Just Crazy PVCs? - Heart Disorders Message Board

Suzy-Q · 10-05-2006, 07:55 AM

Hello-
I'm trying to pass some time while I await an 11 AM apt at my GPs. I am feeling very ill and very discouraged with trying to get anyone to take my heart situation seriously. I had a 24 hr Holter that logged 14, 500 PVCs (Sept 8th) and some of a bunch of other stuff. My GP put me on Atenolol and sent me off. The Atenolol seemd to work on reducing the PVCs but I couldn't function so we switched me to Toprol - which isn't reducing the PVCs. I have a first consult with a cardio (which I had to insist on) on Oct 17th but I won't make it till then.
By Sunday night, I could count about 20 'skips' in my pulse per minute. I have a dreadful headache, am weak, dizzy, and have funny aches in my legs and occassional pains in my heart and armpit. But when I call the docs all I get is, "Are you anxious?" and "Do you have shortenss of breath or severe chest pains". Seemingly no one is concerned so long as I'm not clutching my chest in agony.
But I am far from well. My 'skip' rate has climbed part 30 per minute. My husband is EMT trained and finally put the stethoscope down early this morning and told me it was a cardio or the ER because, "Your heart doesn't beat normally at all. " He's had it.
The weird thing is that I have never ever felt dissed by my docs before. I do not suffer from anxiety (thank goodness) and have a history of needing to be told to get more medical care - not less. My medical file should reassure them that if I say I am unwell and I am staying home from work - there is a problem.
I want to see a cardio. I feel fooling around with more meds when an echo hasn't been done is just silly. Oh, btw- I was seen at the ER for this back on Sept 9th. A work-up then ruled out a heart attack or stroke. But the work up included an EKG, chest x-ray, and blood work. I feel I should have an echo, at least.
Isn't there some limit to how many PVCs per minute can be called benign? Doesn't 34 (my last count - head swimming) call for further attention? I've been working and doing right along and just putting in time until Oct 17th. But I am flattened now so I guess I'll have to be assertive on this.
Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. Suzy-Q

KGO · 10-05-2006, 07:49 PM

Hi Suzy,

Please let us know what happened today at the doctor's. I don't understand either how doctors can dismiss something you are feeling in your heart. I am waiting on stress test results and am anxious also, and have frequent PVC's but not as many as you are having.

I know you have probably already tried, but is there any other cardiologist you can get in to see quicker? My primary doctor let me pick what cardio I went to, and I called a couple and picked the one with the soonest appt. available.

My mom doesn't have insurance and had to wait 2 months for a cardiac catheter, even though her doctor told her she had a slight blockage. Thankfully, it turned out to be clear w/ no blockages, but I don't see how the doctors can let someone w/ a potential heart problem wait days, weeks, or even months when the consequences can be so serious!!

Take care and please let us know what you find out, it helps to hear each other's stories to give us a hint of what may be going on w/ each of us.

KG

Suzy-Q · 10-05-2006, 09:34 PM

Hello KG and Thank You for the Reply-
Well, I am pleased to say that my GP, after litening to my heart, was properly concerned. The ECG they did was basically the same as the one I had done back when this all started. B ut the number of PVCs was way up. She could tell I wwas in 'bigemeny' and said I was having a PVC every other heart beat the entire time she listened. They did a pretty good exam and learned I have several other symptoms - a few neurological ones, too.
And yes, they were able to get me in to see a cardiologist tomorrow afternoon. My case is copmplicated by the fact that I am a recent lumbar sugery patient and I had a long and complex sugery that involved post-op nerve damage and pain. I did not do well with meds and had several reactions. Also, I had a steroid injection in my neck just before this whole heart thing came on. A lot of variables.
But they understand now that I am ill. They were fine with my going to the ER if I wanted to but really didn't think i was having acute heart attack/stroke symptoms. I agree that I am not. They also admit they have never had someone with 1) so high a number of PVCs and 2) someone who did not respond to Toprol (my BP was much higher (not lower) than just 2 weeks ago. So they are confused and sent me home with the caution that I should call 911 if anything changed or got worse.
I have the comfort of knowing I am being heard and understood. That counts for a lot. And I have the cardio apt. Good.
As for the rest, I am about the same. I think my PVC rate actually dropped for a bit in the early evening but it is back up and I am still feeling just plain sick. But I don't have any new symptoms.
That's my situation. And how about you? I know how hard it is to be calm about this problem. I am the type that finds information helpful but it can also work against you. This board is a very important resource and community. I can't tell you how valuable the back problems board has been to me for the past 2 years. Well, I have to lie down. So good to meet you, KG, and it is nice to chat with a fellow PVCer! Best of luck-Suzy-Q