[dr461]

Okay, so I am in PVC mode frequent flyer for the past few days. So, I take it easy and sit around, and have a skipped beat every 5th beat. Of course, this goes on for hours, and I get freaked out--normally, I'd never notice, as I rarely feel skipped beats, but I KNOW I have PVCs, so I feel my pulse all the time, like an idiot.

I work in the garage, throwing out stuff, getting ready to move next week, and my heartbeat is normal--probably around 120-125, courtesy of vigorous work. Then I go sit again, and guess what happens? You folks got it--beat, beat, beat beat, skip, etc.



This goes on for a good part of the day, and then I lie down--heart rate normal in about 5 minutes. I rest for an hour after vigorous work, and then get up. Yes, you guessed it--while sitting it is beat, beat beat, beat, skip!!!!!

Now I have been told by a very competent cardiologist, after the full battery of tests (you all know the drill-- blood work, Cardiograms, echo, Stress Test, etc, etc) that my heart is structurally normal, and there is no reason for the PVCs--benign. Of course, I want more reassurance that the situation is unchanged, so I call my family doctor. I get the "he's all booked today, but the nurse will get back to you later." Oh well, it is 6 PM, and no nurse, no callback---nada. The family doctor is fantastic--he, himself has PVCs, and is not concerned by mine. However, his office staff sucks in terms of communicating messages.

Frustrated again, and anxious--so what else is new?

David

[Ryan]

normally, I'd never notice, as I rarely feel skipped beats, but I KNOW I have PVCs, so I feel my pulse all the time, like an idiot.

Don't take this as a "dismissal", but if you don't feel the PVCs, you are very, very lucky indeed. I feel every ectopic I have.

[dr461]

No, Ryan, I do not take it as a dismissal at all. I often don't feel ectopic beats. Sometimes, I feel a fluttering in the neck or stomach, but more often I do not. They are largely asymptomatic, but still extremely scary, as I know I have them and take my pulse all the time.

[mairegra]

I feel mine most of the time as its like being kicked in the chest but sometimes I think I feel a faint flutter and feel my pulse and yes they are there. When the heart rate is higher if you do get PVCs the compensating beat will come a lot quicker so the blood does not build up and therefore no thud. Also if you are taking your pulse it is harder to detect them. Also there is less time between normal beats for the ectopic to kick in. Hope you feel better and are able to get reassurance from your doc.

[dr461]

Originally Posted by mairegra

I feel mine most of the time as its like being kicked in the chest but sometimes I think I feel a faint flutter and feel my pulse and yes they are there. When the heart rate is higher if you do get PVCs the compensating beat will come a lot quicker so the blood does not build up and therefore no thud. Also if you are taking your pulse it is harder to detect them. Also there is less time between normal beats for the ectopic to kick in. Hope you feel better and are able to get reassurance from your doc.

Thanks, I am going to try and go in and get a quick Cardiogram, just to show that there have been no significant changes in two years. I have had PVCs for a long time, and all the doctors deem them benign, but it doesn't make one feel less stressed about them.

Exercise can definitely reduce PVCs as well. One of the criterias for a positive stress test is vanishing PVC complexes--that shows that the PVC is not a result of a structural issue.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by dr461

No, Ryan, I do not take it as a dismissal at all. I often don't feel ectopic beats. Sometimes, I feel a fluttering in the neck or stomach, but more often I do not. They are largely asymptomatic, but still extremely scary, as I know I have them and take my pulse all the time.

Stop taking your pulse!

Seriously, if you find out you've gone two years with no significant change, and you really don't feel these, then I wouldn't worry too much about them. My cardiologist tells me everyone has skipped beats, but only an unlucky few actually feel every one. However, just knowing that your heart is beating out of rhythm (whether "normal" or not) is a freaky concept to digest. You might want to talk to a psychiatrist or cognitive behavioral therapist about getting a handle on health anxiety. That's a battle that I've been fighting for years, but it helps to know there's someone to vent to. And, of course, you can always vent here. This is a great place; with great people posting daily!

Good luck!

[Miss Elizabeth]

Ryan, I totally agree with you! Fixating on the skipped beats will make you nuts!!!! They are there, they are not going anywhere, and concentrating on them makes you nuttier than ever. They do however, disrupt your routine, make you tired, and lead to unwanted emotions. Fortunately, life goes on, symptoms fade for awhile and normalcy returns for a few hours. Grab those few hours and savor them. I hope everyone's day is good today!

[dr461]

Thank you all--you are all right. I should not fixate on the skipped beats, as they are there, and probably will always be there off and on to a degree. My doctor gave me a precautionary cardiogram, and said "no change" since two years ago. He told me that he, himself has a lot of skipped beats, and essentially regards uncomplicated PVCs as "normal." it is great to have a family doctor that can empathize, and as such, I greatly appreciate his support. So, I am going to take his advice and try and ignore the symptoms and flutters, and just do what needs to be done. Thank you for your feedback and support.

Regards,
David

[DaniRae]

You know I think what stirs us up, is we get to the point where we kind of accept them then BAM, we will get them every 3rd beat or so. That is what is hard for me to accept, I am really scared about that happening one day. That I will be on my docs door step crying because I will get them too often and will freak out. And he will tell me its fine and I will just want to crawl into a hole.

I hope your doc gets back to you soon David, it's not fun waiting for a phone call... but I really doubt anything has changed much in 2 years, I think it's just that little nerve in your heart being pissed off lol.

I feel every one of my skips, EVERY SINGLE ONE. And everyone feels like a thud. I hate that. If I didn't feel them, I would be so much happier.

[jkfrench]

It is hard to get out of that "fear" cycle. The first thing you need to do is keep your fingers away from your pulse. Sometimes (although rarely because I usually know) I'm not sure if I am having PVCs. I go about my day and then I decide... let me see if I am. So I feel my pulse and yep it is skipping around. I immediately feel tired. I immediately feel "different". Our thoughts can make this so much worse than it really is. And, feeling our pulse isn't going to change anything anyway so try to stop. Just tell yourself you feel great and remember what your doctor said. Reassurance from our doctors is blissful. I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday about something entirely different but I wanted to go over my stress/echo tests with her once more. I felt so great when I left (even though I had PVCs during that damn test) that I ran 4 miles last night instead of 3 and in a much shorter timeframe. I just wasn't worried. I need that reassurance every so often, so if your doctor hasn't called you back yet, call him again.