Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Welcome to the Heart Rhythm Conditions group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Did you know that the average heart beats 100,000 times a day? Millions of people live with heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) which occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats don't work properly. Let's connect with each other; we can share stories and learn about coping with the challenges, and living well with abnormal heart rhythms. I invite you to follow the group. Simply click the +FOLLOW icon on the group landing page.

I'm Kanaaz (@kanaazpereira), and I'm the moderator of this group. When you post to this group, chances are you'll also be greeted by volunteer patient Mentors and fellow members. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

Let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

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

@chica

I need someone input about icd my doctor told me about implanting a icd iam a little afraid dont know weather is a good option or not could someone hep with input thanks for allowing to join this group

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@shortshot80

Hi Nancy: I am glad to hear that the lorazepam (Ativan) is still working well for you and helping with your appetite as well.

It sounds like the pacemaker replacement went without a hitch! I'm happy for you.

Teresa

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Hi,
I'm an almost seventy year old man, who has suffered from PVC's most of his life, as well as Atrial Fibrillation for eight years. I'm seeking out people who can share their experiences as well as let me share my own.

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Your situation sound similar to mine. Ive had PVC's for at least 40 years also. Was also diagnosed with Paroxysmal Afib eight years ago. I take flecainide and metoprolol for the Afib. A year ago I experienced a few episodes of break out afib, so my Cardiologist upped my flec to 200 mgs a day, from 100. That seemed to stop the afib episodes, as well as my PVC's. I have had PVC's for as long as I can remember. I was always told they were being caused by stress. I also had a heart murmur, but they don't seem to think that has anything to do with it. Have been treated for anxiety from time to time. Was always told when I had my pvc's to simply "don't think about them". It's hard to do when you feel like theres a frog jumping around in your chest! I have never smoked, and stopped drinking when I was diagnosed with afib. I also avoid anything with caffeine. I did do quite a lot of "recreational drugs" in my earlier years. Haven't for probably thirty years now. I still wonder if they had something to do with my problems now. I have had a catheterization a few years back, they said my arteries were clear. I had a chemical stress test a year ago, and also was told all was ok. They also gave me an echo, which was ok as well.
Recently I had an episode of Afib, but it only lasted a few hours. It was preceded however by a lot of PVC's One after every beat. I think it's called Bigemy. Since that night, I have started having almost constant PVC's they go away if I take a long walk, but come back right afterward. They also go away once I go to sleep. I had recently moved up here to the Mountains of North Carolina. My new cardiologist up here, put me on a heart monitor for a month. Said we might have to adjust my meds. He also asked if I had ever considered an ablation. Don't have my follow up until May 10th. I'm assuming they are not too worried, as they didn't have me come in sooner. They did call me twice to ask, " You are showing a lot of PVC's, do you feel them". Do I feel them! I feel it in my head, in my chest, and I feel like I'm going to faint half the time. I try to ignore them, but it's really difficult. What really scares me, is the thought that they will lead to something more serious. That my heart might stop entirely, or go into VF. Strange that since these have been happening, I haven't had another afib episode. It all, totally scares the hell out of me though!

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Hi. I am Karen, age 68, with a-fib diagnosed four years ago (and recently diagnosed with PCVs). For a-fib, I tried several drugs including Multaq which made me nauseas, weak and tired) I also tried flecanide, which made me sick. I could not tolerate any of the drugs they administered in the hospital, one after another (including Dofetiide which did not work, Dronedarone and propafenone. Flecanide seemed to almost stop the a-fib but made me very nauseas, I now just take metoprolol and Xarelto for a-fib.

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Magnesium tablets have diminished my pvc s to almost zeroAsk about itRek

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail

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Thank you for the suggestion. I am doing magnesium chloride oil foot baths and I take a powdered magnesium citrate (natural Calm) for digestion. Hoping they help with PVCs. What kind of tablets do you take?

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I am very interested in the magnesium
Tablets.
I to have pics with afib that is in rhythm.
I've been taking mag calcium with
Tumeric. Just started so will keep
Taking them.
Thanks for heads up.
Let us all interested parties know
more.

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Hi. I joined the group because for the last 8 mos I have had symptomatic PVCs. I know they are benign but I still have ended up in the ER 3 x’s. The extreme temporal headache, jaw pain and dizziness makes ignoring them impossible. I also can’t seem to function for the days it occurs. I do have days when I am without symptoms. I am now getting a second opinion and am scheduled for a heart cath on Monday. I am wearing a 30 day monitor.

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Hi Kanaaz
Glad to be joining the group. Hoping in finding out how others manage their symptoms of POTS/Dysautonomia.
My daughter was recently diagnosed with dysautonomia. Her heart stops while having fainting episodes. On the tilt table test her pause was 30 seconds. She has been dealing with this since a teenager she is now 28. Her fainting episodes are triggered by anxiety or pain. It happens on average 3 times a yr. Many yrs of wrong medications & misdiagnosis has allowed this disorder to control her daily activities in her life.
Her new neuroscience dr recommends a pacemaker & is referring us to Mayo Clinic to see an Autonomic Specialist. We have been put on a waiting list at Mayo. It could be 6 months before we get in. It’s hard to wait so long for relief since she also suffers with migraines, neck pain, weakness, overall just never feeling “normal”. She is extremely thin, pale & always Cold.
Curious if others with similar symptoms/ diagnosis found relief from a pacemaker implant?
Concerned mom

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@predictable- Martin, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time last February to respond to my request for possible questions I might ask at my Mayo appt. this past April. We've just returned from AZ. back to our home in OR and wanted to follow up with you and other members on how the appts. went.
It was a very busy day and also the last full day in town and it started with a 12 hr. fast so the next morning at 9:30 was blood work, next at 1:30 an EKG and then at 2 a consult with the cardioloigist assigned to me Dr. J. J. Lynch. Next was the Stress Echo which was amazing! I had a team of 2 techs working with me and Dr. Lynch spent much of the time as well in the room. I never had a stress echo before but after they wire you all up for the stress portion, they have you lay down so the echo tech can shoot a bunch of pictures of my resting heart. Then they have you pop up from the bed on a tread mill and begin very slowing ramping me up about every 3 minutes to the next level. I had just finished the 12th minute at 3.5 speed & a 12% grade when the Dr. asked can you go another level? I told him I would give it my best! The tread mill registered a speed of 4.5 and a 16% grade. It was flying and I started jogging to keep up! The Dr. asked if I could go anoth 90 seconds and I said yes. The tread mill comes to an abrupt stop and they have me drop down immediately onto the bed and the echo tech immediately gets after it. I was somewhat winded, but also very exhilarated. The tech was really great having me breath and commenting how well I did and the great pictures she was getting. The Dr. said to me right then and there that there was no way my EF was still at 30 and said mostly likely at 45-48. I can't express how wonderful those words were to hear! After getting cleaned up I spent another 1/2 hr. with Dr. Lynch going over all the preliminary results from all the tests from the day and talked quite a bit about the echo. I was told a year after my HA after my echo that there was no change and likely there would be none. I was bummed! Dr. Lynch seemed to think that new blood vessels have probably been growing and extending new rich blood back into some of those areas of nearby tissue. I got the chance to ask all your questions you sent me and more, never feeling he was in a rush. I'm so glad I made that appt. with the Scottsdale Mayo! What amazing care I received there! Thank you Martin! @thankful.

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