[CharlieJB]

Hey, I'm new here, and so far this forum has been a great help,

I'm 19 years old, really looking for some answers. I went to my doctor a couple weeks ago complaining of palpitations. They gave me a holter and after going to the cardio, I was diagnosed with benign PVCs. I got an echocardiogram to rule out physical problems, and it all came back negative, (good to know!)
Recently though, I've been getting this feeling when I'm sitting. It's not the average skip, but feels like a hard pound, and rush of blood to the head. Today I was able to feel my pulse, and it felt like the normal pause, but followed with what felt like a fast heart beat, then another pause, then normal. I don't know if this is a normal PVC, a PVC couplet, or something else. It seriously scared the heck out of me though. I called my cardiologist, and he said if it worsens to call him Monday for another holter. Do you think this is anything to be concerned about in a structurally normal heart? Does it sound like a PVC that just feels a little different?

[poohbear2026]

Welcome to the group. It could very well be a few PVCs in a row. I have had NSVT documented on me before. Usually I get a little light headed and hot when it happens. According to my cardio though it will be fine to have these runs since my heart is structurally normal. (As long as it doesn't last over 30 seconds or if I faint) However, they do scare the heck out of me when they happen. But if it continues to happen I would go back and get a 30 day monitor maybe you will be able to catch it next time.

[CharlieJB]

Thanks for responding! I've been doing just fine the rest of the day, no more of those weird beats. I am wondering though, when you have your NSVT, are you able to actually feel a pulse? When I have a PVC, the PVC itself feels like a pause in my pulse, and I would think NSVT would feel pulseless for as long as it lasts, (scary! Although there obviously is a heartbeat)
I hate how anxious this all gets me, but I am fortunate. At least it's only electrical issues, right?
Thanks again.
-C

[bypeep]

My NSVT is most of the times pulse-less (that I can detect) but sometimes very weak when I'm feeling for it.

[poohbear2026]

Mine are only 4 and 5 beat runs so by the time I start feeling for a pulse the run is over...but frankly it just feels like some really quick beats then it is over but it leaves me anxious.

[CharlieJB]

Mine seem to have a way of sitting me straight up in my seat when I get them. The reason I was asking about the pulse, is because when I felt that warm, pound sensation in my chest, I felt my pulse, and there was a normal little pause, but then I felt it get sort of fast. I was thinking that the fast part was a run of PVCs, but maybe it was just the adrenaline afterwards. I dunno, either way, this is something that happens only on "my bad days", and isn't very frequent, just startling. I'm in touch with my cardio. but since my heart is physically strong, I'm guessing it's just a little glitch.

[Jeff]

I'm hesitant to try to hazard a guess, but this sounds like bigeminy, not couplets. But it could be PACs, too. Just because you had PVCs caught on a Holter doesn't mean you don't have PACs, too (though PACs are even less troubling than PVCs, so it shouldn;t cause you any undue anxiety). And so long as you don't spend days in bigeminy, there shouldn't be anything to worry about, if your cardio did an echo and gave you a clean bill of health.

Hope that helps.

[CharlieJB]

Thanks Jeff, and everyone else. It's great to have people respond and be supportive. I'm very thankful, like I said, that my situation is very minor compared to some. Although some days can be pretty startling. Do PACs feel significantly different than PVCs? I would imagine they'd be even less noticeable, as I've read before that nearly 99% of people on earth experience them at some point. Also, I hear people mention that even in a structurally normal heart, there can be severe electrical issues in a heart. Are these easily picked up on EKGs? Like long qt?
All the best,
Charlie

[bypeep]

long qt is usually picked up on a resting ECG, however there is another variety that only shows up under stress - hence the stress test and when they inject you with adrenaline. It's called concealed because that's when it shows up. I was worried about this too but I think I'm good cause I had an EP study on 9/9 and they did pacing while I was having adrenaline and nothing showed up.

I have a hard time telling the difference between my PVC's and PAC's unless I get a few in a row. Singles to me feel nearly identical. When they paced me during my EP study I got a really good idea how similar they feel because the whole while I thought they were pacing my ventricles and inducing PVC's, they were actually pacing my atria.

Sometimes I'll get a run of PVC's and I get this other odd sensation of pressure in my throat so I know it's not the PAC. Sometimes I also get the sensation of a dramatically slowed heartbeat - like the contraction is in slow motion (but it's really not) and those are PVC's.

My PAC's for whatever reason appear to be stronger in sensation than my PVC's. A few of the were recorded and I swear I could HEAR them in my chest. Swore up and down they were PVC's. Nope. PAC's.

But, I will say that I think timing and situation affect the sensation more than anything. If your stomach is full, if your blood pressure is low/high, if you're anxious - all combine to make both types of palps different feeling.

I agree with Jeff, however, it sounds more like bigeminy than a run. However, where it's coming from is anyone's guess.

Take care!

[Jeff]

Charlie - first thing's first. Don't go looking for long qt information, because you'll find it and it'll scare the hell out of you when the odds are overwhelming that you don't have it, unless you have family that have/had it.

As for how it's found - ECG is the way, and the measurements are pretty precise, the methodology pretty cut and dried for finding long qt. Go ask for your ECGs from your last Holter. I can point you to some references to show you how to read your ECG, and you can decide for yourself.

I won't argue with bypeep that there is a "concealed" variety, but that's an even smaller subset of people, and the odds are long that you'd have either type.