My Diagnosis Story

What symptoms led up to your diagnosis?

I came across your site in my relentless quest to find a solution for these darn PVCS. I’m 49 now and started getting them when I was 46. I’ve made two ER trips, the first time they told me it was stress and they were benign after looking at my EKG. I was given a 48 hour Holter Monitor and the results came back normal with PVCS. No other tests were done. They gave me a prescription of Ativan for stress. I took it only a few times. I also started taking 250 mg of magnesium daily and it seemed to help. After a few months they seemed to disappear. I didn’t notice any symptoms for some time.

Fast forward to November of last year and I had another episode that seemed even worse. This time I went to a different ER. They ordered the EKG and this time it showed a partial right bundle branch blockage, but nothing else. Then a 72 hour Holter Monitor. I met with an Electrophysiologist who read me the results and he seemed to laugh it off. He said I was having a few thousand PVCs but they were benign and not to worry about them. My GP says the same thing. Neither wanted to prescribe any medication other than taking the Ativan if I’m having a panic attack over them. Things cleared up again.

Fast forward to this past week and they’re back again in full force. I think this time they were triggered by a weekend of excess drinking. Now I can’t shake them again. It’s been a little over a week and I know I’m getting thousands a day. There is no chest pain, dizziness, etc. but they’re scary as heck. I don’t want to do the ER thing again as I’m sure what they’ll say, not to mention the cost. What can I do to limit the frequency and intensity of these things? I’m probably getting 5 or 6 a minute most of the day. I’ve certainly learned overdoing the alcohol is a no no. But what can I do to hit the reset button again, so to speak? Any idea how long this bad attack will last before I get some relief again?

What tests did your doctor do, and what was this experience like?

I've had a few EKG's, and worn a Holter Monitor for 48-72 hours on a couple of occasions. Blood work is normal.

Upon learning about your diagnosis- what happened next?

I tried to take the doctor's advice to change my lifestyle, but it hasn't helped much.