Confused about my palps

[Bobby2007]

Since my son was born almost two years ago now I’ve been suffering with heart palpitations. They would happen a couple of days a month and I assumed they were hormonal, but then they were there all of the time. I got put on beta blockers at Christmas and thought I had got rid of them but they’re back almost as though I weren’t taking the beta blockers. When I have them my heart skips then races from 70 up to 120 then skips then back to 70 then skips back up to 120 and it can do this for hours to days I have had several Normal ecgs which caught eptopic beats but have yet to catch an episode on a Holter. I’m getting frustrated because the gp won’t refer me for any other heart checks.

[Melissab122]

Mine are similar to yours, my heart rate is normal other than when I’m exercising or having the PVCs. It will usually hit around 105-115 after the skip but then back down. I guess this is the difference between AFIB and PVCs.

After a lot of research and reading others situations, I truly believe it’s hormonal. There has been a direct correlation to estrogen levels and PVCs in women of child bearing age. It shows almost three times more PVCs in women who are on their period, versus during the time of ovulation, which is when our estrogen levels are the highest. I’m moving into my peri menopausal years which cause a reduction in estrogen, which I believe is why mine have possibly started.

My first PVC “attack” came on after a 30 minute HIIT workout and also about 3 weeks before I turned 40. I have no idea what brought them on or why I still have them occasionally. I went to the dr after they continued to come in for about a week and a half. They did a full exam and an EKG which showed nothing. He told me that they can come in from caffeine, alcohol, stress, etc. I thought about any changes I had made to my lifestyle that could be the culprit. I had started taking an herbal supplement about 2 weeks before the PVCs started, that had prebiotics, probiotics and green nutrients to supplement for what I didn’t get in my diet and help my digestive tract. There were other herbs in the mix which helped with metabolism. My dr said that it might be the metabolism herbs as they can cause higher heart rate, BP, etc.

I immediately stopped taking the supplement but unfortunately I am still getting the PVCs, however they don’t seem as bad or as often. I watch how much I raise my heart rate with exercise and do breathing technics when they come on. I also get them after eating occasionally and read that Pepcid or an antacid can help so I tried this and it totally works!

I do feel more at peace with them after researching and hearing that they really aren’t life threatening, more so annoying.

If you have Xanax, it helps me when mine are from stress or if they are really bad, I take a quarter of a .5 mg pull (very minimal dose) and within 10-15 minutes they usually subside or at least get much better.

I hope this helps and look forward to hearing about your progress and any insights you can provide to the group!

[rhoffman86]

This is so interesting. Do you have a ton of PVC's that make it look as if your heart rate is 120? Or is your heart rate actually 120? I wonder if it could be an SVT or a long run of PVC's? I usually only get PVC's with exertion and they sometimes go on for hours. Beta blockers as helped a lot. If I go into SVT, I'll have PVC's for a while after. I assume because my heart is agitated from being at 260. I wish I could be more helpful. Have you ever used a holter?

[Bobby2007 in reply to rhoffman86]

I have had a Holter but they never caught these runs, i think runs of pvcs would be classed as ventricular tachycardia. My normal resting rate is anywhere from 60-80. My doctors keep saying there not worried but obviously I am very worried.

[Longqt]

With a doctor, ask for, if not had already, echo to check heart structure is good. And electrically the holter, ask for a longer one. Or even a stress holter as you said about exercise. Make a diary of episodes and when happened, what doing etc. And how impacting your life, every doctor loves data. So more the better. Maybe that will help? Best wishes

[Bobby2007 in reply to Longqt]

Thankyou, I have asked for an echo, my doctor thinks it’s unnecessary. He believes that I’m a hypochondriac. The hospital told me that I do need an echo but that my go had to refer me and he won’t so I feel stuck. He only agreed to give me beta blockers after 18 months and me finally losing my mind and becoming suicidal. Thankyou for your advice though I shall keep pushing

[Longqt in reply to Bobby2007]

Change gp, is my best advise.

[bantam12 in reply to Bobby2007]

My experience with all this is unless you are getting symptoms such as passing out you won't get any help as PACs, PVCs, Ectopics, Palps are all classed as "normal" particularly if you are a women 😡 we aren't taken seriously !!