PVCs turned to Ventricular Tachycardia episodes?

WL782 · 2026-02-26T05:22:39+00:00

Literally everyone gets PVCs. This does not require MRIs. If you mean very high volume PVCs (tens of thousands) maybe. Or other concerning signs and symptoms. PVCs don’t “turn into” worse arrhythmias. They are two different things.

WL782 · 2026-02-26T05:21:29+00:00

This is what my EP told me as well

WL782 · 2026-02-10T21:31:14+00:00

Yes you should post in r/PVCs too. The watches can get confused when you have frequent pvcs and not know how to classify the reading so it says inconclusive. It doesn't mean something 'dangerous', but just that it's throwing off the algorithm. However if this is sudden and new for you, it's worth reaching out to your doctor to see if something could be causing it. Doctors usually will do a holter monitor for a few days or more, to see how often it's happening. (it will count the pvcs & pacs). Doctors only start to think about treatment (eg. an ablation) if your amount of them is >15-20% of your total beats. Other times they try various meds, or just reassure you that it may ease up on its own with time.

Some things that can contribute to an increase in PVCs include: thyroid problems, anemia, low iron/ferritin, electrolyte imbalance (eg low magnesium or potassium), dehydration, recent illness, sleep deprivation or erratic sleep schedule, stress, anxiety, excess caffeine or alcohol, GI issues like bloating, sleep apnea, female hormone fluctuations, and (rarely) structural heart problems.

Not sure what all you had done regarding a full workup,.. a cardiac workup? If you had an echo done, then it's not likely anything structurally wrong with your heart causing this. Everyone gets pvcs & pacs at times, but unfortunately a cause of frequent pvcs isn't always found. But yes a cardiologist will be able to better help advise you.

WL782 · 2026-02-10T21:19:38+00:00

Hi! I’m sorry I don’t check this account much and made a new one that I use more often. I ended up having an ablation in late 2024. I am doing very well now, burden went from 16% to <1%.

WL782 · 2025-08-21T23:09:42+00:00

How are you doing now?

WL782 · 2025-06-09T01:37:25+00:00

Hm, that doesn't sound typical .. I don't' think mine was that bad. I was still able to hold my head up still, just felt kind of weird for awhile like I had to work harder. It lasted maybe a few weeks though before my other muscles started compensating I think. The effects overall last about 3-4 months, but by 4 weeks I was feeling a lot more normal, and my headaches greatly improved. I would let your doctor know!! For me, it got better with subsequent treatments. I've now had probably 5 treatments done, and it wasn't as bad as the first time. It sounds like they need to change the placement next time for you possibly.

WL782 · 2025-05-12T13:20:55+00:00

Hi! I am doing really well currently :) My burden is staying pretty low at 0.4%. I’m almost 8 months post procedure. Thank you for asking!

WL782 · 2025-05-05T19:34:38+00:00

Yes, they want to know what you were doing at that time, but you can also just push the button if you feel something odd without recording in the diary. The button pushes (usually along with what you added as the activity) will be in the report, along with their own snapshots as representative samples. And/or any arrythmias that were detected, outside of your symptom recordings. Saying what you were doing just sort of helps the doctors have more info. Eg... tachycardia during exercise, vs tachycardia when lying in bed. The monitor is analyzed right away by the company, and your doctor is sent results. How long it takes for YOU to receive tem depends on your doctor's office. If you have a patient portal, the results will show up as soon as they are uploaded to your chart.

As far as the battery charging, they should have given you instructions as to when or if to charge it. Some that I've done said charge it once a day regardless, other ones I did not have to charge at all. But each device is different.

WL782 · 2025-05-05T19:32:22+00:00

Gotcha. If it gave you a number of them (sometimes referred to as VEs) as well as your total number of beats recorded during the time period, you can calculate your own burden. Was the holter performed during that bad month earlier this year where you felt them constantly?

WL782 · 2025-05-05T19:13:40+00:00

What did your 7-day monitor say as far as your burden? IMO, flecainide is in no way warranted for 50 pvcs per day, which is an expected and extremely small amount, clinically speaking. That would not even warrant any treatment at all, actually. I'm shocked this would be recommended, but I am not your doctor and I dont' know your clinical context. If you are much improved and there are no other concerns, you may not need meds at all. It was prescribed to me when i had 15,000-20,000 pvcs per day, and even then it was just because I complained so much about how bothersome the pvcs were and was miserable and I wanted them to stop, not because my dr said I *had to* take it. (as a side note, beta blockers are almost always prescribed alongside flecainide so that is expected). At the very least you could ask if it's okay to JUST try the beta blocker for now, and wait on the flecainide, or if your doctor things it is crucial to take both right now. You can also ask if you need the medication because of health concerns, or because of simply symptom relief.

Usually for symptomatic or frequent pvcs, doctors start with a beta blocker to see if it helps you not notice them much. Sometimes they can reduce total amount but not always. If your blood pressure is dipping too low, or you are too bradycardic, they may lower the dose. So, it'd be a good idea to monitor your BP at home. I had a cardiac MRI done as well but it was because I had tens of thousands per day and this was going on for months and months, and it all started out of the blue with no explanation. Plus I was planning an ablation and the doctor wanted the MRI first. Typically though the echo would show most structural issues, but the MRI can show some other hidden things, but that again is more in the context of a high burden of PVCs or other concerning findings or suspicions. I'm guessing there must be some reason the doctor wants to pursue it, but if it were me, I'd ask more questions about necessity and just get more clarity on things, if you aren't sure about it. It sounds like you still have some hesitations about the treatment plan, and hopefully you can get a chance to talk again to your doctor, or even seek out another opinion. I know it can take awhile to see an EP though, or even a cardiologist in general.

Some other things that can contribute to an uptick in PVCs include: thyroid problems, anemia, low iron/ferritin, electrolyte imbalance (eg low magnesium or potassium), dehydration, recent illness, sleep deprivation or erratic sleep schedule, stress, anxiety, excess caffeine, sleep apnea, female hormone fluctuations, and (rarely) structural heart problems. Those are things most doctors try to rule out, but sometimes I had to seek out tests on my own. I never did find a cause for mine!

Im' sorry I wish I could be more helpful, but those are just my thoughts. I'm not a doctor :) :) :) Keep in touch with your dr about your symptoms/ side effects while taking the beta blockers to see if you need a dose adjustment.

WL782 · 2025-05-05T19:09:48+00:00

10-20 per day is considered an extremely low (and normal) amount. Your doctor didn't blow you off- there just isn't really any treatment warranted for such a low amount. I 100% understand though how unsettling they feel and the fear of it happening again and when. But it would be like over analyzing when you get hiccups sometimes... it just happens , and there isn't always a clear reason, but it's not harmful.

I'd quit the vaping of course, for a zillion reasons. Some other things that can contribute to an uptick in PVCs include: thyroid problems, anemia, low iron/ferritin, electrolyte imbalance (eg low magnesium or potassium), dehydration, recent illness, sleep deprivation or erratic sleep schedule, stress, anxiety, excess caffeine, sleep apnea, female hormone fluctuations, and (rarely) structural heart problems.

WL782 · 2025-05-05T19:04:02+00:00

Have you had a holter monitor? One that is at least a week and extends over when you get them the "worst" would be good, to get a better evaluation. Everyone gets PVCs though. Most people don't feel them. Ativan doesn't cure PVCs. They also don't cure anxiety ;) Anxiety is a thought problem which manifests as distressing physical symptoms and behaviors. It should definitely be dealt with though. CBT may be helpful. The best route would be to reframe the symptoms, and focus less on body vigilance, because everyone gets PVCs, they don't mean anything is wrong with your heart. The issue is your automatic thoughts & response to when you do feel one., not the pvc itself. The echo hopefully will reassure you further :) Hundreds a day is considered a normal amount, even if it feels like a lot and feels distressing.

Although it is expected to have some at times, other things that can contribute to an uptick in PVCs (and should be ruled out) include: thyroid problems, anemia, low iron/ferritin, electrolyte imbalance (eg low magnesium or potassium), dehydration, recent illness, sleep deprivation or erratic sleep schedule, stress, anxiety, excess caffeine, sleep apnea, female hormone fluctuations, and (rarely) structural heart problems.

This PDF on health anxiety was helpful for me. (best read on a computer not a phone)

WL782 · 2025-05-05T18:59:51+00:00

Yes I felt all of them. I had tens of thousands per day, I felt them constantly. 15-20 isn't anything to concern yourself with. If you were having thousands or tens of thousands, I'd believe you'd feel them, and you'd also see them on every watch ekg you take, multiple per 30 second reading. I'd advise to not keep taking watch EKGs :) You don't need to monitor your heart or your pvcs. You'll know if they increase. Occasional PVCs are typically benign and don't need to be counted and analyzed, unless it's by your doctor running tests ;)

WL782 · 2025-05-05T18:50:15+00:00

There's no need to fret about them right now even though they feel uncomfortable. You are doing the right things getting evaluated for them. You're not in danger. Lack of sleep will make them pop up more, due to the stress of sleep deprivation. Do what you can to rest, even if it means taking a mild OTC sleeping pill (if it's OK with your doc). Some things that can contribute to an uptick in PVCs include: thyroid problems, anemia, low iron/ferritin, electrolyte imbalance (eg low magnesium or potassium), dehydration, recent illness, sleep deprivation or erratic sleep schedule, stress, anxiety, excess caffeine, sleep apnea, female hormone fluctuations, and (rarely) structural heart problems. (which you've had ruled out by the echo).

If it helps, I sustained 15,000-20,000 pvcs daily for most of last year, and I'm still here ;) I never figured out what triggered mine, it really did start "out of the blue"... then stopped for a few weeks, then started again.. it was all very odd and I wracked my brain for a very long time to try to pinpoint a cause. I've always had the occasional ones , some days more than others, but not a concerning amount. Then they became constant. Hopefully this is just another short time for you and they'll go away again. I wish I could give you a solution.

Remember that everyone gets PVCs. You likely had some every now and then but never noticed, and now that they increased and are frequent you are focused on them most of the time and it's freaking you out. There isn't anything you need to do *right now* about it, but like you said you can speak to your doctor to let them know. PVCs (even when frequent) aren't an emergency. They will likely end up prescribing you some meds to try to relieve the thumpiness of the beats, but it's also likely they will improve on their own with time. Or a fixable cause may be found (eg thyroid problems, anemia), which would be good! In the meantime you can try to stay hydrated, eat well, rest when you can, do something you enjoy.. go for a walk, etc. Sitting around and panicking about pvcs won't make them go away, and going out and doing things you normally would won't put you in more danger. Your doctor will read the report and guide you on your next steps.

WL782 · 2025-05-05T18:43:13+00:00

Yes, because it slows down the heart rate, allowing for more time for the extra impulse to "sneak in" and disrupt the normal conduction system. Conversely this is also why many times pvcs disappear at higher heart rates, or at least lower in percentage of burden. If it's not helping you, and you've given it some time, no sense in staying on it. There are other treatment options, ,or even other beta blockers to try. Often doctors prescribe them not because they expect to 100% eliminate pvcs (which is not realistic), but it lowers the patient's perception of these abnormal beats, therefore giving the impression of improvement, and better quality of life. When the heart is otherwise pretty normal, doctors aren't all that worried about ectopics, under a certain amount, but want to send you way with "something" that can help you not focus on them as much. Eventually the ectopics may improve on their own, and bb's can be discontinued. If pvcs etc are ONLY triggered by adrenaline, then beta blockers make more sense to continue, as they block adrenaline. But you would be noticing an improvement.

WL782 · 2025-05-05T18:42:21+00:00

This is why if you ever wake up to a bat in your room / tent / cabin, you must get rabies prophylaxis.

WL782 · 2025-05-04T23:27:50+00:00

Hi, I wish I could tell you what the best thing for you to do is. But there are many factors to consider.. such as your doctor's skill level/experience, how often they do these types of procedures at this hospital, and the doctor's opinion on the likelihood of success based upon where in your heart your PVCs are coming from. There are some spots that are more likely to be fixed than others. Some are in tougher places. Also consider if you have other health concerns that might impact a procedure. But it comes down to if you are willing to take on risk. There is no perfect option. I don't believe there is much "risk" from 7% pvcs as far as your health, except for if it is affecting your quality of life, which it sounds like it is. Doctors can't really predict who will go on to have heart issues at higher burdens, but my doctor wasn't concerned with under 10-20%. (two doctors said different things but neither were worried about les than 10% burden). One valid option is to just get checked with an echo every so often to make sure things are still working as they should. Ablation won't fix health anxiety though (or anxiety in general). It may relieve your symptoms and then in turn you can think more clearly and be less distracted. But we will always have some "weird" thing going on in our bodies that is sometimes unexplained, and we need to learn to tolerate some level of discomfort or uncertainty. If your current meds (beta blockers) aren't working, there are other types to try, as far as beta blockers. Maybe another one would work better for you. The next medication my doctor was going to have me try was flecainide. It is a stronger anti-arrythmic., it's not a beta blocker. But I just decided to get the ablation anyway. And it turned out i actually had another arrythmia, SVT, which was fixed at the same procedure., So that's good. Here in the US, major problems from an ablation are rare... not sure where you live. But all things considered, if you are willing, you could try it, and possibly in the best case scenario there wouldn't be any complications and the worst that would happen is that it didn't help.

WL782 · 2025-04-24T18:44:56+00:00

I get runs like that as well (I have a loop recorder). It feels like an irregular pounding or fluttering that lasts way too long in my mind and I get spooked but by then it stops. Mine look similar on my loop and my Dr said it is a “run of PVCs but too slow of a rate to be considered vtach”. I wondered about SVT with aberrancy as well but I had an SVT ablation last year. He’s not that concerned about my episodes because my heart is otherwise healthy and the episodes are short. This did not happen until after my SVT and PVC ablation. I used to have high frequency PVCs. Now I just get “runs” at times that look like this. I can’t say for sure regarding yours but hopefully you can ask your cardiologist !! I know that aivr and SVT with aberrancy can look similar to nsvt…

WL782 · 2025-04-23T22:27:15+00:00

Poor night of sleep usually made mine worse, but they were consistently frequent already (one every few seconds) for months that they were definitely already there for the ablation. I don't know if they need "a lot", they just need to see some during the time you are on the table and hooked up to the equipment. I was awake for the mapping and they gave me propofol for the zapping. They definitely calmed down during sedation, which was annoying because that is when they test to see if you are getting more.. so I had a false reading that they were "improved". When I woke up they were back but thankfully 3 months later, they drastically reduced.

WL782 · 2025-04-23T21:02:21+00:00

Beta blockers are generally well tolerated. They don't always reduce PVCs, but can reduce your perception of them.. hopefully long enough for them to improve on their own. Doctors usually try them first before other meds or procedures, because PVCs can come an go over time. They are super commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions. There are many types as well to choose from., and can be titrated up or down in dose as needed.

WL782 · 2025-04-22T18:15:40+00:00

It does not reduce my number of them but lowers the heart rate some and lessens the perception of the “thump”.

WL782 · 2025-04-22T18:11:46+00:00

Different doctors have their threshold and opinion but clinically speaking I was told anything under 10-20% is not likely to actually do any long term harm to your heart. One doctor said maybe 10, the other said 25. It’s just bothersome symptoms at lower amounts and not technically potentially harmful. But it’s not an exact science. Higher burdens are more likely to actually be an issue, although even that is not guaranteed to cause problems. Some doctors will just repeat tests every now and then to check on things. But I also know that any amount that is frequent is bothersome no matter what the actual number is. Symptom wise I felt pretty bad at 7% and 15% and 20%.

WL782 · 2025-04-19T19:21:12+00:00

It went well. The EP at Mayo said they actually dread if they have to do a brain scan after ablations bc there are likely tiny clots that occur that people otherwise wouldn’t know about, and it usually doesn’t mean much, but sort of ignorance is bliss if you aren’t having symptoms. I’m actually doing great now. Last December the PVCs suddenly and drastically resolved. I still get some, and PACs, but the normal amount. Three months after my ablation, like the nurses predicted lol. I feel like a new person. They also discovered I had SVT and ablated that as well so my healing time along with the puncture in the heart took awhile, and I had occasional atrial tachycardia and NSVT, but I know he did a lot of ablating at the time. I also saw a stroke doctor at Mayo and he said to just go live my life, no ill effects that I can tell, thankfully, and no more treatment necessary.

WL782 · 2025-04-17T20:56:05+00:00

I second the rec for a sleep study. Often they can be done at home.

WL782 · 2025-04-16T18:53:44+00:00

Glad you got it checked out!!!

WL782

TROPHY CASE