Sigh. PVC’s have me desperate. How to cope?

PACs and PVCs are a pain in the butt. My PVCs go from 1 in 3 beats to 1 in 10 to 1-20. Stress has a lot to do with mine and I find exercise to help. That help exercise may not be what helps others reduce stress so find somenthing you really enjoy and it will reduce stress.

My Mayo Jacksonville EP (Electrophysiologist) asked me to take Magnesium 400 mg to help with PVCs. I was already taking a cal, magnesium, zinc complex pill and took 3 times a day to reach the 400mg and taking 1 pill 3 times a day.

I thought should I change to getting the 400 mg all at once to get the recommended amount in my system rather that periodically. So I switched over to taking additional magnesium in mornings. Whamo! My PVCs went from 1 in 3 to 1 in 10 or 20. I am presently wearing a holter monitor to see where PVCs are coming from. This was recommended when I had increased PVCs at 1 in 3 beats. Now, OF COURSE, that I am wearing the holter monitor when my PVCs dropped to 1 in 10 or 20.

If something simple like taking the magnesium can help I am surely going to stay with present taking. I have read that this has become a normal recommendation (magnesium) for those with PVCs. However I am strong proponent of always asking your PCP, cardiologist, or EP about what you should take or not take. One poster recommended potassium to help. I checked with my EP and said my blood test revealed I was at high end of normal postassium level already and did not recommend I take. So always good to check with those medical experts.

It may have been me as I used to yell at myself not to worry when I was having what I thought were Arrythmias. Sounds funny but it was a Phycologist that suggested that one.

I cannot tell you how much I relate! 42, non-smoker, non-drinker, no caffeine, no heart conditions. The PVC's started about 2 years ago and have completely debilitated my lifestyle. Doctors do not take me seriously. I'm on Metropolol (doesn't help) and am constantly told it's my anxiety. This is SO MUCH MORE. I'm dying for a doctor to listen to me and take me seriously. I don't know how much longer I can live like this.

Getting around well with PVCs is an art and a science. Every journey is unique. My journey is successful but so I will share it in hopes some of it helps Matt. My PVCs were worrisome to me for many months. 1-10 PVCs per minute unless I exercised and then 20 or more per minute in doublets, triplets and quads. Cardio rehab called them occasional to frequent and I see they were like 50+ while exercising on their monitors. The staff expressed surprise that I didn't complain. I feel them but no pain, thankfully. I am on Enalapril 2.5 daily which is half the minimum daily dose. This pill is an ACE inhibitor, an A-blocker not Beta-blocker. My doctor has recommended every Beta blocker known to science and I know I will be allergic to them by looking up the ingredients on the NIH Pub-Med. (I am allergic to many things, MCS, mutiple chemical sensitivities). My cardiologist said in April not to come back for a year. I was diagnosed with heart failure 12-8-23. This is new to me. I again requested the Enalapril renewal and she again requested I take a beta blocker which I looked up and it is on my allergic list. I think she may be punishing me for not taking Beta Blockers that I am allergic to. She did order an EP evaluation at my request and I will get it done in July. I take Q-10, K2,D3,Calcium(dairy lactose and casein allergic)and Olive Leaf extract, all at minumum doses. PVCs are now down to none or a few 5-10 per minute while exercising and after exercising. Stress also causes them, like phone calls about medical insurance coverage etc. :).

I feel for everyone's situation here. PVCs are disruptive, frustrating, and debilitating. I am very thankful that I do not experience the "dread" sensation that come with them as many of us do.
I am a long-time sufferer of PVCs and always open to trying new ways to relieve the symptoms. I am on metoprolol 25/2x and also take Mg Taureate. Has anyone experimented with a gluten-free diet to reduce overall inflammation as a way to support the body against PVCs? I am mildly gluten intolerant, so I am told (I don't get the gastric symptoms) but always looking for ways to reduce inflammation in the body for all reasons. Thanks.

I just turned 73. I've had PVC's and PAC's since I was 26. Right now I'm going through a period of having them fairly often. I live under tremendous stress.. I know that makes it worse. I've just had all the heart tests except a cath and everything is ok. I hate feeling these things, feeling the flip, and the feeling in your throat. Each time it scares me a little more and that only adds to it! It's just a revolving door and doctors dont help or explain. I dont have Mayo doctors.

Do you see an EP Cardiologist? Flecidine is what they usually give you for PVCS or PACS . Lowest dose Is 50 mg .
I have it but it’s more pill in the pocket approach for mine .
I use a product for a decade if I get a lot called Heart Calm by Vital Biologics ( google it ).
I take 2 if i start getting them .
Can take 3 .
3 different magnesium’s w/ Q-10 and potassium.
90 for $30 free shipping. Made in USA . The only product they make . It’s saved me from ER so many times ! I also have horrendous gastrointestinal issues 10 years chronic daily ! It’s honestly horrible.
Try the Heart Calm . I know you want to give up , anyone chronic does . It’s a normal feeling. Your people need you . I feel same a lot .

PVCs can often be ablated but PACs cannot ablated. My EP describes it as literally having to be at the spot on your heart the moment is fires a PAC and then he says he can do it. But someone would have to be in near total PACs in order to find that spot.
You do not mention what you burden is. Burden is how many of you heart beats are PVCs and or PACs. Recently I went through an episode of PACs which was very uncomfortable and my burden was 22% which is considered high. 22% of all my heart beats were premature. I would force myself to work through it. I would cut firewood this past Feb and March when it was happening and it felt rough. It's an awful feeling.

Thanks for sharing, Matt, and I hope things are better now than when you first posted two years ago. I read most of the posts in this thread and I see you have had some better times.

I am a 71 year old male with long-term controlled diabetes and a long family history of cardiac issues. My PVCs came out of nowhere a few weeks ago, starting shortly after an echo treadmill stress test that showed no significant issues. The confluence of symptoms scared me — heartburn, a feeling of fullness and/or a lump in the oesophagus, extreme tiredness, and moderate to severe shortness of breath, a change in my statin, gas and burping (never had a problem with burping in my life).

I started using my Kardia mobile device (six lead) whenever I noticed the activity and most results are normal sinus rhythm with PVCs, although a few have been SVCs, Afib, and wide QRS. I was lucky to have a scheduled visit with my cardiologist to discuss the echo stress test and showed him the strips from the Kardia mobile device. I wore a monitor for a day with no significant results, although I had multiple PVCs recorded on the Kardia device within 12 hours after the monitor was removed. My cardio doc absolutely pays attention to the Kardia device strips and asks me to send them to him. I don’t think we are far enough along in the process to discuss medicine changes yet, although he did say he was reluctant to prescribe a beta blocker because my BP is already low (regularly 100 or so over 60 or so) and I have a diagnosis of asthma from military service in southwest Asia (probably burn pit exposure). He says a beta blocker can be contra-indicated for those with asthma.

We’re in the early stages of dealing with this. Still, the heart hammering with the PVCs is extremely troubling, especially when I wake up in the middle of the night having an incident. I always have moderate to severe shortness of breath with the incidents, along with fatigue, both lasting up to five hours after an incident. Some incidents are clustered within the periods of shortness of breath and fatigue, just extending the overall feelings.

I’m retired, so do not have a stressful job. There is no discernible stress in my life, except for the anxiety caused by these PVCs. You and all the others here are not alone and I appreciate all the comments. I will take all of what was said into consideration and will discuss this with my cardio doc.

Thank you all for sharing!

Do you intake ANYTHING with caffeine in it??? Coffee, colas, chocolate, mountain dew. If so, totally ELIMINATE. I am 75, and keep saying the same on these posts, and don't care if people think I am nuts. I know from experience what it is like t have severe 'incidents' and get rid of them totally for years.