Non-sustained v-tach in 23 year old

[kim8400]

Hi everybody, I am 23 years old and have been suffering from pvc's since I was a child. I have gone through all the usual tests including an echo, stress test, and even an EP study in 2006. My EP told me that I was having short runs of v-tach and not to worry about them, that my heart was structurally normal and that this would not kill me. I am terrified to take the medicines that they give me because they make me feel like ****.!! I can't sleep at night for worrying that I won't wake up and I have a 4 year old son that needs his mom to take care of him. My episodes of Pvc's are getting more and more frequent and I'm having about 2 or 3 episodes of v-tach weekly!! Please if any of you can share your experience with v-tach I would really appreciate it. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story!!

[julesluvsdrew]

Hi Kim,Id love to tell you about my similiar situation..I have to leave for work right now but when I get home Ill write to you!Try to have a good day!

[Momto3]

Hi Kim,

With a structurally normal heart and a good EP study, you should have no reason to worry.  Now, that doesn't mean that you won't worry (that's the hard part), but seriously, I think you're gonna be fine.  

My earliest recollection of PVCs is in my late teens/early 20's, and while I don't have as many as I used to, I still have occasional bouts of NSVT.  There was a time when I was having at least 20,000 PVC's a day, including thousands of couplets, and several episodes of NSVT.  After years of having that, I developed PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (don't worry, it is very rare) and ended up having 2 ablations.  Today, I still get occasional PVCs and periodic nsvt, but it's not a problem.

It sounds like you have a great doctor who has done the tests to rule out any serious problems.  Hang in there and visit here.....We'll do our best to help you learn to "live with the pvcs"  : )

connie

[julesluvsdrew]

Hey there,I totally can relate to you about your heart!For a long time I didnt know anyone with anything close to what I have to deal with.With this heart board now though,it really helps talking with others who share the same problems.When I was 19 my pvcs started,didnt know what the heck they were..went to many cardios and found out.The thing was it started happening more frequent!Then the "rows"started coming..I later found out after research it was V TACh...so scary!I had an ablation for it years ago adn it really helped...Have you considered having one?I dont know if your doc has even mentioned that as a possiblility or not...The areas they burned have came back,so now I have the same problems..some people have more then one ablation.When i get insurence im thinking i might do it again.When you get the V Tach,how long does your episode last?Have you almost ever passed out?Ive never passed out,but am scared that could always be a possiblility.Did you ever have any problems while pregnant or during labor??My cardio and doctors I would have to have a planned pregnancy because im considered high risk because of the VT.

[BionicBabe]

I have V-tach, so know how you feel. I also have young children (2 and 11 months). I had same tests. Unfortunately, in my case, my heart turned out to be somewhat abnormal and my EP was able to induce sustained VT, which led to VFib in the EP study. In addition, I had passed out prior to the testing (which is what led to inital tests). Hope my story makes you feel better about your situation, in the sense that you could have it worse. So, I now have an ICD, which is a mixed blessing. I understand how you feel. It might help you to focus on the fact that your heart is structurally normal. Before I got the ICD, I thought about my heart beats a lot. Now, I try to let the ICD do the worrying. Without the ICD, I think I would probably still be checking my pulse all the time. I don't know what the answer is for that. Anti-anxiety meds can help. Do you take Beta Blockers?

[kim8400]

Thank you all for sharing your stories with me. It helps SOOOOO much to hear that other people live with this everyday, and some actually have it worse! I went to the doctor today and he basically told me that my heart is in tip top shape and I have to stop worrying about this. I actually got into a little argument with him when he tried to tell me that the 2 runs of v-tach that were caught on the monitor were just dumb luck!! He said that I basically sent him 50 pages of pvc's and that out of 50 pages, 2 pages of v-tach wasn't that bad!! My doc is a little less compassionate that I would like him to be, although he is very good at what he does (or so he claims) and I guess I'm just going to have to put a little more faith in him. He actually argued with me as to whether or not I could feel the runs of v-tach, I was like "Of Course I felt it" and he just kinda rolled his eyes!! I am wondering why he would think I couldn't feel them? one run was 9 beats and the other was 12, I don't understand how anybody couldn't feel them. I guess I'm just supersensitive to my heartbeat. I dunno? Has anyone else ever had this kinda situation where the doctor just absolutely didn't believe anything you said. This is sooooo frustrating and I'm wondering if I should seek a new EP!!! Thanks for listening to me jabber!!!

[kim8400]

I'm sorry I didn't answer your question in my above comments, but No my doctor has never even mentioned an ablation for me. I had an EP study done in 2006 and he said he couldn't even get a run of nonsustained v-tach, much less enough to know where it was coming from.!! I'm sorry to hear that your ablation didn't get rid of this for good!! My runs last anywhere from 5 to 12 beats, I've never actually passed out from this, although I sometimes get lightheaded. My pregnancy went great with very little pvc's, but that was years ago when I only got them here and there. I've often wondered why they didn't get worse during that time when my heart had to work even harder?!! I don't understand these stinking things but hopefully my doctor knows what he is talking about and I'm not at risk for SCD!! When you have your runs how long do they last and can you feel all of yours?

[julesluvsdrew]

Wow your doctor sounds like the MANY I had before I saw a wonderful electrothesiologist (the one who did my ablation).Most of the cardios before him werent concerned about all the pvcs and as far as the ones I described to them,the "rows".The looked at me like they had no idea what I meant!The fact that V tach showed up on your paper work and your doctor still isnt concerned worries me,but you have also had an ep study done,with no luck of inducing it..WHICH IS AWESOME!I would just continue with your visits to your doc and monitor your situation.Are you on any meds?

[julesluvsdrew]

OOps I didnt answer your questions,I do feel the V tach.Ive been having episodes daily to every other day for almost 3 months!!!!!!!Im not sure exactlly how long they last,because it happens so fast,but more then likely 20 to 30 seconds is the normal.I do know its more then 3 or 4 pvcs in a row..A LOT MORE.Around 2 to 3 weeks ago I had to go to the e.r because i didnt think i was gonna come out of the rhythm,most scared Ive ever been,but I was able to.Thank god!

[Momto3]

Oh yeah, you bet I can feel it.....I've had doctors and nurses look at me strange when I say I can tell exactly when I have a PVC.  We put it to the test while I was in the hospital waiting on an ablation.  Perfect timing since I was hooked up to a monitor....I hit it on the head 100% of the time and they couldn't believe it.  I'm like you, I can't imagine not feeling a run of wacky beats!!  

My Dad and another friend of our have Afib and they never feel anything!  Can you imagine?  Not me : )

[BionicBabe]

Before I started taking beta blockers and got my ICD I could sometimes feel PVCs and VTac and sometimes not. Since the beta blockers and getting the ICD, I haven't noticed any goofy beats. But I will say this, Kim, if a doctor treated me the way you describe yours, I would seek out a different doc if possible. I hate that condescending **** and I think that some doctors could use some classes in basic humanity. My EP is the kindest doctor I've ever met and treats me with respect and is willing to discuss any concerns I have. He validates my concerns and provides me with logical and compassionate responses. Don't settle for mediocrity, unless you really think your doctor is highly qualified.

[julesluvsdrew]

Just curious what beta blockers helped you not really feel the pvcs.Im on atenolol and it has no effect for me.I feel it all.

[BionicBabe]

I take Coreg CR 20 mg once per day. I also take Lisinopril, which is an ACE inhibitor. My EP says Coreg is a miracle drug.  It is prescribed for a whole list of reasons to improve heart conditions. My doctor initially put me on it to help reduce the VT. As far as feeling PVCs and VT and all the other funky beats, I really think that can depend on the individual person. I believe that the busier you are and the less you are thinking about your heart, the less likely you will notice these funky beats. That is not always true, though. I remember one time lying in bed and feeling like my heart fluttered and stopped for a short period of time, then I felt lightheaded. Knowing what I know now, that was probably not an ordinary run of PVCs, but some serious VT. So, I think it's really important to get a firm understanding of what is causing your irregular heart beats and what the signals are for you to be concerned, so that you can at some point learn to let go and just live your life. This is difficult for many people when either they don't have medical insurance (I'm not going to go on a political rant here, but when are our representatives in Congress going to get off their ***** on this issue and do the right thing?) or they don't have doctors who alleviate their concerns by running the appropriate tests and showing the data in a logical and compassionate manner.

[julesluvsdrew]

Maybe the cardio will put me on something that will work wonders for me!I hope:)Im just going to try to stay somewhat positive!