Premature Ventricular Contractions

[Dancingheart2]

Yesterday I started having PVC’s around 1:00 p.m. They continued throughout the remainder of the day and into the night. My Kardia Mobile device had been recording normal sinus rhythm with occasional PVC’s. This morning when I got up, my Kardia Mobile indicated normal sinus rhythm. No PVC’s. Should I have gone to emergency with only PVC’s? I wore the Holter monitor for 48 hours this past weekend and am now awaiting the result from my cardiologist which apparently will take between two and three weeks to receive. Thanks.

[Ilovedogs12]

I have PVCs all the time - literally all the time.I know they can be frightening if you're not used to them but they shouldn't be anything to worry about.

However, if you're really worried you can always ring your GP and ask for advice on what to do if you get them again.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ectopic beats such as this are considered benign though agreed can be irritating

[JaneFinn]

They feel horrid, and very disconcerting, but I’ve always been assured PVCs are nothing to worry about. I find they do get worse in spells then subside to a lower level again. I’ve personally never heard of anyone being told to go to a&e for PVCs.

It’s a good question - and I’d say it’s worth making a list of questions like this to ask the consultant when you get your Holter results? I find a lot of reassurance in having answers to my ‘what if?’ questions ready for if the situation occurs, so I don’t have to worry and wonder what to do in the middle of the night. J xx

[Dancingheart2 in reply to JaneFinn]

They do feel absolutely disconcerting and uncomfortable. Especially in the middle of the night while everyone else is snoozing away. Thanks for the support.

[Ppiman]

Absolutely not, unless you have been told to do so - which would be unusual and you would no the specific reason why. PVCs are a kind of ectopic beat that is generally common and almost always of no consequence.

What other issues do you have with your heart?

Steve

[Dancingheart2 in reply to Ppiman]

I have Afib. I take metoprolol and a blood thinner for that. Sometimes I go for months without an Afib event, however, this August Afib started up with a vengeance and I have had it several times over the month.

[Ppiman in reply to Dancingheart2]

That's much as I was until this year, roughly speaking, and that brought increasingly frequent ectopic beats (PACs and PVCs) with AF now around every fortnight or so, maybe more often but waxing and waning. The ectopic beats are daily but, again, wax and wane in the number.

When you say "with a vengeance" do you have a very high heart rate with the AF? I used to get around 150-180bpm or so and get quite fearful of it, but this year it has moderated and is often 85-120, although a couple of weeks ago, it was pretty high again, up to 165bpm. Thankfully, I am coping well with it now - better than in previous years.

I'm never sure that the home ECGs properly differentiate between PACs and PVCs as my specialist assures me all of my problems are atrial, even though the ECG devices I have used often show PVCs. I do also have a bundle block (LBBB), and that might confuse the devices?

Steve

[Dancingheart2 in reply to Ppiman]

Hi Steve. When I’m in Afib my heart rate is usually between 130 and 150. When I had my first Afib event (which was about 15 years ago) my heart rate was really high (180) but, like you say, I believe I have learned not to panic which I’m sure increases the heart rate. I’m a Canadian and I think most of you on this platform are UK residents? Anyway, I’m not familiar with a bundle block (LBBB). Perhaps we call it something else here in Canada. Thanks for your input.

[Ppiman in reply to Dancingheart2]

Your experience sounds similar to my own with AF, but mine began after another arrhythmia called atrial flutter. Looking back, I have no idea how much stress and panic added to it all, but I am sure plenty.

This is a UK based forum, but with people from Canada, Australia, USA, NZ, France...

Bundle block is a universal term. It causes a slow heart rate and, on the Kardia and similar what is called "wide QRS".

Good talking to you!

Steve

[Tiff1]

have you tried taking a Magnesium, supplement, that can help.

I take a daily tablet but a couple of extras if the ectopic beats are frequent.

My EP recommended this and it can help but they say the pvc’s are not harmful, but they are disconcerting.

I hope it helps you.

[WildIris]

Anxiety can be a factor too. When I get PVCs, I am usually stressed about something and do slow deep breathing, sip water, smile, do visualization, meditation, that kind of thing, whatever works. PVCs themselves, not to mention AFib cause anxiety, which makes it especially difficult to get to a calmer place. But if I do calm down, the AFib and PVCs usually go away or seem unimportant.