1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Managing and Living With PACs and PVCs

Posted by rr1967 @rr1967, Aug 14, 2023

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!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

burke5500 | @burke5500 | Sep 2 8:47pm
In reply to @robynn300 "So sorry to hear this. I am a 58 yr old female and have been experiencing..." + (show)
@robynn300

So sorry to hear this. I am a 58 yr old female and have been experiencing some of the same things for years. I have PAC’ and PVC’s. I don’t have them every day but when my HR gets out of rhythm I feel absolutely exhausted, when it’s out of rhythm with long pauses in between and my HR slows to around 40, I feel horrible. Sometimes it’s out of rhythm and my HR will go up to 150 and it makes me feel anxious. I’ve been on so many meds and the side effects are as bad as the rhythm problems. I’ve had one failed ablation and the Dr just wants to keep trying different meds, which aren’t cheap and I can usually only tolerate them for a few days before my BP crashes and headaches start. I did all the right things by choosing a top notch Dr at Vanderbilt but I feel like she doesn’t take me seriously. She said only about five percent of people have the extreme problems I do from PAC/PVC’s. So since she doesn’t see this problem regularly, she doesn’t even consider I may very well be in the five percent 🤦🏼‍♀️.
I’m currently looking for another Dr.
I hope you find some answers.

Jump to this post

I am in Nashville. I work with an EP at St. Thomas. I like him a lot, although I haven’t had much relief from my pvcs. He is open to doing an ablation but it seems that it’s rarely a long term fix. So I probably won’t go that route until I can’t take it anymore. There are several really good EPs here though. Good luck in your search for a new Dr.

REPLY
1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | Sep 3 6:08am

@713j
I take Magnesium Citrate (400 mg).

I got so many diferent opinions on which form was better from MCC I asked my EP (Director of Electrology at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville) which form was best and how much. He answered that there is a lot of research out there about which forms are better than others but recommends taking Citrate form and 400 mg.

It did work. My PVCs did go down. Some individuals have a side affect of the citrate of digestive issues (going to bathroom) but I had none. There are many forms and all have specific targets they provide. My EP likes the Citrate as very easily absorb. If you don't take citrate look at the absorability of the other forms and also what that form is targeting.

You can always go on sites like WEB MD, Mayo Clinic, etc. and put in different forms of magnesium and then make your own decison on what is best for you.

REPLY
jc76 | @jc76 | Sep 3 6:14am
In reply to @burke5500 "I am in Nashville. I work with an EP at St. Thomas. I like him a..." + (show)
@burke5500

I am in Nashville. I work with an EP at St. Thomas. I like him a lot, although I haven’t had much relief from my pvcs. He is open to doing an ablation but it seems that it’s rarely a long term fix. So I probably won’t go that route until I can’t take it anymore. There are several really good EPs here though. Good luck in your search for a new Dr.

Jump to this post

@burke5500
There are a lot of different outcomes on ablations. I can't speak for others success or not success. However I had an ablation on my RV and it stopped the PVCs coming from that area immediately.

That was about 10 years ago and I do not have PVCs anymore from RV only LV. My EP (Mayo Jacksonviille who is Director of Electrophysiology) said we could consider (recenlty) doing ablation on LV side but wanted to try medication first as LV was much harder to do. He did several holter monitor tests and PVCs were coming from several areas of LV.

The medication is working very well. Time to time still (PVCs) flare up.

REPLY
carol1024 | @carol1024 | Sep 3 2:52pm
In reply to @jc76 "@carol1024 Great information and advice. I too have had it all. I take a medicine called..." + (show)
@jc76

@carol1024
Great information and advice. I too have had it all. I take a medicine called Metrizine. It helps with VTAC.

Every cariologist says same as you said. Everyone will have PVCs and PACs and are quite normal. Some like you and I are tuned in to them thus we feel them more than others. I have an ICD/Pacemaker and have had shocks. So when I have a lot of PVCs I fear the shocks not the PVCs.

Going to knock on wood but since they turned off my exercise mode on my pacemaker I have not had a shock now it almost two years. I was advised by my EP (Director of Electrophysiology at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville) to take 400 mg of Magnesium. It really did help with PACs and PACs one I got on the right form of it.

There are many methods to help with PACs and PVCs as you mentioned. Val salva along with what you mentioned. Most caridologist can train you on them to help stopped them when you feel them.

The only time PVCs bother me now is when I have two together. I have accepted going to have them and thus that reduces your stress and anxiety which also trigger them. So not only treat medically but mentally.

Jump to this post

Yeah I've been taking triple magnesium for quite a while. I also take q10 because I think it's the BP meds, not sure but I know it's something I'm taking, depletes your body of q10. I had the PVC's so bad once they felt like a machine gun. That was scary.

REPLY
1 reply
waitec | @waitec | Sep 6 10:49am

I had SVT and had the cardiac ablation surgery for that. Since the surgery, I have what I guess is PAC and PVC on and off every day, with occasional bad episodes. I have tried 5 different medications. They all send me into migraine hell and do not seem to do anything to calm my heart. Sometimes I feel like the Doctors don't believe me and it is nice to know others are experiencing some of the same things.

REPLY
stevemc | @stevemc | Nov 6 5:10pm
In reply to @713j "Has anyone tried the Chinese herb wenxin keli for PVCs and tachycardia?" + (show)
@713j

Has anyone tried the Chinese herb wenxin keli for PVCs and tachycardia?

Jump to this post

I tried Wenxin Keli for about 5-6 weeks back in August-Sept.
It worked - pretty much eliminated my PVC's.
Then after stopping WK, the PVC's remained low for a month or so, but they eventually came back.
I am going to try it again, and see if I can find the lowest "dose" possible (and frequency) that works for me.
There are no studies that have evaluated long term use. I might be the test dummy.
Appreciate any one else's experiences.
FYI I am a 63 y/o male - have had PVC's for ~6 years. Frequency bounces around. have good days and bad days. Interestingly, The highest frequency occurs when I sleep (laying down on my side).

REPLY
1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | Nov 6 5:38pm
In reply to @carol1024 "Yeah I've been taking triple magnesium for quite a while. I also take q10 because I..." + (show)
@carol1024

Yeah I've been taking triple magnesium for quite a while. I also take q10 because I think it's the BP meds, not sure but I know it's something I'm taking, depletes your body of q10. I had the PVC's so bad once they felt like a machine gun. That was scary.

Jump to this post

@carol1024
Reference the Co-Q-10. My cardiologists at Mayo Clinic advised me that statin drugs lower your co-q-10. It can cause muscle aches, etc. I have been taking co-q-10 for many years now as I am on a statin drug.

There is a lot of information out there on ubiquinol being better as it is absorbed better.

Has your EP or cardiologist mentioned OTC magnesium for the PVCs? My EP at Mayo has me on 400 mg of magnesium citrate. Check though with your cardiologist or EP as they should be the ones recommended something to you especially OTC and any supplements.

REPLY
1 reply
713j | @713j | Nov 6 7:28pm
In reply to @stevemc "I tried Wenxin Keli for about 5-6 weeks back in August-Sept. It worked - pretty much..." + (show)
@stevemc

I tried Wenxin Keli for about 5-6 weeks back in August-Sept.
It worked - pretty much eliminated my PVC's.
Then after stopping WK, the PVC's remained low for a month or so, but they eventually came back.
I am going to try it again, and see if I can find the lowest "dose" possible (and frequency) that works for me.
There are no studies that have evaluated long term use. I might be the test dummy.
Appreciate any one else's experiences.
FYI I am a 63 y/o male - have had PVC's for ~6 years. Frequency bounces around. have good days and bad days. Interestingly, The highest frequency occurs when I sleep (laying down on my side).

Jump to this post

Where can you purchase? Send picture of the packaging? Thank you

REPLY
stevemc | @stevemc | Nov 6 8:24pm

I went to chinesemedicine.store/wenxin-keli
It ships from China so takes 8-10 days - think it was around $110 for 6 week supply.
Unable to post an image or a link to the URL.

REPLY
1 reply
carol1024 | @carol1024 | Nov 7 1:44am
In reply to @jc76 "@carol1024 Reference the Co-Q-10. My cardiologists at Mayo Clinic advised me that statin drugs lower your..." + (show)
@jc76

@carol1024
Reference the Co-Q-10. My cardiologists at Mayo Clinic advised me that statin drugs lower your co-q-10. It can cause muscle aches, etc. I have been taking co-q-10 for many years now as I am on a statin drug.

There is a lot of information out there on ubiquinol being better as it is absorbed better.

Has your EP or cardiologist mentioned OTC magnesium for the PVCs? My EP at Mayo has me on 400 mg of magnesium citrate. Check though with your cardiologist or EP as they should be the ones recommended something to you especially OTC and any supplements.

Jump to this post

I do take magnesium and Coq 10. I have for quite some time.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.