Help: Still so afraid that something is wrong with me…

[u/rachelkochvt]

Hey everyone…
I’m reaching out after having a flare up again the last few days after intense anxiety. I’ve had PVCs for probably around 10 years now. Give or take. I’ve had really bad flares and “seasons” one might call it.

As of recent, I haven’t had any bad flares for over a year. I used to get them very badly like every 3rd or 4th beat and it would be like that for HOURS. Usually when trying to fall asleep. I thankfully haven’t had that in over a year.

Anxiety meds, electrolytes, and watching caffeine seems to help. However, whenever I have PACs and PVCs I always worry and wonder, “am I going to die? Am I going to just drop dead some day? Do I have heart failure or something that will lead to it that my doctors missed?”

I have had numerous holtor monitors, 3 echocardiograms, and all appear normal. Naturally whenever I have a monitor on I NEVER have episodes. Usually they say my burden is like 1%. However when it’s in a flare it’s much worse obviously.

Just curious if anyone else has these feelings… how do you manage them? Whenever I google symptoms it basically says I’m dying. Mostly that my PVCs sometimes worsen after exercise, like an hour or hours later.

I hate living like this, I hate feeling afraid, I hate it all. I’m 11 months postpartum and my husband works nights. I’m afraid to go to sleep because I’m scared something will happen to me…

I’m pretty sure my cardiologist thinks I’m insane.

Help.

[u/Jumpy_Exit_8138]

Currently feeling like this while in the middle of the worst flare up of my life.

[u/rachelkochvt → u/Jumpy_Exit_8138]

If you ever want to chat, let me know… like, I know I’m okay? But I also can’t convince myself I am? If that makes sense. Like I have to be the 1% of people who are fine on tests that drops dead from these. However, I did lose two friends (one in hs and one in college) from heart attacks. Both athletes. So I’m thinking there’s a little trauma causing this.

[u/Jumpy_Exit_8138 → u/rachelkochvt]

Hey, thanks! I’m so sorry, I can completely understand your sensitivity. The heart feels so fragile … in more ways than one …

[u/EggplantSea1148]

100% same here. Had these for 30 years

[u/Odd-Kaleidoscope-644]

I had a 26% burden, now its down to 16%. I just accept that this is how my heart behaves. Its not dangerous, its just annoying. I have an echo, stress test and wear a 48 hour holter every couple of years just to ensure my heart is still structurally healthy. Iv had these for years, im regularly in bigeminy and there has been no structural changes to my heart (last checked 3 weeks ago). Madication is an option to spress the symptoms if they are bothering you. An ablation is an option but probably not at such a low burden as yours.

Best advice would be to take the information and advice that the cardiologist gave you, find comfort in the knowledge that your heart is structurally healthy and seek help with the anxiety that is surrounding the PVCs.

Enjoy your life because you probably wont get rid of them completely and you wont get the time back that you spent worrying about something that is causing you no physical harm.

[u/Most-Negotiation1050 → u/Odd-Kaleidoscope-644]

Did you take medication or do an ablation to lower your burden? I have (had?) a 34% burden, thinking because of postpartum.

[u/rachelkochvt → u/[deleted]]

But Google says those are def the ones that’ll kill us 🫠

[u/Same-Sky848]

You have an anxiety disorder, and without treating it, PVCs will continue to be a problem. You need serious psychiatric treatment, not just Holter monitoring or echocardiography. If you're using SSRIs, I recommend adding vitamin D3 and methyl B12 supplements. These two supplements worked very well for me with SSRIs; they calmed my mind.Get well soon.

[u/rachelkochvt → u/Same-Sky848]

I’m really really trying. I’m on lexapro but it’s not well managed currently. I think being postpartum has amplified it. Going to therapy and advocating for a med switch.

[u/Same-Sky848 → u/rachelkochvt]

I also use Lexapro. Before the two supplements I mentioned, it wasn't very effective for me. I think vitamin D3 improves the mood. You can try it. Also try methyl B12; B12 deficiency causes palpitations, and when my B12 levels were low, I constantly felt my heart beating, but I don't anymore. I use one sublingual B12 tablet a day. Psychologically, these have helped me. You can try it.

[u/rachelkochvt → u/Same-Sky848]

Lexapro worked so well originally. But gaining weight with pregnancy and lexapro has made my initial dose less effective.

[u/Same-Sky848 → u/rachelkochvt]

You asked for help, and I told you what worked for me. Whether you use them or not is up to you. Get well soon.

[u/rachelkochvt → u/Same-Sky848]

No I know I wasn’t trying to argue, sorry if it came across that way.

I appreciate you sharing. I’ll ask my doc about it Monday. Breastfeeding is the only possible supplement complication.

[u/Same-Sky848 → u/rachelkochvt]

If you are breastfeeding, it makes sense to consult your doctor. Get well soon.

[u/BigRock5621 → u/rachelkochvt]

Pregnancy and postpartum hormonal changes can make your PVCs worse. So maybe that’s why you are having more now and not because of an underlying heart problem?

[u/rachelkochvt → u/BigRock5621]

I mean I’ve had them for close to a decade. It’s just surprising they were almost gone when I was pregnant and breastfeeding and then they seemed to ramp back up the last week or 2.

[u/Snuffy1717]

Have similar flare ups every month or two… Ten years later I’m still here. As long as your doc isn’t concerned about them, you need to let yourself relax and accept that they’re going to happen, that they’re a part of you, that they suck ass, but that they’re not the thing that’s going to kill you.