Are you suffering from PVC's or an ectopic heartbeat?

Have you ever felt like your heart skipped a beat? Or perhaps that your heart actually beat an extra beat? Whether it was an isolated incident or has become a regular occurrence, PVC's (premature ventricular contractions -- also know as ventricular premature beat (VPB), ectopic heartbeat, or extrasystole) can be extremely unsettling and downright scary for those who suffer from them.

The good news is that PVC's are almost always harmless. Nevertheless they tend to feel dangerous to those who have them and it can be hard to cope with the cycle of fear, which leads to stress and anxiety, which often then leads to more PVC's.

So while this group may not be a cure for PVC's, I hope that it will be a useful tool for educating each other and learning to cope with this sometimes extremely uncomfortable heart arrythmia.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Are You Stuck In PVC Hell? Where To Find Support And Advice!

My apologies to everyone who has left a comment on the blog without receiving a personal response from me. It turns out that this blog gets a fair amount of traffic, which is flattering, but also too bad in the sense that it means there are many more PVC sufferers out there who are looking for answers.

The past couple of years my PVCs have been much less intense. Still frequent, but not as intense as when they were disrupting my sleep and quality of life. I don't really know why, since I actually went through an extremely stressful few months last year. I was amazed that I wasn't more plagued by PVCs. So I'm just crossing my fingers that it lasts, realizing that an unexpected PVC "attack" can suddenly plague sufferers without any apparent reason.


To new PVC sufferers who stumble across this blog:

  • Remember to read through all the comments in each of the posts on this blog. When I was writing more frequently at the height of my PVC problems, I wrote a lot about my experience, what to expect with them, and how to best manage them. Many others shared their advice and experience, which is always useful since everyone's PVC experience is unique.
  • Don't forget our Cardiac Arrhythmia Support Group on Facebook. I'm the admin, so just request to join the group and I'll let you in. We currently have almost 400 members who are also suffering from PVCs and are there to offer and receive advice and support on a daily basis.
  • I also want to remind everyone about the Skipping Hearts forum, run by one of our readers named Jeff. Another great resource and place to find support!

So, speaking as someone who has been to PVC Hell and back, hang in there and find solace in getting support and encouragement from fellow sufferers who know what it's like!