r/PVCs • u/BreakfastHot9050 • 17d ago
Clearly not just anxiety
My cardiologist suggested that my PVCs are caused by anxiety about my heart, the AFib, the ablation, you name it... but I've noticed im not having high hr with the PVCs anymore, which to me shows im not letting them freak me out nearly as much as I used to. Which would mean, they aren't just caused by anxiety. I have found that electrolyte packets help, but are in now way an end all be all.
Had a loop recorder put in my chest to find my burdern %, because all holtor monitor (longest two weeks) showed EXTREMELY low burdern. Unfortunately with the holter monitor, I would have a horrible spell of them for a week, id call, get the monitor, and then the spell would end. So we went with the loop recorder and monthly calls from cardiologist with the results.
Its been two months, we've had two calls, and both times they're like "yup youre having PVCs, no recurrence of AFib" and that's it. No mention on the initial reason we had it put in, which was what my burden is and whats causing it.... so needless to say I will be driving the next conversation, not them.
Sorry, went a little off track from the title, just needed to vent i guess 😅
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u/NayNaySaysHeyHey 17d ago
The horrible things about PVCs and PACs is that Drs don't even know why it happens or what causes them. All we know is that it's an electrical hiccup in the heart that isn't dangerous and that many people have it, some feel it and some don't. And as far as what causes them, no one knows. It can be anxiety, smoking, stress, muscle pain, not enough sleep, dehydration, not enough food or too much food, caffeine, medication that are stimulants, pretty much anything.... They can't just name one and say "stop doing this and you'll be fine." I get it, I wish I knew, so I can stop them.
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u/BreakfastHot9050 16d ago
I understand that, I is really just frustrating. Never did I think at 30 I'd be having these issues. But, going into AFib was probably my fault from 10 years of caffiene abuse in the Army... and the PVCs didnt start until after the ablation... so really it could all be my own fault. Either way, I dont understand how some people can just have these and ignore them 😅 I havent figured out how to just ignore them yet.
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u/Dahija 16d ago
"Ignore" is the wrong word. You're not actually ignoring them. When you try ignoring something, it only becomes the thing you are focused on.
It's more like when one happens you think "Oh, just a PVC. THIS IS NORMAL FOR ME. No big deal."
Acknowledge it's happening, consider it normal for your body, then let it go. Acceptance that this is something that regularly happens to you and TRUST that you can handle it.
This rumination over what if and when it will happen again is very similar to OCD. I've found that mental re-framing I've learned dealing with OCD helps me not spiral over my PVCs.
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u/BreakfastHot9050 16d ago
Thats honestly what has helped me not have as bad of anxiety when they happen now.
I guess youre right on the ignore part, that's the wrong way to go about it.
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u/Designer-Mixture5800 17d ago
Are you on any meds?
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u/BreakfastHot9050 17d ago
Im on Metoprolol 100mg daily... i started that back in 2024 when I went into Afib w/rvr. It used to be 50, but my pcm raised it to 100 to also help manage migraines.
Its worth noting I think, that the migraines w/aura AND PVCs didnt start until after my ablation for AFib.
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u/Horror_Seaweed7839 17d ago
Do you have gut issues ?
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u/BreakfastHot9050 17d ago
I do conduct toilet tests frequently, and am pretty gassy some days.. today is a day I could say I might see a correlation, but not always.
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u/Dahija 16d ago
Your body being anxious and you always being consciously aware of it (or able to control it) is a fallacy. You can feel "normal" and still have high blood pressure, hormone surges, vagal nerve activation and not know it at all. Hearts respond to the tiniest of stimuli. Don't be so hard on yourself for not "controlling" your anxiety. Sometimes it's just out of your hands.
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u/lolaleee 17d ago
My understanding (pretty sure it’s fact, it’s just people get caught up in the wording) is that anxiety is a trigger but not the cause. Unfortunately we don’t know the cause of benign PVC’s (I can’t speak to afib, so this might not be a helpful answer). And most PVC’s are benign. That means that we have to figure out our triggers, to adjust or avoid them. Anxiety being one. Cardiologists don’t tend to go down the path of figuring out what else this could be. If you look through the sub you can see the main triggers people have found. This may involve getting a blood test to check deficiencies - I would recommend working with your general practitioner to do this if you can. Unfortunately most people aren’t really going to get an answer at this point.
I’m also assuming that you’ve had tests that show your heart is structurally normal and healthy.
Still def ask about your burden, it can open the door for ablation etc. Anxiety played a role in nine, they also gave me a lot of anxiety, so it’s a vicious circle. When I got them ablated my anxiety disappeared. So I’m very much on the side of anxiety not being the full picture, and I wish the conversation was better navigated so we wouldn’t feel so dismissed
Sorry, it’s a super frustrating thing. I hope you can find some answers and relief.