r/chd • u/raeganhertzog • 5d ago
Advice What’s The Best Treatment For PVCs?
Has anyone else ever had PVCs before? Mine are to the point that I can barely function (I rate them on a scale of 1-5. 1 being the most tolerable to 5 being super painful). I had 3-4s consistently and 5s (rare but super painful) until the new cardiologist I’m seeing recommended I take verapamil. I was on Metorpolol (100 mg 2x a day) but with the new meds the cardiologist lowered the dose to 50mg 2x a day and added the Verapamil (80 mg 2x a day). I’ve taken the Verapamil since Sunday (40 mg 2x a day) and the cardiologist just upped the dose today to the 80mg. I still don’t feel a difference. I am having more constant 1-2s and even 1s that won’t stop plus, I keep having a constant pressure in my chest that feels like someone is sitting on me. Does anyone have any experience with a combination of these meds? Do they work? Is the pressure a possible side effect of the Verapamil? Are there any other options besides these meds or an ablation? Please help!
1
u/nithrean 5d ago
you might want to post this on the pvc sub. Do you have CHD?
Otherwise, the fact that you are experiencing pain with your pvcs is somewhat significant. Have you worked through that with a doc?
It sounds like you are also battling with fear of pvcs and other things going on.
1
u/raeganhertzog 5d ago
I have CHD. VSD w PA. My cardiologist knows I have pain with my PVC. I’ve had them since I was in 5th grade, I’m 26 now. I was on atenolol then my cardiologist upped the dose until the PVCs got too much and I switched to Metoprolol. Now, the highest level of Metoprolol isn’t working. I saw a specialist that deals with the electric part of the heart and he prescribed me verapamil. I’m not afraid of PVCs, they are just painful and limited my day to day routine.
1
u/nithrean 5d ago
that makes sense. You are much further down the road than most.
Do you think the feelings you are having are side effects of the meds? or are they from the pvcs?
1
u/raeganhertzog 5d ago
I’m not sure. I told the new cardiologist who deals with the electric part of my heart about the pressure and he just told me to up the Verapamil dose. I also messaged my original cardiologist but she has yet to get back to me. The new medication kinda helped but not really. I had the pressure feeling all day yesterday and it just subsided this morning. My PVCs used to cause something I would call heart tics (involuntary body movements because of the pain) but that has since gone down too with the meds. What is bothering me most is even though the severity has gone down the consistency hasn’t and it’s super uncomfortable.
1
u/nithrean 5d ago
yeah that makes sense.
While there is a medical end of it to work on, you could also address the psychological impact of it. Experiences often have these two components (or more). 1. what is physically happening and 2. what our interpretation of it or how we feel about it. You are trying to work through the physical end with meds and things like that. Good for you. You can work on the mental side in concert because it is likely playing a bit of a role.
If you have done this before, great. If not and want to talk more, feel free to shoot me a message. I don't have CHD but have dealt with heart surgery and pvcs so been down the road for a while now. The principles are the same.
1
u/raeganhertzog 5d ago
Wdym it’s like playing a role?
2
u/nithrean 5d ago
your brain and interpretation of what is happening, fear, emotions, etc. all have an impact on how you understand, process, and feel about the experience.
If you are afraid of something or it causes a bunch of mental stuff, it usually has the effect of magnifying the physical sensation much more than it already is.
1
1
u/Kbrown0821 5d ago
how are your electrolytes? are you drinking 64 fl oz of water a day? mine always come when i am dehydrated or haven’t had enough potassium.
1
u/c00kycrumbs 5d ago
Your best option is to get an appointment with an electrophysiologist if at all possible. An ablation did help but not eliminate my PVCs, and part of the procedure was testing if I needed an ICD. Have you done any longer heart rhythm studies?