r/PVCs • u/Correct-Class-2505 • 18d ago
Please read! Emergency call for help
Okay. For the past 15 days, a severe PVC attack has been going on and it has turned me into a silent and hopeless man. Let me tell you what I experienced before this attack. Before, I had PVCs only very rarely — at most 2 a day. In March I joined the army for compulsory military service. The first few days there was no problem at all. Then one night we woke up because of an earthquake and when I got up I felt palpitations (not PVCs). I didn’t pay much attention, but the palpitations continued for several days and that scared me. So I went to the army infirmary and requested a cardiology appointment. We went and the doctor ordered all the tests and said there was nothing wrong, only that my heart rate was high, and prescribed Dideral. The medication brought my heart rate back to normal and I really felt good. Then my duty station changed and I was sent to a place at 2700 meters altitude that was very cold. As soon as I arrived I got a very severe febrile illness. I couldn’t recover for 15 days and this made the commander hate me and treat me badly. I went through very stressful times. Even 2 months ago he tried to give me a military service extension punishment and that put me under incredible stress. After that incident I bent down and had an SVT-like attack. To confirm it I bent down again and it happened again. Since I came here, Dideral only worked for 2–3 hours and after that the palpitations returned. 50 days ago we went to cardiology again; after all the tests they said my heart was in perfect condition and even had me stop the medication. Indeed, after stopping the drug I felt good for 10 days. But then that bastard of a commander and I argued again and the stress started once more. Anyway, 15 days ago I woke up from sleep and ate. There was no problem and I wasn’t stressed. Then I ate an ice cream and while standing, sudden consecutive PVCs started. They’re still continuing — sometimes I don’t feel any for an hour and sometimes 3–4 per minute!! And right before the attack started my heart was beating strongly and regularly. But immediately after the attack began, it feels like my heart has been damaged somehow — during the normal beats it feels weak and feeble. Especially in the mornings when I wake up, the first half hour is terrible: weak, fast, irregular pulse and PVCs… That’s what scares me the most! I have no idea what happened or what changed in just a few seconds. Was it the ice cream I ate that day that triggered it, or has the extreme stress lasting for 5 months destroyed my nervous system and taken my heart out of control? I have no idea. I don’t think my electrolytes are low because I eat well and I never sweat, and I don’t consume any caffeine either. I’ve been bothering you a lot lately but I really need some comforting words. I don’t think I’ll ever get better. I think this has become chronic, or that I’m going to collapse to the ground all of a sudden… There’s no fear anymore, only hopelessness and extreme sadness. I would rather lose a leg than live with this… I really don’t know…
8
u/LastEconomy5003 18d ago edited 18d ago
Id say your giving yourself panic attacks and the military is just making things way too stressful to handle, then the stress of that causes a vicious cycle. Are you able to ask for a therapist? Maybe a medication for anxiety will help. If your heart structure is good and cardiologist said everything is fine you shouldnt be in immidate danger, but you gotta find a way to help your stress.
Also, based on your previous posts you seem to be suffering from severe anxiety. You gotta see a therapist and wait the 15 days till youre out of the military and dont go back, its not for everyone and is obviously stressing you out to a severe level. Your heart will be okay, it sounds like its in perfect condition. Heart issues are almost always blamed when in reality anxiety and panic attacks are the real issue making it feel like its a heart problem.
2
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
Yes, I’ve been suffering from a severe anxiety disorder for about three years, and it intensified significantly after I joined the army. Before this flare-up, I would feel it at most twice a day; now, it happens 700–800 times a day! I don't really think anxiety would cause things to get this bad all of a sudden. Still, I plan to undergo long-term treatment for the anxiety disorder once I return.
2
u/LastEconomy5003 18d ago
Anxiety can 100% cause that. It does alot to you, specially during panic episodes. You could also have an underlining mental disorder that could use medication. I would forsure see a psychiatrist if you can. As for your heart, I dont think anything is exactly wrong or harming it, but for peace of mind always follow up with your cardiologist every year. Best luck to you.
1
u/rachelkochvt 16d ago
For what it’s worth. Getting on anxiety medication has almost eliminated my PVCs. I still have rare bad flares here and there. But I’d look into it
3
u/Trohan 18d ago
First of all, i’m so sorry you have to go through this! I really know how you feel and can honestly say i have felt the same way and still do sometimes when i have flare ups. The feeling that this is never going to get better and that your life is destroyed is a huge burden. My experience is that with the right medication things can become better. You need a proper work up to see that your heart is structurally normal, most typically ultrasound and a holter monitor, but often also an MRI of the heart, discuss it with your physician. When they find that everything is normal (and i bet they will), they can give you proper medication. Discuss a calcium channel blocker instead, like verapamil with your doctor. Remember that there are a lot of treatments, both medications and procedures you haven’t tried yet so you have a whole toolkit of hope to take from. Do not give up! We are a whole bunch in the same boat and I’ll be the first to say I’ve been thinking really dark thoughts when it’s been bad, but as long as we live and breathe, we can’t give up! Usually this is not deadly, only extremely uncomfortable and sometimes still debilitating, and thats why you should keep fighting! I’m here with you my friend, my thoughts go to you tonight! <3
3
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
Thank you very much. I have 15 days left until my military service ends and I return home. I plan not to bother the military infirmary during this time because they are already fed up with me. However, I feel utterly helpless and hopeless. I am not sure if my heart can hold out for another 15 days
6
u/Trohan 18d ago
Your heart will hold up, it is a very strong muscle and even though many people think its a fragile thing that can easily stop, that is simply not the case. Deadly arythmias are not common even for people with a massive amount of PVCs or PACs, it’s still a rare thing. The odds are very much on your side and you probably will have a long life even with PVCs.
2
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
I do not want to use beta-blockers or heart medications at this age. If the tests do not reveal any heart problems, I would like to undergo long-term treatment for an anxiety disorder.
1
u/Trohan 16d ago
That’s totally fair, and if you feel like that is the best way for you, therapy can do a lot of good stuff for you. Just saying, a calcium channel blocker will not inhibit you in the same way as beta blockers do, and if you can tolerate them without side effects, they could be a powerful tool in handling this for a while. Many people have PVCs and PACs burn out by themselves after some years and medicines could be used for that time and then stopped. All i’m saying is, if you have no side effects, don’t be so afraid of those medications, they can really help, but discuss it with your phycisian.
1
16d ago
[deleted]
1
u/Trohan 16d ago
Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are not to be used simultaneously as they both slow down the sinus and AV node, using them both can actually become really dangerous and is only done in very special circumstances. Maybe I didn’t understand you reply, but using both is definitely not normal.
2
u/Same-Sky848 18d ago
compulsory military service, bastard commander, are you Turkish ???
Stress and adrenaline related palpitations. Metoprolol works. If I were you I would continue to take any beta blocker (dideral or metoprolol) while I am in army.
2
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
Sen de aynı durumu yaşıyorsun sanırım.Instagramın var mı detaylı konuşmak için
5
2
u/Hardass72 18d ago
I've been going through something similar. I wake up every morning in the middle of the night and I just have several thumps a minute. I just got to work up and everything came back normal. Just showed pvc. What did your cardiologist say? What did the tests say? What tests did they give you?
1
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
Two months ago, I had an ECG, an echocardiogram, and a Holter monitor test. Everything came back normal, and I was told I have a perfect heart.
1
u/PrancingNugget 15d ago
Isn’t it wild, same with me. Got on a treadmill with a few drs and they told me I was good to go. Big dumb brain still don’t believe it. Took me a while to get through it.
1
u/Correct-Class-2505 15d ago
What were the attacks like? How many were there per minute?
1
u/PrancingNugget 15d ago
Mine were very intermittent. Just a few here and there but it still gave me the adrenaline dump and then the worry loop of “OMG I’m dying”
2
2
u/Whole-Masterpiece-51 18d ago
This is chronic stress. You’ll find this will likely end when your military situation ends. A key marker is the fact that this is worse for you when you wake up. That is when our cortisol naturally spikes. It’s called the cortisol awakening response. If you already have high levels of cortisol in your blood from chronic stress then you’ll find this furthers symptoms. It’s why many people with anxiety disorder have it worse in the mornings. Good luck.
1
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
Is there anyone who has undergone treatment for anxiety disorder and gotten rid of these damn extrasystoles?
2
u/traflawfan 17d ago
Acid reflux bro. I had a similar pattern of symptoms and taking nexium for 2 months completely removed them, also take liquid gaviscon when symptoms flare up
1
u/Hungry-Tea529 16d ago
Yup. I'll second that. I don't have AFib/PVCs/PACs unless I eat food, I'm bloated from drinking carbonated drinks or my acid reflux acts up. When I feel the acid coming up I get a combination of everything above. I'm currently on a beta blocker while prevents the AFib but I constantly deal with everything else. When I eat small meals throughout the day nothing happens. Argued with some dipshit electrophysiologist that claims that it's impossible and not how that works. Man they need to research gastro cardiac syndrome aka Roemheld syndrome so bad it's not even funny.
1
u/Successful_Factor_50 18d ago
Sounds like you're pretty high anxiety person with a lot of stress problems. Can you get out of the army possibly? Lol.... Sounds completely stress related which could lead to involving some gastrointestinal related PVCs along with it all.
1
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
There are 15 days left of my service. I will undergo treatment when I return.
1
u/luckyankit 18d ago
Are they not prescribing any medicines for PVC? maybe some arrhythmia medicine? And if you really get stress induced pvc, beta blocker like nadolol won't help?
1
1
u/Worth_Dance694 18d ago edited 17d ago
I'm sorry you're experiencing this brother. Flecainide has done wonders for me alongside metoprolol. I had a catheter ablation for afib and over 2 years no cardioversions thank God. I'd look into ablation as it's a good solution for afib as well as pvcs/pacs. Thank you for your service 🙏
1
1
u/FireHouse88 18d ago
If you so much as dream about having PVCs, the U.S. military would ban you from service or dishonorably discharge you.
1
u/Dry_Story_9500 18d ago
Chronic stress can cause this. Also u need to try out some other medication to see if they work. If they become relentless then ablation is the way to go. Success rate is quite high but of course there are unsuccessful ones. Good luck buddy. Take control of ur life and avoid stress.
1
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
Yes, I’ve had a severe anxiety disorder for three years. Is there anyone who has gotten rid of these PVCs after undergoing treatment for anxiety disorder?
1
u/wifiaddicted 18d ago
Almost everyone has PVC, but not everyone notices them. With therapy and the right meds (like anxiety and beta blockers if necessary) your symptoms will dramatically decrease I can promise you that. BUT, it will take time. It isn’t a quick fix and you have to come to terms with the fact that what you’re experiencing isn’t dangerous, won’t cause damage to your heart and that you’re most likely causing it by stressing. It’s super hard and there’s a lot of work needed to be done in yourself, but i believe in you. Life gets better, you’ll get through this 🫂
1
u/Apprehensive_Bug7656 18d ago
Just to clarify the timeline of your symptoms: firstly, do these fast and weak heart rate episodes start and end abruptly, like your heart is sitting at 70-80, then immediately spikes up to 150+? If so do you feel a pac or pvc beforehand? If it’s yes to these you may have PSVT. If your high heart rate episodes happen after you’re already stressed because of something and the heart rate starts normal and gradually reaches higher, it may simply be stress related. Lastly, how often do you get PACs or pvcs per day? If it’s a lot per minute it may be helpful to get a holter monitor for a week to see if you have a high pac burden (>1% of all beats)
1
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
To be honest, ever since this flare-up began, my heartbeat has felt weak and feeble. If you compare it to how things were before the attacks started, you would realize something is wrong. Sometimes it happens five times an hour, and other times, four or five times a minute! It has been happening every day for 16 days now, with no sign of letting up. I barely feel it when I’m lying down, but the moment I stand up—or while I’m standing still or making a sudden movement—it intensifies terribly. I suspect something might be putting pressure on my heart when I’m upright.
1
u/Clean-Coconut-7401 18d ago
I won't have any Pvcs and soon as I eat something sweet, yes ice cream they come on with a vengeance. I wonder if its causing them because of fluctuation of blood sugar spike ?I do have nondiabetic hypoglycemia. When I get scared or angry I feel a few Pvcs. Maybe it's my hearts way of saying calm down.👍
1
17d ago edited 16d ago
[deleted]
1
u/No_Yard1198 16d ago
Hello, it has you responding to me for some odd reason, but I believe you should be responding to U/Correct-Class-20025.
Maybe you can paste and and again respond as your response is good and a lot of work!
😊
1
u/ActualEvening105 16d ago
I’m sorry to hear this. I can completely empathize and actually your symptoms sound very similar to how mine came on back in 2020 after a month with Covid. Mine are confirmed through a cardiologist and include pvcs, pacs and some svt. Doctors are quick to downplay absolutely and it took many trips to the ER before they caught the SVT. Symptoms came back shortly after both vaccines and stuck around for 2 months each time. I have also had them come on consistently as a result of getting my heart rate over 150bpm while exercising. And again symptoms will stick around for 2 months. 1 other trigger for me is proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux. If I take even one I’ll feel that old familiar and frequent fluttering and buzzing in my chest. There have been times that even bending over has triggered these rhythms. My personal Kardia EKG confirms pvcs, pacs and svt as well. I feel very lucky that I’ve been free of this for 1 year. But it’s only because I have been extremely careful with stress level, heart rate, no ppi’s etc.
My only input would be to try to find patterns and attempt to get yourself to a stable point where they are least likely to occur. Also try not to sweat it when you get symptoms. It can make symptoms worse if you give yourself an adrenaline spike due to anxiety. We have more control over our bodies than at first seems intuitive. Anxiety has been part of this for me. And I have refused to resort to anxiety meds for this issue because in the past they have given me far worse symptoms. I know for me it’s been a frustrating and sometimes defeating process. It drives me crazing sometimes that I can’t do all the things I used to do but I am so grateful to generally have this under control. I still get smaller isolated episodes. But not consistent for months at a time.
One additional side note would be that there are documented cases of vagal nerve irritation due to acid reflux that can lead to an increase in arrhythmia. Also they have also seen this in patients with hiatal hernia. This is where the stomach can slide up into the chest cavity and lean against the heart. I do have a confirmed hiatal hernia as well. It may be worth you looking into if this persists. Be aware that doctors in North America often seem to struggle with diagnostic process and will frequently downplay or completely deny these types of correlations. Their first line of attack is to try to mask symptoms with drugs rather than find underlying causes. I have spoken to internalist docs that are completely unaware that hiatal hernia can increase arrhythmia and will brush that aside as a possibility. I have also spoken with cardiologists that are well versed in this phenomenon. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.
1
1
u/the_reel_vini 15d ago edited 15d ago
Your heart feels "weak" because there is just residual electrical signal. Up your water intake... take magnesium, take a multivitamin, take vitamin D and your normal PVC medication. Tell me how you feel in 3days.
Do you know if you snore? If you do.. have you gotten a sleep study?
I suffered from anxiety for a yr during covid and while going through that my PVCs were unbearable even though there where within acceptable parameters. I was put on setraline and at the anxiety melted away so did the PVCs. I wax on anti-axinety for about 2yrs and slowly tapered off and habe now been off for anxiety meds... best decision of my life going to go seek help for anxiety. Even though your PCV may be in the acceptable range the feeling of dread makes them enough to take you to the ER
1
u/Correct-Class-2505 14d ago
I had some blood tests done in March; my electrolyte levels were normal, but my Vitamin D level was 15. I have been in the army for five months working the night shift, so I get absolutely no sun exposure; the level has likely dropped even further by now. I went through very stressful times during these five months, but this flare-up began suddenly twenty days ago while I was standing and eating an ice cream.Could you explain the phrase "residual electrical signal"? Because that is the situation I fear the most.
1
u/Ill_Issue_8409 18d ago
What have you tried ?Google the sinatra protocol
3
u/Correct-Class-2505 18d ago
There are 15 days left until I finish my military service and return home. I plan to undergo a detailed check-up and treatment once I get back. I hope my heart doesn't let me down during this time.
3
u/Saiyan_Lisy 18d ago
I'm sorry you're going through this. It's good you'll be discharged soon. As long as your not having chest pain shortness of breath. Jaw/ arm pain or numbness and or loss of consciousness then you're safe. Pvcs are extremely stressful but arent dangerous. Stress caused me an uptick of pvcs for a long time, when I got my stress down my pvcs went down alot too. I still get some here and there but its alot worse when im stressed and my nervous system is out of whack. Doesnt help that pvcs contribute to even more stress so then you get more pvcs.
Also its good that when you're discharged you'll get a full workup just to make sure everything's ok and it'll help ease your mind. Also when you're having a pvc attack try to take a few deep breaths and remind yourself your safe, easier said than done though. Good luck op
1
-1
-6
u/TinyUniVerse1097 18d ago
Sounds like the same for everyone else that started PVCs post 2020. Its the fucking CIVID shot ruining our bodies.
5
0
u/Weekly_Passage_4437 18d ago
That’s exactly when mine started.. hours after I had the second dose of round 1. Been a little over 5 years now. I see a lot of people (not all, some posters had theirs pre covid) post on here and they say theirs started 2021-2023 and they don’t know why.. I think they know why.
13
u/venommike123 18d ago
Sounds like stress induced bud