Please help me - Heart Disorders Message Board

vicjay · 10-14-2007, 08:34 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am 39yrs old. I have been very healthy (so I thought...) all my life. In June this year I had a scary episode, and thought I was going to black out. Visited the doctor and he did an EKG and didn't like what he saw and called 911 and had me rushed off to ER. He thought from what he saw on my EKG that I had experienced a heart attack. The doctors in the ER ran my blood, did xray and monitored me for a while and sent me home saying my heart checked out fine. A month later the same feeling happened and I ended up laying down on the floor at work, 911 call again, and had a 4 day stay in hospital while all types of tests were done. I had 3 MRI, and did the treadmill stress test, echocardio test, nuclear thalium test etc. All structures of my heart came back good. But the Cardio at the Hospital said I have PVC's and PAC's. The Neuro I am seeing is still ruling out other problems which could include MS etc. I went and saw another cardio, and she tried me over the last three months on Toporol, Flacainide and now Isoptin. She also had me wear an event monitor for 30 days, and remarked that I am having way too many additional beats, yet my heart rate is averaging 78 beats per minute, so am well within the normal rates of 60-100. The concern is the additional beats, and she discussed with me about having an ablation to get rid the additional beats. She also had a carotid ultrasound performed, and I haven't heard back from her yet. She wants to see if the Isoptin relieves the pvc's and she says if that doesn't work she is scheduling a visit with electrophysiologist (not sure can't remember the exact title of this specialist...) to determine where the pvc's are originating and then she wants to schedule an ablation.

My pvc's are constant, I have never had this problem, but after reading posts in here, I would also rank my count in the 1000's per day. It is just such an uncomfortable feeling, because the mind is strong and plays games with me, telling me that this is more than just pvc's. I get all the usual symptoms of lightheaded, dizzy, loss of appetite, poor sleeping ability, fatigued and sluggish all day every day, and a tingling in my upper back sometimes, followed but sudden sinking chest feeling which goes away after a few seconds, but at the time scares me witless. I am physically in average shape, have lost 35lbs since June weighing in at 215lbs, blood pressure is normal, no clogged arteries, no clots, no anuryisms etc, echo reveals otherwise normal EKG. I also went cold turkey on all soda, and all coffee (I was drinking 6 of each every day!). I know withdrawal can't last this long, and so am concerned that medication isn't alleviating the pvc's. I wonder if anyone has had similar issues and opted for ablation and if so, has it been a success story for you.

I am not sure why, but I don't seem to be getting anyone responding, so maybe I am wording everything wrong?

Thanking you all in advance for your kindness

sue46 · 10-15-2007, 04:05 PM

Awww Vicjay, just thought I would post a response, even though I can't answer many of your questions

I think you just need to do research about ablations, and listen to what the experts have to say

I did have an ablation in May, but it wasn't successful that time, I am due for a touch-up ablation in December and the success rate is a lot higher the 2nd time around.

Not the most positive ablation story to tell you, but you haven't got AF, and other arrythmias, apparently, are easier to fix with an ablation.

Hope you get all the answers you want.

Sue

Suzy-Q · 10-15-2007, 06:36 PM

Hello,
I suddenly started having a ton of PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) back in Aug of 2006. I was monitored a few times and always came back at 14,000 - 30, 000 PVCs/day. I was feeling pretty ill and scared stiff. I had a cardiac workup, echo, nuclear stress test and repeat EKGs. Turned out I had mild valvular insufficiency in mitral and aortic valves for which I now have to take anti-b's prophylactically to invasive procedures. Otherwise, things looked good. No one suggested ablation to me at all. My cardio was quite blase about the significance of PVCs and suggested I try Toprol or Atenolol. He was of the opinion that these meds rarely help and that most people just learn to deal with the PVCs and go about their business. Yes, even 30K of them a day didn't impress him much!
I took Toprol for a year and found the PVCs slowly reduced in number. I did learn to live with them. But I hated the fatigue and lethargy I felt using the Toprol. This Aug I decided to quit the Toprol and see what happened. Happy to report that my PVCs are still very low with rare days of increased activity but nothing worse than when taking the Toprol. Best is the return of my usual energy-levels. I can hardly believe it when I think of what an ordeal it was those first several months - I was a dish rag! And now I am myself again and no Toprol and no Toprol side -effects.
I am certainly not suggesting anyone should go the route I did. I'm just offering it to you as an example. Best of luck- Suzy-Q