[Cheers]

Sorry this is long...and some is obvious info for you guys, but I wrote this for my blog too so needed some extra explaining

So, last night was down right awful. I was having skips like never before. Every 4-10 beats for quite a while and then every few minutes for the rest of the night. This sent me into a straight up panic attack. I have not really had a full blown panic in years and let me tell ya…they sure don’t get easier with time. And this was WITH an extra klonopin. I was up until about 1am and with the help of a couple great people online, my husband and mother and some ridiculous sitcoms…I was able to finally settle down and drift off to sleep.

When I woke up, I felt a few and was pretty anxious, but I did what I had to do because my appointment was at 10:45 and I could not wait a second longer.

I picked up my records from All Saints and headed to Burlington. My mom met us as soon as we arrived and we decided she would come in with me. She laughed and made fun of my OCD organizing of my records. I had them in a binder according to date and test. Hey! I thought I was being pro-active and considerate!!

The nurse called us back right away and she couldn’t have been nicer. Their staff is quite remarkable. In fact, the woman running the department called me on my way out there to make sure I was okay and all set. I mean, clearly, they did this because they know my mom…but still. It felt good to be treated so well. And I still say that the nursing staff at the All Saints electrophysiologist office is also very nice and compassionate.

The RN did her RN stuff…BP was what it always is….107/60-ish. Heart rate was 80-ish. I was calm. I always feel much better once I step foot into a doctor’s office. Always.

She brought my info out to the Dr. so he could review. A short time later he entered the room with a very friendly disposition. He has a dry sense of humor and is very straight forward. I really liked him a lot. He kept calling me young too which always helps

So…here are the basics…

I won’t say exactly what he said about the electrophysiologist suggesting an ablation…because I don’t think he would want that in writing. But he did say that there is no way he sees any need for me to have one. Says there are risks and it may not even work and it just is not warranted. Yes, I started to cry. It was just such a relief.

He said that I am just one of those people who feel everything with my heart while there are people who would never feel these things.

He did say there IS something there. There are events happening with my heart, but they are not anything to be worried about. He said as long as I am not passing out or feeling dizzy when they happen – it doesn’t matter how many I have – I should try to go on with what I am doing. He said I can run (but not to because its bad for the knees lol), scuba dive or sky dive if I wanted to. I assured him I will not be doing any of those things regardless of heart symptoms

He saw no issues with any meds or vitamins I have been taking.

He said having more PACs/PVCs right before menses is very common but he didn’t know if uterine fibroids make it worse (I read that they release more estrogen). I will ask my Gyno about that and it may be the push I need to get that hysterectomy.

I asked if I could drink. He said that people who drink live longer than people who don’t. “At least, that is what I tell myself every night,” he said tongue in cheek. But he did say that it can be a trigger for some people so if it is, to simply stop.

He said everything he saw on my many tests amounts to PACs, PVCs and some possible SVTs. He said none of it is something to worry about. He said nothing showed any signs of a dangerous arrhythmias such as afib, v-tach or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

He said I could be the most zen, buddhist-like person in the world and I would still feel these because that is just how my body is. But he did say he thinks stress and anxiety can make them worse or last longer.

I asked if there is any reason to believe that an event like the one that sent me to the ER 8 years ago may never happen again and he said sure – it may never happen again.

My potassium was low when I was in the ER that day. I asked about that being a possible reason. He wasn’t sure but he did say he likes people to have about a level 4 (mine was 3.4) but that people in good shape are typically lower. He said it would be fine to take a potassium supplement if I wanted. I asked about magnesium and he kinda shrugged it off but said, “Sure, if you wanna.”

I asked if there is anything I can do when I am having a really bad time like last night. He said I could take a little extra of my beta blocker. In fact, that was his suggestion at the end of the appointment. Right now, I take 12.5mg of metoprolol twice a day. He said to double it and see if that helps. It seems he thinks it might. When I first started this med, I was taking 100mg a day. So, I have no problems with this. It will probably make me more tired and could indeed make it harder to lose weight, but at this point I don’t care. I cannot live feeling the way I did last night.

At the very end, I asked him what he would say to his own kid and he said, “I would tell them to suck it up.” LMAO. I know it sounds like he is a hard ass, but really he isn’t. He made it clear to my mom that this is very real and I am not crazy. It is just something I have to learn to live with. And he just does it with a sense of humor, which I very much appreciate.

He did say that if he started feeling these he would be paranoid too. Then he made the comment, “Just because someone is paranoid doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out to get you.” So he is sympathetic to how this can really mess with someone. He said that he thought biofeedback was a crock of shit until he tried it one day and said it would be worth looking into. And he wants me to make sure I am seeing a therapist who knows what they are doing for my anxiety (and she does…she’s great).

He said that an ablation may likely not even help the PACs/PVCs and since those are my issues – he saw no reason to risk an invasive procedure. He said there are many steps to take before trying something like that.


So basically, he said this sucks…we don’t know why it just happens to some people or why only some people feel it. He said as it is now, there is nothing he sees which needs ablation. He said we can work with meds for comfort, but he’s like to stick with beta blockers because they are very benign compared to other meds. And that I need to work on simply dealing with these. This is indeed pretty much what I was hoping to hear – aside from some miracle instant cure. I am very happy with the appointment and the doctor. Now, I just have to work on believing him and going on with my life….



As for my holter monitor results…in 46 hours I had the following (Dr. said none of this is concerning):

205,581 QRS Complexes – I have no clue what this means but much of it could be artifact (leads being disrupted, tape falling off, etc.)

91 Ventricular Beats – I believe these are the PVCs

6 Supraventricular Beats – I believe these are the PACs

Ventricular and Supraventricular Beats were all isolated. No couplets, bigemy or runs

Minimum Rate – 49Average Rate – 73

Maximum Rare – 117 (and I was even exercising lol…clearly not very hard)





My plan of action:

Today I am picking up a book from the library which someone recommended to me called Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Claire Weekes. I ordered 3 other books: Peace from Nervous Suffering, Deadly Emotions and Power of the Subconcious Mind. All of these are suppose to help a person understand the body/mind connection. If it is true that my anxiety is making these ectopic beats worse, then I want to learn how NOT to do that. They will always be there….but I don’t want to make it worse.

I am going to ask my therapist for suggestions on a biofeedback practioner.

I am going to up my dose of beta blocker to 50 mg a day.

I am going to try meditation and relaxation exercises on a daily basis.

I am going to live my life.



Thank you to everyone who has helped me though this. This isn’t the end of the road by a long shot. I will need A LOT of help getting over and getting used to this shit. But I really appreciate the people who have helped thus far. You know who you are….

[jkfrench]

Great Great News! Basically what my doctor said. Sounds like you had a good 2 days with that holter on. Hardley any PVCs or PACs. But like he said...it doesn't matter how many if they are benign and you have a strong healthy heart. I am sitting here today with lots of PVCs. Don't know why, but we just have to remember what they said.
I am very proud of you! This is hard. Jodie

[CMoore416]

I'm really happy all went well. Sounds like I need to visit him!! Accepting I am fine is by biggest problem. He sounds hilarious!

[DaniRae]

That is how my electrophysiologist was, very upfront..... And I am sooooo happy for you.!!!!!!

[Cheers]

Thanks all. This will def. be a work in progress. Having them bad again tonight and trying very hard not to take my pulse or react. TRYING.

[jkfrench]

Just remember what he said. I am trying to do the same. Had them bad again today. I'm going to go run and believe me that takes all my strength on days like this. I have had early beats, and those double beats. David if you are reading this, are couplets all day okay? I never asked that before because I wasn't feeling them like I am now. Of course they might not be a couplet. And I must remember the email from my doctor just yesterday! I just dont like new symptoms. Takes a while to adjust. How bad are yours tonight?
I'm definately feeling them every 20 beats or so and have been since 10:00am. It is now 4:30. But, it is okay we are fine!

[Cheers]

I am sorry you are feeling this way. I keep waiting for this "phase" to end and I hope it is soon. I need a break. It was every 4 beats for a little while in the car but then I told myself to stop counting.

Let me know what you think...but I was thinking that since my Doc said not to be concerned or get medical attn unless and until I feel symptoms (dizzy, lightheaded, passing out) I need to not think about it. So, counting or keeping track will do me no good, right? I asked, "How many are too many? What about bigemy or couplets?" And his answer was the same.

I have to accept that he is right or I could just drop dead. If I drop dead, well...I have done all I can do and I guess that is in the cards. NOW...this is where I will need intense therapy because I cannot express my severe fear of death. I am not religious and was not brought up with a faith. While I am spiritual and do have a belief in an afterlife...my faith isn't pure. So, accepting death is where much of this boils down to.

Anyway, so for tonight, I am trying SO hard to not count or time anything. But I am still uneasy and even anxious. And pretty pissed to be honest with you.

I also have no idea when I am having a PAC or a PVC. And I am not sure if that matters either. Does it? I had 97 in 46 hours. It was a fairly light day compared to some days this past week. But I also go days without feeling any. At least I used to...I am fearing that time may be over So, while on the monitor, I guess that was an average. He said it was pretty small amount. Ugh...see...now I am getting caught up in the numbers again.

Man this is just a mind squasher, isn't it??

I got a whole bunch of books tonight and some on order. I am starting with one called Overcoming Health Anxiety. I picked that one first only because it is very short. The Claire Weekes one will be next. I really hope these help.

I hope your night gets better. Let me know if I can help at all.

If you (or anyone else) needs to email me every for anything - please do. cheers44@hotmail.com

[Chaoticdopey]

i believe the 205,581 QRS Complexes were how many beats in the 24 hour period.

[Cheers]

OHHHH. I guess that would make sense. It was about 46 (I just couldnt stand the itching to go the full 48). Thanks!!

[Katie]

Great news! I'm very happy for you. Do u know why you had low potassium in the first place? I had a low potassium in the ER too and then was on pills for 10 days because mine was SUPER low. But mine was from fasting Ramadan in the summer and I think the fact that I have celiac which results in not being able to absorb minerals and vitamins fully. But you shouldn't take potassium supplements as they can bring on palpitations. Eat roasted potatoes and prunes and bananas. Or try my smoothie recipe I'm personally obsessed with ( I know , I know y'all are tired of hearing about it; but have y'all tried it yet!!) the smoothie provides omega 3s, magnesium, calcium and potassium plus other vitamins. 1 cup each ice and vanilla unsweetened almond milk, 1 large spoonful each almond butter and ground flaxseed, and 2 very ripe bananas. I like it unsweetened but you can use sweetened vanilla almond milk if you want. Anyways... So happy you like ur doctor and I hope that you start relaxing soon. Take an Epsom salt bath with lavender, or go for a night stroll with your hubby.