PVC/ PACs

[kalgs]

I’m using a Kardia six lead. Virtually every single one of my ECG s is coming back PVC. Has anyone else experienced this. It started a couple of weeks ago I’m currently fighting off the remains of a chest. The cardiologist I spoke to suggested I take carvidilol for short time to see if it helps. I’m symptom-free.

[Iamfuzzyduck]

I have had PACs and PVCs since my afib attack 5 weeks ago. Some days they feel frequent and other days they are barely there. I think I probably did some damage by leaving my initial acute afib attack for two days before seeking help. I can pick up the ectopic beats on my apple watch ecg but I can also feel them. I haven’t had a response back from my EP yet but we’ll see what my holter monitor picked up. I can tell the difference between atrial and ventricular etopics when they happen. Atrial are more of a flutter and ventricular are more of a thud. I think the frequency of them are what determines how they are treated but I don’t know. How frequently are they occurring? Are you having double or triples? I don’t think I have had afib since, just the ectopics. I don’t know if they are something to be concerned about or not 🤷🏼‍♀️.

[kalgs in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

Thanks

[Ppiman]

There are many times when this has been the case with me. My ectopic beats can also come in multiple runs and feel very similar indeed to AF but without the racing and high anxiety that brings. As my Kardia kept reporting "Unclassified", I bought a Wellue AI 24-hour ECG on recommendation of a few kindly people here and that has been useful as it gives a much more comprehensive account and over a far longer period.

I have found that 1.25mg dose of bisoprolol (similar to cardevilol) has helped reduce them, or - perhaps much more likely - they wax and wane a great deal as I haven't had so many this past couple of months. I suspect strongly that you'll find yours do the same.

Steve

[kalgs in reply to Ppiman]

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[Tellingfibs]

Hello kalgs. I only have the original Kardia, but I have had similar to you. I get lots of SVEs ( so my Kardia tells me ), and while it’s true I can sometimes feel them, sometimes they are too slight. These SVEs are diagnosed by using the knee position with the Kardia. If I use my fingers, the most usual way, I get unclassified results. Sometimes I get Afib results with fingers position but not leg position. Or sometimes both positions give the same results ( rarely ). My GP says there should be no difference - of course there shouldn’t ! He said not to worry as long as I don’t get pain, breathlessness or swelling of the ankles. If I get none of these things, my heart is coping perfectly well. I’m reassred by this, but annoyed with Kardia ! I hope you get to the bottom of the puzzle. I know I haven’t helped you, but at least you now know you are not alone !

Annie.

[kalgs in reply to Tellingfibs]

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[BrotherThomas]

I have a Wellue Heartmate and it also gives different results when hand-held compared to when placed against the knee. The hand usually gives irregular heart rate and QRS is too wide, sometimes it says PVC's as well. The knee gives NSR!To be honest, I don't use it anymore because of the disagreement. I'm asymptomatic so I just get on with life and ignore the AF. In that, I'm one of the lucky ones.

[Tellingfibs in reply to BrotherThomas]

You have the right attitude ! I must say I am swayed by the Kardia results and my symptoms are in danger of following the results 🙄. Best to go by how we feel - as I’ve been told so many times.

Annie.

[kalgs in reply to Tellingfibs]

I’m not swayed by the results either. However, I can feel the ectopics and they actually wake me up.

[Tellingfibs]

Mine vary in violence, but the general opinion, from medics and usually people on this site, is that if there is no pain, breathlessness or ankle swelling, there is nothing to worry about. My GP asked me how many times a day I got them and I said “ Times a day ? I’m talking about times a minute !” and he said “nevertheless, they are not harming you if they are not causing the symptoms I described. You are probably just more sensitive to what your body is doing.” So kalgs, have you had an ecg lately ? Or an echocardiogram ? These are the best tools to reveal what is going on with your heart.

Annie.

[kalgs in reply to Tellingfibs]

thanks

[Samazeuilh2]

I noted a lot of them and was given a 24hr Holter which you could ask for. You may need to be persistent as some cardiologists tend to be dismissive of reports of them. They are not generally considered problematic unless they exceed 10-15% consistently when they could damage the heart I was told. In such a case they would offer an ablation for ectopics (i.e. not for AF). Magnesium Taurate or Citrate is said to help some people who have them and worth a try. I find they come and go- sometimes I have a week or so when they are very persistent, at other times I have very few. Do try relaxation exercises, but don’t expect these to work immediately. If you persist things may calm down after a few days.

[kalgs in reply to Samazeuilh2]

Thanks

[AWhittaker]

Hi thank you for sharing you story. It really does help knowing that soo many people are going through the same thing.

The tablets of carvidilol are the similar to beta blockers? My GP has put me on propranolol 10mg x 4 a day and iv found either I need a higher dose or I'm just noticing that my Kardia EKG is showing premature ventricular contractions that I'm I'm noticing the flutters more!! It's very confusing and alarming iv never had this feeling of flutters before from what it noticed anyways.

[kalgs in reply to AWhittaker]

mine started last September and were worse when I was lying down. Interestingly, I’ve now come off the blockers because the ectopics have started to slow down and almost disappeared. I was told that on many occasions this can happen. My cardiologist has also said there’s a link to digestive system problems. Reflux etc. I do find sometimes sometimes that heavy meals can make them worse.

So on a positive note, I think find overtime they’ll start to reduce and may even disappear because that’s exactly what’s happening to me

[AWhittaker in reply to kalgs]

Ohh September is quiet recent then. Did you find you changed anything that you thi k could have changed or brought the PVCs on? I used to drink heavy more then 14 units most weekends and drink at least 5-10 cup of teas a day so iv completely cut them both out now for a month. I really hoping these flutters slow down or at least not bothersome at night beause I'm really struggling and getting anxious. It really helps speaking with people who have gone through this so thank you.

That's very interesting you say that about the digestive problem as I've suffered from heart burn all my life and its only till now they put me on 10mg of omeprazole at the same time as propranolol to help, i took omeprazole for almost 2 weeks and they helped with the heart burn but didn't with burping and made me bloated so I stopped them for a bit and now my heart burn has returned I'm considering taking them again for the heart burn.

It's crazy that everyone's systems are different to the next and that they can't figure out what's triggers theses AF or flutters I suppose it's all about eliminating what it could be or just waiting for the cardiologist to do there tests but from what people have said they don't take PVCs serious unless it's more than 10%/15% a day your getting them.

I wish you well and hope you've found what works to help keep them at bay hopefully I can reduce mine somehow.

[kalgs]

I’m not a doctor so I’m not gonna give you any medical advice. I had afib treated by an ablation in 2021 which cured it completely. The palpitations started coming back around last September which is well over six months ago. I found them quite disturbing because they woke me up. I tried beta blockers and they had no effect so I came off them about, two weeks ago. All I can say is that my palpitations are now reduced by about 80 to 90%. I was told by cardiologists that this is quite common for palpitations to disappear if you like on their own accord. They can be caused by infection and lots of other things. I personally never found food items that have caused my palpitations. It is quite common for most of the population to to have them. I understand.