Anybody diagnosed with PVC (premature ventrical contractions)?

Question

I was diagnosed with PVC and was put on a beta blocker.
I dont think the problem has changed. I usually get them when i am over tired. Also the meds have made me gain weight and i think that also is causing the problem to persist. Just wanted to chat with someone in regards to their symtoms

Answer 1

Hello Linda,

Occaisional PVC's are really nothing to worry about. They are common and even expected in the super atheletes. The marathon runners have a very low heart rate and frequent PVC's.

When you have to do something is when they happen enough that it causes you be be dizzy or light headed. Then they can give you a medication to help out.
The other time that is significant is when there are a bunch of them connected to gether, this is called V-tach, (ventricular tachycardia) and then something needs to be done.

Just follow your doctors advice and relax...

Answer 2

Whether or not PVCs are dangerous depends on your situation. If you have seen you doctor and been properly tested for heart problems (ECG, stress test, blood tests, etc.) and he/she has given you a clean bill of health, they are probably normal variations due to aging, especially if they are very infrequent. PVCs become a problem when they are of sudden onset. PVCs, in case you didn't know, are early depolarizations of the heart that originate in the ventricles, which are at the bottom of the heart. Normal heart beats originate from the sino-atrial node (SA Node) in the upper right area of the heart, on top of the right atrium. Depolarizations that originate in the ventricles, like PVCs, do so because the ventricles are irritated to the point that they self-excite and set off the heart. When PVCs suddenly occur, they are a sign that the ventricles are suddenly experiencing a stress and irritation. PVCs may be caused by stress, excessive stimulant consumption (like caffeine), or by certain medications. The most serious cause of PVCs, however, is a heart attack. Infrequent PVCs are lower in risk, however still somewhat dangerous if not examined by a physician. Even more dangerous, however, are PVCs that occur more often than a few times a minute or that occur in groups, either every third beat (trigeminy), every second beat (bigeminy), two paired together (PVC couplet), or three or more paired together, called a run of ventricular tachycardia or V-tach. The more PVCs you have in a minute, the more dangerous your condition. The biggest risk of a PVC is sudden cardiac arrest. This can occur in one of two ways. First is a continuous run of PVCs at a rate faster than the heart can fill with blood to pump. This is known as ventricular tachycardia and can be either with or without pulses. Truth be told, however, if v-tach with a pulse is not quickly resolved, it will almost always end up in pulseless v-tach. Either rhythm is a very ominous sign and requires immediate 911 assistance, including CPR (if pulseless), defibrillation, medications, and immediate emergent transport to the hospital emergency department for further cardiovascular care. The second risk of frequent PVCs is if a PVC occurs during the period when the heart is repolarizing. There is a point where the heart is still recharging, but can be forced to contract if enough electrical force is applied to it. If a PVC occurs during this period, a patient will go into ventricular fibrillation, a useless quivering, erratic electrical activity of the heart that is always pulseless. Ventricular fibrillation, also known as v-fib, is the most common rhythm seen in sudden cardiac arrest patients. To summarize, any PVC is of concern and should be immediately by a physician. If you have a history of them and have been properly examined, though, you should not be terribly concerned, as it is just a normal part of how your body operates now.

Answer 3

yeah, i get hundreds a day. i tried a beta blocker for awhile too and i quit after a few weeks because i was constantly cold and tired. if you just started, it might take a couple weeks before it starts helping prevent the PVCs. but beta blockers work very well in some people, and not so well in others.

once i got use to the PVCs and they quit scaring me (when i first started getting them back in high school and didnt know what they were i thought i was gonna have a heart attack or something), i quit the beta blocker and just dealt with them because they dont bother you as much if fear doesnt come with them. but if you decided to quit the beta blocker talk to a doctor or pharmacist first about slowly lowering your dose, you need to taper off otherwise you can get worsened PVCs and tachycardias if you just stop it cold turkey.

Answer 4

I have never ever heard of being put on a beta blocker for PVC's. Beta blockers are prescribed for arrythmia's in the atria, not the ventricles. Get a 2nd opinion.
Beta blockers usually come with a reg tag on the side of the bottle which tells you not to drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how the medicine affects you. I personally take mine at supper time, so at bedtime I sleep better. The cardiologist reccomended it.

Answer 5

i haven't been diagnosed with PVC but i'm pretty sure i have it. I've had those "skipped beats" or "fluttering" sensations for over 6 years and the doctors say it's stress or just lack of rest or sleep. I don't think you should be worried about it. I also don't recommend taking medication for it if they have side effects. From what I hear PVC's are very common and don't lead to any serious heart problems. If you're really concerned then proboably go see a cardiologist and see what they say. I should proboably go see one too. Hope that helps

Answer 6

I have them, as well as WPW and Afib. I am on a beta blocker (atentolol) as well as Flecainaid, which is a great drug for me.

I get my PVC's when I too am overtired, or eat something that doesn't agree with my stomach. Many people with GERD develop PVC's it's a bizarre phenomenon.

Beta blockers are notorious for weight gain because they cause the heart not to beat as fast and slow down pulse rate and lower blood pressure. They can also cause depression which can cause tiredness and appetitie increase.

I try and exercise as I did before I was diagnosed, drink lots of water, rest is going to be the key to this.

There's a great yahoo group called People with PVC's.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PeoplewithPVCs/

You can read and exchange support with lots of people like you who have PVC's.

Take care.

Answer 7

Linda,

I have PVC's as you will learn they are called as well. They can be very scary, but I have been assured they are OK when under control. I have also gained weight on the beta blocker as well. If you would like to chat about it, please feel free to email me at [e-mail]

Answer 8

I know i do not know you well but i have seen this many times before and I would suggest a sleep study.you may have sleep apnea that is causing your problem of pvc's and being tired during the day.

Answer 9

Yeah, i get those, too. If they weren't too bothersome before meds, you might ask about weaning off the meds. Caffiene, stress, and sleep deprivation make mine worse. I don't get them when i'm relaxed (but i'm on beta blockers and a moo cow).

Answer 10

These do occur in people without heart disease. I would not treat with a beta blocker myself.