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Those Darn Premature Heart Beats

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Posted 3/11/2006 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys! Those of you who experience pac/pvc's, do you ever get a really BIG one-I'm talking about that hand grenade feeling going off in your chest-and then feel a really warm feeling in your chest and stomach from it???? I quess from the extra blood being pumped out? And then sort of feel dizzy for just a second or two from all of it???? PLEASE somebody tell me that you know what I mean!!!!! I HATE THOSE SENSATIONS! mad sad mad

I was out shopping with my hubby and it happened. It ends up ruining my whole outing because it freaks me out even when I know what it is! Actually it scares me because it is such a warm, hard sensation. Then my heart rate speeds up for a little bit, can't tell if I'm tachy for a bit or just SCARED! All I want to do is go home. -like what is that going to do? I don't even get another one but I'm now just waiting around for it to happen again. I HATE TO LIVE LIKE THIS AND FEEL LIKE THIS!  I really try to be calm and rational and help others who are scared by them BUT THE TRUTH IS I AM SCARED BY THEM TOO! -Not always, only when they are really bad or HARD.

I'm sorry for the rant. I just really need to get out how I feel and have someone understand. AND NOW I'm going to try to go back to being strong again. Thanks for a place to express myself. (My husband really doesn't know how it feels and gets sad and scared when I try to explain to him.)

Posted 3/11/2006 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Well I definately get the big thumps occasionally but I am still new to this whole thing. I haven't even gone to the doctor, but I am pretty sure that is what I have is PVC's. I have been worrying myself sick over these things and I am scared to see a doctor. I am afraid they will tell me I am going to die or something. I am normally on the anxiety/panic attack forum. Starting to think I should stay there =0(. I think I am driving people crazy with my worrying.

The warm feeling you get I can relate to but not sure if it's the same. What happens with me is that I am panicking about it and I end up having that warm feeling spread all over because of my panic. So that is probably what that is from. I could be wrong but that is what I am familiar with. I get it at night especially. When I am worrying about the whole skipped beat thing, and I fall asleep for a second. I wake up panicking that my heart stopped because I lost all awareness of my heart beat.

Anyway hope this helps. I have been posting a lot and no one responds to me anymore =0(. So I am thinking I am driving people crazy because I a bit nutty when it comes to my health. OCD/Hypo/Anxiety/Panic. All the fun things that make up my life and now more to add to it.
Posted 3/11/2006 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Well Mrs. Hope....I can relate to the big thumpers, and the little froggies in my chest :) At this point I pretty well know that I will just have to watch them as best I can and see. I have various reasons for them now, so yes they are worrisome for me due to my having coronary artery disease (CAD).

When I was but a Lad :) say 26 or so, I had them for a couple of years. My ole Doc told me not to worry, so I didn't at all.

To be perfectly truthful:

1) If I had a few of these "big thuds" you remind me of, in succession, I would be close to 911, or an extra hit of a beta blocker, or maybe even put down the coffee and cigarette!

2) I usually don't read post on irregular heartbeats because they remind me of mine.

LoLoL

I should wake up already :) I need another cup of Java....

RJ
Posted 3/11/2006 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bandit and Aldo. I'm feeling much better this morning. Who knows-maybe the thumps will be quiet today. That would be something to rejoice over. :) My daughter is on Spring Break this week and just don't want to let it put a damper on things. So I will get out and remind myself as often as necessary that they are benign.

Bandit, try not to worry. That will definately make them get worse.Try to see your doctor as soon as possible so you can have some reassurance. Only the doctor can tell you for sure that it is only premature heart beats BUT it really does sound like that! I DO understand your anxiety. I struggle with that a bit myself. Unfortunately one of my anxieties involves medicine. I am literally afraid to take medicine. I had an unpleasant reaction one day (mild and no big deal) BUT NOW I am literally afraid to put a pill in my mouth. STUPID, I KNOW!!!!! I just can't seem to help it. I don't even take aspirins unless it is REALLY BAD or my allergy medicing unless I am really having an attack. I have to take Norvasc DAILY for coronary artery spasms and at first it was really hard to do. I actually had to go live at my parents house for 2 days to prove that the medicine wouldn't hurt me to take. (My husband was gone.) Then when I got home I still had a panic attack having to take it in a house where I would be alone. It is OK now but if they upped the dosage I would go through the panic again. I did learn biofeedback to help with that stuff and tachy episodes (PSVT). It really did help alot although you might think it didn't from what you read here! It helped but is not a cure all and taking medicine is my BIGGEST weakness. (Ironic since taking a beta blocker would probably help my THUDS.)

Aldo, I'm glad to hear from you and know that you are doing OK and are home. :)
Posted 3/11/2006 2:39 PM (GMT 0)

bandit28804 said...

Anyway hope this helps. I have been posting a lot and no one responds to me anymore =0(. So I am thinking I am driving people crazy because I a bit nutty when it comes to my health. OCD/Hypo/Anxiety/Panic. All the fun things that make up my life and now more to add to it.

Hi bandit - I took out some of your post here as I just wanted to respond to this part ;)  Please dont be offended if you dont get any responses to your posts, especially if you are posting on the anxiety and panic forum regarding any heart problems.  I am sure it is just that they dont know what to say or how to respond to it.  I am sure that it is scary, I dont have PVC's and I dont know what I would do if I did.  I do have quite a bit of chest pain and shortness of breath and now I have a peace of pacemaker wire that has broken off and is poking me in the chest so it is pretty uncomfortable, but nothing like what you describe.  It is so easy when you have a heart condition like we do to focus our attention on what is happening with it.  Worrying is normal.  I agree totally with Hopes that you need to get to the doctor and get checked out ASAP.  In the mean time we are here for you and will try to support you in any way we can.

Posted 3/12/2006 3:10 PM (GMT 0)

els said...

I do have quite a bit of chest pain and shortness of breath and now I have a peace of pacemaker wire that has broken off and is poking me in the chest so it is pretty uncomfortable, but nothing like what you describe.



 

Elisha, what is the game plan and time line for getting this lead repaired or replaced? You act as though it is just a "trivial" problem! I admire your virtue :) Now tell us about how it is affecting the pacing of your heart, please. I have read about these leads (leeds) becoming unattached. It is not that uncommon, but I wonder if it happens most frequently in long time implanted pacemakers, or if it happens a lot, soon after they are implanted?

I just hope that you get this fixed soon. If I remember correctly, your pacemaker prevents your having extremely slow heart rates. If so, how is your pulse rate responding to the malfunctioning pacemaker. I do assume it is not working correctly....Do you have counter measures, such as medicines, to increase your heart rate in an emergency condition?

Your shortness of breath (SOB) could be due to a decreased volume of blood flow from your heart, due to an extremely low pulse rate. You may not have enough blood flow through your lungs, to exchange the carbon dioxide for oxygen....Do you have signs of cyanosis such as bluish fingernails?

Pardon all the ?'s :)

RJ

Posted 3/12/2006 3:57 PM (GMT 0)

Hi RJ, 

I dont mind all the questions at all....I am having a cath done for the SOB and a T-Stress Test that came back as abnormal.  It was scheduled for the 13th initially but I have to see a MS Specialist in St. Louis on the 14th and the appointment has been set up for 8 months and didn't want to cancel it.  So, I have been rescheduled for the cath on the 27th.  My cardiologist is going to repair the lead then.  Hopefully that is all he will have to do.  The lead became dislodged around Feb 12th according to the pacer as all the readings since this date is garbage.  I have been have shortness of breath for several months now.  Cardiologist thinks it maybe my MSA but just wants to be sure that it isn't a further heart problem as I have an extensive family history of heart defects/disease.  You are right about the leads of the pacemakers though and that worries me about them.  This is going to be my second revision to it and I just got the pacer in September 05.  Yes, I do have very low heart rate it was in the 20-30's before implant.  I do pass out alot due to low blood pressure and this is how mine has been getting dislodged.  I have a blood pressure machine that takes heart rate too so I have been doing it often and drinking lots of caffeine.  My two blood pressure medications have been helping too I think.  I hope it holds out until the 27th.

Take care

Posted 5/5/2006 11:39 PM (GMT 0)

hi

 i started having the extra beats or some called them pvcs,when i was about 25, i am now close to 49 female. i have had stress testing and holter monitors done about every 2 years, they find nothing,they say anxiety causes them,as does alot of coffee,caffeine. i have had some abnormal stress tests, so have had 2 catheters,still normal. these sometimes are like skipped beats,they sometimes come together like skip,skip,skip,and sometimes a skip, then my heart races for about 6-10 seconds. they still scare me some. i have found that if i get up and do something, they go away. for peace of mind,though sometimes that is not possible, see your doctor and get those tests done. and then, you just might have to live with them. as long as you dont have chest pain, shortness of breath, or pass out, they are most likely harmless is what i have been told time and time again.

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