How do your PACs/PVCs feel?

How have you been feeling?

I also came on here for reassurance. I have had pacs/PVCs, and runs of atrial tachycardia for 2 years now. The last couple weeks they have come back with a vengeance! Also, the last 4 nights in a row I have woken up to the notorious skip-thump. Normally I am safe while sleeping from these evil beasts!

The comments on here are making me feel better, and I wonder if I should try a magnesium supplement?

Hi Jennifer

Actually I went 2 weeks without having many heart scares but today its starting up again. I dont feel like I'm anxious or anything so i dont know why its happening unless i really do have a heart problem. I saw my dr a week ago and just from listening it sounded normal so i dont know if that is a good sign or not . It comes and goes so maybe its just my heart doing skips i dont know but i do know its a scary feeling at times. I havent read up too much on magnesium but my gastroenterologist just gave me magnesium oxide pills for my stomach problems so I hope it doesnt cause my heart to go crazy.

I just wanted to clarify for you that electrolytes have a big part to play in the way your heart beats! Magnesium is essential in helping your body absorb potassium properly, and either high or low potassium can cause your heart to beat irregularly! For me, my heart is sensitive when my potassium starts to dip so I make sure to eat a lot of potassium rich foods and every once in a while my doctor gives me potassium pills. Best of luck to you!

Yes I feel that way too. I think there's an anxiety component to those symptoms. Also I feel tired because I'm sick of the ectopic beats. It's mentally tiring. 

You really have to stop worrying about them and they should calm. Sounds like you have a lot of anxiety too.  Treat that too and see what happens. Find ways to relax and remind yourself you've been cleared by doctors. Coconut water stops my pvcs as mine are usually triggered by dehydration or stress. My cardiologist has disputed my claim saying there's no proof but I tested it and it works! If after everything you continue to have alot of them or they feel like a fluttering or like your hearts beating all over your chest like a flopping fish ask for a 30 day monitor to 100 % rule out afib. My afib was caught night 7 on my monitor. Don't let the last part of this message scare you either it will all work out and this from a big fat chicken😂 big hugs to you and take it easy and laugh alot??

Cut out caffeine, sugar, stress and exercise or stay busy doing things you enjoy to get your mind off of it. i get more pvcs in autumn than any other time. Weather changes seem to affect them. Your anxiety sounds like the big enemy here. Keep a journal and refer back to it and see whats really bothering you. As someone whose literally had anxiety and panic for 50 years i can tell you it will most definitely manifest in very physical ways. I had such a bad panic attack once i was rushed to the hospital and stayed a week with them running every heart, brain, lab even a spinal tap.... it was panic disorder. THIS TOO SHALL PASS❤

How did you know for sure that it was panic disorder? I ask because when I get mine its typically more so during exercise (especially running, or squats) I have an implanted device that I can press the button on to send my rhythm in. Every time it has happened the Dr says its nothing at all, showed nothing, only a PVC. The thing is what happens is I get VERY short of breath feeling, dizzy feeling, hands get tingling and numb and shaky, and heart rhythm when I check it on myself (I am a nurse) seems to be beating oddly, and its definately beating differently than normal. The beating is like a steady very quick short little beats. When it happens it feels like my heart is not beating well enough to get blood to my brain or body (I say this because I get dizzy, feel like I am going to faint, I get weak, and numb extremeties). Cardiologist says every time that its nothing, nothing is showing up.

I have been in the ER during this and they ran an EKG and said it was perfectly normal. They said its probably just panic attacks. Weird thing is that it happens randomly, sometimes it happens when I eat too much food at once, usually its when I am exercising or jumping up and down will usually cause it. It also has happened before from coughing when I was sick and coughed a lot. A few times the act of a hard cough caused the episode to occur.

At this point i dont know what else to do other than get a second opinion, however I doubt that would be a lot of help since I have an implanted heart tracking device which I view as basically the end all be all of tests.

I accept that they happen and they no longer scare me at all, however they still come.

It's very tricky because panic attacks and heart issues feel very similar. I Initially was prescribed a beta blocker for a rapid heart rate (tachycardia) they said was caused by the severity of the attacks. Almost 30 years later i was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The symptoms you describe sound like panic attacks ive had but also very similar to afib. IF you have a constant recording though that has actually recorded this happening and the doctor says its fine be assured its panic or and anxiety and possibly depression. They diagnosed me when they had done every test from head to toe and nothing came up. Idk you and you dont have to say here but i suspect you survived some traumatic event in your life OR you are dealing with hormones out of balance. IF its the trauma such as mine has been you need to get help dealing with it and even then it can come back. When my panic and anxiety are bad i live in fear of dying constantly. Logically i know its irrational but it persists. I myself pray, spend quiet time and listen to meditation audios to calm myself. Self hypnosis was also very helpful to me as a coping skill. Sending you big hugs and ❤ and know youre not alone!

Thanks for the reply!! In relation to the traumatic event I consider myself fortunate that i never have experienced anything id consider traumatic.. Parents are alive, only sibling is alive and we have a great close relationship. I just graduated nursing school this year but the episodes started about 2 years before i even went back to school.

When they began i was working one job i loved.. No overtime.. Living with my brother and i was happily single. The first one happened when i was playing basketball with my brother. Then persistented to happen most times i played or jogged after the initial event.

I have had 3 month long event monitors before they decided to do this implanted one that stays in for 3 years... No. Answers other than...... eh nothing is showing up ur fine.

Aliens05. Interesting you brought that up about coughing.

Back in Feb 2016, I had a terrible cold with severe coughing. That's when this all started. I asked them in emerg with this cough could have set my tachy off, and they said no. cardiologist also said no. They said in fact coughing would help an episode.

I have had about 30 episodes since that date. Last week, I had an episode and went through all the things I know to try to stop it. Nothing helped , and I remembered a person told me to try and do a huge deep cough. Yup....it works

So confusing

Lolasmom a couple questions about what u posted... First... How would u describe ur episodes and what brings them on?

Second..u say the cough stopped the episode id that correct? My doctor has also told me that coughing will Stimulate the vagel nerve to stop an episode.. Which is why its odd to me that my coughing began an episode..

Well, I think that you and I are the same. I really feel the coughing starting them. Prior to that I had never a problem. Yes the episode last week stopped with coughing.

When an episode starts, I get a feeling like a flutter or thud in my middle between my breasts, I immediately cough or burp. I then check my heart rate app and yup, it's going

Stress or hormones maybe? Also ive noticed those of us who are perfectionists or heart on our sleeves types tend to be more anxious. Actually to answer both of you here there really is no rhyme or reason to these things. They can come out of nowhere and stop just as quickly. idk if you saw my post above abt coconut water but it absolutely helps my pvcs. If my heartrate gets up there or the pvcs/pacs start i drink abt 32 oz of coconut water and both issues calm. Its better really cold and an aquired taste but worth it! Thats usually what i drink. Alot of ppl in my afib support group take magnesium too. A cardiologist might tell you like mine did neither of these are necessary but its working for us and we are the ones living with it. Worth a try! Hydration is crucial and cold weather and stress aggravate them and for some ppl like yourselves excerise might. Mine get worse lying down. Hang in there!

Sometimes there is no reason for an episode. Now one time I was washing my window sheers, and was hanging them This meant my arms were in the air.

Last week, I was trying to catch my sons puppy on his king size bed. He had a sock in his mouth and has swallowed them before, so I was trying to catch him. He was so fast and I was struggling to grab him. My arms were also flying all over. I felt that nasty feeling and checked my app and my heart rate was 140 bpm

In an episode I sometimes get the sweats and have to pee crazy

Hmm the arms in the air thing is kinda crazy cuz mine happens at a much higher rate when doing pull ups at the gym(arms up).

I also get very sweaty and shaky especially my hands when i have these.. Soemtimes it is just palpitations here and there... and other times its a full blown episode that lasts about 10-20 minutes. Have u found anything that helps get rid of em sooner after thr episodes start other than coconut water? My drs have recommended vagel maneuver and stuff.. But.. Don't really work for me.

I have never tried the cocnut water. I do take magnesium at bedtime. I find they help with sleep and calm my heart flutters. Flutters can be anytimes, but I find they are worse after eating.

No just relaxing and deep breaths. Waiting it out!

Have you had a holter monitor? Like a 30 day one. Im not a doctor but you saying you pee like crazy when yours happen sounds like atrial fibrillation. Afib was an " older" persons problem now its being seen in younger patients. An echocardiogram or ekg will not catch this unless you happen to be in afib when they do the ekg. The holter will only catch it as its happening too. My holter was advised after my GI referred me to a cardiologist because my heart was pounding after heavy meals. I also had swelling in my ankles and stairs had suddenly become an issue. Inclines get much harder after afib. I will say my heartrate is now at 55 or lower resting after losing weight and being on meds and the heart racing has much improved. it usually happens now if im dehydrated even a little or upset or afraid. Tachycardia usually just feels like a fast rate, afib feels like a horse jumps the gate and then like your heart is beating like a washer that has too much in it (all over the place) alot of ppl describe it as feeling like a flopping fish is in their chest. You can have a healthy heart and have afib as it is an electrical problem. Hope this helps! ❤

I do not think this is afib. My heart rate is normal just fast, and it just starts abruptly and ends the same way. I have spoken to many people with tachy and they are the same with the peeing.

It was caught on a ekg the first time I had it. Feb 2016. and one other time it was caught again, The other times I did not go to the ER.

I have had a couole of monitors that were 3 days. Of course you never had problems when you are wearing one. The last monitor was taking off and the next day I had an episode.

Julie,

Have you ever watched the you tube vidwos with Dr Sanjay Gupta. He is amazing. He explains everything and makes you feel so much better

Yea mine was caught the 7th day and i was asleep thats why i like the idea of a 30 day monitor. PVCS have never given me the urge to pee just lose my mind ha.