Sigh. PVC’s have me desperate. How to cope?

Hi. My PVC’s are bigeminy, which means that I have them every other heartbeat. Oddly, I’m not overwhelmed with symptoms. I just thought I was having anxiety. I do get some stabbing or jumping feelings at times but I always just made excuses for what it was. My cardiologist sent me to a heart “electrician” who scheduled me for an ablation next month to fix it.

I started having those after diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Now I have small episodes of tachycardia and doctor said not to worry unless it sticks and won’t release. I hate them. Big thumps and skipped beats, or fast pounding for a few seconds. I wish I knew what is causing. Hormone related? Thyroid related? Food related?

@loyd1957 Your EP can determine via testing if you are a candidate for ablation to reduce the number of PVC’s you are experiencing. The source of tissue within your heart causing the PVC’s can often be located and destroyed during ablation. My PVC’s were reduced with ablation from a burden of 18% of heartbeats to 4%.
18% is a number considered high enough to eventually lead to heart failure. 4% is considered harmless. Hopefully, after possibly getting a positive result like that and understanding your specific case, you will be more able to stop worrying.
If you aren’t having conversations with your EP, find out why not. If unsatisfied, seek a better doctor by researching best docs and hospitals near you. Good luck.

Dear Matt, it touched me so much to read your post as I'm sure it touched so many others on this page. You described these events perfectly... like an ongoing torment that always leaves you wondering if it will be your last breath.

I've had them bad for one year now (at first they were very gentle several years ago every now and again but then they increased to every minute like you)- they started over a very stressful family event out of the blue... all different forms from the pause and "punch in the chest" type, to the take your breath away and weakness in the knees type to the I feel like I'm going to die type.... and then the ongoing fear of when the next one will come--- pure torture and just not wanting to live the rest of my life like this.

I have since found great benefit and comfort-- and some days I would even say I am perfectly well. Here is what helped bring me relief and peace back to my life.

1) simply- start with diet- they are almost always triggered with indigestion. I started eating smaller meals of healthy foods (light protein, whole food starches and lightly cooked veggies) and not too much raw food or salad at one time. A digestive enzyme can be of great benefit taken with the meal. Also- I saw a chiropractor which found a "hiatal hernia" - a part of the stomach that slips above the diaphragm and put stress on the heart. I also used a massager/vibrator on the epigastric area of the stomach and that helped very much. Seeing a chiropractor / naturopath for a dietary adjustment and physical adjustment of the spine and hiatal hernia and starting a stretching plan will do absolutely wonders- I mean miracle wonders. I highly recommend the dietary book: Nature's Diet by Iverson

2) There is another book- Mind Body Prescription by Sarno-- I tell you this is really the heart and soul of the whole thing (pun intended). Every person I ever met with PVCs like us is a chronically nervous and stressed person. If you get command of this in your life-- everything will change... I mean everything. Dr. Sarno outlines how to do this step by step--- literally by telling your body to "stop it" and "I know you are trying to take my mind off the stress in my life, but you don't need to give me palpitations to do it." Also- meditate daily- 5 minutes minimum-- pray if you pray daily... and yoga several times a week... also- a quick jog - 1/4 mile daily will do wonders for both the digestion and the mental stress.

That is really the secret of it all- good nutrition and good calm lifestyle and outlook. Talking to people about your stressors in life will also greatly help, just reading the chat groups helps to know others are in it with you and they are getting through it. You will get better, you absolutely will- just focus on Peace and Love and KNOW that all will be okay.. . and it will. - Andrew

@healthyhealing I know this was a year ago, but I really thank you for saying these things I have really bad days where I have 500 to 700 PVCs a day and it’s debilitating I feel like my quality of life has gone down and I have six kids that I’m trying to raise five boys you can imagine the stress, but it gets to the point where I feel like giving up sometimes it’s so hard. I’ve seen every doctor. You can imagine. I have an electrophysiologist a cardiologist a PCP a psychiatrist a psychologist a therapist. I’m on 25 mg metoprolol morning the night and .5 clonazepam up to three times a day as well as magnesium and potassium supplements. I also drink hydration packets once or twice a day and a lot of water. I’ve given up all caffeine. I haven’t drank alcohol in 15 years. I just don’t understand anymore. What to do. I feel so defeated because I’ll go three weeks with one or two here and there too a week like this past week where they’re every minute to two minutes and it just is so so distracting and disheartening.

@healthyhealing I know this was a year ago, but I really thank you for saying these things I have really bad days where I have 500 to 700 PVCs a day and it’s debilitating I feel like my quality of life has gone down and I have six kids that I’m trying to raise five boys you can imagine the stress, but it gets to the point where I feel like giving up sometimes it’s so hard. I’ve seen every doctor. You can imagine. I have an electrophysiologist a cardiologist a PCP a psychiatrist a psychologist a therapist. I’m on 25 mg metoprolol morning the night and .5 clonazepam up to three times a day as well as magnesium and potassium supplements. I also drink hydration packets once or twice a day and a lot of water. I’ve given up all caffeine. I haven’t drank alcohol in 15 years. I just don’t understand anymore. What to do. I feel so defeated because I’ll go three weeks with one or two here and there too a week like this past week where they’re every minute to two minutes and it just is so so distracting and disheartening.

@kpryor1982 some suggestions:
1. Read The AFIB Cure by Day. You may find some other things to try.
2. Do you any problems with Sleep Apnea. You should verify that this not an issue.
3. Check your level of thyroid stimulating hormone - TSH. I’ve discovered that if my TSH is too low, I have more arrhythmias whereas if I keep it above 4 arrhythmias disappear. Be careful not to take TSH too high as there are other problems when TSH is too high.
4. If you can’t find natural solutions and meds aren’t working then consider an ablation. This the best treatment for AFIB and should reduce or eliminate your symptoms. Newer technology makes the procedure even safer.