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PVCs causing or caused by anxiety?

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Posted 1/16/2015 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have noticed skipped beats for the last 20 years (I'm now 39), usually a few an hour for a couple hours, occurring every day to every couple weeks. Recently I went to the ER after waking up in the middle of the night with missed beats one after another and fast heart rate, which went on at home for a couple hours and then in the ER for about 4 more. I was admitted for the day for tests after this ekg result: SINUS TACHYCARDIA WITH OCCASIONAL VENTRICULAR PREMATURE COMPLEXES WITHFREQUENT SUPRA VENTRICULAR PREMATURE COMPLEXES. ST DEVIATION AND MODERATE T-WAVE ABNORMALITY, CONSIDER LATERAL ISCHEMIA
The palps and tachy eventually subsided and I was sent home, had a normal Echo and CBC. Recently I had palps (several an hour) for a full day with accompanied or coincidental upper abdominal pain/discomfort (including a pain in the middle of my shoulder blades). I saw a dr after the ER visit who attributed the first episode to stress/lack of sleep (I have a newborn and a toddler who don't sleep and the toddler recently had medical Issues AND we moved states AND I'm having difficulty finding work). However, he didn't recommend a halter monitor or even do a repeat EKG in the office (he's an attending dr on the cardiac floor of the hospital I was in). He was very dismissive saying I'm young and my echo was normal. Now I'm getting severe anxiety every time I get an episode, wondering if every little chest or stomach pain is related and that I might drop dead of a heart attack. Or I'm wondering if every pain I'm having is stressing me out and causing PVCs! I'm getting about 5-6 hours of broken sleep a night which is an improvement, and taking better care of myself, but I just have a nagging feeling something could be wrong, maybe because I now have 2 children to look after and I worry what would happen if anything happened to me.
ANY comments/advice welcome!
Posted 1/17/2015 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
i have had pvcs since my valve replacement and when i have them bad i can have thousands per day, in most cases there are harmless but very annoying,if you get stressed when you have them they will just get worse, vicious circle am afraid, have another word with your doc to put your mind at ease,
Posted 1/17/2015 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Neil, I plan on doing so! Maybe if I'm reassured a few more times it will help!
Posted 2/1/2015 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
With the ST Deviation and moderate T-Wave abnormality, I'd be sure to see a cardiologist. I have an inverted T-Wave, had it all my life, for me it's normal, I've been told to carry a copy of my EKG to keep the doctors from being alarmed.

PVCs can, and often are, caused by Stress and Anxiety, and lack of adequate sleep. But to be sure, a Stress Test, or a Stress Echo may be advised. If your doctor doesn't feel additional testing is necessary, ask him/her why the ST Segment and T-Wave abnormality is not a concern. There may well be reasons why additional testing is not warranted, but have your doctor address why it's not.
Posted 2/1/2015 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Will do, I see a cardiologist this week. Exercise stress test was normal. The only odd test result I've received is a high d-Dimer blood test, which landed me back in the ER for a blood clot work up. None was found. Btw I'm 39 and have had 2 children in 2 years but other than said issues I'm pretty healthy! I don't plan on leaving the cardio's office until I feel my questions are truly addressed.
Posted 2/3/2015 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Let us know how things turn out and what the doctor had to say about the ST Deviation and T-Wave.
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