have no idea if I figured anything out, all I know is that when I do get them, I don't feel them as dramatically and they feel more like flutters. Just now, I had a quick speed up for about 4 beats but then it relaxed. I felt that during Thanksgiving dinner as well, just a quick speed up for a few beats and then it stopped. (what is that? PVC? PSVT?) It just seems like they are evolving and they are doing so after a dramatic and immediate reduction in cardio and an increase in food. Maybe my body is just happy that I'm not torturing it anymore and the joy of eating and indulging is causing my happy hormones to flow, thus reducing the palpitations. LOL. Either way, I keep my fingers crossed that it stays this way for a while. I wish I knew why the flutters without skips scare me less than the pause thuds. What is up with that?

Hope everyone has been well!

Jenna

[Katie]

I'm underweight for my BMI and notice that when I eat more frequently and run around less and sleep more I feel so much better. It's difficult for me to gain weight with all my allergies but when I can keep a good diet it really helps me.

[Jenna]

Originally Posted by Katie

I'm underweight for my BMI and notice that when I eat more frequently and run around less and sleep more I feel so much better. It's difficult for me to gain weight with all my allergies but when I can keep a good diet it really helps me.

Katie, I find it so crazy that now that I have a higher resting heart rate, I feel the skips SO much less. I am coming to a conclusion that at a slower rate, my awareness of them is increased as they are felt more forcefully. At a higher rate, I'm sure I get plenty, but I sure don't feel them much, specifically I don't feel the pause, thump as much.

I honestly think it was my HR. Bradachardia (from what I've read) can be as much a trigger for PVC's or skipped beats as a fast heart rate if you are already proned to getting them in the first place. So, I need to find my BALANCE. Moderate workouts, healthy eating and plenty of sleep to keep my body and the palps in check!

[dr461]

Originally Posted by Jenna

Katie, I find it so crazy that now that I have a higher resting heart rate, I feel the skips SO much less. I am coming to a conclusion that at a slower rate, my awareness of them is increased as they are felt more forcefully. At a higher rate, I'm sure I get plenty, but I sure don't feel them much, specifically I don't feel the pause, thump as much.

I honestly think it was my HR. Bradachardia (from what I've read) can be as much a trigger for PVC's or skipped beats as a fast heart rate if you are already proned to getting them in the first place. So, I need to find my BALANCE. Moderate workouts, healthy eating and plenty of sleep to keep my body and the palps in check!

I think you are absolutely right. There are so many triggers--slow heart beat can trigger PVCs, as can a racing one. One can be resting, working, or just sitting around. We can't control the adrenaline surges or the electrophysical impulses that cause them, but we can live with them, and work on getting less scared.

[Katie]

Being less scared is the hardest thing for me. I've had a couple rough days, the last three have been hard and I'm trying to hold myself together and not lose it. The thing with me is I feel so strong when they are few in number but when they keep on it's difficult for me. Tonight I was just sitting down and my heart went off in three rapid beats and then back to normal. It is so scary especially since this is the second time it's happened to me the first time was 4 beats. It's frustrating because now I'm experiencing new things and they scare me. Once I felt like I could handle the flutters and double beats and skips I get stuck with these scary beats. When I called the doctor last time he told me not to worry about them and I know you all will say the same thing but it's so hard when it's getting you. I guess I'm going to go do my heart ritual when it starts firing away- RELAx as much as possible. and we ALL know that's easier said than done but hopefully going through the motions will trick my brain.