PVCs ruining quality of life.

[Kristy75]

Hello,

I guess I’m looking for encouragement. I feel bad writing as I know most of you are in a worse boat than I and I shouldn’t complain.

I’ve been having PVCs and PACs for about 2 months straight. Longest I’ve had them for sure. I’ve had echo and ekg, etc and all is fine. Taking heart calm but nothing is helping. They are ok lying down but when I get up they start in which makes my anxiety worse about them.

Cardiologist wants me to have an angiogram and I don’t understand why. If everything looks good. I’m terrified to have one done but I’m desperate. I’m having several every minute. They scare me to death. I’ve taking stomach meds as well but nothing seems to help.

Thanks for any words....

[lettingoffsteam]

Hi Kristy, would this be a CT angiogram or an invasive one?I've had the CT which wasn't the best experience but not the worst either.I also have PACs and PVCs but not as frequent as you.I do have some short bursts of atrial arrhythmia though.Has your doctor suggested anything you can do to alleviate this?Unfortunately anxiety definitely makes things worse with ectopics.I had CBT to help with this which was arranged by my GP.Ialso attend a meditation class(online at present).Both of these have helped and the cardiologist also prescribed propanolol which helps a lot as well.Mind you if I get anxious I do get more ectopics.You need to break the vicious circle of anxiety and ectopics.

[Kristy75 in reply to lettingoffsteam]

My blood pressure drops too low with beta blockers. But I do need to get the anxiety under control.

[Qualipop]

Why are you worried about an angiogram? I had two after my heart attack and never felt a thing. The only thing I was upset about was that he wouldn't let me watch the screens. The second one I went in for 9 am and was home , an hour away by 12.30 ready for my lunch. I Just had to stay with a cup of tea and toast until any bleeding from my wrist had stopped and the sedative had worn off. I know it sounds scary but it really isn't.

[Kristy75 in reply to Qualipop]

Did they go through your leg or wrist?

[Qualipop in reply to Kristy75]

wrist both times. The first one, the morning after the heart attack my arm was purple from wrist to elbow but didn't hurt at all. Second one a few weeks later was outpatient and I didn't even have a pin prick mark. They give you a blood thinner before they do it but I honestly didn't even notice anything. I would never worry about having another one and I suffer from health anxiety. Some people mention some chest discomfort after stents but I honestly had nothing at all. Just had to take care about bruising which didn't hurt, just looked a mess.

[080311]

Hello Kristy

Please don’t be scared the angiogram is ok, I felt like I was on the deck of the Star Ship Enterprise! Lots of tv screens, lovely medical team nurse holding my hand, my sedative made me very relaxed and watching my heart on the screen.

You have a wrist band on after with a little window that is over where they went into your artery they will monitor that for a little while and when the sedative wears off, and then you will be sent home.

It’s a really painless procedure, and they will be able to decide what is going on.

Take good care Pauline

[Kristy75 in reply to 080311]

Thank you so much. I thought they went through the leg. I know due to Covid it will probably be a year in the making. I just know that lying down my ectopic will not act up so I’m nervous about putting all that radiation into my body. I’m also concerned that it might make my ectopic worse.

[080311]

Don’t know about that mine through my artery in left wrist.

[Adam00]

Hi Kristy. Your situation sounds similar to mine. I'm currently in a period of extreme PVCs and PACs, going on 3 weeks now, but I've had periods in the past that have gone on longer, 2 months or more. I get PVCs and PACs every few seconds, for sometimes hours at a time. It's worse when I'm standing up, and after even light physical activity, or eating. I've seen 2 electrophysiologists, and they don't know why it's happening. I've had an echo, and holter monitor, and both were normal. So my problem doesn't appear to be "electrical" or structural, so now I'm wondering if it's ischemia or cardiomyopathy, which is why your cardiologist recommending an angiogram caught my attention. Do you get chest pain? Especially during physical activity? Have you had any other tests to look for signs of a blockage or coronary artery disease? It seems to me that non-invasive tests should be done first, before an angiogram. A stress test and MRI could point to that. If a stress test and MRI come back normal, it's highly unlikely you have coronary artery disease and then an angiogram wouldn't be necessary. Also, if you don't have any other risk factors, like a family history, or high cholesterol, and you aren't showing any symptoms of coronary artery disease, it seems unlikely that it would be that. I understand your fear of getting an angiogram. I would be scared too, but only because I'm an anxious person. It's really a very common procedure, and quite safe. I know people who've had them. It's nothing to be scared of, but I know that's easier said than done. Are you a very anxious person? I am, and my doctors suspect it could be playing a role. Anxiety commonly causes PVCs and PACs. But I can't relax not knowing if it's something more serious. Also, I'm curious if you get a tachycardia? I do, and I'm not sure if it's related to the PVCs/PACs. Overall, I'm extremely intolerant of physical activity. I'm on a beta blocker, and it helps, but it's not a cure. Anyway, I wish you the best. Send updates if you can.

[Fluffybee in reply to Adam00]

Hi Kirsty

I was admitted to hospital for chest pain and the one thing o was really worried about was if they suggested an angiogram, then they did !!!!’ Yikes!!!!

The staff were so lovely I was so anxious I got upset and a wobbly chin big time but I really must say afterwards it was hand I heart in my opinion nothing to worry snout, I felt nothing, they numbed the area on my wrist first then didn’t feel anything, looking back on it I would have one again without any worries at all 😊

[Kristy75 in reply to Fluffybee]

Thank you that definitely helps!

[sdonate in reply to Adam00]

Apart from anxiety what else could be the cause of them please?

[chickeninthewood]

I have found that blowing my nose makes them stop.