Hi Richie

I guess you are right: it certainly takes some time and energy to learn to "not notice" annoying heartbeats. And of course it is not "normal" to have to try to learn this. I guess "normal" is NOT feeling your heart ... And also feeling annoyed and "bad" when palps and other unpleasant heart-sensations show up.

Your question about outside ct. inside the heart:
From what I understand from RLR, PACs, PVCs and other irregularities are triggered via the vagus nerve from outside the heart. But of course the nerve-signal that is transmitted, trigger a muscular contraction in either atria or ventricle. But the electrical impulse come from outside and does not - in case of being benign - interfere with the electrical "rythm" created by the sino-atrial node. That one just go on and on.

I don't think you can feel the difference between a benign "out of order"-contraction and something originating from some heart disease. Here you have to trust the docs, the ecgs, the holters and all that.

No, I don't think you can just "switch the bothersome sensations off". And I don't think it is easy to live with it either. But I think it helps to understand that the extrabeats, the out-of-rythm beats, the tachycardia comes from "outside". And it helps if you in some way can get your anxiety diminished. And also if you can reduce certain physical factors such as the well known "not eating late", not drinking too much alcohol and coffee - you know the list. For some people (= me) these physical things contribute quite a lot.

By the way: I think they bother me LESS when I'm with other people and talk and laugh and do things together. It's as if I allow my little brain to think more about them when I'm alone.

Have a nice day!

I have found cognitive therapy books helpful for the anxiety that the pvcs cause. Self Help for Your Nerves by Dr Claire Weekes is fantastic, also Stop Thinking Start Living by Richard Carlson is good too, as is The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Bourne and co.

If your doctors say the palps are benign I am sure the trip will be ok. I found that working on the znxiety helped me feel better, even when the palps were bad. Best wishes.

Thank you for your reply!

I understand everything you say... I guess I have to learn now to control the FEAR. This is my problem. Silly, I know.

I started to take magnesium and there is some relief at least for a week. The last few days when I lay down to sleep they start again.

I'm starting to think that I need therapy... While in Europe I've done, again, the necessary tests to excluded that anything is wrong, so - echo: ok. Thyroid: ok. BP: perfect. So I have exhausted all my excuses to go to the doctor or run to the ER...

The only thing I can think of is that I'm in a menopause for a year now, even I'm not even 50 yrs. old! I've read that the crazy hormones during this part of life can cause PVC'.

What is you opinion on this?

Dear RLR,

I would like to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your time and help!
Your words of knowledge and wisdom helped me to go trough my life affected by PVC's much  easier.

I would lie tho if I tell you that I've concurred my fears... There is an everyday battle which require strength and will, something that I'm trying to find.

There is a long way to go but I'm refusing to let the PVC's rule my life the way they do! I'm trying, very hard, to rid my life of the constant fear...

I thank you, and the members of this forum for the help! Words can't express the gratitude I feel for your existence!

Okay, this is a very common response for persons taking supplements with the belief that they hold the power to induce change and it's simply nothing more than a placebo effect, typically last several days to weeks before return of symptoms. It is important, however, to realize that positive change does in fact occur based upon the influence of the placebo effect and is evidence to support that the cause is entirely benign and functional in nature.

You also need to be aware that the body only needs a very discrete amount of magnesium and deficiencies are extremely rare, only encountered in the very young and geriatric populations due to dietary inconsistencies. You can obtain all the magnesium you need through a normal, healthy diet. Experimentation of this type of quite common and although not of great risk, is simply not wise. Persons who take such supplements on the advice of friends also unwittingly practice cause-and-effect thinking patterns, which reinforce beliefs that two events occurring closely in time must be related. This is not true at all. but is largely the basis for beliefs or superstitions rather than facts.

Incidentally, there is no such premise as "good" or "bad" magnesium and although the vitamin and supplement industry will claim otherwise, these preparations do not provide the broad curative outcomes being claimed. The only consequence being ultimately diminished in using them to treat palpitations is the money from your wallet.

Best regards,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)