[OD#3]

I stopped by the VA today to turn in my event monitor. It took me two days to record the maximum of five events on a monitor that they had expected me to wear for two weeks--and that was with me holding off pressing the button unless I had a particularly bad episode. As luck would have it, the day after I'd recorded the last event I had one of the longest runs of what I've come to believe is bigeminy that I've ever had. I sat on the couch for at least a half hour while my heart thumped, paused and thumped. Sure wish I could have recorded that.

Anyway, I went down to the OIF/OEF primary care clinic to see if someone there could find the results from the echo test I'd had 5 weeks ago. All anyone had told me up to this point was "no news is good news", but I really didn't think it should be taking weeks and weeks to hear back from anyone. Anyway, I found a nurse down there and she was more than willing to check for me. She was able to pull it up but wanted a doctor to share it with me. She called her doctor over. This doc has seen me a couple of times, but she isn't my primary care physician (wish she was). Well, she found the results and was a little concerned that no one had followed up with me yet. But the results of the echo were "normal", so that was a relief anyway. She asked about my symptoms, took my pulse and started shaking her head. I asked "Did you feel that one?" She replied that she had felt that one and several others as well. It felt so good to have just one other person witness my symptoms! Even better (not for her but...), she told me that she used to suffer terribly from PVC's and has to take beta blockers.

After checking my records and noting that my resting heart rate when checked there has always been between 80 and 100, my blood pressure has been acceptable, and the two EKG's done before (when I had no symptoms) showed good activity, she offered to start me on a low dose of Metoprolol. I had always hoped that my condition would be something that could be fixed by something like ablation, and I really didn't want to take a pill. But my symptoms have been getting so frequent and bad lately, I'm willing to try anything. And besides, at least this doctor was willing to try treating me. She ordered the prescription and even scheduled a follow-up with her in a couple of weeks. And she did all this even though I had walked in with no appointment less than an hour before close of business hours on a Friday!

My assigned primary care doc has done very little. She ordered the tests, but she spent most of her time with me warning me about the dangers of wearing battery-powered wrist watches on the left wrist and encouraging me to try eating pumpkin seed oil and learn bio-feedback techniques from the internet. She's something else.

I filled the prescription and picked up a "request to change primary care provider" forms. Officially the local VA says that they aren't honoring these requests right now, but I can always hope. The doc I saw today is a rare gem; I really hope I can talk them into letting me switch to her.


I just took my first tiny dose of Metroprolol (half of a 25 mg tablet). I'll post back in a couple of weeks and let everyone know how I'm doing. Thanks again for all the encouragement and info here. I'm sure you all know how much it helps with the anxiety.

[Susie]

Hi OD#3, wow, five weeks is a terribly long time to wait, talk about stress, they should not have done that. I am happy for you that it was "Normal" Yes, it is nice to have someone else feel them and to understand where you are coming from.

I have worn the holtor monitor twice, and both times, nothing really happened, maybe 5 or 10 episodes, and they were small, but, like you, that night after it was off, wow, did I have a bad episode and I, too, wished I had been wearing it then, darn, I wonder why it always happens after the darn things are taken off, must be a conspiracy.

Wow, that doctor was really great to see you on such short notice and you as a walk in, that is the kind you like to work with, there are very few of them like that unfortunately.

Man, your regular doctor is a trip. Wearing your watch on the other arm? Pumpkin seed oil? Bio-feedback? Mercy, I don't like that. True, I am into natural means, but when it comes to the heart, I say see the best and get the best treatment available.

I hope you will be able to switch to the other doctor, she sounds awesome. Why the heck are they not allowing that at this time, that does not seem fair, geesh.

Good luck on the Metroprolol, yes, please keep us posted. I have high anxiety too, and I know posting here sure does help. Take care.

[OD#3]

Well, I promised a follow-up posting, so here goes...

My event recorder results came back, and they showed PAC's--not PVC's. I suppose it is possible that I have both sometimes, but all it recorded were PAC's. The Beta Blockers have been a miracle drug for me. I got immediate relief, but it wasn't long-lasting enough. What began as a very low 12.5 mg dose a day has been adjusted to 25 mg. in the morning and 50 mg. in the evening. So far, that has done the trick. I can still get them while cooling down from a workout, but they are of very short duration. Also, I've had to go back on low-carb. I just can't handle the blood sugar fluctuations following a high-carb meal; they make my heart go haywire for a bit despite the mediction. Now, I've noticed maybe 10 errant beats per 24 hour period lately compared to 1,000's a day before Metoprolol.

I do wish I wasn't dependent on a maintenance drug, but the relief is so profound that I consider myself fortunate.

[jkfrench]

Glad you have found some relief. How many PACs did your holter record?
I had to up my beta blocker (atenolol) as well. 1/2 of a 25mg in the pm and 1/2 in the am. this has helped to settle mine down. I still seem to get clusters of them for a couple of hours a day but at least it isn't all day long like it was. I also hate taking drugs and was just taking 1/4 of the 25 mg tablet. That worked for years so I guess I should consider myself fortunate as well. Hopefully I can stay at the dosage I am at now.
Jodie

[dhope]

jodie how are you dealing with low blood pressure or are you. I take half and I still feel lightheaded with skips and misses does it keep it out of going out of rhythm maybe some but the effects of low blood pressure isn't good.

[jkfrench]

Hi dhope
My blood pressure sometimes drops to 88/58 but rarely. It usually is around 98/64.
I had a horrible day. I was fine until around noon. Then some points during the day I was having 6-7 skips a minute. Plus I was getting this double beat. Not like the double beat of a PVC, but a beat, then two light double beats, then a normal beat. What is THAT?
I called my doctor and am going in for another holter tomorrow. This is just scaring me. I think taking the extra atenolol might be slowing my heart too much and causing more skips!
What a catch 22. I take 1/2 at night and 1/2 in am. I was just taking 1/4 and it worked for 15 years.
Can't figure out what is going on here but I am sick of it. The only time I have relief is when I'm running.
Jodie

[mairegra]

That's great that you are able to run when you are getting these things. I am too scared to exercise when I am getting them.

[dhope]

thank you Jodie, and I'm sorry. I do know what you mean. Yes I wonder that to, seems we need the beta blocker and sometimes. I'm going to cut it into fourths and see to.

Still working on the mag, I'm afraid to run to do anything physical I wonder if that will help. I think also licorice will to. Do you drink salt water I mean the good sea salt thats pure with minerals?

[mairegra]

Licorice can be very pro- arrthymic

[dld]

[I was having 6-7 skips a minute. Plus I was getting this double beat. Not like the double beat of a PVC, but a beat, then two light double beats, then a normal beat. What is THAT?
I]


Hi Jodie,

I have been getting the same type-the light double beats, sometimes I get three-doesn't feel like a PVC beat. Any idea what they could be? D