Long Term PAC and PVC Suffer. Need your support and guidance

Posted by rr1967 @rr1967, May 23, 2023

Hello everyone. Thank you for reading this below is my story:

I have been dealing with PVCs and PACs for almost 20 years. They flare up once per year usually. I have had Zio Patch monitors, tons of EKGs, a stress echo four years ago, two heart CT scans two decades ago, many ER visits, etc, etc. All results were normal with the exception of showing PACs and PVC. My burden has always been below 2% when they flare up.
25-e some stats:
1. I am 55 and in good health
2. Borderline blood pressure: usually around 120-130/75-85 most normal days.
3. Borderline type 2 diabetic.
4. I do suffer from chronic anxiety and depression. Twenty years ago I suffered many panic attacks for the course of a year. But they have gone away. Mostly I deal with almost daily anxiety and worry.
5. Non smoker, no drugs
6. I do drink alcohol ( wine or beer) on weekends with my wife, only at night.
7. I am at a healthy weight. Cholesterol and Triglycerides all normal.
8. Resting heart rate: 50-60. Cardio doc states that this heart rate is normal for me.

Well my most recent flare up started two weeks ago and they seem worse. I feel the extra beat the moment I wake up they go on all day until I go to bed. I went to the ER and they did another EKG and ran a bunch of blood work. Of course...all normal. Diagnosis: PACs. Electrolytes also all normal.

In the last week, I have noticed my skipped beats increasing when I move around, go grab groceries, go for a walk, even exercise. This has me more scared than ever. My regular doctor told me not to worry, but I am seeing an electrophysiologist (EP) tomorrow. I did see an EP two years ago and he told me I was fine and prescribed Flecianide to take as needed. I saw the side effects and they scared me off so I never tried them. Eventually, the extra beats went away.

I have also tried Metropolol and they did not work. They also made my heart rate slower so my cardio doc told me to stop taking them.

But as stated, they extra beats are back and I am more scared then ever, especially with them increasing with movement or exercise. I have never fainted or felt dizzy from these. I only catch my breath and feel extra alerted.

Finally, my palpitations also seem to increase considerably after I eat a meal. Is this normal?

Any advice, recommendations, encouragement, support please.

Thank you and my apologies for any typos or writing errors.
RR

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rozy288 | @rozy288 | May 31, 2023

It’s called Heart Calm by Vital Biologics , google it .

rozy288 | @rozy288 | May 31, 2023

In reply to @anniegk "If you have digestive issues, like diarrhea, be careful when taking magnesium. It can cause diarrhea." + (show)

I’d rather have diarrhea any day than heart PVC’s and PAC’s .
I’ve been taking it for years when I heart starts going out and of sync . It’s saved me like said so many trips to ER .
This is 3 diff magnesium’s w/ Potassium and Q—10 .

afibguy | @afibguy | May 31, 2023

After an ablation for afib, I was having PACS and many PVCs, about 4 to 6 per minute at times. My EP suggested magnesium oxide. That did not do anything, except cause diarrhea. Research lead me to a product called "Triple Calm", which is a combination of magnesium taurate, magnesium glycinate, and magnesium malate. That helped a lot. Then after further research, I switched to a magnesium taurate only supplement. My PACs have gone away and my PVCs have greatly reduced. I also drink one or two glasses of sodium free V8 juice each day. The sodium free V8 has potassium instead of sodium. Take all of this with a "grain of salt" (a little humor there). I have learned that with this heart rhythm stuff, what works for one person may not work for the next person. Good luck to you.

anniegk | @anniegk | May 31, 2023

In reply to @rozy288 "Ask your Cardiologist if you can take Heart Calm ( it’s Triple magnesium .. 3 diff..." + (show)

If you have digestive issues, like diarrhea, be careful when taking magnesium. It can cause diarrhea.

carol1024 | @carol1024 | May 31, 2023

@rr1967 Omg....I could have written this. Same thing. I have had PVC's for years. My cardiologist says everyone has them, even him, it's just that I'm very aware of mine. I went to hospital Monday, memorial day, because they were coming faster than normal. I had 2 PAC'S before I got to hospital. One occurs in upper chamber of heart, the other, the lower chamber. I do not drink or smoke and drink limited, diluted coffee. My resting heart rate is also in the 60's. Borderline diabetic too. I have internal vibrations since 2019. Thought maybe the metoprolol was causing them since it crosses blood brain barrier. I am also one of the rare people that can call them spot on. I had an EMS tech tell me, while hooked up to leads and having them, he has seen lots of people with them but has never met anyone that can call them spot on like I do. If I have to stay in hospital the cardiologist will tell the nurses "she has PVC's and is very aware of them". My cardiologist said unless I am having other symptoms as well like shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, anything other than just the palpitations, it's not that big of a deal. I have had stress test, heart cath, echocardiogram, worn a monitor and all we know is I have heart arrhythmia. My mom as tokasuba( spelling) which is sympathy heart attacks. She's had 5 but has no heart disease. It's an adrenaline issue. Our adrenaline pump doesn't turn off so that fight or flight feeling just keeps coming. I also take a half mg xanax for anxiety to try and keep heart calm. It is a very weird feeling and unless someone has experienced it, it is hard to explain.

ev1 | @ev1 | May 26, 2023

In reply to @rr1967 "Hello! I appreciate so many replies! Thank you! I did see a new EP yesterday. Super..." + (show)

Yes it is very difficult. When they happen you can think of nothing else. But if you Dr's say there is nothing wrong with your heart & they are not worried, that is huge consolation. How about trying some yoga, meditation etc. Can be of huge benefit.

jwooders3 | @jwooders3 | May 25, 2023

In reply to @cphillips1300 "I know what you’re going through. I’m a lady who has had so much anxiety in..." + (show)

I’m at the point of ignoring most of the heart palpitations. They happen when I go to bed so I read my Bible for half an hour.
Say my prayers and turn out the light. The beats calm me to sleep. ( my daughter and husband died of cancer a year apart.) I’m alone now so the Lord is my focus. Hard to get here! Two years now.

rr1967 | @rr1967 | May 25, 2023

Hello!
I appreciate so many replies! Thank you! I did see a new EP yesterday. Super nice guy and sympathetic. They ran another EKG and did listened to my heart. He did see the PACs and heard them as well. Basically he told me that if they did a EKG in every employee in the hospital, most of would have them. I am one of the rare people in the population that feels everyone. He did prescribe a low dose of Propanolol to try. This takes about two weeks to work so we shall see what happens. However, he did state again that my heart is fine and that I am in good health. He also told me to keep exercising and eating healthy. Finally, he encourage me to work on anxiety as this will keep the PVCs and PACs coming and going. I will start to work on that. I have asked about magnesium and potassium and may or may not work. Every person is different. My mag and potass levels are good as take a supplement every day and I eat lots of veggies. Right now, I simply feel sad and scared over these constant palps during the day and I am trying to ignore them and feel happy again. Just difficult.
Thank you!

cphillips1300 | @cphillips1300 | May 25, 2023

I know what you’re going through. I’m a lady who has had so much anxiety in my life and panic attacks. I started with PVCs when I was in my late 30’.They scared me so much I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack.They always said it’s anxiety,gave me something to calm me down and sent me home.My doctor would try to give me something for the anxiety but I was so afraid of medication that most of the time I would throw it in the trash.He then gave me a fast acting medication that helped a lot when I had a panic attack.It was Valium.It’s
diazepam a fast acting medicine, that calms you down a lot faster then ssri meditation but can be addictive. I sometimes take Xanax if I get too anxious or to help with sleep.The PACs started getting so bad when I got close to age 50. I had test done on my heart,always saying my heart was fine. I n 2001
he put me on beta blockers.That helps calm my heart down most all the PVCs went away but over time he years the medication didn’t seem to work as well then we tried another.Now I’ve been on metoprolol for 13 years it has be a very good drug but hasn’t been working as well lately.The ssri work well if you give them a chance.I’m in my 70’’s now.Please let your doctor help you. I believe you can live a lot calmer life and find some peace and happiness. I’m a Christian,if it were not for the Good Lord helping me to listen to my he doctor’s and trusting in him . I believe my life would be a lot worse.God I’d good

ev1 | @ev1 | May 25, 2023

I agree with you. It is so scary. If only we can relax during those extra beats but that's easier said then done. But I think you should get great consolation out of the fact that all your tests are normal. If you took nice deep breaths and slowly exhale it might help you..it is great that you don't get weak or dizzy. That too is consoling. But I hear you. It is so scary but if doctors are not worried about you maybe you should keep that in the back of your mind. Please keep in touch.

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