SVT/PACs/PVCs

Posted by bsheahan @bsheahan, Jun 14, 2025

Hey there!

I'd like to share a little background to try to help whoever may take the time to read this to understand what is happening with my situation.

I am 24 years old, I am a female. Back in 2020, I got Covid-19 for the first time. I wasn't extremely ill (thankfully) but I was tired, I ran fevers, and I lost my taste and smell. I never had any issues with my lungs or my oxygen intake, I recovered quickly.. probably within a week and I was back to doing my normal activities. About a month later, I was at my father-in-law's house and I was helping him with some housework because he is not in good health. I bent over to pick up the dog's food bowl off of the ground and I felt my heart skip. When I stood back up, it felt like my heart rate skyrocketed to 300bpm. At the time, I had no idea what was going on. I laid down in my father-in-law's room, and tried not to panic (although I felt like I was dying) and we discussed whether or not we needed to call emergency services. Eventually my heart calmed down and went back into rhythm on its own.

The next day, I was cleaning the kitchen at home and it happened again. I immediately felt faint and sat down to avoid hitting the ground if I passed out. This episode only lasted for about a minute or so and wasn't as severe as the one prior, but it was still scary. After this, I made an appointment to see a cardiologist because I realized that something wasn't right.

They performed a series of tests on me. I wore a Holter monitor, and I completed a stress test. I was cleared of any issues, so I went on my way. A couple of years passed, and throughout this time I suffered through minor palpitations but I had no pain in my chest, no shortness of breath, and no accompanying symptoms. I still decided to get a second opinion. I visited with a different cardiologist, and performed all of the same tests. This cardiologist even performed an echocardiogram. All came back normal except for a few PVCs and PACs from my Holter monitor report.. my cardiologist reassured me that there was nothing to worry about, so I carried on.

Fast forward to a month ago when I had another round of SVT. My heart rate spiked to 226bpm and it lasted for several minutes. I tried everything that I could think of to break it. Vagal maneuvers.. coughing, bearing down. Nothing would make my heart rate lower.. so I called 911. Emergency services arrived and took me to the emergency room but by the time I got there, my heart rate was normal. They took bloodwork, and couldn't find a thing wrong with me. They checked all of my cardiac markers and electrolytes.. but nothing was wrong. They told me that I probably had a run of SVT but there was no way for them to be able to tell without seeing it happen in action. I understand that they can't just diagnose or treat me for something I may or may not have.. but this is just so aggravating.

Before Covid, I could do anything I wanted. I could drink alcohol, I could smoke, I could have a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate without my heart rate jumping all over the place.. but after Covid, it's just been completely different. I can't walk up a hill without feeling like my heart is going to either explode or just give out on me. I've read some articles online about a link between Covid and ventricular arrhythmias.. but who's to say that it's true.

I was just reaching out to see if anyone may be suffering from something similar, or if anyone has any advice on what to do. I've tried everything that I can think of to help myself. Staying hydrated.. taking magnesium to help with the palpitations.. but to no avail. I am desperate for answers. I just want my life back.

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

bsheahan | @bsheahan | Jun 16, 2025

In reply to @susanrr "Hello, I am so sorry you are going through this after Covid, and it does sound..." + (show)

Thank you so so much. I will look into seeing an electrophysiologist!

bsheahan | @bsheahan | Jun 16, 2025

In reply to @jc76 "@bsheahan We on MCC can give you our experiences and provide inspirations. I hope what I..." + (show)

@jc76

@bsheahan
We on MCC can give you our experiences and provide inspirations. I hope what I post stays with that as sometimes hard to know what to post.

My wife was diagnosed with anxiety/panic disorder many years ago. When stess builds up or there is a serious issues with family or life she can have a anxiety/panic disorder. Her symptoms mirror yours. She takes medication for it but for her her anxiety/panic disorders still happen with stress and anxiety.

I mentioned this because I too several years back was diagnosed with PTSD with anxiety/panic disorder. It came after tremendous stress of dealing with past issue (like Vietnam, police career, and being shocked 5 times in 24 hours by my ICD/Pacemaker). I too had symptoms like yours. When I was diagnosed thought I was having heart attack, shaking, high pulse, etc.

I mentioned this not as a medical diagnosis but thinking back after COVID and then taking care of father-in-law were you under a lot of stress and continue to be under a lot of stress and anxiety? Stress causes (per my Mayo psychiatrist) adrenaline to come into body to do "Flight or Fight." That adrenaline builds up over time and you can get a anxiety/panic attack with symptoms much like mine, my wifes, and yours.

Consider talking to your medical providers if this could be a cause. It can't help explore it as a possibility. At least can mark it off as a possible cause and continue to seek other causes.

My wife and I both had Covid. I had it only one time in 2024 after taking all 8 immunizations and boosters. Mine was terrible and then went into sinus infection then to bronchial infection. I was diagnosed with PTSD anxiety/panic disorder years before I got COVID. I take medications that helps me deal with anxiety, depression. I am sure it help me deal with the disease and infections that kept me down for 3 months.

The signs you mentioned are same physical and psychological smyptoms both my wife and I have felt and it is very scary.

COVID I am reading can affect many people differently. As time goes on and more studies are done I am sure long term affects of COVID are really going to show it's impact on many causes of physical and psychological conditions.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much. I know that stress doesn’t help my health, and I am under it a lot of the time. I’ve been diagnosed with a panic disorder, and I’ve had it for many years and I am taking medication for it which has helped. I wouldn’t pin everything completely on my anxiety though due to the fact that I know what panic feels like.. I know how my heart feels when I panic. I know how powerful my mind is. I suffered from panic attacks before my heart symptoms began to occur. Thank you though so much. I hope you and your wife are doing super good now!

bsheahan | @bsheahan | Jun 16, 2025

Thank you all so much for your helpful comments and kind words. It’s truly appreciated!

susanrr | @susanrr | Jun 16, 2025

In reply to @bsheahan "Thank you so so much. I will look into seeing an electrophysiologist!" + (show)

I think it's a good idea and I do hope it helps!!

psyche | @psyche | Jun 16, 2025

In reply to @bsheahan "This is very helpful. I will try it next time. It’s such a terrifying feeling." + (show)

Good luck and let us know if it works for you.

bcbc96 | @bcbc96 | Jan 29 4:25pm

Your story sounds very similar to mine, I feel like my cardiac issues started after having covid for the first time. As you mentioned I had no issues cardiovascular wise prior to having covid, and could take on any task that required my heart rate to increase or to increase my respirations. I am have dealt with "heart palpitations for several years until this week when I ended up in the ER due to experiencing one hour of 180-200 bpm and no end in sight. I did finally convert back to sinus rhythm just before I was going to be shocked to stop the what we now know was SVT. A angiogram determined I do not have any arteries blocked and will see a electrophysiologist for an ablation. Overwhelmed to say the least.

nm3 | @nm3 | Jun 29 8:47am

I have experienced this since my twenties and am 70 now. Ask your cardiologist/electrophysiologist to implant a loop recorder. It’s a tiny device that continually records.

tlaun44 | @tlaun44 | Jul 2 8:33pm

Wow! I just came across this post when researching what is triggering my newly diagnosed SVT suddenly. Started very mildly in Jan 26. Wore holter monitor for week and caught some irregularities. Took couple months to see cardiologist at end of April. During this time episodes very infrequent and didn’t last long. Then cardiologist switched my blood pressure medication around same time I had viral infection and pcp put me on steroids. I ended up in ER five days later on May 27. Heart racing non-stop for hours, sky high BP and anxiety like crazy. ER doctor said my heart was ok and that steroids triggered and very bad for SVT. Said should feel better once steroids out of my system. Few days later I started to feel better. Still had episodes but not all time and not bad until this five days ago. Started picking up again and got really bad that I could sleep. Been like this for days. I’m mostly good during day while at work but in evening and when lie down it cranks up. I’m sure the stress and anxiety cause by it doesn’t make it better. I also realized that some other medications i recently started might trigger. It is so frustrating and my cardiologist isn’t very responsive (only saw him the first time in end April) so I might be looking for new one. After reading your post I realized that I too had Covid in Dec 25 and this started about a month later. My heart just feels like it is going to beat out of my chest and my chest is sore and it can last for hours. Last night for several hours before finally fell asleep but only slept about four hours then up again. Does anyone notice it happened more while lying down or at night? Thank you every who commented. Does make me feel like I’m not alone even when my family doesn’t understand. Prayers!

wcuro | @wcuro | Jul 3 6:32am

Yes, your instincts are correct. Find a new doctor, an electrophysiologist who specializes in irregular heart rhythm. If your cardiologist is already an EP, still switch. Sounds like yours has checked out.
It has been noted by my EP that most patients feel the heartbeats while trying to sleep. We are focused on it and there are no other distractions. There is no reason to think that your arrhythmia begins at night in bed other than the stress you feel. It can become a habit. Trying falling asleep while reading or watching TV as a distraction from coding on your heart. Good luck.

jc76 | @jc76 | Jul 3 6:40am

In reply to @tlaun44 "Wow! I just came across this post when researching what is triggering my newly diagnosed SVT..." + (show)

@tlaun44
I was told by my primary care doctor that when you lie down on back, or either side your organs move and your heart beat is felt more.

It means that your PVCs, PACs, and VTAC will be felt more than when you are standing up.

For a while when mine was so bad I slept in a propped up seating position on my bed until heart calmed down. I did not feel the PACs, PVCs, and tachycardia and thus was able to get some sleep even though not much.

To add to all of this you say at work you don't feel it as much. What I am told by my doctors is that your mind is not on heart focus when working, exercising, hobbies, etc. thus you are not going to feel the arrythmia like you do when trying to go to sleep or at rest.

Then at rest you are in heart focus which causes more anxiety and stress and thus the fight or flight reaction body has which will create more PVCs and PACs.

I am on some great medications and as I type this (knocking on wood) my PVCs, and PACs, and VTAC have dramatically been reduced. And I am trying to not be heart focused.

View More Return to first page

Please sign in or register to post a reply.