Pvcs advice

[2468abcmuk]

Anyone have hours of ectopics and double & triple ectopics? Just looking for support find them hard to cope with

[pat1234567]

I've had PVCs for years and got used to them, but a few years ago, I had a bout so bad that I seriously thought I would die. I went to emergency and the monitor was sounding off alarms so often that they just shut it off and ignored it. At times they occurred every other beat with many triplets in a row. The monitor counted how many per minute and I could see them coming at a rate of 25 per minute quite often. My cardiologist still did not seem too concerned though. She monitored me and decided that I should take beta blockers. I REALLY did not want that, so asked if I could try to get them under control using natural methods first. She allowed me to try because it was clear that stress was the biggest factor. I learned to relax a little and bought a portable heart monitor. Somehow that actually reduced my stress because it allowed me to take some control over them. I found that I have several triggers.. diet: caffeine, and chocolate were big ones... lack of sleep another... but the biggest for me was stress. Everyone is different and you will learn your worst triggers too. The good thing to know is that they are mostly benign, and if they get too bad, there are drugs and electrocardiogists that can help. May God Bless

[Cockneyblue in reply to pat1234567]

Thank you so much for writing this. It has reassured me. I feel I should take medication for ectopics but they really give me terrible side affects. As you’ve said it’s stress, sometimes I don’t even know I’m stressed until they start, then I realise I have been worried about something which can be quite small.

Mine all started about 2 years ago when my husband had an AAA and had to wait approximately a month for the operation, it was like living with a time bomb. I couldn’t sleep or leave him. I suffered palpitations, luckily these have eased now but the ectopics persist.

I hoped after his operation I would go to normal but it hasn’t happened. Do ectopics stay with you forever once the damage is done? Thank you again for explaining them and, as I said, for your reassurance.

[Niki_ in reply to pat1234567]

Do you take any supplants ? I also do not want to take beta blockers

[Thompson123]

Hi ,

I could of written this myself . I sometimes have so many ectopics in a row my heart flutters . Iv been taking flecainide which does help . I’m due a ablation in dec .

It just nice to know I’m not alone . I seem to have them worse if I lie down . I’m 36 and feel this is taking over my life .

[NursePeggy]

Yes I had them constantly for 3 weeks nearly 2 years ago. My consultant changed my beta blockers to Metoprolol and they stopped after a few more days. They started again 6 days ago and I have several every minute, sometimes very forceful ones which are extremely uncomfortable. Mine are definitely brought on by stress. The problem is that stress causes them and then anxiety makes them worse.

I have had to resort to a very slightly higher dose of Metoprolol which helps a bit. I am hoping that they will stop again soon just as they did the last time ! Am having another 24 hour ECG to make sure there is nothing more sinister going on. I am also on steroids which doesn't help !

[birdlover18]

Just last week I discovered I have PVCs when they went on for 12 hours straight throughout the night. I was having up to 10 every 30 seconds, very uncomfortable and painful but as the ER DR told me, as long as they’re not consecutive they pose no risk as long as your heart isn’t damaged... for me what helped was taking a shower to distract myself and calm myself down. Laying down made it much worse, and stay hydrated and sleep when you can because being sleep deprived makes them worse. I completely cut out caffeine and alcohol, too