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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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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @predictable "Hi, @jddart. Thanks for making the point that there are different expressions of A-fib, ranging widely..." + (show)
@predictable

Hi, @jddart. Thanks for making the point that there are different expressions of A-fib, ranging widely from those – like mine – that are not consciously troubling (although always apparent on an EKG) all the way up to painful, debilitating pulsations that worry and frighten others and might indicate that ablation would be appropriate. My medical team and I have agreed not to consider ablation under current conditions. However, I have two friends who had much more inconvenient pulsations and other symptoms, and they went ahead with ablations that have worked out for them. Another friend has symptoms similar to mine, and like me he is on Coumadin (without adverse consequence so far). I on the other hand had a “small stroke” last year, apparently an ischemic stroke from a small clot formed in my atrium; it has caused minor problems, but nothing that indicates surgery or medication beyond a beta blocker to regulate my pulse and Coumadin to discourage (I no longer say “prevent”) a stroke. I have the good fortune to have a medical team that considers me a member rather than just a subject for them, and we work well together. Martin

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Glad u r ok. Sounds a bit difficult.

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @jddart "There are different expressions of A-fib. I wasn't in A-fib all the time, but would quite..." + (show)
@jddart

There are different expressions of A-fib. I wasn't in A-fib all the time, but would quite often, in spite of being on a beta blocker, go into deep episodes of 15-20 hours where my heart rate would spike to 180, but my blood pressure would drop very low, to the point that I couldn't function or even stand. Of course, I didn't want to be out on a hiking trail or driving by myself when that happened. Usually a few hours into an episode I would check myself into the hospital if it didn't subside. They didn't like to continually cardiovert frequent fliers with the paddles because of its hit to one's system all the time so I would usually spend the night inthe ER just riding it out on a heart monitor. So no, your heart specialist isn't likely wrong in your case. As I said, it was very debilitating in my specific case, and it felt like my life was over at 50 years of age

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Maybeit's time for some reflection, maybe poetry, gardening, planting some trees. Something that connects you to life force.

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1 reply
robbie1956 | @robbie1956 | Dec 10, 2020

@lolly906

Sorry to hear about your PAC’s...I am getting them fairly regularly now, along with PVC’s....I am taking several meds for these things, and I must say, they really are awful....this is one of the longest episodes I’ve gone through......but you are in the right discussion group with these disturbances.....and yes, laxatives caused my heart to skip and race up to 165 on the morning of July 31st, I had been prepping for my Colonoscopy and became dehydrated but recovered from the event, and went on to have the Colonoscopy...hope you feel better. Robbie

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jddart | @jddart | Dec 10, 2020
In reply to @healthytoday "Maybeit's time for some reflection, maybe poetry, gardening, planting some trees. Something that connects you to..." + (show)
@healthytoday

Maybeit's time for some reflection, maybe poetry, gardening, planting some trees. Something that connects you to life force.

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All of the trouble is in the past. There has been no A-fib since my ablation. But I do rely on gardening, cycling, time with family and religion.

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spayne2020 | @spayne2020 | Dec 10, 2020

I’ve been reading over this thread today and have found some helpful information.
I am 38, diagnosed with PAC’s about two years ago. I’ve been told they are benign. Had an ultrasound of my heart (looked good) and wore a Holter for two days. I’m having several thousand a day.
However the doctor says if they aren’t impacting my life then I should be fine as they are, again, benign.
Lately I’ve started exercising again. I feel great while jogging and spinning but I’ve noticed that afterwards and when I’m still, I feel like they are more noticeable and more frequent. So, I’m becoming rather paranoid and quite honestly, fearful. I have a call in to see my cardiologist but I’m playing the waiting game.
They feel more powerful or more noticeable than before. They make me want to get up and move around.
I’m on no meds. I find a slight peace in finding others who experience this but truth be told I’m very fearful of leaving my daughters without their mother.
Thank you to all who have shared. This has been very trying and terrifying for me.
I also do not smoke or drink.

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jddart | @jddart | Dec 10, 2020

There's no question that exercise triggers premature contractions. I find that it's not so much light cardio that does it, but more resistance and weight training that triggers it for me. But again, the PACs and PVCs never lead to anything, and always die down in a couple of hours. I totally relate to your feeling of having to get up and move around. I would say keep doing what you're doing and don't let fear interfere, and keep your cardiologist informed about what you're experience. You need to stay active for general heart health.

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1 reply
robbie1956 | @robbie1956 | Dec 10, 2020
In reply to @jddart "There's no question that exercise triggers premature contractions. I find that it's not so much light..." + (show)
@jddart

There's no question that exercise triggers premature contractions. I find that it's not so much light cardio that does it, but more resistance and weight training that triggers it for me. But again, the PACs and PVCs never lead to anything, and always die down in a couple of hours. I totally relate to your feeling of having to get up and move around. I would say keep doing what you're doing and don't let fear interfere, and keep your cardiologist informed about what you're experience. You need to stay active for general heart health.

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@jddart

I’ll take that advice as well....even light cardio (7500) steps daily, moving around, keeping in touch with Cardiologist are all well taken...thanks

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1 reply
jddart | @jddart | Dec 10, 2020

You're welcome. The fear factor is huge. Since my ablation for A-fib, I've been left with occasional episodes of back to back PACs, and some SVT. I found at first that when I went out for a brisk walk, especially going uphill, it would trigger these abnormalities. So then I became afraid. I especially became afraid of walking along the stretch of road where the PACs were triggered. So then whenever I approached that stretch, I would get even more PACs, because of the fear. It's a vicious circle—PACs generating fear, which generates more PACs. So I've learned over the years to just let them come, and relax and even laugh it off by telling myself that nothing will come of it. And guess what! Far fewer PACs now. Don't let fear interfere.

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tcokeefe | @tcokeefe | Dec 10, 2020
In reply to @robbie1956 "@jddart I’ll take that advice as well....even light cardio (7500) steps daily, moving around, keeping in..." + (show)
@robbie1956

@jddart

I’ll take that advice as well....even light cardio (7500) steps daily, moving around, keeping in touch with Cardiologist are all well taken...thanks

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Is 7500 steps daily "light" cardio? I'm shocked. I thought doing 4,000 was doing OK.... Can I ask where you heard that or on what scale? Thanks!

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2 replies
yorlik | @yorlik | Dec 10, 2020
In reply to @tcokeefe "Is 7500 steps daily "light" cardio? I'm shocked. I thought doing 4,000 was doing OK.... Can..." + (show)
@tcokeefe

Is 7500 steps daily "light" cardio? I'm shocked. I thought doing 4,000 was doing OK.... Can I ask where you heard that or on what scale? Thanks!

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I always tried for 3,000 steps per day - stuck in chair on computer most of work day. Last few months I have been getting 4,000, on great days I hit 5-6000! I suspect 7500 probably is doable if we change our habits? I don't remember now for sure but I think 3000 steps is a mile for me? My phone says 3000 steps is only about 200 calories. (:

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