When it rains, it surely does poor, What a 6 month period this has been.
Ok, so I mentioned I was diagnosed with Premature Ventricular Contractions late in the summer. I wore a holster monitor for 24 hours, and had 3,000 of them. I didn’t want to go on Beta Blockers, and didn’t make an appt. with the cardiologist because my doc said they were benign and I wanted to see if lower stress would help stop it…since they seemed to come out of the blue in June. Well, they haven’t gone away so I made that appt.
Went in this week and she gave me an echocardiogram. Turns out my Ejection Fracture is not a good percentage…35%…which is so low I could go into sudden cardiac arrest. The PVC could be causing it, who know? So I started a beta blocker and will go in 2 weeks to be given an Event Monitor for 2 weeks.
They said you push a button when you have an episode…but these PVC are not subsiding yet with the beta blockers. Also, when I was on the holter, I was having most of them and not aware of them…so not sure the purpose of this monitor compared to the other.
I’ve had one beta blocker and it’s not working.
What a mess…I wonder if this is why my hair started falling out? It all sort of happened the same time. Poor circulation?
@conmama, sorry to hear about this. Health issues – especially ones that come out of the blue – are scary.
I’ve had two experiences with “event” monitors:
When I was pregnant with S2, I was at high risk of premature labor and was having contractions starting at 22 weeks. They put me on some kind of monitor that I was supposed to wear an hour a day. I was supposed to click something if, during that hour, I thought I was having a contraction. The data was sent over telephone wires to my ob’s office and then they would tell me if what I thought was a contraction really was. The main purpose was to teach me to recognize the contraction so I could then immediately lie down to stop it. (These weren’t like major horrible painful labor contractions – which I certainly would have recognized! – but more like tightening sensations.)
The other experience is DH’s pacemaker/defibrillator. He has a bunch of cardiac diagnoses – atrial flutter and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia among them – and had the pacemaker/defib implanted about three years ago. Next to his bed is some sort of “interrogator” device (yes, that really is what they call it) so his doc can monitor what’s going on while he sleeps. He does have “events” from time to time, so I guess it’s good that he’s being monitored.
yes - multiple times. I’m wearing one right now. I’ve been on beta, calcium and sodium blockers. I had a catheter ablation last month and am wearing a monitor because I was having some issues since the procedure.
Thanks @VeryHappy …so, it sounds like I might not be wearing this 24/7, but just for a certain period(s) each day? I thought it was a 24/7 monitor. That would be much more doable if that is what it is.
Sorry to hear about your husbands heart health issues. That must be difficult to have that type of surgery and implant done, but I’m so thankful we have all these life saving medical devices.
Yes - 24/7 for a month. the technology has improved so that now, it is automatically transmitted to the doctor as opposed to calling it in. I had atrial fibrillation, flutter and tachycardia. I don’t believe I had pvc’s but I did have pac’s. The ablation was for afib. Unfortunately, I’ve had significant events since.
There is a sensor and monitor. When taking a shower, you take the leads off and can leave the electrodes in place. Typically the electrodes are replaced after a few days. The monitor has to be shut off when the sensor is disconnected from the electrodes.
@conmama, I remember your other thread. I was a little concerned about you having frequent PVCs. I’m glad you are getting special attention for this.
After complaining of frequent scary palpitations, I saw a doctor and was put on a Holter monitor. I think it was 24/7 for two days. Was able to shower.
Mine turned out to be PACs and PSVT, all due to stress/excess caffeine. I was in nursing school at the time. The doc gave me beta blockers. Between that, finding coping skills for my stress, decreasing caffeine, and trying to get to bed a little earlier, it resolved. Got off the beta blockers within a few months.
Beta blockers are one of the first line meds for arrhythmias. Other meds can have more side effects, so they usually start with beta blockers and proceed from there. It may take just a little bit for the beta blocker to be effective.
Your cardiologist may put you on a medicine which addresses both the arrhythmia and your cardiac output. If medications don’t solve the problem, or if she is very concerned about you developing a fatal arrhythmia, she may discuss the possibility of an implanted defibrillator (like a pacemaker, but delivers a shock in the event you go into a potentially fatal arrhythmia). She may want you to see an electrophysiologist, a doctor who specializes in heart rhythms.
I’m sure this is scary. But the fact that you are addressing this is VERY GOOD.
D has postural orthostatic tachycardia and had to wear an event monitor for two weeks 24/7. Since she left for school after wearing it for a few days, she had to mail it to the lab when she was finished with it. She then got the results from her doctor.
I wore one for two weeks. I had to call the company every time I took it off to take a shower and then again when I put it back on. I think I only had to push the button 3 or 4 times during that period and they never saw a thing on the readout.
Conmama, glad you are taking this seriously. I wore a holter monitor when I was in a car accident and felt like I was having events. Nothing showed up.
Women’s heart issues present differently from men’s. Beta blockers aren’t terrible, and definitely better than the alternative. An EF of 35% is serious business. After my cardiac arrest, mine was 20-25%. It’s now 45% thanks to cardiac rehab and meds. Please take care of yourself.
@Nrdsb4 …thanks…delinquent son home for the weekend, didn’t get back on Internet after he woke up. What did you PAC’s feel like? I’m so glad they went away with lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, with my low EF %, I don’t think that will be my case. Thanks for letting me know the possible scenarios that might take place. I took the beta blocker again last night and checked my pulse a couple hours later. PVC’s the same. One more thing…the first time I took the pill within 15 minutes the base pad and fingers of mt tight hand felt tingly, and I was having to shake it. It lasted about 15 minutes. The same thing occurred last night with the second pill…so I know the beta blocker is causing this and it concerns me.
@CountingDown …wow, sorry to hear about your heart attack and accident. The percentages do concern me…I was a little unnerved when they told me and I started reading up on it. I will do whatever it takes. Did you go have a second opinion about the plan of action?
@carachel2 I have only met the doctor once. I don’t think she has any idea why. Had the echo, now the event monitor in 2 weeks…I asked for 2 weeks, maybe I should up it a week like she scheduled to begin with. Should the doctor be giving me other tests to find out more? Or is starting with the monitor typically the first thing? I’m going to look up those other things you suggested. Som the echocardiogram wouldn’t have ruled them out?
Thanks to everyone who responded with their descriptions and or support!
You didn’t say which beta blocker, but if it’s a generic form of Toprol XL, then try taking the branded drug instead. Over the last several years, the generics have had problems with not time-releasing the same as the brand. Many people, including me, have had problems with this, for example:
Thank you…Yes, that is the genetic I am on. I’m going to call tomorrow and adk for the brand. I will be curious ad to the cost difference. The genetic was just over $1.
@conmama …usually once the reduced ejection fraction is discovered, the hunt begins to find out what caused the problem. For me, it was peripartum cardiomyopathy which is an enlarged hear/congestive heart failure that occurs sometimes during pregnancy or in the weeks after delivery. Other causes of reduced heart function include:
-coronary artery disease: blockage to the vessels that supply the heart which causes heart tissue death and therefore reduced heart muscle function (most common cause, usually after a heart attack)
-valvular heart disease: valves not working properly will strain the heart muscle and reduce heart function
-viral cardiomyopathy: heart muscle enlargement due to a virus that affects the heart muscle.
-sometimes heart rhythm problems can also lead to decreased heart function
Finding out the cause is important as it helps guide treatment to some extent. At some point your cardiologist may put you on ACE/ARB medicine like lisinopril or Valsartan or Losartan.
An EF of 35% is rough. Most people notice the fatigue…you aren’t sleepy necessarily, it’s just a deep deep body fatigue. Make sure you listen to your body and try to rest when you feel tired! You can message me if you want…more for a sympathetic ear if needed since I remember the days of a reduced EF.