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Managing and Living With PACs and PVCs
Hello all. I have posted in this forum before and I thank you for your advice. I appreciate more support please.
I am about to turn 56 and I have dealt with PACs and PVCs for the past 20 years. The come and go and now they seem to be getting worse. My cardio, regular doc, and electrophysiologist all say that I am fine and that I have too much stress and anxiety (which I do..I suffer from GAD and depression.) They all say that PACs are benign and that most PVCs are benign.
I had an exercise stress echo in 2019 (all normal). Several EKGs this year...all normal. Another Zio Patch Heart Monitor that I wore for a week. Normal sinus rhythm with PACs. My PAC/PVC burden hovers between 1.5 to 1.8 percent. I have had a recent chest xray and plenty of blood work. All normal. I am borderline type 2 diabetic and my cholesterol and triglycerides are all normal. I do take blood pressure meds and it is well controlled. I try to be active almost every day and I do practice CBT for my anxiety. My resting heart rate is about 55 and my cardio says that is normal.
What else can I do to reduce the PACs and PVCs or manage them? Some days they are fast and furious and some days they simply come and ago. But they are ruining my daily life and causing more depression and fear. They are awful in the morning, reduce a bit in the afternoon, and reduce a bit more in the evening.
My cardio again states that they are fine and to not worry.
I have tried a beta blocker (made my heart rate too low and I was too tired) and a pill called Diltiazem. Really had no effect and made me too tired. I don't qualify for any procedure and the one pill they are still offering me is Flecianide but that one has WAY too many side effects and I have had at least two cardiologists warn me from taking it.
What are you experiences, advice, etc?
Thank you!
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So sorry for your dilemma. I am now 73 and after years of symptoms I was finally given a heart monitor to wear for a month. The adhesive for the monitor was awful -
I got terrible sores over time/hated it. Then while still on the monitor, I got a call from the monitor company asking if I was all right. I’d had an “event” I didn’t know I’d had and I was connected with a an Electrophysiologist who put me on Flecainide 50mg 3xday. What I learned about that med: I have to take it as prescribed, at the same time every day (or other symptoms like depression, fatigue, arrhythmias occur). So I’m getting an alarm watch to be sure I don’t miss my med time. I have also discovered meditation as a way to manage symptoms. And a sangha ( meditation practice group) I go there once weekly. I highly recommend meditation. I was at a doc appt and my BP was high. I took time to meditate, just one minute, and brought down my BP from 150 to 120. He was pleased. Hope you find relief. All the best, Suzanne
How is taurine working for you? Is it still suppressing your ectopic beats? Also still on 500 mg.?
So far so good. Still on 500mg. Fingers crossed. Been about three weeks now.
Cool. I think I might give it a try.
Any side effects from the taurine? Do you take it with food?
I take all supplements with food at lunch. No side effects from taurine.
How did you find out about taurine?
I kept hearing people talk about a product called Heart Calm so I looked it up. I don’t like formulas because if I have a reaction I can’t tell what I’m reacting to. So the only thing in Heart Calm that was new to was taurine. I also have heard people getting good results from magnesiumtaurate. Anyway so I decided to add taurine to my supplement regimen.
Just got my bottle of taurine. My EP doesn’t think much of it. May start taking this next week. Cataract surgery coming up soon so we’ll see. Do you also take the magnesium turate also? How much and what brand if so?
I see magnesium turate has taurine in it? So you don’t take this form of magnesium?