Anyone w/PVC's or other "benign" cardiac arrhythmias?

Momotrips · June 13, 2006

I'm up late with my PVC's and anxiety and was wondering if any of you have PVC's and did you have any positive or negative effects from the surgery/band? I know that hormones and digestion seem to affect them - and when I'm having "bad" bouts even bending over, exercise and s-e-x (gasp!) can start the flip-flopping in my chest (and not in a good way). I then get the accompanying anxiety. I KNOW they're "harmless" but I hate them! Bleh!

Momotrips · June 13, 2006

Is it just me? ^sob^

Tamyrn · June 13, 2006

I think most people don't know they are having PVCs, they think it's indigestion or something.

Bariatric medication (read as diet pills) induced PVCs are one of the many reasons I chose to have a lap band placed. Most of my friends use a diet Doc. every few yrs when their weight gets out of hand, I on the other hand have short runs of PVCs when taking diet pills that absolutely scare the crap out of me. I even watch my caffine intake, yeah I know most of it is probably my imagination...but when I feel that flip-flop in my chest it's real to me!

Momotrips · June 14, 2006

Tamyrn,

I gave up caffeine 2 years ago when these started - I was HEAVILY dependent too. I miss my bitter brown master! No one that doesn't have them understands the anxiety that comes with them. No matter how many doctors say your heart is a-okay, you think that they HAVE to be wrong. Also, cardiologists are just starting to acknowledge that hormones are very closely linked to episodes and they don't even want to hear that GI symptoms/diseases are linked, even though the diaphragm and vagal nerve are all smushed in there together. Guess what other problems I have? You got it, IBS, PCS, generalized anxiety and I'm barreling headlong into perimenopause. My beta blocker helps ALOT, but sometimes even it can't keep them at bay. Oy!

3loves · June 14, 2006

Yup...I have a benign arrhythmia. It was discovered years ago when I had a physical for basketball. I think I was barley a teenager. I don't have any symptoms unless I'm extremely stressed or overly tired. I required a stress test b4 my lap band surgery and passed with flying colors. My cardiologist wanted me to go on meds, but I hate taking pills and talked him into waiting a couple months to see how much losing weight will benefit me. He agreed only b/c it was very minor. I'm newly banded so the verdict is still out for me.

Momotrips · June 15, 2006

Thanks 3loves. I take meds so I don't go nuts, really. The "episodes" lead to anxiety, which leads into a vicious cycle, so the meds either lessen the frequency or severity (or both) and in turn improve my mental health - ha! And yes, skinny people have them too, but I know that the better I eat, the less likely I am to have anxiety and the less likely I am to have symptoms. I'm just hoping to feel better in general after banding and weight loss.

Sunta · June 15, 2006

Hi,

I had them for years and had all kinds of halter moniters, ekg's, etc. and all came back normal. Boy I hated those palpitations! The thing that helped me the absolute most was getting control of my anxiety disorder. I was helped tremendously by therapy, medication, and by books about how to help anxiety disorder. I may have "outgrown" my panick attacks somewhat as my therapist says can happen (got them alot in college but am now 36 and haven't had one in over 10 years) but I do think I was helped by the aformentioned things. Another thing which helped alot with the palpitations would be to ignore them and just know that they could not hurt me. I have not suffered from palpitations in years except when I am very nervous or upset. I firmly believe that getting control of anxiety is the key. Try saying to yourself over and over "these are caused by my mind and they cannot hurt me. What I am feeling is ok. It is ok to have palpitations so I will let my body have them until it feels like stopping and I will be just fine." Saying this to myself helped me alot. The more I just "let" it happen and didn't fight against it, the better I felt. Best of luck to you.

time4change · June 15, 2006

Hi momoftrips (like your name!)

I have no useful info for you, but I had these for a few months, back a few years ago, but they disappeared when I delivered my BBB How old are yours?

Momotrips · June 16, 2006

Time4change - BBB! Me too! They're going to be 8 on the 2nd of July - if you look at my profile I have a picture of them when the made their 1st communion a couple of weeks ago. They're pretty handsome little guys if I do say so myself! How long did you carry and how much did you gain while pg? Are they fraternal? Mine are COMPLETELY different. Cool. Feel free to e-mail me or pm me if you want.

"Mom O' Trips"

Momotrips · June 16, 2006

Sunta - I agree that just ignoring them is the best thing to do. It's just really difficult to do sometimes. I haven't had anxiety attacks in a year or more - thank goodness. I was always a worrier, but I didn't get really unreasonably anxious until I had my babies - each year it got a little worse. I haven't had any counseling, but a new IBS medication I started helps a lot - it has a small dose of anti-anxiety. Beta blockers help, too. One of my boys sees a therapist for some ADD issues and I do enjoy the time we spend talking (I just like talking - lol) so I may get to that at some point. Thanks for sharing and for the advice. I hope one day they're just GONE ya know...