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Heart Palpitations Forum >> Symptoms and other concerns >> Reassurance about the number of pvc's you have....
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Message started by saab on Aug 22^nd, 2008, 2:05pm

Title: Reassurance about the number of pvc's you have....
Post by saab on Aug 22^nd, 2008, 2:05pm

Like many of us who have missed beats, I tend to get a bit hung up about the number I am having. If I am having a lot I feel more anxious. I visit other heart forums and saw this recently from a pvc sufferer. The poster said:

"I have high frequency pvcs, and they seem to be ever increasing the older I get. My last holter recorded on average 24,000/day. Doctors, cardiologists are still not concerned". He went on:

"By the way, he estimated my pvcs near 30,000/day based on the multiples, but he wasn't the least bit concerned (regarding the number). He said no matter the number, no matter the pattern, pvcs in a structually normal heart are benign."

In another response, a heart specialist answered a poster who had 900 pvc's recorded on a 24 hour monitor:

"900 PVCs on a Holter is actually not that many. In the last few weeks I have seen three patients with over 32000, 35000, and 45000 PVCs. It would be important to note to see on a Holter if you are having symptoms with PVCs or if you are just feeling your heart beat."

The same doctor gave this response to an anxious poster who had a lot of pvc's but all tests were okay. They asked, "What would you say to a patient like me?". He replied:

"I would tell them that their risk of sudden death is probably the same as mine. No one has no risk of sudden death, but normal heart pvc and VT have a normal prognosis."

Obviously, these posters have had the appropriate tests and been told they are okay, but it just shows that the number a day we are having is not as significant as we all think. I am not belittling how it feels to have a lot of pvc's - I had thousands a day at one point - and they have certainly taken over my life for much of the last 4 years.

However, I have found it reassuring to see that there are many people coping with thousands of pvc's every day - and their doctors are unconcerned because in a structurally normal heart they are considered harmless.

I hope you all find these comments reassuring.

Title: Re: Reassurance about the number of pvc's you have....
Post by Steff1573 on Aug 25^th, 2008, 7:02am

Thanks Saab for the reminder. :) It definitely helps to know we are not isolated in having these and that there are other people going through the same things. It really helps to have a support group such as this.

Thanks again!

Steff

Title: Re: Reassurance about the number of pvc's you have....
Post by saab on Aug 25^th, 2008, 1:22pm

It always seems to happen... I was feeling good, no missed beats for a few days, then all of a sudden today I have lots. I am now feeling super-anxious - it is my birthday too, and I must say it has spoilt things a bit. We went to see Mamma Mia and even that couldn't take my mind off it.

Time to re-read a few postings from here and hopefully it will settle down over the next few days.

Title: Re: Reassurance about the number of pvc's you have....
Post by Steff1573 on Aug 25^th, 2008, 7:10pm

Aww Saab.. I am sorry those darn things creeped back up today. Just remember what you have been told, BENIGN, BENIGN, BENIGN, and what the causes are. You will be okay. Just ride them out and don't give them your worry! You will be okay!!

Vent when you need to, ok..

Steff

Title: Re: Reassurance about the number of pvc's you have....
Post by Glen on Aug 26^th, 2008, 12:30pm

Sabb,
I have the same thing as you. Some days I'm ok and then others Ihave alot and those days are hard to deal with but as you said this site really helps.
All the best to you and I will pray that we all feel better :-?
Glen

Title: Re: Reassurance about the number of pvc's you have....
Post by saab on Aug 27^th, 2008, 11:28am

Thanks, folks. I am feeling better now. I am lucky because the pattern at the moment is missed beats on and off for a couple of days, then fine for a while.

This is much more bearable than having them on and off all the time like I used to. Also, when I do get them now they are every, say, 9th or 19th beat, whereas it used to be every 3 or 4 beats. Of course, when they start all logic goes out of the window - I find myself in the funny position of re-reading my own posts for reassurance!

I personally am pretty sure that the general anaesthetic from an op caused my ectopics. I suppose this should give me a bit of comfort, but it's also frustrating because I feel as though it may mean I am stuck with them as a result. Still, I am fine today and have come a long way since I was first diagnosed. I am much less anxious than I was a few years ago and that's good enough for me at the moment. Best wishes.