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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713j | @713j | Apr 18 7:45am

Some one had a book in there post about how the mine can heal. Can you post what that book was? I believe it was a paperback

windyshores | @windyshores | Apr 18 8:49am

In reply to @713j "Some one had a book in there post about how the mine can heal. Can you..." + (show)

The Afib Cure is a good book that I would think would apply. By Day and Bunch, who are cardiologists.

713j | @713j | Apr 18 9:19am

In reply to @windyshores "The Afib Cure is a good book that I would think would apply. By Day and..." + (show)

I was looking for something to control PVCs and PACs.

windyshores | @windyshores | Apr 18 10:00am

In reply to @713j "I was looking for something to control PVCs and PACs." + (show)

@713j I understand you were looking for help with PVC's and PAC's but I think the book applies. These are all electrical disturbances with common triggers and some common approaches, in my experience. But ask your doctor!

713j | @713j | Apr 18 10:05am

In reply to @windyshores "@713j I understand you were looking for help with PVC's and PAC's but I think the..." + (show)

Thanks

dennis123 | @dennis123 | Apr 19 8:13am

#1- metoprolol, for people with relatively low HR, can make you dizzy and almost faint. Happened to me.

#2- Ask the doc for Flecainide. I had PACs starting after an ablation that took care of afib and was prescribed 100mg 2x/day. I split pill in half to start and it knocked out the PACs. You'll read bad stuff about Flecainide but if you do not have heart disease or havent had a heart attack, it is a great low side effect drug. I have trouble with a lot of drugs and was expecting nothing better with Flec, but I went from a few hundred to a thousand PACs a day to one or two.

#3- Get your anxiety under control. It is a condition not a disease and it is 100% possible to control. Anxiety is one cause of PACs and tachycardia. Metoprolol caused my anxiety after I stopped it and I had bouts of tachycardia until I got it under control mentally. Buy this book "At last a life" by Paul David.

My PACs may be caused by the ablation irritating the heart and they may go away on their own so I will pause the Flec at some point to gauge condition, but am glad so far that Flec knocks them out so quickly.

windyshores | @windyshores | Apr 19 9:04am

I take magnesium at night and drink low sodium V-8 for potassium. Walk every day. Don't eat after 5pm and stay upright after eating. Simethicone (Gas-X chewable) for gas. Quigong and tai chi for breathing. The main challenge is stress because life is, well, stressful for all of us at some times.

jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 21 6:05am

In reply to @dennis123 "#1- metoprolol, for people with relatively low HR, can make you dizzy and almost faint. Happened..." + (show)

@dennis123 I find a lot of medical professionals do not look at the stress level causing more PVCs and PACs. I see you mentioned it here.

I have passed this along to my EP and HF doctor many times. What I am finding is a drug that helps with one issue causes more of another. I found that with Mexiltine (spell) reducing the VTAC but causing a lot more PACs and PVCs. I am going to buy the book you mentioned and look into the Flecaininde with my EP after I have another holter monitor.

jc76 | @jc76 | Apr 21 6:43am

In reply to @713j "It’s made by(vital biologics). You can go on there website for review. Looking forward to your..." + (show)

@713j Wow what a great supplement. It contains all of the supplements that I have read to help with PVCs and PACs.

I would love to take it as I take several different supplements. The only thing I need to check is the potassium. When I contacted my EP about reading that postassium was good for reducing PACs and PVCs then saw on my lab test I was already at the high end of potassium and said was not recommend I take a supplement for it. They did recommend the magnesium and to try the Taurine.

The heart calm does a good job of including a lot of the supplements recommending not only by MCC posters but medical doctors as well. The Taurine, Magnesium, are things I take and will check again about the potassium and see if the leve in the supplement is something of a level my EP would allow.

Thanks for the information on Heart Calm.

713j | @713j | Apr 23 8:35am

In reply to @jc76 "@713j Wow what a great supplement. It contains all of the supplements that I have read..." + (show)

Your welcome.

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