Well, I don't even know if I am having PVCs. I get these sensations and it feels like my heart just stops and then restarts again. It feels like it sinks down into my stomach. That sounds weird, but that is the only way I can describe it. Sometimes it takes my breath away and causes me to panic and other times I just ride with it. It only lasts a second or so. One time I was checking my pulse when it happened (I'm a constant pulse checker) and all of the sudden there was no pulse. I panicked and moved my hand from my wrist but then it was back. I don't know what the heck is going on. I have had all of the cardiac tests (except a cath) and everything has come back normal - just sinus tachycardia noted on monitors. I just had another holter Monday, but of course this didn't happen while I had it on.

Anyway - back to my original question. I never had these sensations (PVCs or whatever they are) until I started taking beta blockers. Has anyone else had a similar problem on beta blockers? It happens to me every day or sometimes every other day.

I also have a weird thing happen when I lay on my left side. My heart feels like it is flip flopping around. That can last for like 20-30 seconds. That did happen while I had the holter, so I'm anxious to see what the heck it was. I get that every night if I lay on my left side. Again, that didn't start happening until I started on beta blockers.

sounds like PVC's to me... laying on my left side already aggravates them... i tend to sleep on my right side to avoid them. I'm on a beta blocker, they are supposed to help PVC's but they occur as much for me before i started taking them as they do now.

The most common time i get them is when i get up in the morning to get some water or whatever then lay back down -- i'll almost always get an episode then. Perhaps it's because that is when my blood pressure is lowest?

the best cure for me is exercise, and on the occasion it still acts up xanax always takes care of them for me.

Leela,

Not usually but as heart rate gets lower and lower, rhythm irregularities become more likely.
Don't blockade so much that your resting heart rate goes below 50...+60 is even better.

Thanks for the replies! Lenin - I actually had to drop my dose to half because my heart rate was getting too low. I now take 2.5mg of bisoprolol. Still, my resting rate is usually around 50. When I get up in the morning and start moving around my heart rate goes up to 90-100. If I drop my dose any lower I get tachycardia around 120. I can't stand my heart rate around 50, but I can't stand the tachycardia either. So I don't know what to do. My cardiologist still can't figure out why I have the tachycardia and why my heart rate varies so much. He has pretty much given up and just started treating me like I'm crazy. It drives me absolutely nuts!

Leela,

Why not try a program of hard aerobic exercises. I think heart rate stabilizes nicely if regularly exposed to cardiac workouts. Almost as if it learns the time to speed up is when it is really necessary, like when sweating bullets on an elliptical trainer or stairmaster, but not when making a bed!

Hi Lenin. I've actually started doing that. I try to go to the gym two or three times a week. I do the eliptical machine for about 20 minutes and my heart rate usually gets up to about 150. It comes down pretty quickly to about 100 or so when I stop but then stays between 80 and 100 for the rest of the night. Does that sound normal to you?

Let me run this by you, since you seem to know a lot about this stuff. On Friday I had an endoscopy. I took my beta blocker in the morning and then they gave me sedation for the procedure. I was fine the rest of the day - just pretty tired. Saturday morning I took my beta blocker in the morning as usual and my heart rate was in the 40s most of the day. Even when I was moving around it stayed around 60. I was pretty lightheaded and tired all day. So this morning I didn't take the bb (I know, I can't just stop taking it) and my heart rate is around 60. Even walking up the stairs it only goes up to around 80. This is all very strange to me. Do you think the meds they used to sedate me Friday may still be in my system? I see my cardiologist Friday and of course I will tell him all of this, but I just wanted to get your thoughts.

I'm sure you can tell that I'm pretty obsessed with my heart rate and I wish I wasn't. I hate being on these beta blockers and honestly I think I have brought all of this on myself. Can anxiety alone really cause your heart rate to vary as much as mine does? It drives me absolutely nuts. I never even paid any attention to my heart rate until I went to a cardiologist and he told me it was high. Ever since, I am constantly checking my pulse. Oh yeah and what you said about heart rate going up when making a bed - mine acts like I am working out every time I make the bed. It is frustrating to say the least.

Any comments or suggestions you have would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Leela,

If they gave you something like valium for the endo, it could very well last a couple days...usually feeling good.

Also some beta-blockers can last 3 or more days (like nadolol) but not bisoprolol.

Why not get on the elliptical today and see what your heart rate goes to.

Try asking your cadiologist to try a calcium channel blocker rather than a beta blocker. When I was diagnosed I was on a beta blocker and had a lot of side effects. (like heart rate all over the place, feeling like I was zoned out some times, etc) Since on the channel blocker I have felt much better and am actually going to the Cardiologist today for a six month check up. Good Luck.

I've been having the exact same thing as Leela has posted. Im 28 years old with no known structural heart issues (I've had Echo-stresses every year for 5 years), however, Im on Toprol XL 100mg/day (for 5 years, for SVT) and digoxin 125 Mcg/day (for 1 month, for afib.) I've had the symptoms ever since I've started taking the Toprol, and never remembered having them prior to that. Since I've been on the Digoxin, I've had them more often. I definately believe the meds are aggrevating them, if not directly triggering them, but I have no "proof" to back this up. Any ideas? :confused:

I've been having the exact same thing as Leela has posted. Im 28 years old with no known structural heart issues (I've had Echo-stresses every year for 5 years), however, Im on Toprol XL 100mg/day (for 5 years, for SVT) and digoxin 125 Mcg/day (for 1 month, for afib.) I've had the symptoms ever since I've started taking the Toprol, and never remembered having them prior to that. Since I've been on the Digoxin, I've had them more often. I definately believe the meds are aggrevating them, if not directly triggering them, but I have no "proof" to back this up. Any ideas? :confused:

I too was on Toprol XL - do a search for it on the web and you will find many, many, many people who suffer side effects from it. Like I said, all you have to do is ask your doctor to switch your meds and they should do so, ask them what else they can recomend.

I still think since starting Atenolol I have gotten palps. I never had them before I took this medication. I only have High blood pressure and have tried several medications and the docs choose this awful one. I think I am use to having a higer heart rate (90BPM) and have had that since my 20's. Now that it is 75 I think I feel these palps now. So in answer to your question I say yes. Only because this is what happened to me.