More problems with PVCs.

[Samazeuilh2]

It’s now nearly a month since I had a quadruple bypass. For over a week I’ve had lots of PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) as referred to in an earlier post, but today they have gone into overdrive. I’ve had them since about 0900 this morning and it’s now just past midnight. The frequency varies, but sometime they are occurring every 3 or 4 beats. I’ve sent Kardia traces to a consultant (his secretary doesn’t know when he will be able to look at them) and have blood tests later today. In the meanwhile does anyone have any idea what the Kardia is showing, or what might be causing this surge in PVCs? The image a thirty second summary showing the PVCs.

[Samazeuilh2]

More problems with PVCs

(Continued)

Part of ECG taken on Kardia 1L

[Goosebumps]

You have just been through major heart surgery. This is the AFA section of Health Unlocked, not the British Heart Foundation section.

In my opinion, unless they are a qualified cardiologist, no one on this site should attempt to answer your question.

The reassurance you require must come from your cardiologist, it is not reasonable to ask ordinary members on this site to comment on your ECG.

Good luck in your recovery process.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Goosebumps]

”The reassurance you require must come from your cardiologist, it is not reasonable to ask ordinary members on this site to comment on your ECG.”

I did say in the post that I had sent the Kardia ECG to the cardiologist and that I was just interested in some feedback whilst waiting for a response from him. People often post Kardia ECGs here and receive feedback on them from experts. I couldn’t help noticing that you posted a rather similar enquiry where you asked for advice in a post headed “Sleep Apnea”; “If I go the GP/NHS route for a sleep test it will take years where I live so my question is can anyone recommend a relatively quick inexpensive test for sleep apnea that I can do at home? ”

[SeanJax]

As I replied in previous posts, you got a new lease on life so enjoy each and every day and count your blessings. You got a very success quadruple bypass without any incidence. In your ekg, I saw two pacs and all afibers got it days in days out, some episodes last for hours for a lot of us. Please dont focus on your skip beats or afib too much. It has been just a month since your surgery and as I explained before please give your heart time to deal with the new grafts.

If I were you, here is what I would do. Afib does not kill but CAD does. So I would take care of my risk factors for CAD such as high blood pressure, diabetes, overweight, high cholesterol or triglycerides, smoking, sleep apnea and stress.

In the States we do have the cardiac rehabilitation program after MI or bypass surgery, which helps tremendously in the whole picture. It is done under supervision in a hospital for at least three months. I dont know if NHS does have it or not. CAD is a progressive disease and it requires strict discipline, life style changes and strict treatment. It depends on your actions to control it.

I saw grafts got blockages frequently and if they were lucky they would have a second bypass and after the second one, there would not be a third one since the surgeon cannot slice the sternum over and over again.

Afib sucks and it gives us a lot of anxiety but it does not kill. Anxiety comes from a normal physiologic reaction of body: we dont have enough oxygen since the heart does not beat regularly.

If I were you to control pacs, I would take some magnesium supplements along with some coconut water and do not forget the deep breathing techniques. Hang in there and relax. And keep counting your blessings each and every day.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to SeanJax]

Thanks for the reply. I have started taking Magnesium Taurate and will give the coconut juice a try. The consultant I sent the Kardia ECGs to replied “ I have reviewed all the kardias and they show occasional supraventricular ectopics.  I would recommend no treatment and reassure him". I’m a but confused as to the difference between supraventricular contractions, PACs and , PVCs. I gather the former two are more AF related.

[ChasMartin in reply to Samazeuilh2]

I will say that magnesium taurate and coconut water as a daily regimen seems to help keep my electrolytes in better balance. It was never perfect, but I noticed it seemed to significantly lower the amount of ectopics I got. I would get them daily prior, and with them I instead would go days without them, and even when I had ectopics it would only be a few here and there.. and when I skipped the mag and coconut water for a few days at one point, I noticed a very obvious uptick in ectopics. I say this in past tense, because my current experience is probably altered by the fact that I started sotalol 2 weeks ago. Now I'm getting none whatsoever so far!

I drink one large glass of coconut water (probably about 12 oz) daily, which I believe is around 600mg of potassium, and I take a 200mg mag taurate in morning, and another 200mg in evening. I've been doing this for about 10 months now. Our daily needs of these electrolytes is very rarely reached by diet. I also add in some baked potato chips throughout the day, occasionally a banana, pumpkin seeds. I basically try to keep snacks around that can help keep my levels up.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to ChasMartin]

I’ve started eating bananas as I’m told they are rich in potassium. I also, by chance, bought some pumpkin seeds the other day, so I can eat those too. Hopefully a combination of measures will subdue the ectopics a bit.

[Singwell]

You must be feeling anxious at every change- totally understandable! And while your question might be beyond the scope of people's experience in this group,we can still show empathy. I hope you get more responses that help you. Slowing the breathing down to 6 or less breaths a minute is the go-to for ectopics so perhaps try that when you feel the PVCs come in.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Singwell]

Thanks for the reply. I will certainly try this. Others here have recommended it (Bob?) for AF.

[Snowgirl65]

I'm sure many of us have followed your posts regarding ablation and your recent quadruple bypass. It's only been a month, and though of course I'm no expert, your heart is still healing from such a trauma and is bound to protest for a while. I hope you can find answers soon. Best of luck with your recovery.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Snowgirl65]

Thanks for your reply. I’ve had an email reply from the consultant who looked at the Kardia ECGs I send. He simply said , “I have reviewed all the Kardia’s and they show occasional supraventricular ectopics.  I would recommend no treatment and reassure him". I think that supraventricular ectopics are a bit more AF related than PVCs, but I’m not sure. Hopefully they will eventually settle as you say,

[Singwell]

That's good news re the ectopics. I wouldn't worry about the link between supra ventricular ectopics and AF. I had loads of these post ablation and for quite a few months. Rarely get them now. Here's how I do the slow.breathing technique:

1. Sit or lie comfortably so that your tummy (abdomen) can move easily when you breathe in. If you're lying down, this is easier on your left side.

2. Take a breath in.slowly through your nose. I usually count a slow 2. Let your tummy relax when you do this so it moves out gently.

3. There is a natural pause for most people after the inbreath

Try to tune into it but don't force it.

4. Let the breath out again all in one go - don't worry that you'll be out of breath - there's always air in the lungs right up until our last moments

5. Don't be surprised if you feel like another pause after the outbreath but again - don't force it. Keep tuning in either to the feel of the air moving through your nostrils or the sound. If you feel like there's a pause with no more breath going out, that's fine - stay comfortable though!

6. If you need to breathe out through your mouth purse your lips slightly as it helps to feel the breath and know we're in charge of it.

6. Repeat.

Typically your breathing rate will calm and slow down. You may even feel like you're about to drop off to sleep.

This technique is one of many used by breath practitioners to help calm our systems and regulate breathing. I have often got my HR down by 15-20 BPM using this technique and sometimes seen my AF off. Also helps me if I cannot go to sleep and works really well with ectopics.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Singwell]

Thanks for this information which I have saved and will try. How long do you normally do the breathing exercise for?

[Singwell in reply to Samazeuilh2]

Anything from 5-10 minutes Sometimes I just drop off. I've also.had success with listening to tracks from Max Richter's album Sleep. It's an 8 hour experience that utilises a lot of frequencies similar to brain waves states during deep relaxation. I breathe in rhythm with the music and hum loudly along with the super slow.melody. I'm sure you could find some sample.tracks.on YouTube. Really helped me during my.first ablation too ,when I was sedated only.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Singwell]

Once again thanks for the info.