PVCs Driving Me Crazy

[lieb2101]

Starting at about 4:00am this morning I've been having some really strong premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). I've been getting them randomly but constantly since. It's driving me crazy. Deep breathing seems to minimize the effect but that's seems to be the only thing that helps. When I let my heart rate drop, they get more frequent, especially if I lie down.

I'm already on 50mg of Toporol XL.

SO, all the research I've read (and my doc) says they're benign. However, I have no clue how I'll be able to do anything functional while these are going off, let alone sleep. I can hardly type this because my attention keeps being pulled away by the incessant and irregular pounding in my skull.

I've had these before and they eventually went away but they've never been this strong. My BP and other vitals are all normal...

Anyone else deal with these and have suggestions for minimizing their effect?

Thanks!
-Brian

 

[Bina]

Brian, try to spread out your activities during the day and make sure to relax more in the evenings.
I still get nasty PVCs when I do too much without a good rest.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Some possible Triggers of PAC's and PVC's are

Caffeine
Nicoteine
other drugs
STRESS
Not enough exercise (but don't over-do it either)

Electrolyte imbalance (especially magnesium and potassium)

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Marguerite53]

Your heart is still trying to figure out what happened to it!!! Or it's just doing a happy dance! Mine went nuts at the same time. I did have to up my beta blocker. Eventually I was able to lower the dose. (and a year later, go off of them altogether, but staying on a different BP med). You may just have to deal with the beta blocker for awhile. Until your whole system gets kind of acclimated to itself. Honestly, just when you think you cannot stand it another minute, they will calm down!!

Do avoid the things mentioned above. Also, I found that a deep tissue massage was awful! and started them right back up again.

Try to accept the PVCs. Try to honor the invasion your body has endured. I know, I'm abit of a wierdo about some of this, but sometimes the psychology of accepting things can make them go away! Either that, or by the time you've run the gamut of all our advice, they will have subsided on their own!

Good luck. Hang in there!!!

Best wishes

Marguerite

 

[JimL]

Some possible Triggers of PAC's and PVC's are

Caffeine
Nicoteine
other drugs
STRESS
Not enough exercise (but don't over-do it either)

Electrolyte imbalance (especially magnesium and potassium)

'AL Capshaw'

STRESS deserves to be capitalized, since it's the worst trigger, and the hardest to avoid, especially the stress of having the arrhythmia. I've been taking magnesium for years for that reason; you might consider that. And butter is delicious.

 

[Karlynn]

FWIW - Toprol XL did not work for me for some odd reason. I had been on regular Toprol 50 2/day (metoprolol is the generic form) for years and was put on Toprol XL when it came out. I was very disturbed by the arrhythmia that returned. So I went back on the regular Toprol and all was fine.

 

[Turkey Hunter]

FWIW - Toprol XL did not work for me for some odd reason. I had been on regular Toprol 50 2/day (metoprolol is the generic form) for years and was put on Toprol XL when it came out. I was very disturbed by the arrhythmia that returned. So I went back on the regular Toprol and all was fine.

I tooDo not deal well with the generic.......I still will have some bouts of PVC's I feel them and can predict them if I am having an EKG....freaks outs docs.

Don't worry too much...if they continue to be so bothersome, your doc may need to try some different meds.

 

[lieb2101]

I called the Doc today on this. I'll let you know what I find out.

As for all the common causes, I really don't fit the mold on this one I guess.

Stress = 0 (I don't have to go back to work until the end of April)

Caffeine <= 1 cup per day - hardly any

Nicoteine = 0

Not enough exercise (but don't over-do it either) = Cardio Rehab 3 days / week + 2 mile walks on off days.

Electrolyte imbalance (especially magnesium and potassium) = Drink Gatorade often + eat well & take multivitamins

The other interesting thing is that they only fire off when my heart rate gets low. They had me on an EKG during cardio rehab and while I was exercising I didn't have a single one. They started going off once I cooled down and my heart rate dropped. They're worse when I'm lying down or trying to sleep.

I hate to say it, but they kinda go away after a couple of beers and I can go to sleep. Probably not the best idea though as I'm guessing this is a result of the alcohol raising my HR just enough to suppress them.

Oh well, I guess if this is my biggest worry at this point, I'm doing ok.

Thanks for the input! (maybe I COULD use some butter...)
-Brian

 

[Kathleen]

Brian
Your biggest trigger is your recent aortic valve surgery. The PVC's firing on a dropping rate is something an EP can at times review better than a cardiologist. They do deserve watching and of course you will be told they will not kill you which is always a zero comfort statement. Keep giving yourself some adequate healing time.
Kathleen

 

[Earthsciencerocks]

God bless your heart brother!

God bless your heart brother!

Hi Brian,
I had similar issues after my AVR.
Metoprolol worked for me.
It seems we are all quite hypersensitive to any quirk after surgery.
It's hard to know what to ignore, and what to call "911" for.
I called my cardiologist regarding anything that freaked me out in the slightest. I figured that I would err on the side of safety.
Who else is going to advocate for our hearts?

Beer? Genius! I never thought of having my doc write me a perscription for that.

I'm praying for your full and complete recovery!

I'll be thinking of you when I crack open a cold one tonight.
Bacon, Butter, Beer. Tastes that go great together.
(All in moderation my wife tells me)
-joshua and family-

 

[Karlynn]

You're forgetting the last "common cause" - Just Because!

Sometimes it can be "just because".

 

[Turkey Hunter]

I called the Doc today on this. I'll let you know what I find out.

As for all the common causes, I really don't fit the mold on this one I guess.

Stress = 0 (I don't have to go back to work until the end of April)

Caffeine <= 1 cup per day - hardly any

Nicoteine = 0

Not enough exercise (but don't over-do it either) = Cardio Rehab 3 days / week + 2 mile walks on off days.

Electrolyte imbalance (especially magnesium and potassium) = Drink Gatorade often + eat well & take multivitamins

The other interesting thing is that they only fire off when my heart rate gets low. They had me on an EKG during cardio rehab and while I was exercising I didn't have a single one. They started going off once I cooled down and my heart rate dropped. They're worse when I'm lying down or trying to sleep.

I hate to say it, but they kinda go away after a couple of beers and I can go to sleep. Probably not the best idea though as I'm guessing this is a result of the alcohol raising my HR just enough to suppress them.

Oh well, I guess if this is my biggest worry at this point, I'm doing ok.

Thanks for the input! (maybe I COULD use some butter...)
-Brian

It may very well just be your heart throwing a temper tantrum about your surgery. My heart threw that same tantrum for a couple years after.

But you are correct, beer has always helped mine.