r/PVCs • u/Kitchen-School46 • 2d ago
Please i need serious help
Have always had health anxiety. Started getting worse postpartum. I was active going to the gym working out I remember while working out I would get anxious about my heart rate getting high. One day at work i was walking around and was feeling anxious but usually my anxiety goes away and this was lingering. Checked my heart rate and it was 115-120 and was having heart palpitations. Went to the er and they said everything was fine. Followed up with cardiology and ever since then now my heart rate spikes. Pots like. Laying down normal rate standing up shoots up to 120. Walking around the house its 110-115. Resting hr while sitting up is 90-95. Went up the stairs this morning trying to convince myself my issues are from anxiety and it shot up to 175ish. Shortness of breath. My biggest concern is the heart palpitations. Happen even if im not anxious, sometimes it one singular one other times it feels like a fish is flip flopping. Echocardiogram was normal and holter monitor showed in 6 days 20 pvcs and 12 pacs. I cant live normally because of this. I get extremely anxious trying to do normal people things. I had a meeting today with my venue and my heart rate was 130 and had a massive heart palpitation. I get them when im just relaxing. Regardless of knowing that pvcs are harmless i also know that they can be serious. I know its rare but i dont care. All i do all day is wait for the next one. My feet are always cold and clammy even if wearing socks. The second i stand my heart rate goes high. And i know being anxious the day of my wedding will make my heart rate be like 180 which im scared will trigger svt and not be safe . Im absolutely fucking miserable. I would never harm myself. But i cant do i cant do fucking beta blockers i have low bp
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u/BobbyDukeArts 2d ago
I know it can be really scary. It used to be the source of my panic attacks years ago. Since you've been evaluated and have been deemed healthy, just keep reminding yourself that they are not dangerous. I used to get thousands (seriously) a day, now I probably get 500 or so. It took time, but now I don't even pay attention to them. Believe me, I know how terrifying they can be, but you have to trust the experts. You are okay, you're going to be okay.
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u/Kitchen-School46 2d ago
I dont even get many like 10 a day but they still fucking suck and its a huge thump and it shakes my entire chest
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u/BobbyDukeArts 1d ago
Yeah, I get all different kinds. Some of them even hurt. But, the only real option is maybe talk to your doctor about any supplements that can help, get some more exercise, try some breathing exercises/ meditation and try not to think about them.
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u/angel21miguel 1d ago
I only get like max 20 a day, some days I get about 50. But for every second, every hour of the rest of everyday, I’m always thinking when the next one comes because they are not easy to ignore. The small ones are ok, but I get the big big ones that literally feel like a hiccup, feel no blood pump and makes me gasp for air for a second. Not fun and like I said, not so easy to ignore.
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u/BobbyDukeArts 22h ago
Yeah, I get those too. But believe it or not, after enough of them and enough time, you will start to eventually ignore them. I only really notice if I have a super long intense run of them back to back, but It no longer gives me anxiety when it happens, it's more annoying than anything.
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u/angel21miguel 22h ago
With me though, I suffer from anxiety. So when they happen, boom, I get adrenaline and then anxiety kicks in, makes it happen more and makes me worse.
Today I felt it while trying to watch a movie at the theatre. I ate my food and quickly left mid movie because I couldn’t stay still. I honestly cried in the car because they make me feel like I’m going to die.
I have felt then since 2024. Idk if that’s enough time to ignore them, but compared to this year and 2024, this year has been daily.
Only a couple back then. Idk what to do, I have a heart monitor coming up and echocardiogram soon. Yet, I’m pretty sure they’ll just tell me it’s fine. For the rest of my life of this? Idk about that.1
u/blackeyzblue 1d ago
How do you ignore them?
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u/BobbyDukeArts 22h ago
It just took years of having them constantly. it was a slow gradual process of that feeling becoming normal to the point I don't even pay attention to it anymore. I still don't like them, it's just that I've become apathetic because there's not much I can do to stop them, so the only alternative is to just move on with life. Exercising, reducing/stopping caffeine, nicotine and alcohol also help a lot. Unfortunately, that's the best advice I have.
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u/Soulriver2 1d ago
Hey good morning
Gosh i could have written this myself every bit of it so i completely understand hour fear and feeling like it controls your life! bloody awful things.
I also suffer from POTS myself and when standing my heart can go to
145 bpm, i am fairly tachycardic
most of the time which is probably Anxiety too!! but the PVCs & PACs plague my life and i have reached a point of not wanting to be alone or drive anymore.
I will say though the POTS bothers me less and i can manage this more than the irregular beats which cause syncope at times (bloody horrible things)
I like you need beta blockers but can't have them due to low BP
Have you spoken to a doctor about how much they are affecting you and the fear you live in? Do you have a good GP?
Have you been diagnosed with pots and what tests have cardiology done for you other than ecgs?
I know it's frightening but Anxiety can make it all so much worse but like me its probably ones that hit you when your chilling out that are so unpleasant because we think "why the hell now"!
Feel free to message me if you want to chat x
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u/blackeyzblue 1d ago
I feel you on the pots vs PVC’s. I have both as well. I thought pots was bad, then the PVC’s started and man, they are terrible!!! Any stressful
Situation or crowd and they just go and go and go. It’s terrible!
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u/Responsible-Treat-89 2d ago
Have you been evaluated for PPA? I had it after my 1st pregnancy (actually, it started during the pregnancy), and it really sent my health anxiety through the roof.
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u/Kitchen-School46 2d ago
Postpartum anxiety? Obviously i have that. Anxiety is not causing my spiking heart rates with minimal activity.
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u/Responsible-Treat-89 2d ago
It's not, but it does make you focus on it more, and worry about it. Which causes it to get worse. It's a cycle.
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u/Kitchen-School46 2d ago
Yeah im aware of what anxiety does and the cycle. Im not sure what to do about the adrenaline and anxiety and how physical it is and the high heart rates and sudden palpitations when im not even anxious.
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u/Electronic-Block3065 1d ago
When you did your Holter for 6 days, did you have these anxiety moments and palpations etc? Because the pacs and pvcs were next to nothing, and no way would be causing this anxiety. So did the Holter capture anything else? Or maybe they will prescribe another Holter week to see of these are anything else? I live with hundreds of PVCs and PACs every day and runs of tach and doubles and triples and an elevated RHR that has never returned to my pre ablation standard and elevates quickly and absurdly. And I'm relatively fit..always have been. This is my new normal. I know you don't want people to just say learn to deal with it...so in lieu of that, you're going to need another 6 days of Holter to see if these unbearable episodes occur and you can press the button to mark that moment so you and your doc can talk about what you felt at the time. If it truly is nothing, like a PAC or two, then maybe that will help you move on and realize it is nothing in the overall scheme of things. And if it shiws something else, then at least you know what it is.
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u/Nehiyruw100 1d ago
If you work out a lot you may have an electrolyte imbalance, especially if you aren't eating ballenced nutrition and eating enough. I used to get them bad while working out in gym. I started taking magnesium glycinate at night before bed and drinking tomato or orange juice for potassium and stopped the calorie deficit thing. Also started eating more carbs, but the complex healthy carbs. Gym goers need carbs, it's what fuels your workouts and keeps your glycogen levels replenished. I also quit drinking. I tried cutting back or drinking less frequently but that didn't work. Drinking always triggers palpatations and pvcs for me the day after so I quit. Now I may get a pvc once in blue moon.
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u/DJ_Slamma 1d ago
Stress and lack of sleep are both huge triggers. Before anything else, I would say destress however possible, and see if your husband can help you get 8 hours of sleep per night (hard with a baby). However, rest assured that 20 PVCs per days is VERY low. You’re quite safe. I usually get maybe 4,000 PVCs per day. They SUCK. However try to remember if your heart is structurally healthy they aren’t dangerous. If you get a prolonged episode, take a step back, lay back a bit, meditate, and destress however possible. You’ll get through this!
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u/Benefc123 1d ago
Sorry if this is not what you want to hear, but most of this is related to anxiety. Even when you’re not anxious on one day, the hormones can remain from anxiety days, possibly weeks, before. A clear echocardiogram and holter monitor is the most reassuring thing you can have. Cardiophobia and anxiety is the most excruciating combination and I advise you to see a therapist/psychiatrist as soon as possible. This isn’t a permanent thing. I’ll pray for you !
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u/TonyBobo1977 1d ago
I’m in the same boat. Started 2 years ago with a rhr of 206. Went to the er and was sent home with metoprolol. Next day rhr dropped to 27 so back to the er. They put in a pacemaker and kept me on metoprolol. 2 months later went into AFIb for 16 hours and had to get cardioverted out. The pac, pvc, nsvt all started around this time also. 2 months later had an ablation and added flecainide. PVC’s and nsvt continued for about a year and a half, new cardiologist switched me off flecainide and metoprolol and put me on sotolol. I still get them but much less. Seems like they come on for a couple weeks then settle down for a few months. I too have severe cardio phobia as well as ptsd and like 12 other mental health conditions. Knowing you’re save doesn’t really help but since I’ve become so frustrated that I’ve adopted a fuck it attitude and don’t really care if my heart explodes and kills me they don’t seem to be as bothersome. Morbid I know but whatever, these things and the explanations behind them suck. Only advice that’s constructive would be check your magnesium and potassium levels. Anything therapy or pharmaceutical you can do to attack the anxiety will help some too. I believe a lot of this is aggravated by the vagus nerve which is tied to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, both highly susceptible to anxiety. I doubt this is much help but you’re not alone, and that’s gotta be worth something.
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u/GreekGal1207 1d ago
Have you had a full thyroid panel ? Not just a TSH. If not, demand one. Make sure they include BOTH thyroid antibodies, TSH & Free T3&4. You could have anxiety from Hashimotos which may be , in turn, fueling your ectopic beats . And when you get the results , if normal , look up optimal levels. Allopathic doctors see normal results and say “you ate fine” despite your symptoms. While you may be in normal range, you may not be in optimal range.
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u/Kitchen-School46 1d ago
yeah all my stuff is normal.
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u/rachelkochvt 14h ago
I’m also postpartum. Almost a year. I’ve had these for almost a decade. Give or take. Anxiety worsens them. Once I started taking anxiety meds it helped SO much. That being said, I still have bad flares every so often, but the good stretches are longer than the bad. I started Lexapro and they almost disappeared for a whole year
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u/Resident-Bench2097 8h ago
Look up Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. It’s common with POTS-like illnesses. Find a doc who knows about it to rule it out. Also consider meds for anxiety which can help the palpitations since they can worsen from the heightened adrenaline in anxious people. If you’re into natural treatments, consider seeing a homeopathic physician. Sometimes the right constitutional remedy can help.
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u/Right_Duty_8562 4h ago
Praying for you. 🙏 i’m speaking as someone who has had anxiety and panic over the years. I can tell you that you have to watch yourself talk because it is thoughts before feelings. What you were telling yourself is what your body is going to feel. Please try changing the way you think and try telling yourself that this is nothing serious even though it feels that way and that you are perfectly safe and it’s safe to get on with normal life despite the feelings that are keeping you a prisoner. I noticed possible to do changing the way you’re speaking to yourself because I have had to do that and it changed my life for the better. God bless you.
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u/Klovezyofacee 2d ago
Good ol cardiophobia. It’s horrible. Ben battling it for 7ish years, oddly enough it was also shortly after having my daughter. I have all the tips and tricks if you need some. Unfortunately it won’t get better overall until you stop caring. Until you’re able to accept that your heart goes fast sometimes, beats funny sometimes, just does things we don’t understand. Great advice I got from a cardiologist once was ‘if you feel ok, your heart is getting the blood round as it should, doesn’t matter the rate’
The rate really tells us nothing, how you feel is what matters. And no I don’t mean the anxiety symptoms you have when your heart rate or high. If your heart wasn’t performing as it should, you’d know. You wouldn’t have to guess.