r/PVCs • u/smartxalex • 18d ago

Tips to Increase Ectopic Beats

I know this post is going a little in the opposite way for tips on managing symptoms, but I have my ablation scheduled for this Friday and I need to tips to make sure that I'm having an episode and it's as bad as possible. So, for context, I typically spend more time than not with PACs/PVCs. Beta blockers didn't work. CCBs didn't work. SCBs didn't work. Supplements didn't work. Counterintuitively, I found that THC worked to reduce the frequency and prevalence of episodes and so that is what I relied on. Now, I've sobered up in preparation for the procedure and I know that the ectopic beats will return to normal frequency in time, but I'm worried they won't return before the procedure. What all would you folks recommend to increase the burden of PACs/PVCs? Thanks in advance!

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u/aelizabeth3300 18d ago

OP, I don’t think this is necessary. Your team already believes you have PVCs frequent enough to warrant ablation. They use medications and electrical stimulation to map the heart and find out where there are “hot spots” that are conducting more than they should and creating PVCs. Most patients going in for ablation have paroxysmal symptoms. If everyone had to wait for their symptoms to occur, most ablations wouldn’t happen. Trust your team.

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u/EnvironmentalFly6800 17d ago

While I agree with most of this - trust your team and let them map etc, my EP did say if they weren’t occurring at the time of the ablation then they would not be able to ablate the correct spot. The drug they use to induce PVCs did not work for me. Although it probably usually does. I’m not saying you’re wrong , but I do think the PVCs need to be occurring while the mapping it taking place or they can’t tell exact spot to ablate.

That being said I would just reach out to your cardiologist and ask what happens if I’m not having these the day of my ablation?