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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!

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713j | @713j | Nov 7 7:29am
In reply to @stevemc "I went to chinesemedicine.store/wenxin-keli It ships from China so takes 8-10 days - think it was..." + (show)
@stevemc

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.

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How much do you take daily? Does Amazon carry this or do you only order this from the above?

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1 reply
stevemc | @stevemc | Nov 7 11:02am
In reply to @713j "How much do you take daily? Does Amazon carry this or do you only order this..." + (show)
@713j

How much do you take daily? Does Amazon carry this or do you only order this from the above?

Jump to this post

Not available on Amazon, Have to get from China. (website above). I did two 5 mg packs (sugar free of course) twice a day 30 minutes before lunch and dinner. Instructions come with it and I think they are also on the website. In a month or two, I will update this post on how its going and what I have learned works best for me.

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1 reply
713j | @713j | Nov 7 3:12pm
In reply to @stevemc "Not available on Amazon, Have to get from China. (website above). I did two 5 mg..." + (show)
@stevemc

Not available on Amazon, Have to get from China. (website above). I did two 5 mg packs (sugar free of course) twice a day 30 minutes before lunch and dinner. Instructions come with it and I think they are also on the website. In a month or two, I will update this post on how its going and what I have learned works best for me.

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Thanks

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insley | @insley | 5 days ago
In reply to @rr1967 "Hello mjj151. Thank you for sharing your information. 15%..wow... I think I am at 10% now,..." + (show)
@rr1967

Hello mjj151.
Thank you for sharing your information. 15%..wow... I think I am at 10% now, but my cardio keeps telling me I am fine. We have tried beta blockers and calcium channel blockers...no help at all. Now he wants me to try Flecanide which is very scary medication. Not sure what to do anymore as I am tormented every day and evening with them. I have seen a cardiologist and two different electrophysiologists and they all say I am fine. No...I am not fine...

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I’ve had good results from Flecainide (100mg BID) in suppressing PVCs for about 8 months. No noticeable side effects. However, symptomatic PVCs have recently returned. I had 2 ablations to no improvement. Trying to learn to live with it.

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ivce | @ivce | 4 days ago
In reply to @megansims "I have had PACs for years as well and finally flipped into Atrial Tachycardia (SVT) and..." + (show)
@megansims

I have had PACs for years as well and finally flipped into Atrial Tachycardia (SVT) and had an ablation. Unfortunately, they returned a year and a half later and my burden was 18-26% depending in the day. They tried another ablation but was unsuccessful, so I also began the med path. Everything so far has caused side effects. Have you tried Propranolol? That was okay for me but it doesn't work for me any more. Flecainide was horrible. I am about to try Norpace. I did finally meet with a Naturopath and she had me take Magnesium, and Heart Health. She checked my cortisol. Nothing really helped significantly. There is some evidence that Arginine and Taurine can help, but I had no luck with that either. If you haven't, ask about Propranolol (it also helps with anxiety) and if not better, see if they would consider an EP study/ablation for quality of life.

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I hope you are feeling better now. Did you EP say why they returned? Do you have SVT now. Best regards.

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slkanowitz | @slkanowitz | 2 days ago

I have recently been having severe palpitations and numerous PACs to point I couldn’t sleep or even function it was so uncomfortable. I am on thyroid hormone replacement and although my hormone levels were normal, reducing my thyroid dose one notch has helped a great deal. I hope you all have had your thyroid levels checked for hyper ( excess) thyroidism and if on medication, a dose reduction may be worth a try, with Dr approval of course. I also am getting relief from Bystolic, a newer beta blocker that has beneficial effects on blood sugar and lipids compared to the older beta blockers. It doesn’t lower heart rate as much but is suppressing the PACs and palpitations.

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1 reply
gloaming | @gloaming | 1 day ago
In reply to @slkanowitz "I have recently been having severe palpitations and numerous PACs to point I couldn’t sleep or..." + (show)
@slkanowitz

I have recently been having severe palpitations and numerous PACs to point I couldn’t sleep or even function it was so uncomfortable. I am on thyroid hormone replacement and although my hormone levels were normal, reducing my thyroid dose one notch has helped a great deal. I hope you all have had your thyroid levels checked for hyper ( excess) thyroidism and if on medication, a dose reduction may be worth a try, with Dr approval of course. I also am getting relief from Bystolic, a newer beta blocker that has beneficial effects on blood sugar and lipids compared to the older beta blockers. It doesn’t lower heart rate as much but is suppressing the PACs and palpitations.

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Thanks for your comment, slkanowitz. Everyone's experience shared here can contribute something, including something novel. I have not heard of Bystolic, and it is encouraging that you have profited from its use.

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