1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Long Term PAC and PVC Suffer. Need your support and guidance

Posted by rr1967 @rr1967, May 23, 2023

Hello everyone. Thank you for reading this below is my story:

I have been dealing with PVCs and PACs for almost 20 years. They flare up once per year usually. I have had Zio Patch monitors, tons of EKGs, a stress echo four years ago, two heart CT scans two decades ago, many ER visits, etc, etc. All results were normal with the exception of showing PACs and PVC. My burden has always been below 2% when they flare up.
25-e some stats:
1. I am 55 and in good health
2. Borderline blood pressure: usually around 120-130/75-85 most normal days.
3. Borderline type 2 diabetic.
4. I do suffer from chronic anxiety and depression. Twenty years ago I suffered many panic attacks for the course of a year. But they have gone away. Mostly I deal with almost daily anxiety and worry.
5. Non smoker, no drugs
6. I do drink alcohol ( wine or beer) on weekends with my wife, only at night.
7. I am at a healthy weight. Cholesterol and Triglycerides all normal.
8. Resting heart rate: 50-60. Cardio doc states that this heart rate is normal for me.

Well my most recent flare up started two weeks ago and they seem worse. I feel the extra beat the moment I wake up they go on all day until I go to bed. I went to the ER and they did another EKG and ran a bunch of blood work. Of course...all normal. Diagnosis: PACs. Electrolytes also all normal.

In the last week, I have noticed my skipped beats increasing when I move around, go grab groceries, go for a walk, even exercise. This has me more scared than ever. My regular doctor told me not to worry, but I am seeing an electrophysiologist (EP) tomorrow. I did see an EP two years ago and he told me I was fine and prescribed Flecianide to take as needed. I saw the side effects and they scared me off so I never tried them. Eventually, the extra beats went away.

I have also tried Metropolol and they did not work. They also made my heart rate slower so my cardio doc told me to stop taking them.

But as stated, they extra beats are back and I am more scared then ever, especially with them increasing with movement or exercise. I have never fainted or felt dizzy from these. I only catch my breath and feel extra alerted.

Finally, my palpitations also seem to increase considerably after I eat a meal. Is this normal?

Any advice, recommendations, encouragement, support please.

Thank you and my apologies for any typos or writing errors.
RR

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spmgka | @spmgka | Apr 27 5:28pm
In reply to @jc76 "I made several posts regarding the mental health side of treatments and stress just as important..." + (show)
@jc76

I made several posts regarding the mental health side of treatments and stress just as important to patient as physical. I think sometimes medical doctors only look at medical side and not mental health but both affect each other and success of treatments.

I am lucky to be at Mayo Jacksonville where my psychiatric PA works very closely with my cardiologist, heart failure, and EP specialists to address and treat mental health issues as well as physical as both affect each other. I see her every 6 months but is available via portal and phone any time I need to address an issue or need assistance.

Jump to this post

Yes, you are fortunate to work with someone that understands the importance of mental health. Sadly, doctors know very little about nutrition as well and that can have an impact on our health for sure. Let's just hope that progress is made in the right direction moving forward.
Thanks for your reply!

REPLY
rr1967 | @rr1967 | Apr 28 9:16am
In reply to @jc76 "rr1967 We all need to find something that helps reduce stress. For me that is exercise...." + (show)
@jc76

rr1967
We all need to find something that helps reduce stress. For me that is exercise. For others like you it probably is something else that you enjoy. Brining down the stress level is going to help. My EP, HF, and PCP all tell me to exercise not only because it reduces my stress but helps with heart failure and keeping me fit.

Just try to find something you like to do and enjoy it.

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Hello JC76. I really appreciate your posts and comments. Very helpful.

Sadly, I am now going through my newest phase of PVCS and PACs. They were quiet for a couple of months and now they have restarted. What is concerning is that I can feel 3-4 in a row of the extra beats, then my heart rhythm is normal for a few beats, then I get 2-3 extra beats, then normal again for a few. Sometimes during the day, I can go for almost 30 seconds with no ectopic beats, then boom, they come back. They are really bad in the morning and now they are causing grief in the evening. I went into the clinic a few days ago and they ran a EKG. The EKG showed normal sinus rhythm with one PVC. The doctor then listened to my heart and he stated, he could hear 3 or 4 PVCs. Again, he told me that given my past workups, tests, exams, etc...all is normal.
I started taking 12.5 Metropolol in the evening with dinner. This is what my Electrophysiologist ( one of the top EPs in my state) recommended. I can't take two day as it makes me too tired and lowers my heart rate too much.

What is weird is that if I am doing house chores or running errands and my heart rate goes up a bit, the PVCs and PACs go away and the moment my heart rates comes back down, they restart! My resting heart rate is between 50-60 and my EP says that is perfectly normal.

As I have stated before in my previous posts...these damn PVCs and PACS really increase my anxiety and fear, which of course leads to more. I am simply tormented by them when they flare up.

I have this deep fear that the PACs and PVCs are going to lead to Afib or something worse, but my EP keeps telling me that this will not happen since my heart is structurally fine and my stress echo from 4-5 years ago was perfectly normal.

It is frustrating, maddening, and makes me very sad when these damn ectopic beats restart their assault.

Thank you for reading,
RR1967

REPLY
rozy288 | @rozy288 | Apr 28 9:18am
In reply to @jc76 "Several posters have mentioned the heart calm. I did research it and the ingredients are the..." + (show)
@jc76

Several posters have mentioned the heart calm. I did research it and the ingredients are the ones that are rcommended for helping with PACs and PVCs.

@rozy288 I take all these supplements separately already with exception of potassium. I wanted to take it but my EP stated I was at the high end of normal on postassium per my blood test and recommended I not take more. For me the one supplment that seems to have affected my PACs and PVCs is magnesium. And that supplement recommendation came from my Mayo EP.

Regarding the Co-Q-10. You will see a lot of discussion on types of Co-Q-10. Many researches including supplement companies show that Co-Q-10 is hard for body to absorb unlike Ubiquinol (spell) which is a higher more absorbent form of Co-Q-10. It is more expensive though but I take both.

The only confusion I have on magnesium is my Mayo EP recommended Citrate type and I see some posters saying a a different type is better for PVCs and PACs. I am going to ask my EP their opinion. My citrate version seeems to be working but this is me and we are all different.

Good luck, I am lucky I don't have gastric issues but my wife does so and it affects her quality of life drastically.

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Heart calm has little potassium and 3 dif magnesium’s . Non are Citrate. That one is not what most Drs recommend..
Thanks for responding to me . You have to do what’s best for you .
Yes the Gastro issues are horrible, non stop daily . Have over 7 diagnoses ( even went to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in 2021 .
6 th Gastro now is in Orlando an hr from me . I feel for your wife .
I’m really a medical mystery at this point.
Hard to enjoy life . My hubby and I are in a 5 night vacation now but these illnesses don’t take a vacation unfortunately.

REPLY
rr1967 | @rr1967 | Apr 28 9:22am
In reply to @brendas1954 "My cardiologist recently told me that stress really isn’t related to pvc’s. Omg … who do..." + (show)
@brendas1954

My cardiologist recently told me that stress really isn’t related to pvc’s. Omg … who do you believe! When my stress level was high that was when they started. Now that the stress is decreased, so did the pvc’s!

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Hello Brendas1954
My electrophysiologist and cardiologist have both told me that stress and anxiety are non-food related PVC and PAC triggers. Periods of high stress and anxiety will restart or increase PVCs and PACs in those people who have already have them. One of my close friend has a sister who is a doctor and during times of very high stress, hers will start as well. A few other people who I have talked to have also stated the same thing. Stress and anxiety will lead to an increase in PVCs and PACs in those people who already have them or it may be their first occurrence.
I know in the past couple of months, my stress levels have been high due to family issues, so I am not surprised that my palpitations have restarted.
Sadly, I am one of the few that can feel almost every PVC or PAC.

Thank you,
RR 1967

REPLY
1 reply
rr1967 | @rr1967 | Apr 28 9:25am
In reply to @jc76 "Several posters have mentioned the heart calm. I did research it and the ingredients are the..." + (show)
@jc76

Several posters have mentioned the heart calm. I did research it and the ingredients are the ones that are rcommended for helping with PACs and PVCs.

@rozy288 I take all these supplements separately already with exception of potassium. I wanted to take it but my EP stated I was at the high end of normal on postassium per my blood test and recommended I not take more. For me the one supplment that seems to have affected my PACs and PVCs is magnesium. And that supplement recommendation came from my Mayo EP.

Regarding the Co-Q-10. You will see a lot of discussion on types of Co-Q-10. Many researches including supplement companies show that Co-Q-10 is hard for body to absorb unlike Ubiquinol (spell) which is a higher more absorbent form of Co-Q-10. It is more expensive though but I take both.

The only confusion I have on magnesium is my Mayo EP recommended Citrate type and I see some posters saying a a different type is better for PVCs and PACs. I am going to ask my EP their opinion. My citrate version seeems to be working but this is me and we are all different.

Good luck, I am lucky I don't have gastric issues but my wife does so and it affects her quality of life drastically.

Jump to this post

Hello JC76.
I am tempted to try Heart Calm but I am simply terrified of unregulated supplements and all the horror stories you see about them. My EP looked at Heart Calm and he stated he saw nothing in it that could cause me harm. He said I could try and it and see what happens. I am just being a coward and afraid to start them.
Thanks you,
RR1976

REPLY
1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Apr 28 9:34am

I take magnesium and it doesn't help much. I do have afib as well, sporadically. I looked back over my calendar and every afib episode is when I am moving.

REPLY
babs10 | @babs10 | Apr 28 5:27pm
In reply to @713j "Do you take any blood pressure medicine or heart medication? I take a product called heart..." + (show)
@713j

Do you take any blood pressure medicine or heart medication? I take a product called heart calm. 300mg of magnesium made up of taurine,malate,glycine. Just started.

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@dizzyprizzy, How are you doing on the supplement? I have been on 5 mg of lisinopril and have trouble sleeping. I read that magnesium could help with that so I took 300 mcg at night. It did help me sleep, but my BP went WAY down to double digits for both diastolic and systolic and I didn't feel good - woozy. I quit taking it and my BP has stabilized. Any thoughts on that?

REPLY
jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 29 6:46am
In reply to @rr1967 "Hello JC76. I am tempted to try Heart Calm but I am simply terrified of unregulated..." + (show)
@rr1967

Hello JC76.
I am tempted to try Heart Calm but I am simply terrified of unregulated supplements and all the horror stories you see about them. My EP looked at Heart Calm and he stated he saw nothing in it that could cause me harm. He said I could try and it and see what happens. I am just being a coward and afraid to start them.
Thanks you,
RR1976

Jump to this post

@rr1967 If you doctor has reviewed the ingredients and says no harm I would try it. That was the best thing to do was have your doctor look at the ingredients and inform you.

I did this with my EP and that is when they mentioned the postassium. I take some other medications that can raise postassium levels so you can see why important to have your doctor look at it to ensure not contradictory to other medications of supplements.

The only thing I am disapointed in the heartcalm is that is uses Co-Q-10 insteast of Ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is a much better form of Co-Q-10. I do take taurine, Ubiquinol. Magnesium Citrate, so got most of the ingredients already. I do see that HeartCalm using a mixture of different forms of magnesium.

I was advised to take magnesium to help with PVCs. I was already taking so did not add it and PVCs kept getting worse. Then I noticed the form of magnesium was not what my EP recommended and I switched to it. Wow, immediate improvement. I was wearing a heart monitor to see where PVCs were coming from when I noticed I was not taking the form of magnesium I was advised to take.

Good luck and if it was me and my doctor said no harm with the HeartCalm I would try it.

REPLY
2 replies
713j | @713j | Apr 29 8:38am
In reply to @jc76 "@rr1967 If you doctor has reviewed the ingredients and says no harm I would try it...." + (show)
@jc76

@rr1967 If you doctor has reviewed the ingredients and says no harm I would try it. That was the best thing to do was have your doctor look at the ingredients and inform you.

I did this with my EP and that is when they mentioned the postassium. I take some other medications that can raise postassium levels so you can see why important to have your doctor look at it to ensure not contradictory to other medications of supplements.

The only thing I am disapointed in the heartcalm is that is uses Co-Q-10 insteast of Ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is a much better form of Co-Q-10. I do take taurine, Ubiquinol. Magnesium Citrate, so got most of the ingredients already. I do see that HeartCalm using a mixture of different forms of magnesium.

I was advised to take magnesium to help with PVCs. I was already taking so did not add it and PVCs kept getting worse. Then I noticed the form of magnesium was not what my EP recommended and I switched to it. Wow, immediate improvement. I was wearing a heart monitor to see where PVCs were coming from when I noticed I was not taking the form of magnesium I was advised to take.

Good luck and if it was me and my doctor said no harm with the HeartCalm I would try it.

Jump to this post

What form of magnesium was recommended?

REPLY
jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 29 5:04pm

@713j
What they (EP) was to take 400 mg of Magnesium. I had asked about ablation as had one many years ago on RV and worked. My PVCs are now coming from LV. I asked how much and they advised 400 mg but I told them I was already taking this amount in a form of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc combination pill.

I did not think anything more about it until the PVCS and PACs went up drastically. I looked at the bottle and the magnesium was not what they recommended nor any of the forms I had read about. Mayo EP stated take Magnesium Citrate.

Magnesium Citrate is suppose to be (by research I did) easily absorb by body thus recommended a lot. Even though Mayo EP stated Citrate the Magnesium Taurate is also suppose to be very good form as well at Magnesium Oxide.

I being a stickler to doing what my EP says to do so have stayed with Magnesium Citrate. I know this is going to sound weird but it did immediately improve my PVCs and PACs.

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