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Sigh. PVC’s have me desperate. How to cope?
First off, thank you for reading. I know from reading posts that people have it worse than I do and I offer my utmost respect for those of you who do.
Briefly-
39 yo/m
Reasonably healthy. Non smoker. Stressful job.
So, a few years ago I started to have an occasional (painful) pvc that always got my attention. Once it hit 3-4 a day, I did like everyone else, and sound of the alarm and got the full gamut of testing.
Benign. Low dose Metoprolol.
Ok great.
Fast forward to these last two months, and the amount of PVCs I am having has increased 100 fold. They are all day. I went from a few a month to one a minute.
Panic. Doctor. Here we go again.
Once again, they are telling me that they are unifocal and harmless. These. Don’t. Feel. Harmless.
They absolutely stop me mid sentence every time. Each one is like a jump scare. My stomach drops like a roller coaster and I have a brief adrenaline shot. Like you’re scaring the heck out of me over and over. Just a Deep painful fear each time.
The doctors don’t seem very concerned. They recommended a magnesium supplement, which I am taking religiously.
No caffeine. No smoking. No alcohols.
Nothing.
This has destroyed my quality of live almost overnight. I wake up in anticipation. I go to sleep in fear.
Does it get better? Is this my life now? Even as I type this, I’m having one about every 30 seconds. I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to do anything. I’m just petrified.
Wonder if switching from a beta to a calcium channel would work? Is this my life now?
The sad thing is… I “know” it’s supposed to be fine but why doesn’t it feel fine? Every shot of adrenaline warns me that I won’t be around much longer.
Just terrible.
Any input is appreciated.
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I understand what you're going through. Mine started approx 10 years ago and I had episodes that sent me to the ER. Testing done, nothing to be concerned about..Holter ordered, ECHO and follow up with cardiology. Had about 1100 PVC's in 24 hours so considered low burden. (easy for them to say!). ECHO normal. Went along for about 9 years with occasional but nothing that was concerning but I felt everyone of them, usually in my throat. Cardiologist didn't believe me and I was in his office and was like well here, I am having trigemity right now. No medication changes just go about my life. Fast forward to Oct 2025. 4 days of continuous PVC's 2 trips to ER and again nothing to worry about..saw my PCP..nothing..had another ECHO, normal structure. Did my own research and started taking Mg++ taurine 125mg TiD..saw some improvement but still having them. I have given up on my PCP and am going to see new one and explain I'd like referred to electrophysiology for consult. I don't think I am ready for ablation but I want someone to listen to me. Stop telling me they're benign..I obsess about them and I know it makes it worse. I sit and wait for them to start. I can't even wear my smartwatch bc I'll check my ekg all day! Hoping that things get better bc I would hate to think this is my life moving forward.
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2 Reactions@rozy288 I have been taking Mg++ taurine for about a month now but not seeing a lot of change. I also take CoQ10 and stopped my potassium bc my level was slightly elevated. I am taking Lisinopril HCTZ for BP and that holds onto potassium so wonder if I need to change BP meds...
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1 Reaction@nurse1224
What is the dose you are taking. My EP recommended 400 mg but I am a male and that was specific recommendation for me. I take citrate and glycinate. I read that magnesium taurate is good rhythm magnesium also.
There are many PVCs and PACs medications out there. I take a prescription called Mexiletine which works well for me but we are all different in how we respond to medications and supplements.
The only draw back to Mexiletine has to be taken every 8 hours as leaves the body quite quickly but that means a low toxicity.
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1 Reaction@jc76 I'm taking 125mg three times a day.
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1 ReactionGot home from Mayo hospital today at 11:00 a.m. after LV ablation surgery.
I had LV ablation done on 4th. My surgery lasted 5 hours. Electrophysiologist (EP Mayo Jacksonville) did a LV ablation on one area causing ongoing multiple PVCs. Tried to find source of tachycardia but could not duplicate. Stated saw two other areas on heart causing PVCs but they were on outside of heart and a different procedure.
I asked, and electrophysiologist agreed, to a 24 overnight stay in hospital. The next day discussing discharge in morning I had two episodes of tachycardia. Decision made to keep me in hospital again.
Got released on morning of 6th as no tachycardia events. Was having PVCs but no VTAC. I was told prior to, and after, that having ablation done on LV (have to go from RV side to LV side) causes a lot of irritation to heart and the very fact you kill a portion of the heart (I think did the freezing one) muscle and heart does not like that at all. Told to expect PVCs to last up to a couple of weeks and possible short run tachycardia.
I was in good hands at Mayo Jacksonville. I am 79 now so the decision to slowly come off amiodarone all together or just cut in half, etc. At 79 told not the same concern with long term toxicity like it was 10 years ago when was taken off slowly. I think trying to say, without saying it, that my life expectancy was not what it would be 10 years ago and the same decision on amiodarone is not the same.
I think we all learn from experience of others and would be glad to give you my recent experience with this. This is my second one so got some experience to share if I can help at all.
I did have an ablation done 10 years ago but nothing was the same, pre, during, after, etc. Had no pain at all right after and even. Could feel the bandage over the groin area they used.
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