[Carrie]

A couple of questions for you here:

A friend of mine was told that she couldn't have wrist surgery because she had bigeminy. Two anesthesiologists refused, so her doctor is trying to find a third. Is surgery risky for anyone having PVCs (about 8000 a day)? I need a colonoscopy in a few months. Most likely I'll have a lot of PVCs then, because they place you on your left side. And since I have a twisty colon, the procedure will take half an hour longer than for the average person. Anyone been through this experience and done okay?

I want to give blood for the first time next Monday and am a little hesitant about it. A few hours after I donate, I'll be leaving on a short trip by car to meet relatives. Since I've not given blood before, and having PVCs, will I be very tired or not feel well after donating blood? Will I still be able to do normal activities without feeling crashing fatigue? I sometimes have fatigue even on a normal day, and I don't want to overdo. Anyone? (Thanks)

[poohbear2026]

Hi,
I've had PVC's for over 15 years. I have had a C-section, a colonoscopy, and two endoscopies. I did not have any problems heart wise with any of those. I was really nervous about the colonoscopy so my heart stayed around 100 they said through the whole thing but they monitored and said it stayed in sinus rhythm the whole time. I wouldn't worry about the colonoscopy except for the yucky stuff you have to drink the night before that was when my heart went crazy....and I was not able to drink hardly any of the big jug of stuff...but they were still able to do the test just fine. I've never donated blood because they won't take me because I have passed out at the sight of blood before. Hope this helps.

Anita

[Carrie]

It does help, Anita. Thanks very much. I've had colonoscopies before, but didn't have 8500 or so PVCs a day at that time. I'm getting pretty good at chugging down the liquid, but I hate not being able to eat a regular diet for a day or two before. I always get weak and tired, and sooo hungry.

I called the blood drive people today and a nurse said I would probably feel more tired than the average person if I was experiencing PVCs, because my oxygen level would be further reduced after giving blood. She suggested having someone drive me and resting the rest of the day. And she said that if the found that I had a lot of PVCs that day (maybe from nervousness or whatever) they might tell me to come a different time to donate instead. Darn. I was hoping it wouldn't be a problem. I may still try it though.

I felt like saying that I often feel kind of tired/lightheaded and worn out (very low energy), no matter how much sleep I get. Have had that for about 10 years, way before I had PVCs. Doctors have never found out why.

[Jeff]

That seems odd to me - there are people with heart problems that get heart surgery, right?

Is the friend on any meds to control the PVCs? I guess I'm surprised an anesthesiologist would turn down a procedure that way, unless there were other factors that made it a greater risk.

As for you - I went through a period of about 12 months when I had about 10,000 PVC's per day, every. single. day.

Now I might have 100. Last couple days have been a lot worse, but nothing that concerns me (funny how 12 months of it will toughen you to a few days of heavy PVC's now and then).

Just drink lots of fluids for the blood donation so your heart doesn't have to work harder to pump around the slightly lower volume of blood.

[bypeep]

Carrie,

I have PVC's and PAC's as well as an undiagnosed arrhythmia and I have had several surgeries, each time coming out feeling just fine. I've had a cholicystectomy (sp?), a D&C and tonsilectomy. The only thing that was mentioned is that my heart rate became very low during one of them, and one I woke up during surgery but I don't remember it.

I have also donated blood with no problems at all. Actually, for whatever reason, after my surgeries, my heart acted better than normal for several days after.

My doctor is scheduling my for a colonoscopy for a suspected redundant colon shortly and she wasn't phased by my heart irregularities in regards to the procedure. Last summer I had a ruptured cyst in my breast and they wanted to inject me with a fast-acting, strong antibiotic and when they told me it had lidocaine in it, I freaked out. She referred back to my charts of former surgeries and told me that I'd tolerated other injections of similar stimulants just fine. I hate it when my heart speeds up so I worried about it's effects. Apparently, there was nothing adverse.

Perhaps the biggest concern would be your state of mind when getting ready to donate? If you are terribly nervous, it can trigger all sorts of reactions, including irregular heart beats.

[Carrie]

Jeff and bypeep...

Thanks for answering! I feel much better about the upcoming colonoscopy thanks to your comments. I'll probably have PVCs because I'll be on my left side. That usually triggers them for some reason. I miss sleeping on my left side, but I don't like waking up with PVCs. So, I try to sleep on my right side instead.

Jeff, do you have any idea why you stopped having 10,000 PVCs a day, why it dropped dramatically for you? How wonderful! Wish that would happen for me. I try not to check my pulse all that often because it would just make me anxious and might increase the darn things. So I'm not sure exactly how many I have now, a year after wearing the Holter monitor for two days. And thanks for the tips on preparing for blood donation. I'm not going to donate this coming Monday (tomorrow) because I found out that they don't open for donation until an hour or so before I have to leave to visit my relatives. But there are other places to donate later this month, and I'm going to do it. It seems like a great way to give back. I've always needed a smaller gauge needle and my veins are hard to find, but I'd think that the people who work there are used to drawing blood often, so they will probably be able to do it more easily.

bypeep, let me know how your colonoscopy goes, okay? Mine is in October. I never had a redundant colon until three years ago. The doctor thinks it's because I've had irritable bowel problems (gas, constipation) for quite a few years. The only trouble I had with the last colonoscopy was that I had a sore lower back afterward. The doctor said they had to turn me several times, that it's harder to do a scope on someone with a redundant colon. Otherwise, it went fine. Let me know how you do.

And thank you, too, for your assurance that you've had no problems donating blood in the past.

You two are the best! Again, thanks a bunch.

[Neil]

Hi Carrie, Just to throw another one in the pot for you. I have had two knee ops under general and menchioned my ectopics prior. I was not prevented from the op and much like the others I was monitored through out and my heart beat was fine through out the procedure. I hope that helps in some way.
I would also like to give blood at some point in my life let us know how it goes for you.
Neil

[Carrie]

Thanks, Neil.

[jkfrench]

Hi Carrie
I had a colonoscopy 3 years ago and opted to not have any sedation because I was worried it would make my heart worse. I got through the procedure without one PVC and my heart skips daily.
I wouldn't worry. Let us know. What worries me are the meds, not the procedure. From what I've heard, people love versed and it hasn't caused any problems with the heart. I'm just so hard headed you know. Jodie

[Carrie]

Thanks for replying, Jodie. You're very fortunate that you were able to get through a colonoscopy without sedation. I've tried that the first time and it was rough. (Maybe because I have irritable bowel syndrome and what they call gut sensitivity.) I found it very painful and asked them to give me the meds. Of course, I didn't have PVCs then.

Now that I have a redundant (longer and twistier) colon, my colonoscopy will take a lot longer and would be pretty painful without medication, so I'll need it. Hopefully, my heart will behave.

Thanks for mentioning that versed seems to be all right as far as PVCs are concerned. I really do like versed. It's been so helpful for me in the past.

And I love this forum. Some really nice people here.