Opinions about PVC's

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westkane

Hello folks....today was my 4th session of Cardiac Rehab and it was noticed that when I use the rower, I get PVC's. So far, the rower is the only thing that I have done that gets my heart rate up and makes me work a bit, they are being rather conservative in my rehab and are not pushing very hard. The same thing happened Friday, all was well until I used the rower, my heart rate got into the 80's and started showing PVC's. As I have read, PVC's are rather benign, however the Rehab folks are rather concerned that I am having these PVC's. They (PVC) seem to occur (my assumption) when my heart rate gets high due to more exertion - such as on the rower. Are these really anything to be worried about? I am going to my cardiologist next Monday and plan on discussing with him, but until then do I avoid activities that would raise my heart rate or are PVC's just a nusiance? - I cannot feel them when they occur. Thanks for your thoughts/input
 
From my recent experience, my understanding is when you string a bunch of pvcs together in a row, you get v-tach. Someone correct me if I'm wrong--I've not had time to do much studying.
V-tach is Not Fun, and that's why I now have "Ahhnold" the defibrillator. One or two is not too bad, though sometimes you can feel them.
 
Apparently they were occurring at a regular frequency (every 3rd beat) during my 3 minutes on the rower.
 
I'm probably the worst one to comment because I am an exercise wuss. Not athletic...never aspire to be.

I had major PVC's prior to surgery and for about 6 months post op. I had to start and then increase a beta blocker. Many of us hate beta blockers.

PVC's are annoying as hell. They can start up with a little too much Tabasco, an espresso drink, at a scary movie, during an argument, during love-making. I think the heart starts to remember what they are and go, oh hey.....nope don't do that....I'm gonna smack you upside the head for awhile until you get away from whatever it was you were trying to enjoy.

After a year post op, I just had to get off the beta blockers. I negotiated with my cardio to up the dose on my other blood pressure med, eased off the beta blocker oh, so slowly...... and you know what? (knock on wood).... I have not experienced ANY PVC's for a year. And I'm back to some espresso and my Tabasco!!

So, it is my firm belief that PVC's are your heart talking to you when it is very unhappy. Whoa there! Not ready for that yet....whoa..... you'd better fix me up.... whoa.......help!

If it were me, I would back off the rowing machine. Give your precious, newly mended heart time to adjust to it's new rhythm. You don't think you could drive a Mazeratti perfectly the first few times out, now do you? So be gentle and be patient. The physical therapists are pros. Let them guide you. Err on the side of safety. You have your WHOLE life to get fit again. There's no hurry!!!

Just my 2 cents! ;)

Good luck and please keep us posted.

Marguerite
 
My Cardiologist said something that has stuck with me over time - "PVC's are not a problem, they are a symptom of a problem." Since you just had surgery, you know exactly what that problem is. Your heart has been through a lot - it may be reshaping, and is certainly getting used to the new pressures and flow dynamics. PVC's are a normal part of recovery and should decrease or stop altogether with time. It took at least a year for mine to almost completely subside, so I don't believe waiting for them to go away is necessarily the best course of action. As you mentioned you will do, talk to your Cardiologist about it and he may have a different answer than mine did.
 
I went through a period when I would get PVC's or PAC's (or both). They 'feel' and 'sound' the similar. Fortunately for me, a Low Dose of Toprol XL (Beta Blocker) kept them in check for a couple of years. Hopefully your Cardiologist can get yours under control.

'AL Capshaw'
 
I was showing a lot of PVC's a while back, so my cardio recommended I start taking "Magnesium 250 mg" once daily. The last EKG I had done a little over a month ago, showed that the PVC's were virtually gone. :) You might mention this to your doctor & see if he thinks you'd benefit.

Best wishes! :)
 
Westkayne,

PVC's arent normally that big a deal, I've heard them called "the common cold of cardiology" but PVCs with exercise are dangerous, and can indicate risk for slipping into V-tach or something else more dangerous. This is especially true when they come in pattern, like yours were (every third beat) I was once having them before a stress test and they wouldnt let me do the test untill my cardio came and checked me out, he stayed there the whole time I was on the treadmill, he was obviously concerned


I get PVCs all the time, my cardio isnt concerned with them, and I am not even on any meds.

if I were you, I'd take it very easy until the cardio visit, you dont have anything to lose by chilling out for the next week, but if there were an issue, and you were to slip into V-Tach while exercising you could lose your life!

like a few others have said, there is a threshhold for PVCs being dangerous, they need to treat them at some point, but that's definitely something you need to take up with your cardio

hopefully you guys can get those PVCs under control so you can get back to rehab!

later

Morgan, 21
 
One of the things that can affect hearts after surgery is positioning. They seem to be moderately irritable about that after OHS. One of the most common lamentations is that many people can't sleep on their left sides for quite a while after surgery.

When coiling for a stroke on the rowing machine, you may be putting your heart under a mild, but actual physical pressure, which may be triggering the PVCs. Rowing is a rhythmic thing, and your PVCs are rhythmic. It's not happening in your other exercises, so it's reasonable to consider that it's not strictly exercise-driven.

Consider your breathing (are you breathing through as you should, or holding your breath for the pull?). And consider your body position (are you curled up just before the stroke, compressing your chest into your abdomen?).

Best wishes,
 
I believe that BobH has hit the nail on the head.....I have always had problems with PVCs when I lean over or crouch. It has improved since surgery, but it is definitely not gone. There is something about that position that the heart or aorta does not like. I take 50mg Metoprolol/daily.
 
Hmmm... I went to the ER because I was concerned about PVCs as well... the doctor offered me a sedative!

I do notice them more when I am stressed or tired. And nearly all of mine are at rest, not when exercising. It is as if when I make the heart work harder it knuckles down and does the job properly.

I have a pacemaker, and the PVCs cause the pacemaker to pause for second or two. So when I was noticing a lot of PVCs I thought my pacemaker was not functioning properly, hence the visit to the ER.

Nice to know that 12-15 a minute is the threshold for concern. I don't get them anywhere near that frequently.
 
okay, I won't hold that as gospel then :)

I had one Dr tell me that lots of people get them about every 30 seconds, but that hardly anyone actually notices them. But people who have had their heart interfered with, through surgery, etc, notice them a lot more.
 
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