Managing and Living With PACs and PVCs
Hello all. I have posted in this forum before and I thank you for your advice. I appreciate more support please.
I am about to turn 56 and I have dealt with PACs and PVCs for the past 20 years. The come and go and now they seem to be getting worse. My cardio, regular doc, and electrophysiologist all say that I am fine and that I have too much stress and anxiety (which I do..I suffer from GAD and depression.) They all say that PACs are benign and that most PVCs are benign.
I had an exercise stress echo in 2019 (all normal). Several EKGs this year...all normal. Another Zio Patch Heart Monitor that I wore for a week. Normal sinus rhythm with PACs. My PAC/PVC burden hovers between 1.5 to 1.8 percent. I have had a recent chest xray and plenty of blood work. All normal. I am borderline type 2 diabetic and my cholesterol and triglycerides are all normal. I do take blood pressure meds and it is well controlled. I try to be active almost every day and I do practice CBT for my anxiety. My resting heart rate is about 55 and my cardio says that is normal.
What else can I do to reduce the PACs and PVCs or manage them? Some days they are fast and furious and some days they simply come and ago. But they are ruining my daily life and causing more depression and fear. They are awful in the morning, reduce a bit in the afternoon, and reduce a bit more in the evening.
My cardio again states that they are fine and to not worry.
I have tried a beta blocker (made my heart rate too low and I was too tired) and a pill called Diltiazem. Really had no effect and made me too tired. I don't qualify for any procedure and the one pill they are still offering me is Flecianide but that one has WAY too many side effects and I have had at least two cardiologists warn me from taking it.
What are you experiences, advice, etc?
Thank you!
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.
THE diaphragm, the one below the lungs that makes the lungs inflate when it gains tone and bulges toward the upper bowel.
What a load. The trajectory of "developing" heart conditions has been rising for decades. Quit looking for some ideological hatred of something that saved millions of lives. You have zero proof aside from anecdotal and forums, nothing science backed.
Has anyone out there had an ablation for PVCs or PACs? If so what was your burden before the procedure? Did it work?
Yes, two. First one no. Second one is a miracle. Had a pvc burdon of over 20%, with long sections of bi and tri geminy. Feel my old self again. I had terrible side effects with flecainide, metoprolol, and propanolol.
Good for you. Where did you have it done? If I may ask what is your age? How far apart were the two ablations? Any other heart issues? Thankyou
Five years apart. No other heart issues. No cardiomyopathy or reduced ventricular ejection.
What is your pvc burden?
My PVCs and PACs burden is 2%. Three years is was 1%. I had quadruple bypass 2years ago. I’m very active although. I’m 74 yrs old. Just want to get these skipped beats to go away. Possible thinking about hypnosis so I wouldn’t be aware of these. We’ll see.
Your burden is very slight. My suggestion is to take prozac or some other thing that will take your mind off fixating on them, or find some natural way of dealing with it. With such a small %, I definitely wouldn’t take flecainide or other antiarrythmic drug. I am 77.
My electocardiologist said anything under 5% is a win!
dennis123, I expect these will help you:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9862670/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37530946/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36359357/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/arrhythmia-and-covid-vaccine
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/03/31/after-covid-19-experts-say-watch-for-these-potential-heart-and-brain-problems