Aprilmarie52 Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 The past few days, maybe two or three times a day I have noticed that my heart will kind of seem to pause and then beat forcefully for a few beats. It makes it hard to breath when it happens and I have to stop and think about what just happened. Has anyone experiance this before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsb Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 Those are premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs. They often occur when your heart is overstimulated. They're not dangerous unless they're sustained for a long period (beyond a few beats), in which case they can turn into venticular tachyardia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briarrose Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 I second what jsb said. I just had an event monitor again for another month. I have PAC, PVC's and what you just described as non-sustained ventricular tachcyardia. To me it feels like a short flutter and it makes me cough or unable to breath for the few seconds that it's fluttering.You should talk to your cardiologist about it. He/she might suggest an event monitor to see what your heart is doing. steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunnerGirl Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 I get the same thing, and I would describe the sensation just as Briarrose did. My event recorder showed many PACs, a few PVC, and plain 'ol sinus tach - all benign in the context of a structurally normal heart. Apparently, everyone gets these ectopic beats from time to time. Some of us are just unlucky enough to 1) get them more frequently and/or 2) feel every gosh-darn one of them! If you're at all concerned, best to get a 30-day event monitor and try to capture one of the episodes. The doc will then be able to tell you for sure what sort of arrhythmia you're having. But if I were a betting woman, I'd lay money that you're getting a string of PACs or PVCs - very uncomfortable and scary, but essentially harmless.Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 AprilmarieDitto to above. Expect to have more of them as your pregnancy progresses. Most pregnant women WITHOUT POTS have PACs and PVCs during pregnancy. I had a lot during my pregnancy, and I would think most pregnant POTS patients would notice more of them than non-POTS patients would. I know it is disturbing/frightening. Unless you have a long sustained run of them (lasting minutes or longer), it is absolutely nothing to worry about. Keeping well-hydrated, I found, helped to reduce the frequency. I agree that an event monitor would be helpful if only to calm any concerns you have.Katherine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelle Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 I get these on a daily basis. Several times a day to almost all day long. Sometimes worse than others. They scare the crap out of me even though I have had them for almost 20 yrs. Sometimes they even make me feel faint and unable to breath. I find that they are worse around my period, when I am stressed or tired and if I get too hot. Hope this helps. Try not to worry too much and go ahead and get an event recorder. Maybe it will ease your mind some. Danelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aprilmarie52 Posted June 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 thank you all for the reassurance. I didnt think that it was anything but I just wanted to make sure. I will ask my dr next time I see him and I will let my ob know as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan617 Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 it's now a constant in my life. i have more irregular beats than normal one anymore, or lately anyway. my doctor says i have developed a murmur. so just another thing to be thrilled about. just know it's really really common. morgan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethansmom Posted June 10, 2004 Report Share Posted June 10, 2004 I would say as well that it sounds like PVC's. I had them all through my pregnancy and especially towards the end- mostly when I was lying down. It wouldn't hurt to talk with your doc about it, but mostly likely it's nothing to be concerned about. Keep up the fluids- it helps a lot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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