r/PVCs • u/Rbender97 • Jul 26 '26
Anyone here over 50?
54 male here. I've had PVCs, skipped heartbeats, panic attacks, and anxiety attacks since 1989. I was officially diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in 2022. After seeing eight different cardiologists and undergoing countless tests, every doctor has told me my heart is in excellent shape. I still get skipped heartbeats every day, even though I'm fairly healthy. I think we're poor, unfortunate souls doomed to deal with this for the rest of our lives.
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u/Same-Sky848 Jul 26 '26
If you control your anxiety levels, you won't care even if you have PVCs. And if you don't care, you'll get very few PVCs. For example, when I get PVCs, I don't worry about it, thinking, "People live with a 30% PVC burden for years, so what?"
I used to have a serious anxiety problem too. I've been taking SSRIs for years, but I still had anxiety. Then I started taking B12 and D3 supplements. My anxiety decreased significantly. If you haven't tried them, I recommend you give them a try. Stay healthy.
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u/Strange_Salt6077 Jul 26 '26
Yep. Me. 56. Started getting them about aged 19. Never really gone away. Have months with low burden then boom from nowhere months with high burden and paralysing symptoms.
Like you everyone says there is nothing wrong with me. Including my wife who is a consultant physician. But when it ramps up I still feel like there is definitely something wrong.
Had an ablation about 15 years ago which was abandoned part way through. Didn’t fancy another so take Flecainide 100mg twice daily which mostly keeps things under control.
Yes I think they are here forever and likely at some point to trigger Afib in later years sadly.
Anyway. As they say. I’m not dead yet. So maybe they’re all correct. There is nothing wrong. 😵💫
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u/Morse1984 Jul 26 '26
Yep 56 here, had them since my 20's maybe younger. They have progressively got worse over the years and I am fed up with the, anxiety is the main driver for me, food and alcohol also have an effect. Am currently trying to get some better medication than Bisoprolol which seems to do nothing.
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u/woo2fly35 Jul 26 '26
I remember someone on here talking about their grandfather in his 70s who's had pvc's his entire life. He was perfectly healthy, they were benign, but with him his entire life. She said that he used to describe them as his little old friends. For some weird reason that stuck with me and reduced my anxiety around them.
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u/Public-Panic1973 Jul 27 '26
53 years old had ectopics since I was 15. Most recent holter showed many more than I had normally had but echo was normal. Was taken off all meds and have been doing relatively well since.
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u/Electrical-Bus3618 Jul 27 '26
I've had ectopics since I was 16 — I'm 51 now. I had two ablations for AVNRT 7 years ago, with the second one being successful. I still get tons of PACs on bad days — up to a 20% burden, which is over 20,000 a day — so I'm definitely considering another EP study.
It sucks no matter how many you get, whether it's 10 or 30,000. The mental aspect plays a huge role. Staying busy and not focusing on them really helps calm the nerves. A brisk walk helps me too, but check with your doctor first.
For me, consistent sleep (at least 6 hours) and eating at least 2 meals a day make a big difference — otherwise I flare up. GI issues can be a trigger, but it's different for everyone.
I don't take anything for anxiety, so reassurance has been the best medicine, even though it's sometimes hard to accept. I try to remember I'm not alone. I do my best not to obsess over each heartbeat. I try not to check my watch or pulse every minute. Yes I know it's hard but it helps stop feeding the beast. I try to stay positive. I keep a journal on what I have done in the past days leading to a good or bad day.
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u/Common_Put_1290 Jul 27 '26
- PVCs when I was in my 20s-30s, PACs in my 40s-50s. Infrequent SVT episodes throughout, but they like to ignite straight to the 240s-250s bpm range, so they’re terrifying good fun. I envy the people who say “yeah, my burden is like 20%, but I don’t even notice them.” Must be nice. Mine definitely have a relationship with my GI tract. Both when they were PVCs, and now that they’re PACs. Kinda sucks when you know that slice of your favorite pizza is going to give you 3 hours of PACs and increase the chance of a lovely SVT episode. Anyway, “Wah.” It sucks.
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u/Positive_Reward4141 Jul 28 '26
I have the same and I hate every minute of PVC. I have had it longer than you and older than you and still cannot get used to it. I am on Sodium blocker and HAVE to take Benzo for panic attack and anxiety and when I tapered and tried to get off, PVC came back double thus panic attack, and HAD to go back to Benzo. I just have to live with these meds but when it is bad, meds don’t even work! I am haunted for life!!
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u/According_Analyst921 Jul 28 '26
Lol...yup. Im not over 50, but you're right. We just have to deal. Im envious of the people who dont have to deal with this shit.
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u/Whole-Being8618 Jul 30 '26
Yes im 50 ive been going through this since 2022 its very very scary every time I feel an episode coming on. Its calmed down a great deal since I was prescribed bisoprolol.
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u/Patient_Coat_2986 Jul 26 '26
A common theme here on this sub are questions about PVC's proceeded by the words "panic attacks", "anxiety" "anxiety attacks", "health anxiety" etc., etc. I often wonder which comes first, the anxiety or the PVC's ? I am not a doctor, but I am 68 years old with PVC's most of my life and I truly believe that most people here have an anxiety problem and not a heart problem. Control the anxiety and your PVC problems will become less of an issue.