Help pvcs frightening - Heart Disorders Message Board

twblondie · 11-03-2004, 09:55 AM

Hi
I cant give you advice I'm afraid but I just wanted to say how my life seems so similar to yours (barr the children). I developed an eating disorder 9 years ago when I was 17 and also went anorexic - I starved, I purged and binged and I have to say since then, thats when my PVC's got worse. Since that time I have either excessively exercised and starved, or binged so much I have put on a stone in weight. I cant seem to get it right and at the moment I have put on about a stone through binging (but not making myself sick) my weight fluctuates so much and I constantly worry and think about it. I also suffer from bad panic attacks and have done since I was 9 years old, although now I try to control them.

When I was 9 I was conviced I was going to die. I used to go dizzy and couldnt breath but it was just panic attacks. I'm the same when I have PVC's I become panicy and dizzy and I also feel as though I'm going to have a heart attack any moment. However, I had my first ECG 6 years ago and it was okay - the nurse was actually quite rude and said I was stupid at 20 to think I was having heart problems!! I have also suffered from shortness of breath, but this could be down to my anxiety attacks too - I dont know! - I have had numerous tests for astmha too but all have been fine.

Because of these pains I have been getting in my chest recently, I went to the Doctor last week and she took a blood test and another ECG (I havent had the results of my blood test yet). The ECG again was fine! - However the Doctor had found a slight murmer when she listend to my heart and so is sending me to the hospital for more tests! - LIke you say no matter how many times they tell you not to worry or that they cant find anything, its very difficult when you are having a PVC and feel like you are going to go in to a cardiac arrest any moment!!

I'm glad you said you have had children because that's one thing I have always been concerned about! - I've always been scared that I wont be able to handle having children because it will make my palpatations etc worse and I'll die when giving birth or something!!! - I'm so worried about it! I'm 26 and married and so of course, children will be on the cards (not for a few years yet)! So Did you have these during your pregnancy?? I dont want them to get worse as they are bad enough as it is!!!

I wouldnt worry though, I'm pretty sure you wont have a cardiac arrest - I have to say I feel a lot happier now I know other people suffer from the same thing and I can discuss it on this board (of course it doesnt stop me worrying while having pvc's!). I think it must be quite a common thing though..

I keep having pins and needle pain in my chest area and not sure if that's to do with anxiety or intigestion or what!!!!!!

TampaSal51 · 11-03-2004, 04:20 PM

I have had an irregular heart beat now for more than 15 years. I have extra beats and skipped beats. I feel them all. I have been hospitalized 3 times because occasionally I get chest pains with this. All the tests turn up negative for heart disease. I'm told this is something that almost everyone has but very few people actually feel the skipped and missed beats. The first time I went into the er with the chest pains and skipped beats, the doctor (I swear he wasn't even 16!) gave me an antacid and told me to quit worrying so much about myself. He was rather rude. I should have slapped him upside the head but did not. I don't and never did have an eating disorder and have no idea why I suddenly developed this but agree....these attacks can be very scarey!! I've learned to live with mine. I don't like them, hate when they come on. But since I have had all the tests imaginable and have been told my heart is healthy, I will just warily accept it. Should I have chest pains again with this, I'll head right to the ER. Let them laugh at me, let them tell me it's all in my head, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. It's my heart and my life and I am going to take the best care of it that I can. You do the same! Best of luck!

FrontierDriver2 · 11-07-2004, 10:27 AM

Every doctor i've ever been too seems to shrug off heart palpitations and chest pains. They tell me it's just anxiety or panic attacks and to quit worrying. It's kinda hard not to worry when you feel your heart doing something funny! Obviously not many doctors experience chest pains or palpitations, if they did they would know how worriesome they are.

It's better to be safe than sorry as far as going to the ER. There was a story in the news a few days ago about an NHL player who dropped dead of an apparent heart problem. He had been hospitalized before because of an irregular heart beat with fatigue and dizziness. He was later cleared to play again but dropped dead 5 minutes after a game. Doctors should have seen that he was at a great risk of having a deadly arrythmia and done something to correct it.