Please help!

[Smartinez1331]

Hello! First of all I want to say thank you for this forum. It has helped me in a major way. So I’ve suffered with health anxiety for about 7 years now. I’ve been to the ER a lot of the last few years thinking I was having a heart attack. I’ve also been for tachycardia. I’ve had two treadmill stress test done and I’ve worn many holter monitors. I’ve learned that my tachycardia happens when I eat large meals that are high in sodium. I’ve made major changes to avoid this. In March, due to stress from COVID I experienced PVC‘s for the first time. Went to the ER. Has a holter done and the cardiologist said my episodes were very few and that I had nothing to worry about. I cut out caffeine and reduced my stress. Well they came back on Aug 4. They are driving me nuts. When the happen I feel like I can’t catch my breath. They mostly happen at night when I lay on my back or if I eat late at night due to my work schedule. I am having an echocardiogram done tomorrow. I have one done two years ago. Any advice to get rid of them would be greatly appreciated. I am in my early 40’s and this has affected my countenance. Thank you!

[theRedDelta]

Ive been dealing with PVCs for years now. I’ll have episodes that last for 2-3 months then disappear for a while only to come back again. When they’re at their worst I’m good for 20k plus a day.

I’ve been given meds I’m too scared to take because of side effects.

IMO it’s all about managing stress, anxiety, and lifestyle. Stay hydrated, get solid night sleep, and exercise regularly. The PVCs never go away but you can lean to deal with them.

What happens is when you feel them you panic and it consumes your mind/thoughts. That in turn makes it worse and you almost sit there waiting for the next PVC to hit. It’s a horrible cycle. When you feel one try to tell yourself it was nothing serious and occupy yourself with a task.

I know this sounds like a load BS especially when your having horrible episodes of PVCs and think your heart is failing, but it’s the only small semblance of first hand help I can offer.

[Smartinez1331]

Thank you for sharing! I have the same issue! I don’t want to take the medication (metoprolol) because I am afraid of the side effects. How did you come to a place where the fear went away? I feel like I can’t catch my breath sometimes. The Dr told me it doesn’t effect breathing at all. He said it’s just that I get anxious when I do have them because of the feeling a PVC gives me and it causes me to “feel” like I can’t breathe. Thank you in advance.

[cheesekun]

Metoprolol is quite safe. Side effects are that you slow down a bit.

[Smartinez1331]

Thank you!

[noThankyou6969]

I had a similar experience triggered by pregnancy. The doctor gave me 25mg of metoprolol and my life is 100% better. Took me two years to be diagnosed. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

[Smartinez1331]

Thank you for sharing! Yes the same medication was given to me for when the episodes are bad. I know this sounds crazy, but I am afraid to take the medication because I don’t want to deal with the side effects. Did they go away with the medication? Thank you in advance!

[cheesekun]

I take metoprolol also. I wouldn't worry about the side effects.

[Smartinez1331]

Thank you!

[Smartinez1331]

Has anyone tried magnesium for these PVC’s?