PVC's

I am a 46 year old male. A few years ago, I started having pvc's for a few days every few months. My cardiologist put me on Toprol, but it dropped my heart rate to 29 beats a minute. Then he tried Coreg, but it immediately made my face red and made my heart race. He told me to get off of caffeine. I didn't have pvc's for about a year, then my face started flushing many times a day. I started getting pvc's when I laid on my left side or back. I wore a holtermonitor for 24 hours. It showed about 20 pvc's per minute (worse than 20 roller coaster drops) from the time I laid down at night to the time I got up, but very few during the day. By the way, I have sleep apnea, and have used a CPAP machine for 10 years. I was so tired from not sleeping. The doctor prescribed Provigil. For six weeks, I had not PVC's, great energy, and lost 22 excess pounds. All of a sudden, my pvc's returned with a vengence. I feel great from the time I get up, until about 9pm at night when I sit in lounger to watch T.V. The pvc's and pounding heartbeats and dizziness kick in. If I take an Ambient sleeping pill, I can eventually fall asleep. Without, I lay awake all night, unless I lay on my stomach (which is nearly impossible with a CPAP mask on. Has anyone heard of pvc's that occur more frequently and violently when on your back or left side? Has anyone gotten increased pvc's with Provigil. I am on Lotrel and Paxil. My family doctor says my blood pressure is 160/94, but my cardiologist always finds it to be 135/78. Any relayed experience will be appreciated. For example, I am up right now because my pvc's are so bad lying down. My blood test show no thyroid problems and normal readings across the board. I am getting an ultrasound on my neck Monday (lump on lower left side). I had an endoscopy last month with no abnormal findings....Rocky

Thanks Elisha, I am looking forward to learning from others' experiences. Rocky

 Hi Rocky,

 I also have had another " bout " with Thumper ,as I call my Heart. PVC's & PAC's .. Just went thru all the tests ,  Other than the  20 plus times a minute, Healthy Heart ..  I also had a PDA Closure in 1959, ( Ductus valve ) I was 4 , am 50 now ,  Diagnosed w/ WPWS in 1984 ( Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome ) Had MVP about 15 years ago , now is gone , same cardio that Diagnosed it , now cant see the MVP .. Amazing that our Hearts can " heal " themselves ..

 A couple of things here .. First

There are medicines that may help slow the rhythms down when they occur, but don't keep them from occurring, while others - "antiarrhythmics" - may help suppress them. If the episodes are happening frequently enough, or they are quite distressing, there is a procedure called an electrophysiology study which is a specialize type of heart catherization; it measures the electrical system of the heart and then tries to induce (in effect, reproduce) the abnormal rhythm. If the rhythm is induced, the extra connection is mapped out and then a special catheter is inserted into the heart (from the groin) and the tip placed next to the connection. Ultrasound is then emitted at the tip, which disrupts the connection, thereby curing the rhythm permanently (there's a 90-95% success rate for this procedure).

Thyroid disease can possibly make extra heartbeats worse, or more common, or produce a type of abnormal rhythm called atrial fibrillation if the thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism). Too much thyroid stimulates the system, and thus can cause extra heartbeats. It is diagnosed by a blood test. If you are concerned, then you should ask your Doctor.

 My  Cardio said if mine continued and became unbearable he would  recommend  the electrophysiology study . You may check into it .

 Another is... Have your Thyroid checked ..  it's a simple blood test , if found deficiant or over active , Medication , will help .

 Next is Anxiety . I have read  that Anxiety can " cause " or  Enhance PVC & PAC activity . And Believe me it's also Visa Versa , Having them can cause  Anxiety ..  I think Hopes gave a good Idea , turn on music  or something to take your mind "off " the flips & Flops & Ka-thumps ..  Myself , if Thumper is acting up in day time , I put on Comedy Central, or the Golden Girls ,  I get to laughing , and hours later , I realize I had " forgotten " about the PVC's & PAC's .. You might give it a try .. Works for me ..

Hope you feel better & get some relief. Take Care .

 a hug & prayer  to you Bria , yeah my WPWS was diagnosed in 1984, while having an " Attack ". of course my Heart rate over 200 BPM , prior to that was " panic attacks " because I'm Female ?  I was on Inderal for Years,   That didnt work , probably because I was On it for Years ..

 I havent had enough episodes to have the ablation  , or maybe to be honest , I'm rather stubborn, and rarely go to Dr.s or ER ..  even when  Thumper is doing the  " dance " of 200 bpm to 40, back to 180 + , etc. Plus the memories of being 4 years old in the late 50's and going through open Heart Surgery.. ( NEEDLES, NEEDLES , NEEDLES ) 6 weeks of Prodding & Poking & being a pin cushion ..  Doesnt help my Psyche to this day .

 But back to the Subject..  The Mind controls, so relaxation, humor , love .. all helps the whole body . The old saying Mind over Matter, comes to mind ..  When Thumper starts dancing , I  change my focus.. as I said , comedy usually does it for me . then again  sometimes tragedy does, I'll watch CNN or Fox news &  pray for all our troups and the victims of Hussein , and Thank my Higher Spirit , all I and my family have to  Stress about , is Thumper & and a few Medical bills ? ( they can cause Real Anxiety ) But all in all life is good, and can be controlled to an extent by  additude/ reaction to negative and by being thankful you are not somewhere else .or sombody else .

 * No harm or negative intended ..  just my living better opinion .

 anyone wanna email , and talk more .. General chat or Support ,  [email protected] .  I have lots of junk mail , so put Heart in subject ..

I was briefly on Provigil for fatigue related to my MS.  I don’t have PVC's but I have bradycardia and a pacemaker.  Now I have been having periods of Afib and Arrhythmia’s so Provigil was stopped to see if perhaps this was a cause for it.  Which it wasn’t as the Afib and arrhythmias just kept on coming...Perhaps it is different with PVC's?  I don’t know

I have been worrying about my PVC's a lot lately.  I feel like the cardiologist missed something, and that one day, my heart is going to go into a dangerous rhythmn --- I especially wory about this when I have the long runs of PVCs.  I HATE how NOTHING triggers them.  I don;t have caffeine at all, (and I LOVE coffee), and I still get them, worse than ever.  My doctor told me that I could have caffeine..... but Im too scared. 

 

The other day, I was out shopping, and I started getting PVCs. THey took my breath away and I got so scared I was dying. 

I just want to know what the heck causes them for me.  I really am starting to think its Hormonal. And I never tried taking the Mg supplement like the EP nurse told me to do.... So i may try that.

 

Since I had WPW , Im so scared seomthing else is wrong...... but I know other people get PVCs and they DON't have any rhyme or reason. THey are SO frustrating and uncomfortable :( 

I hope yours are getting better Rocky!!!  I have never heard of Provigil, but if its a stimulant, I would stay away from it.  I know that stimulants really increase palps with some people (not me though!!)

 

Bria

I feel at home. I have been getting "benign" PVCs for years. They really depress me! I too have heard the "most people don't feel them" story. They have ms so rattled that I am scared to go on vacation in case I need to get to a hospital quick! Any advice would help. Thanks again
Maxx

Hi Rocky,

Why no sleeping pills? 

MAXX

Hi Rocky, 

Thanks for the info.  That is really interesting about the sleeping pills; I have been taking lorazepam for quite a while (they were given to stop the pvc's).  Mine have also came back recently.  They are driving me nuts!  I keep thinking i should see someone again, but everytime I do I am told to ignore them.  They are really having an impact on my quality of life.  Is it not interesting that after you had the tea,. they stopped!  Makes you wonder.  Talk to you soon.

MAXX

Bria, I have the sinus trouble year round. Aleve Sinus used to help, but it definitely caused my pvcs to restart. I have quit using Flonase just in case. After I was off caffeine for 6 weeks and my pvcs were just as bad as ever, I have over the past couple of days, started drinking a glass of tea at lunch time, and it, just like the Provigil, stops the pvcs until this time of night, when I slow down in my recliner. They are hitting me right now. I know that I can go lay on my stomach in bed and they will slow down. I want so badly to find something to stop them at night time. Unfortunately, beta blockers slow my heart into the upper twenties. Since my normal heart rate is 58, it doesn't take much of a slowdown to wipe me out. The doc gave me Klonopin to try but it left me too groggy to function. Just remember, we aren't REALLY feeling pvcs, it's just a figment of our imaginations. As far as the "heart jumping out of the chest", of course the doc says it is just quiet at night so I feel it more intensely. I put my cell phone on my chest the other night and my heart literally bounced it to the floor. What an imagination I have... !@#$%

Hi.

Bria, it is Xanax. They must prescribe it to everone who has these! I get migraines; you have a good point about them - it seems to fit. I feel the same as you - won't drink at all, no caffeine in anything - but it really does not make any difference.

I won't travel at all - what the heck are these things? I also feel that they are hormonal, they worsen at the time of my period. I do feel better knowing that I am not alone.

Take care all.
Maxx

Well, I can't comment on the monthly vistor angle. I find when I travel, if the pvcs are getting to me, I sit my seat up straight (not as declined). It helps, like lyng on my right side or stomach. Anyway, I have been continuing my caffeine experiment. I woke up this morning with no pvcs. On my way to church, they kicked in. I stopped and got a can of coke. They were gone within 10 minutes. I felt a couple while I was in the movies this afternoon, so I stopped by Mickey D's and got an unsweet tea. Since it was a 32 ouncer, it made me jittery for a couple of hours, so I painted my garage. I was heading to bed, feeling about normal, but then my kids drew me into an argument over "she took my shirt" "she hid my computer mouse" "she turned the AC down in my room"... I sent them all to bed, and I am sitting here waiting for the pvcs to come back. I had a pretty stress-free weekend until a few minutes ago. So far, even with the stress, no pvcs. Tomorrow, I am going to try a 12 ounce diet coke with breakfast, a sixteen ounce unsweet tea with lunch, and another with supper. I'll let you know how it goes. Oh, in answer to your question, I don't get migranes, but my wife does, so I feel your pain....Rocky

Hi Guys,

Does anyone know if low blood sugar can make your heart go crazy?  I just went for a swim and had to get out of the pool due to palpitations.  My blood sugar was low.  This is driving me crazy!  I think I am going back to the Cardiologist (I was there 2 months ago).  Any advice would be helpful.  Thanks.  MAXX