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Posted 6/9/2006 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
hi I'm new to this although i have been having problems with PVC's for a lot of years they got worse last Spring. had a Holter Monitor EKG, Echo and Mibi test. All were inconclusive except that i don't have heart disease. Problems started up again about a week ago. I am throwing long strings of PVC's and I worry that my heart won't get back into normal rhythm again. Going for repeat tests. Blood work came back excellent. I am a 58 year old post menopausal female. Lots of stress. i get very afraid during these episodes. Anyone else with similar thoughts, symptoms? sad

Hi, I just added a subject line to your post so you will be able to get more responses that way, hopefully.  :-)

Post Edited By Moderator (els) : 6/10/2006 9:22:40 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/10/2006 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CJMac,  I wanted to welcome you to healing well forum.  We are happy to have you.  I am sorry that I didnt respond sooner, I havent been feeling the greatest myself so took some time off.  Anyhow, there are many people on this forum that suffer from PVC's, I dont so I cant relate with you there.  I am sure someone will be along to post a reply to you.  Hang in there and please do continue to visit us, HW is a great place for information and support.  Take care.
Posted 6/11/2006 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi CJMac,

 

I'm sorry about your PVC's. They are really annoying and seem to be able to worry people to death-including myself from time to time! If your heart as been checked out and it is structurally normal which sounds like you have been and it is, then PVC's are not a problem-at least not to your heart. :-) Basically they are just a problem to your peace of mind and the more you are able to ignore them and go and do what you want when you want, the better off you will be. So many people spend way too much time worrying about these little buggers and even change their lifestyle or stop exercising for fear of them.  DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!! I actually read a post yesterday on another site where a young  29yr old  male not only avoided exercising but was avoiding sex because of them. (Somehow I don't think his wife was thrilled!!! nono hehehe) Have you been able to find any triggers like caffeine, sugar, stress, anger, hunger, being overly tired? Stress is definately my BIGGEST trigger! If my heart gets jumpy, then chocolate, sugar or being tired will all help it thump and bump around more! However if my heart it calm and well behaved, those things don't seem to matter. Family doctors like to put people on medicine for these things. The meds won't make you have fewer PVC's but it does lessen the sensation of them so that you maybe just don't notice them. Cardiologists seem to like to reassure you and try to get you to forgo the meds because the PVC's just aren't life-threatening. My previous family doctor tried to shove beta-blockers down my throat while my cardiologist kept saying "I don't want the cure to be worse than the symptoms." I opted to forgo meds and get a new primary care doctor. I kept my cardiologist! :-) Good luck!

Posted 6/11/2006 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
 

   Thanks for the encouragement on the PVC's. Yes I am guilty of not exercising when i get a bad spell. I have problems with asthma so my cardiologist can't give me a beta-blocker anyway. I had a bad spell today ,felt light headed and a bit short of breath. I've had those symptoms before so they shouldn't worry me but you guessed it they do. I get my echo reassessment on Monday but of course the results will be a while coming. It is very hard to ignore the long strings of the little buggers I always seem to know when they are happening. I have sworn off everything with caffeine,alcohol and large amounts of sugar. I have sleep problems due to my Fibromyalgia so I often feel literally exhausted. I am keeping a journal to see if I can find a pattern. Keep writing folks it really helps to hear from all of you. God Bless. Cynthia redface

Posted 6/11/2006 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi els how do I add my email address and msn contact so people can reach me ther too.
Thanks CJMac
Posted 6/12/2006 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi CJMac,

I have PVC's, too. I've had echo, holter, stress test, ekg's, and Dr's say they are benign, but they sure do drive me crazy! I usually post on anxiety board and it seems there are lots of people there that share the problem. Only thing my cardiologist said to do was to take magnesium, but that aggravates my IBS. I just try to stay hydrated and eat healthy. I also notice they are worse when I am not getting enough sleep. Are you doing anything to help alleviate your stress? Since starting treatment for my anxiety with meds, therapy, relaxation techniques, my PVC's have been alot better. I can tell you that when I had my stress test and was all hooked up to the moniters and on the treadmill with the cardiologist standing right there, I was having PVC's regularly about every third or fourth beat and the cardiologist was not concerned at all. I was in the hospital and hooked up to moniter with the PVC's happening continously all day and nobody blinked an eye over it. My family doctor talked about putting me on beta blocker but I told him no. However, I do know someone who has same problem and she says the beta blocker (Inderal?) absolutely changed her life and she is so happy she decided to take it.

Sami
Posted 6/12/2006 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I get them all the time too.  IT seems like they are worse when I lay flat like before i get to sleep.  Does that happen to you ?  Ive also had full work ups from cardiologists, and all normal.  I used to go to the ER whenever I would get long runs of them, but now I try and get up and do something else to get my mind off them and they go away.  When I was having them at the ER, they didnt even show up on the monitor?!  But I also get sinus tach out of nowhere.... the docs are more concerned with that then the PVCs.  Take care.
Posted 6/12/2006 11:48 AM (GMT 0)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.....NUTS!

Eat some before sleeping, just a handfull. Walnuts, almonds, cashew nuts. They contain essential minerals that, if you are lacking them, can cause palpitations. Try to avoid the salted versions if you can.

If I don't eat a few nuts before I sleep, it's guaranteed I'll have a lousy night of chest discomfort, PACs and PVCs.

Try to avoid mineral supplements if possible. Natural is better and balanced.

Posted 6/12/2006 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
CJMac said... Hi els how do I add my email address and msn contact so people can reach me ther too. Thanks CJMac Hi CJ,  you can add these by going into Control Panel on the blue bar at the top of your screen, it is right next to Log Off.  From there go into Edit Profile and you can add your e-mail and MSN information.  You can also add signature to your posts from that setting if you wish to do so.  I hope this helps...
Posted 6/12/2006 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Is it good to eat them because of the Magnesium?  My EP told me to start taking Mg Oxide supplements after I was complaining of getting lots of PVCs and PACs at bedtime. 

Posted 6/13/2006 6:22 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Bria,

             Magnesium is one of the minerals found in nuts. There's also phosphorus, potassium, calcium and sodium as well as other nutrients. Nuts store these essential elements in a balanced way. Nuts also contain heart healthy fats.

Man made supplements are an option, but they are not natural and I wouldn't recommend them because you may have a deficiency in more than one mineral.

Some people get tested for blood elecrolytes when they get palpitations only to find that they fall within the norm. This may be the case, but minor changes in electrolytes can cause palpitations. We would never think to have such a test done if we weren't experiencing symptoms, so we don't usually know what our personal electrolyte levels should ideally be.

Nuts!  Provided that you're not allergic, of course...

Chris

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