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Long Term PAC and PVC Suffer. Need your support and guidance
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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I had long term PVCs since I was in my late 30’s. Would come and go. Eventually I became hypothyroid, and diagnosed later with thyroid cancer. Upon my path inspection, they found chronic Hashinotos thyroiditis. I suspect now that the portion of my Hashis where I swung into hyperthyroid, this led to my PVC flares. It would be good to check into your full, not just TSH, thyroid levels with a lab test that includes looking for Hashi’s thyroiditis.
It's been a long time since your post so you have probably already had some sort of resolution to your problem but... your issues (and some of your responders) could be caused by gastric issues such as gas and bloating. To test the theory... just fast for 24 hours. Once you eat... see how long it takes before you feel PVCs. It will be about 45 minutes. It's call Roemheld Syndrome. And (drum roll please) it can be caused by Lactose Intolerance. Imagine spending thousands of dollars on medical bills just to find out you're lactose intolerant. (This is me. I'm actually quite angry about it).
I have the same problem. My issues have gone back 5 years. From not being able to sleep to cardiac episodes. I recently figured out (by accident or coincidence) that it is food. Specifically gas and bloating. Basically, you are bloated so much that it pushes the diaphragm up higher into the chest and irritates the vagus nerve, then you get the palpitations. The nerve triggers the heart rate to slow down, then the brain goes "whoa, wait a minute!" and then tries to increase the heart rate. You get that pause/thump! To "test" the theory you can just fast for around 18 hours and then eat. Just for fun, make sure there is dairy in the food you eat next. Now set a timer and see how long it takes to feel those PVCs. I may be completely wrong but... my issue is this. Roemheld Syndrome. Google the symptoms.
These GI issues trigger my afib for the reasons described above. Simethicone (Gas-X) relieves it. I have been able to avoid some episodes using Gas-X.
I have the utmost sympathy. I've legit spent the last 6 months thinking I was going to die just to find out it was severe gas and bloating. So, not saying your problem is the same, but try fasting for a day and really pay attention to your symptoms. Gastric problems apparently can cause very frequent PVCs bc it irritates the vagus nerve, then since the PVCs start, it stresses you out and causes anxiety... then the stress hormone is pushed into your system and makes everything worse. I recently stumbled across Roemhelds Syndrome and I'm scheduled to wear a holter monitor (again, for the upteenth time) just to prove it is 100% connected to eating/food. Me, specifically, I believe it is lactose intolerance. I don't know how I've come this far in life without knowing but it just got progressively worse with each year.
Look up Roemheld Syndrome.
I will, I agree, I think it could have something to with the Vagus nerve and food. Once the anxiety starts anything can happen. Thanks
Yeah I don't have all that other stuff.
Has anyone tried hypnosis so as not to feel PVCs?