PVCs (premature ventricular contractions)

[slipkid]

I was told that I was having some "PVCs" while being monitored in cardiac rehab today.

They basically told me not to worry about it and they'd keep an eye on it next session.

But I've noticed later in the day (and right now even while typing this) my heart feels "weird", kind of like palpitations. I'm assuming that is what this is now (PVCs). I don't feel anything serious like dizziness or shortness of breath. My heart rate right now is pretty low (56).

Anyone have experience with post-op PVCs?

 

[clay_from_nj]

There's a topic that can generate a very busy thread here. I'll pitch in my two cents first: I did nave problems with PVCs soon after my surgery, as well as before. They came so much as to cause symptoms - dizziness, weakness, sensations of skipped and double beats. A 48-hour holter monitor revealed it to be "harmless" PVCs, which I am happy to report have subsided to almost never (as far I can tell) in the time since my surgery.

I'm sure you'll hear a LOT more responses on this, and sure that you'll do just fine.

 

[Ryan CA]

I had some before surgery, and I have had some post surgery, but nothing major. Feels like I skip a couple beats now and then.

 

[maprince231]

I had them as well - probably 5 per day that I noticed when they were at their peak (6-8 months post surgery). I wore a holter for 48 hours and they saw PVCs and PACs. My cardiologist said they were benign and nothing for me to worry about.

They felt like two quick beats for me with the second one being much harder than the first.

I havent noticed one in the past month or two. Hopefully yours will come and go as quickly and harmlessly as well.

 

[slipkid]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[scott.eitman]

Cardiac Rehab told me I had them as well. I was having (or maybe still do) about every 3 seconds. Their concern was that it could trigger something and I could start having them more frequently.

My Cardio was not concerned and cleared me to work out much more strenuously.

I recommend discussing them with your Cardio, especially for piece of mind.

 

[slipkid]

Cardiac Rehab told me I had them as well. I was having (or maybe still do) about every 3 seconds. Their concern was that it could trigger something and I could start having them more frequently.

My Cardio was not concerned and cleared me to work out much more strenuously.

I recommend discussing them with your Cardio, especially for piece of mind.

Thanks but I have a better chance getting an audience with the Pope than I do being able to discuss anything with my cardiologist. Everything goes through his assistants with no input from him as far as I can tell so far in my experience with them. I'll try mentioning it to my GP next week though.

 

[scott.eitman]

Thanks but I have a better chance getting an audience with the Pope than I do being able to discuss anything with my cardiologist. Everything goes through his assistants with no input from him as far as I can tell so far in my experience with them. I'll try mentioning it to my GP next week though.

I just want to make sure we are talking the same person. Cardiologist, not surgeon.

Unresponsive doctors upsets me more than anything I read on Valvereplacement. If you have a Doctor that is unresponsive, find a new one. They are NOT all the same and you deserve BETTER! In my office, there are managers that are better and worse than me. We are not all the same. At the CCF, when I don't feel right, I can see my Cardio within the week....and he will spend a lot (enough) time with me to answer my questions. In fact, when he saw the need he even arranged for me to meet with another Cardio just so I could hear it from someone else.

 

[slipkid]

I just want to make sure we are talking the same person. Cardiologist, not surgeon.

Correct, I mean the cardiologist rather than the surgeon. I was released from the surgeon's care and assigned to a cardiologist familiar with my case.

But I've only been able to see (& talk) to my cardiologist exactly one time after I got out of the hospital. His assistants are the only ones I have been able to talk to since then and it is difficult to even reach them. And one of them has already demonstrated a lack of knowledge/communication as to something the cardiologist told me himself; these people just seem too busy.

The one appt. I had with the cardiologist I was shocked to hear him say that he didn't even need/want to see me again until FOUR MONTHS later. After the most serious illness and surgery I've ever had in my life the doctor I thought was in charge of my case post-surgery didn't see the need to have anything to do with me until 4 months later. I was pretty much in shock and felt abandoned.

He did recommend a new GP for me who he knows well and wanted me to get with him asap. This did take a couple weeks though since the GP would not see me until after he got all my medical records.

Luckily my (new) GP appears to know what he is doing and is very responsive, easy to reach & get appts with, and has basically taken over most of my case management, keeping on top of things and ordering all kinds of tests without my having to ask for things which I think are necessary (eg: my liver function now that I am on these meds). He even suggested that he take over managing my coumadin dosage/INR testing from the cardiologist's office (I told him that was fine with me but I don't know if it is going to go that way or not).

It appears to me that the cardiologist role at this hospital/health center is only for problems and that the GP handles the daily stuff and daily/weekly management, and cases only get escalated to the cardio specialist if necessary (?).

None of this was explained to me as being how it is supposed to work, but in our first meeting I told the GP that I felt abandoned by the cardiologist and that I need a doctor I could rely on to manage my care and look out for me, keep on top of both my cardio health, surgical healing, and related cardiac progression (in addition to health in general), be sure I am getting the kind of tests/rehab/medicine/etc that I need and he assured me he would be that guy.

Maybe I am doing so "well" (am I?) he (cardiologist) feels he has no time to spare for me, & needs the time for patients with more problems. I have no idea how this is supposed to work, I'm new at this (needing a cardiologist in the first place).