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Worsening pac's

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tina0830
tina0830

I am a 46 yr old female that has been struggling with pvc's for the past 20 yrs. About a year and a half ago I had a benign stomach tumor removed at my GE junction. The night of surgery was my first episode of SVT which was chalked up to irritation of the vagal nerve. Since that time my pvc's have been overridden by pac's 4500+ in 24 hrs and only a few pvcs on my last holter 2wks ago. I had a stress echo 6 yrs ago a more recent echo about a yr ago and numerous monitors. I have never been told i have had any runs of pacs but i can feel them back to back. Recently switched from metoprolol to verapamil. I get flare ups if I'm gassy, over eat or my reflux is bad. Stress obviously plays a part. Wondering If anyone else experiences this? I'm at my wits end. They seem to be getting worse.

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4 Replies

  • Gap
    Gap tina0830

    Posted

    Dear Tina

    Sorry to hear about your concerns.

    I too get these irregularities...my GP counted three in 30 seconds. He said that wasn't bad but when it's like that all day it can be very stressful and debilitating.

    I was put on verapimil as a pill in the pocket rather than take regularly because I don't have palpitations but a slow heartbeat and regular use of any beta blocker just makes that even worse.

    There are a few people on this forum myself included who think that there may be a link to indigestion for some people's symptoms.

    All the doctors and specialists I have seen don't think this is a major problem but maybe they say that because there is very little they can do about it.

    I know it's not easy to live with but some have had it for many years..6 in my case so far..and we have to make the most of things when we can.

    Good luck for the future.

    Gap

  • ingrid1961
    ingrid1961 tina0830

    Posted

    Hi Tina I seem to be suffering just like you my ectopics are also up to 5000 a day but this is an improvement from before my ablations 2 this year last 6 weeks ago which I have seen some improvement but not as quickly as I would like my EP said it could take up to a year to settle! Mine I feel is also related to stomach problems and gets worse if I have heartburn or reflux or any kind of stress which is almost every day! Been off work since Nov but hoping to go back next week, couldnt work due to not being able to walk or climb stairs at all so improved on that score! I am 55 yo women was walking and going to gym 3 times a week up to last year always had ectopics but came in April 16 and never really left I am trying a Fodmap diet with little sucess, I had been taking Verapamil but effects wore off fairly quickly as all meds I have been on did nothing I do seems to control this and I feel very depressed as my quality of life is reduced massively, worse times are at night when it can get soul destroying due to not getting any sleep, anything works for you? I try deep breathing sometimes gives relief!
    • tina0830
      tina0830 ingrid1961

      Posted

      I've tried restricting my diet, avoiding caffeine or any other stimulants with little success. I started taking a potassium and mag supp daily at the recomendations of cardiologist and I think that's helped some. I have read a lot of forums where people mention not being able to sleep because their ectopic beats flare up. For me, and I say this cautiously... don't want to jinx myself, I get relief when I lay on my stomach or right side which is why I believe some of mine are related to GI issues. I' ve read so much on causes of ectopic beats but am extremely careful in what i read because everything you read positive there is always a negative that will scary your wits right out of you. It's funny you mention quality of life because I just told my cardiologist that my ectopic beats are becoming crippling. I used to be active, now im afraid to do anything because when I'm super active I pay the price the next day and for several days after. I have an appointment to discuss an ablation in Oct. I did find that taking a xanax when there really bad helps. I just don't like taking it daily.

  • ann82027
    ann82027 tina0830

    Posted

    Yes, same here, once I,m stressed or upset off it goes and doesn't,t stop until I sleep, I won,t sleep because if I do I won,t sleep at night so I put up with it. I cannot overeat or drink alcohol, that starts it off too.

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