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DESPERATELY FRIGHTENED, PVCs, AFib or panic attack
I had an AFIB ablation in March of this year. The first month post surgery, I had a few episodes of AFIB (NOTHING like before the procedure) Also a few PVC's which I'd had for several years. By April, I was not having any AFIB episodes and my one month follow up was good. Same with the 2nd follow up a month later. At the 3 month follow up, I told the EP I seemed to be experiencing some PVC's, again, not many.....4-5 a week, and he upped my atenolol from 75mg to 100mg. That seemed to do the trick and from June until about the end of August or the beginning of September, I was not having ANY, at least that I was aware of. In the past month, I am again having several very minor PVC's. One or two "flip-flops," then nothing else until the next day or 2 days later. Really random. I'm wondering if I am just getting anxiety about the 6th month follow up? I DO have panic disorder and not much support at home. I have no other symptoms when these happen. I'm a 68 y/o woman and am still smoking but trying REALLY REALLY hard to quit. PLEASE don't tell me how stupid I am. I KNOW. These feelings are NOT AFIB. As all of us who have or had AFIB know, you KNOW the difference between AFIB and a PVC. I am VERY scared what this could mean. Has anybody else had this happen and if so, do you know why? I do have my 6 month follow up with the EP on Monday, and of course I'll be discussing this with him, but the week-end is looming and my anxiety is over the roof. Any help or advice would be so welcome. Does this mean I'm heading back into AFIB? Thank you so much
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Rubywitch, please calm down. You know, don't you, that PVCs are not considered serious. I have plenty when I am in Normal Sinus Rhythm. I used to have runs of 30 of these several times after I went to bed. They respond to the change of blood flow that lying down or getting up creates. My doctor didn't consider these runs any problem and gave me no medications for them. The herb "Hawthorne" helped them to go away - but this is an herb that you have to be careful with, especially if you are taking a beta blocker or a calcium channel blocker.
I have never seen any connection with mild PVCs and my afib. I do think that coffee or chocolate or extra stressors can bring on PVCs. Just as they may aggravate afib. Hearts do love a calm life! Good luck on your smoking!
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4 Reactions@rubywitch67, I like to add my thoughts of calm to those of @soph. She's right "Hearts do love a calm life" and you have the tools to help slow down your thoughts. You've recognized that you are prone to worry and anxiety that can lead to a panic attack. Bring yourself back to now. This can bring calm. You're reading our messages. Focus on the words and the messages. Next, I encourage you to click on your own profile here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/member/141441aa0053a095088a1ad11a1668047e1afb8bba/ and read the wise and soothing messages you have written to other members in their search for support and people's experiences. Go read them, I'll wait until you come back.
Did you read them? Do you see how wise you are? In your messages you guide others to strive for calm, seek professional help when they have concerns, and to care for themselves. I'd like you to take your own sage advice. Here is a quote from a message YOU wrote Aug 28:
"Just know that the VAST majority of these heart "things" are totally benign and aside from being annoying, present no danger to your heart nor do they indicate underlying heart disease. But…..the ONLY one who can tell you what is going on for sure is a cardiologist. (Stress can trigger these, so keep that in mind) I'm sure you'll be fine! Welcome to the "Wonky Heart Club!""
On Aug 14, you wrote: "I know how extremely difficult it is to "cope and relax" when the issues are cardiac related. The best advice I can give you is simply don't give up until YOU are satisfied that everything that can be done HAS been done."
Take care of the things that are in your control. Be kind to yourself. Seek the advice of a professional for those things not in your control. You have an appointment on Monday. However, if you are at all concerned, please go to the nearest ER.
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4 ReactionsSoph...…...I can't thank you enough for responding so quickly! I am much calmer now, and know from YEARS of having Panic Disorder that when I let it get out of control, it's really hard to reign in. I've had "palpations" since I was a teen-ager......at least, that's what they called them way back then. I became very use to them, but they were never a daily occurrence, they didn't last very long and they did not cause any arrhythmia...….my heart was flip-flopping, but my heart rate was completely normal. Fast forward many years and the "palps" became much more frequent, much stronger and I now noticed that my pulse was really rapid and these episodes would last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Naturally I saw a cardiologist immediately and after wearing a holter monitor for 72 hours, he diagnosed me with AFIB and also explained to me at that time that what I had always thought of as "palps" were actually PVC's/ (Who knew? NOT my GP!) But he assured me they were harmless. He put me on Xarelto immediately for the AFIB. The next month we discussed trying anti-arrhythmics, and after reading a lot of opinions on this forum and others, I knew they weren't for me.....not with my panic disorder. Just reading about the side effects caused a panic attack. Soon after, I met with an EP and it was decided that an ablation was the best choice for me. So I had it done a few weeks later. The first month was rough, there had been some issues during the procedure and I was on the table much longer than they expected, nothing life threatening, but it left me feeling like I'd been hit by a bus. The GREAT part was that I had so few episodes of AFIB.....and the ones I DID have were very mild and didn't last long at all...….a few minutes at most and as a real bonus.....no more PVC's which I was not told the ablation would stop as well. I'm sorry......I feel like I'm repeating myself. When I saw the EP at my 3 month follow up and said I was having some PVC's, that was when he upped the atenolol and as I said, it worked. They stopped. At least from June until the end of August or beginning of September. Rereading this, I see how redundant I've been and I am really sorry. I don't have any personal friends or family who have ever been through anything like this. My husband is one of those guys who has never had anything worse than the common cold (But he acts like he's on DEATHS DOOR) So while he tries, I know he get's a little tired of me worrying every time I get a little tweak or twinge in my heart. You folks on this forum are really the only ones I have to turn to, which makes me sound pathetic.
So. I guess what I'm the most scared about is that for quite a few months I've had NOTHING going on with my heart, then suddenly, I'm now having these infrequent PVC's. Soph, you've done great in calming me down and understanding that even this long after the ablation, PVC's are nothing to freak out about. I know when I see the EP on Monday, he'll hopefully tell me the same thing and I'll get my head screwed on right again. Do you think I should request a holter or ZIO monitor? I know he'll do an EKG, but those only tell them what your heart is doing for the minute you're hooked up to it.
I will stop now. I will let you know in three sentences or less what the EP says on Monday. Again, thank you so much for helping me get through this bit of rocky road..
RubyWitch
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1 ReactionHi RubyWitch, I went through a few very similar heart events for years and like so many of my conditions. They’re not like the conditions that are easily detected so as I mentioned elsewhere even today I’ve been told many times that my conditions are in my head. In fact it was the arrhythmia problems that found my writing about it in my journal as well as prose and poetry pieces that I wrote because it was oddly funny to say “ my heart is in my head “
I wore many monitors and halters and did many stress tests and had other tests that looked at the heart. They could never find anything definitively and after hearing a young women on a morning talk show in NYC tell a similar story to yours and mine she talked about the doctor she found who figured it out “ I wrote his name down, looked him up and called his office telling the person answering the phone what I just saw on TV and asked if I could make an appointment. She asked me to send her an email detailing how long things were going on and anything else that I thought was important.
I got to see the doctor and he also recommended ablation and also added that it wasn’t life threatening so when I was ready to let him know. He RX’d Metoprolol but oddly and often to the chagrin of other he told me to take it as needed explaining that taking it regularly will actually cause high blood pressure.
Interestingly enough the symptoms that I was experiencing happened less and less and I’ve never had the ablation.
Once again I think what happened to me would not have happened had I had the procedure done. I also think that is this doctor was interested in me as a person and a patient he might have discovered something he would otherwise never know. In fact no one knows about what might be a whole new way at looking at and treating this condition. I think there would need to be a doctor or a research team to look at what happened over time. It appears to me to be an alternative way of treating these symptoms. Just my humble opinion.
Hope you find a solution and peace
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2 Reactions@rubywitch67, how are you doing?
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1 ReactionHi Colleen,
I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am that you're "checking up" on me! The level of caring, concern and support I've received from this forum is 10X greater than I get from my cardiologist! I DO understand that my "minor" AFIB and PVC's and my ablation are probably fairly "ho-hum" for them, but they aren't for me! I realize my anxiety is a drawback, but at least the people on this forum understand how the lack of support and understanding drives that anxiety. The responses I've received here have done a great deal to calm my anxiety and that in turn has lessened the amount of PVC's I've been feeling. I am still having a few random PVC's. but no AFIB episodes, so perhaps tomorrow at my 6th month follow up, I will be told what I've been told for years.....that they are nothing to worry about. It's just that after a 4 months being completely free of them, they are back and THAT is what has my knickers in a knot. Sorry, I think I'm ranting. I am doing OK. I'm nervous but less so thanks to all the support I got from all of you. I will let you know what the doctor says tomorrow in 1,000 words or less...…..LOL
Again, I thank each and every one of you who reached out to me. Feeling alone and frightened is a terrible place to be and you all made me realize I NEVER have to feel that way. Love you all...…….Ruby
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1 ReactionHi Ruby Witch, Its been a while. But I wanted to say hi and add that my aunt suffered from Afib and she had several ablations. She died at age 88 of old age. And she was a smoker. They say smoking takes 15 years off your life so she could have lived much longer WITH AFIB. So, AFib is not what she died of. I'm sure you will go on to live a long and otherwise healthy life.
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2 ReactionsIt HAS been a while my friend, and it's so good to hear from you. I think you were the first person who ever responded to me on this forum! Thank you SO MUCH for this post! I AM trying to quit smoking as I'd like those extra 15 years, but nicotine addiction is worse than a monkey on your back......it's like the entire zoo has taken up squatters rights! I will never stop trying, though. How are you doing? I'm so glad you're still here. It's like running into an old friend in a far away place. With love...…...Ruby
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1 ReactionTry cbd it should make u feel calmer. Also look at the triggers for your episodes l found that caffine in coffee, the evening glass of wine was one of my triggers even though the cardiologist was telling me it should be ok . I found that any kind of alcohol even small amounts would set me off
Thank you!! And God bless