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Premature atrial contractions: Anyone have any helpful info on this?

Posted by lolly906 @lolly906, Aug 17, 2018

I was now just recently told I have Premature Atrial Contractions, or P.A.C, after being on a holter monitor for 48 hrs. I was told this after my higher then normal calcium score, and was told p.a.c. is benign., but im still worried. I was put on monitor after I felt my heart pounding hard in my left neck area. Im wondering if anyone has any helpful info on this? Im really worried acutally, even cancelled my colonoscopy due to the laxative saying it could cause irregular heartbeat. it seems I can feel my heart skip beats at times or speed up! very scary to me. Im wondering if anyone else has this? I am 58 yrs old and am on lovastatin for high cholesterol thanks

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kelton | @kellycross | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @shawnb2020 "First of all, thank you to everyone for the tons of information. Still does leave me..." + (show)
@shawnb2020

First of all, thank you to everyone for the tons of information. Still does leave me slightly confused though.... As my other posts have gone into more detail. I have had 3 heart attacks in the last 18 months and from that i've been told i'm now in stage 3 or "c" heart failure. The entire time feeling what was best described as missing heartbeat and then like it was trying to catch back up. In august in was in the hospital overnight for increasing chest pain. While laying there i felt a "good one" and they came running in asking me if i was ok. Told them it happens all the time. Heard nothing more. Was reffered to a heart failure doctor who asked me about palpitations and told him what i've been feeling and that instance. He ordered a holter monitor for 48 hours but for up to 7 days. after 36 they called and said my regular cadiologist (which i have no faith in) looked at it and saw nothing but the the ordering doctor would look over it and to keep it on. A day and a half later they called back and said he saw a number of PAC's but that they weren't anything to worry about and send it back. On my next appointment he said he saw over 30 of them and a PVC but that it's "normal". Since i don't recall ever feeling anything like this before i find it hard to be normal. Did suggest getting a sleep study done cause he was sure that a lot of my worsening symptoms could be explained by sleep apnea. Did that and it came back that i don't have sleep apnea. So now with that and being what they call "in fluid overload" he wants me to go in and get a right side cath done. So not sure if it's these PAC's or whats going on.

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It doesn't sound like you're getting solid answers from anyone - just lots of tests. Have you thought about taking all your data to a different cardiologist for a fresh look? With your history, it seems you should be getting more definitive answers.

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yorlik | @yorlik | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @kellycross "I was recently told by my cardiologist that I have Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC), and not..." + (show)
@kellycross

I was recently told by my cardiologist that I have Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC), and not to worry unless they come frequently. I also have SVTs, are these related?? I was put on a Zio heart monitor for 3 days - will get results Monday morning. I recently bought a stethoscope (my cardiologist suggeseted I know more about my heart). My husband and I can both clearly hear what sounds like a comletely skipped beat, and what sounds like an extra beat. The skipped beat is more often and happens several times within 2 minutes of listening. It's disconcerting. Any idea what we're hearing??

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If you have a cell phone with a camera, consider getting a free heart rate monitor app for it; it lights the camera light and you put your finger over it and the camera lens and the app the graphically shows your heart beats, most apps with sound, and you can SEE the beats STRENGTH so you can see each beat, and if there are extra ones that are only 1/2 as powerful, and of course you can see the missing beats. I commend your doctor for suggesting you learn more about your own body! And the free cell phone app is a grand way to learn! (I have AFIB and keep tabs on it this way)

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1 reply
jddart | @jddart | Dec 9, 2020

Another option if a heart monitor test doesn't capture anything is that you can ask your cardiologist if she/he can get you a device called KardiaMobile, which is a mobile single lead ECG device. It syncs with an app on your phone. If you're experiencing symptoms you just grab the device, and place your fingers on it and it records your heart activity and stores it.

I had A-fib for years and finally had an ablation to correct it, but I still have PACs, PVCs and SVT left over. My cardiologist said it's all benign, but even after 8 years I still hold my breath in fear when these anomalies happen, because they feel too much like the old A-fib.

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2 replies
kelton | @kellycross | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @yorlik "If you have a cell phone with a camera, consider getting a free heart rate monitor..." + (show)
@yorlik

If you have a cell phone with a camera, consider getting a free heart rate monitor app for it; it lights the camera light and you put your finger over it and the camera lens and the app the graphically shows your heart beats, most apps with sound, and you can SEE the beats STRENGTH so you can see each beat, and if there are extra ones that are only 1/2 as powerful, and of course you can see the missing beats. I commend your doctor for suggesting you learn more about your own body! And the free cell phone app is a grand way to learn! (I have AFIB and keep tabs on it this way)

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Thank you so much - this is very helpful. I'll check out the phone app today!

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yorlik | @yorlik | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @jddart "Another option if a heart monitor test doesn't capture anything is that you can ask your..." + (show)
@jddart

Another option if a heart monitor test doesn't capture anything is that you can ask your cardiologist if she/he can get you a device called KardiaMobile, which is a mobile single lead ECG device. It syncs with an app on your phone. If you're experiencing symptoms you just grab the device, and place your fingers on it and it records your heart activity and stores it.

I had A-fib for years and finally had an ablation to correct it, but I still have PACs, PVCs and SVT left over. My cardiologist said it's all benign, but even after 8 years I still hold my breath in fear when these anomalies happen, because they feel too much like the old A-fib.

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jddart, are you on blood thinners?

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2 replies
kelton | @kellycross | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @jddart "Another option if a heart monitor test doesn't capture anything is that you can ask your..." + (show)
@jddart

Another option if a heart monitor test doesn't capture anything is that you can ask your cardiologist if she/he can get you a device called KardiaMobile, which is a mobile single lead ECG device. It syncs with an app on your phone. If you're experiencing symptoms you just grab the device, and place your fingers on it and it records your heart activity and stores it.

I had A-fib for years and finally had an ablation to correct it, but I still have PACs, PVCs and SVT left over. My cardiologist said it's all benign, but even after 8 years I still hold my breath in fear when these anomalies happen, because they feel too much like the old A-fib.

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Thank you!! I have not heard of the KardiaMobile. I have a loop recorder (for the past 2 years) but I've never received a summary or any information from it the entire time. I was told it's too old to pick up PVCs.

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jddart | @jddart | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @yorlik "jddart, are you on blood thinners?" + (show)
@yorlik

jddart, are you on blood thinners?

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I was on Pradax, which goes by different names, but it's been deemed dangerous here in Canada because it has no antidote, and my cardiologist feels my condition is improved enough that I'm just on a baby aspirin a day. I've had no more A-fib since the ablation

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1 reply
yorlik | @yorlik | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @jddart "I was on Pradax, which goes by different names, but it's been deemed dangerous here in..." + (show)
@jddart

I was on Pradax, which goes by different names, but it's been deemed dangerous here in Canada because it has no antidote, and my cardiologist feels my condition is improved enough that I'm just on a baby aspirin a day. I've had no more A-fib since the ablation

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Thanks. I do not want to take over this good post but will say I have convinced my Dr. to not put me back on thinners even tho I fell back into Afib a month ago and it is still going on. Guess we will have that abla talk next visit... I've heard that many hospitals only have antidotes for warfarin and not Elequis or xarelto... both of which I was on at different times & I am prone to cutting myself doing mechanical and chain saw things...

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1 reply
kelton | @kellycross | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @yorlik "jddart, are you on blood thinners?" + (show)
@yorlik

jddart, are you on blood thinners?

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No - I have not (yet) been diagnosed with A-fib. The doc told me I'm "knocking on the A-fib door".

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kelton | @kellycross | Dec 9, 2020

Blood thinners worry me a great deal - I am hoping to avoid them!

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