To think the doctor just can't leave me like this?

[beerandwine]

I'm suffering from Pvcs and PACs (premature beats) I've had a Holter Monitor but the time I got that it was a good day.
Now I'm having thousands of these a day.
Sometimes every few beats.
I feel my heart pause then a massive thud.
I've had no sleep last night as they were happening every few minutes.
The doctor says they are benign and won't kill me.
I can't live this way.
Today I'm exhausted and the beats are happening all the time.
The doctor gave me beta blockers but I'm sure that's caused more extra beats.
The doctor won't do nothing else.
I don't know what to do now.
My life is not worth living with these.

I used to get this. It was anxiety. When I eventually got over my anxiety, it didn't happen any more. Has your doctor suggested anything to help with your anxiety, OP?

I used to get palpitations with my anxiety but they settled when I changed to tricyclic antidepressants. Maybe something to ask about?

I'd focus on the anxiety. Exercise helps, as has been said treat your body well and drink lots of fluids.

There's nothing wrong with your heart and anxiety does cause physical symptoms.

This is not based on medical advice but I had been suffering from a less severe form of what you describe, OP.

I started taking magnesium supplements, 400mg per day to help me sleep and a side-effect was that the premature beats stopped almost completely. Changed my life.

@blueskiesandforests I just can't get my head around how anxiety is the cause when I'm lying in bed perfectly calm and they start.

I had this and I eventually narrowed it down to being anaemic--not by much, but enough to affect me. I also get heart palpitations when I'm poorly, such as having a chest infection. Have they done blood tests, OP?

It might help you to read this.

I got over this in 2012 and 2015 too
Don't get me wrong I still got the odd 1 here and there but nothing like this.
I've spent the last few months scared to stand up incase I set them off,crying etc.
I'm going to try the magnesium again (tried before but didn't help )

My iron was the very low end of normal but they wouldn't give me any meds.
I've started taking floradix iron supplements.

It could be that your current focus in it is the cause. It is all that would be needed.

Have you spoken to your GP specifically about help for reducing the fear, the anxiety? Or do you focus on it being purely physical and needing cardio specialist input? If the latter you may be blocking your GPs next step, offering relaxation therapies as well as the bbs.

Good luck finding the therapy that best suits you.

Try the magnesium and stick with it for a while. It might take a couple of weeks before you notice the difference. It has to build up to a certain level in your body. If I miss a day the beats start again.

I started on 400mg and am now on 500mg as, after a year or so, the beats started again. Upping the dose to 500mg got it back under control. You might want to start at 500mg as yours are so severe.

Would it help to think of it as an unwelcome visitor? It won't kill you, it's not going to make you unwell, but it's going to annoy you and irritate you for a while, so you might as well put up with it and try to ignore it as much as you can.

I empathise because I have Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. I take medication for it, but all that's done is take my heart rate down from 180bpm walking up a hill to 150/160bpm walking up a hill. I still walk around my work place with a heart rate of 140bpm, when most of my patients are in ICU with heart rates of 100-110bpm.

When my HR is up, I remind myself that it isn't harmful, it's not going to kill me or hurt me, it's just going to make me a bit tired and perhaps a bit dizzy.

If you can, reduce your alcohol intake, your caffeine intake and stop smoking if you smoke.

I've spent the last few months scared to stand up incase I set them off,crying etc.

Exactly - that's how anxiety can cause them even when you're not actively feeling anxious at that moment. It's always in the back of your mind, so you're never fully relaxed even when you appear to be lying down and relaxing. Sympathies - it's a vicious circle and very draining.

Thankyou I've just ordered some magnesium from Holland and Barrett,il give it another go.
Do you take it morning or night?
I'm scared to shower,can't do my make up standing up,scared before I step out of bed.
A few weeks ago they only happened when moving around and I said I hope they don't start whilst sitting ..now they do.
I don't smoke or drink any tea /coffee

I'm also dreaming about them.
If I feel a little one I jump straight up and take my pulse and it's exhausting

Definitely only take magnesium at night because it can make you sleepy.

A couple of weeks ago I could control them by thinking positive and saying your going to stop ..now I can't control them

I just can't get my head around how anxiety is the cause when I'm lying in bed perfectly calm and they start

Then you don't fully understand anxiety.

It doesn't cause symptoms only at the exact time that you're actively feeling anxious. It affects your body all the time, even when you feel calm. And by the way, you sound highly anxious.

@OuchLegoHurts tbh my mind most of the time is wandering,I think I convinced myself anxiety was just hyperventilating etc

I’ve had these too, in a period of stress and anxiety.

I get that they’re annoying OP, and unnerving if you don’t know what they are, but you’ve been told there’s nothing wrong with your heart and the beats are a symptom of your anxiety. Why are you jumping up to take your pulse when you feel them? You have to try to address your anxiety about your heart, learn to notice them and tell yourself they aren’t harmful or a sign of anything. Eventually you won’t be jumping up and stressing about them and they’ll go away.

You are caught in an anxiety trap where your anxiety symptoms are causing you more anxiety.

No it's not - It takes many forms - ulcers, reflux, back problems, palpitations, chest pains, headaches etc.

The main thing to work on is the anxiety...medication will help, but you really need to get to the root of it. What is causing it? etc...

This cardiologist makes films on YouTube which are very reassuring.
He is also a big advocate of magnesium although I've tried it and can't say I noticed a difference. I get a lot of PVCs but have just got used to them and don't worry about them now.

I am under a ridiculous amount of stress.
Before these beats started in the summer I was getting upset a lot and crying /loosing my temper and generally felt really agitated.
Whether that's activated them again I don't know.

@OuchLegoHurts I do have stomach problems every morning too and sometimes breathless but that doesn't scare me.

@Ginazon it's became a natural reflex now.
Or I get one and start to shout that I'm sick of my life etc and then I start googling things.
I'm a mess with them.