I have PAC/PVCs.

I have had them my whole life.

But they seem to have changed in several ways over the years.
This is not surprising.

One would expect that the heart would rewire its electric system over the years (especially if the wiring were imperfect to begin with).

I would like some advice though.

But....

Cardiologists:
1) Make millions of dollars/year.
There services are in very high demand.
2) Most of a cardiologists patient are at a pretty high risk of immediate death.

Last time I went to a cardiologist with questions about my PVC/PACs...
"Can't you see my patients are dying. I don't have time for lots of questions. "

This is very likely NOT it, but would just mention that I had something similiar happen once when I drank way too many Red Bull drinks at a party. Laid in bed till about noon the next day with a massive thumping in my chest. If you are a heavy caffeine user, maybe try and cut back or completely abstain and see what happens.

I'm not sure if you are asking me specifically. But, as the risk of be presumptive, I'll give my opinion. I'm not sure what #1 and #2 have to do with anything. Medical Services are like everything else. You have to be a smart shopper, do some research, and be prepared to advocate for yourself. Cardiologists are no exception, just because of either #1 or #2.

My minimum criteria for ANY doctor, is that they take the time to answer the questions that I have, and explain in as much detail as **I** require. That's not negotiable.

I can relate to your experience with a "too busy for someone not dying" cardiologist. My first one fell into that same general characterization---too busy for the guy who wasn't dying (anymore). He also had advertisements for his "Concierge Care services (if you waive insurance filings)" on his exam room door. I separated from his services as soon as the acute phase of my post-op care was complete.

The first time I met my current cardiologist was while he was on-call and making weekend rounds while I was still in the hospital. He actually sat down on the couch in my room and spent ~30m talking through my current issues, explaining my treatment options, and things to consider when deciding what to do. He stayed as long as I had questions. I was in a bad-way at that point, and needed some answers that my ACTUAL doctor couldn't be bothered to come to my room to discuss.

As I said, I kicked the acute care dr, as soon as that was over. In my first visit with the new one, we again spent about an hour in the exam room discussing current care, medications, the future, and how my meds might progress. We talked about the future of training, in light of my surgery and meds etc. Through all of this he NEVER acted as if I was taking up too much of his time.

My wife has asthma and bad allergies. She sees a lung specialist 3-4 times a year. Again, he is exactly the same way. I've been with her on several occasions, and I've asked all kinds of questions.

That is what I expect, and will not accept less. I may be different than the average because my father is a doctor. So I grew up with them, and I've had this same discussion with him on what to expect, and how to tell a good one from a not-so-good one. I've moved on from a lot of doctors that didn't meet the standard over the decades.

You might also be served by looking for a Sports Cardiologist, as they focus on athletic individuals and often have a more in-tune perspective with how to guide them through the maze. But, a good cardiologist will always be a good cardiologist.

My only advice would be to find a really good functional medicine doctor as I have found that for complicated health conditions they can be much more beneficial in finding the root of an issue. You may actually not have a heart problem at all, which is why a cardiologist would say you are fine, but maybe something else is causing the issue. Heck maybe you are just low on magnesium or something simple to fix like low nutrients.

Just a thought.

I have WPW as well. I was diagnosed after an ECG (?) or EKG? when I was getting some big poundings and multiple "skip-a-beat" things happening, which all turned out to be not a big deal, I was told.

I had an ablation soon after it was diagnosed as they were catching small bouts of SVT (which I never noticed), though after the ablation I have noticed tachycardia 4-5 times over a 6-7 year period, never lasting more than a few seconds, so I guess they didn't hit all the right spots.

I still get some big poundings for half a second to one second very sporadically/infrequently.

I tried cutting out caffeine for a while which didn't seem to affect much. What does seem to affect things is trying to make sure I'm never pushing it too hard for too long, and when I get run down and don't feel like training, I actually back off and take a bit of a break.

I have same. I also have had multiple AFIB ablations. And my BP is similar to yours. Having lived through/with AFIB for 20+ years IMHO the pounding heart sensation isn't related to that.

For me it is diet related -- I don't do caffeine (b/c of AFIB) so I can't opine on that, but alcohol can definitely trigger it, and even more so sodium -- combo of sodium (like chips) mid-day and then alcohol at night can trigger it in me. Magnesium + H20 negates it pretty quickly.-

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"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs." John Rogers

Have you tried Xanax at night? I have been dealing with a cervical issue for the last 7 months and in constant pain up until I had disc replacement surgery dec 22nd. While all this was going on I had multiple visits to the cardiologist because I would feel my heart racing, chest pain that would last for a few seconds, and tightness in my chest. I have been on amplodopine for years for blood pressure but since the neck issues its been running a little high even on the meds.

Then after my neck surgery somedays I feel tightness in my left side chest and arm, light arm pain, burning sensation that last a few seconds and my heart racing.
I have had these feelings why at the cardiologist and he said I am not having a heart attack or heart issue.

Ekg good, I passed a stress test, the echocardiogram was good, blood work all good, cholesterol all good. Calcium score in mid 300s. My blood pressure is back normal after the neck surgery. The cardio doc and spine doc both think my issues are related to anxiety from the neck surgery. It mostly happens at night if I start thinking about my neck or the calcium score. So once a week or twice a week at night I end up taking .25mg of xanax and my symptoms go away and I fall asleep.

MRtri123, Could be nothing or could be sumpin. I am thinking a Holter monitor for a few days would be a logical thing. Lots of older people and athletes get funky beats going on. I would guess half of my lifelong pretty fit guys have some cardiac anomaly. Some nothin and some something. There are good and not so good Cardiologists like in any other profession. I have been lucky (and informed as an RN) so my first guy knew me before I went to see him. We moved and my primary MD got me to see a good one as well. An Apple watch with ekg monitoring could also be a good detector. I have had two friends that had fairly dangerous anomalies picked up on their Apple watches and now have pacemakers.

I would not wait too long at all to get going on this, as you may be betting your life on your decision. Or it could be nothin.

Thank you for the info and ideas

Much appreciated

I don’t drink. Don’t eat salty food and am well hydrated.

Also supplement with Magnesium

Wish I could find a solution.

Thank you for the suggestion and encouragement.

Yes I have tried the Holter monitor

Mild sleep apnea Not enough to need a Cpap

I have actually had the pounding heart (no increase in heart rate) while having an EKG and it showed nothing

If it just pounded it wouldn’t be concerning

It’s the interruption of sleep that I would like to overcome some how

Fortunately I feel great overall. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

Just this one thing. Hoping for more suggestions

Thank you for the suggestion and sorry to hear about your troubles

I can’t figure out the cause of the pounding heart (no increase in heart rate). It comes out of the blue

Can be while I am sleeping. Can be while I am swimming. While watching TV.

I am happy to admit if it is psychological if that is what it is. Would just like a way to it interrupt my sleeping

Buy a Kardia monitor

Yep I do Xanax & it knocks me out for 5 - 5.5 hours. The hammering heart can wake me up out of it after the initial 5 hours. Happens maybe 1-2x per month. Manageable, especially if I watch my diet.

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"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs." John Rogers

Do some research on Gastric/Cardiac syndrome.

Interesting how stomach issues create rhythm problems.

Ron W.

Had many episodes of the heart beating out the chest feeling after covid especially for the first year following. It would rock my entire body when it happened and/or jolt me out of my sleep, so I get what you're talking about. You might want to check into dysautonomia. Also look into ways to improve your vagal tone / vagus nerve health and function. Best of luck.

I was running with a heart rate monitor yesterday and it happened, so I was able to capture the heart rate.
My max HR should be around 165-170 and it was at 181.
Lasted about 2-3 seconds and never happened again though.
This happens I would say 1 or 2 times a month and I wasn't able to find out any patterns such as after certain food, workout, lack of sleep, too much sweat...etc.
At this point, it's completely random for me.

I had intermittent pounding heartbeats as well as skipped beats. CT showed no blockages (zero calcium score). Echo showed valves work fine. EKG shows preventricular contractions (PVCs). Cholesterol <180. Resting HR mid 50s. BP 125/85 thanks to lisinopril 40mg & amlodipine 2.5 mg. Little caffeine or alcohol. PVC load as much as 15%. More common during & after exercise, and also late in day & evening. Electrophysiologist determined origin as lower right quadrant- very tricky for ablation. But ! .... prescribed 12.5 mg metoprolol (half a 25mg tablet) at 6am has greatly reduced number & intensity of PVCs. No effect on training or racing. Not cold or sleepy. Resting HR now 50, waking HR 47.

Thank you for taking the time to write this

When you quoted your HR at the end it made me think they possibly you had rapid heart rate before?

Or was it just a really strong heart beat?

Mine is not rapid. Just VERY strong. To the point it can often be seen through my shirt by other people Without me even mentioning it

Feels almost like being on caffeine or high thyroid but that has been checked as well

Muscles almost seem if they get a pump similar to when lifting weights.



I have a video of me sitting with my legs crossed and the top leg is moving with each beat. Almost like when they do a knee tap to test reflexes

My leg will actually pulse to the beat Of the heart

Lol. Strange but doesn’t seem anything wrong

When beating strong can see it in my upper arm. Almost like a muscle twitch but definitely not a muscle twitch.

Cardiologist has seen it. Said he’s never seen it like that. But says I’m good to go

Then again he is a 70 year old marathon runner who runs through anything.

Mine is/wasPAC’s . Treated with meds. Hasn’t really affected my training or racing. Definitely stressful until you figure it out.
Stress at work may play a role!

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Team Zoot So Cal

Research "ectopic beats" and see if this may be the issue? I had/have them for years.

Glad you figured it out

Definitely not what I have. Mine is not premature atrial contractions
My heart beats are regular.

No skips

But sometime very strong

Thank you

No that’s. Not it


I have very regular and normal heart rate

Except when it beats very Stong.

Strong enough you can see the beats through my shirt

I had this exact same problem.

I'm not a Dr, and you should get yourself checked.

For me it was electrolytes. As in too many of them and so waaay too much salt. After I finally got into the Dr he told me to quit drinking electrolytes all day long that I was consuming enough sodium to kill a horse. All in the prescribed advice to "stay hydrated." Add that to the sodium I was taking in while training and it was a lot.

My hard beats and the associated anxiety that comes with them stopped within 24 hours.

I was curious about the anxiety and asked the Dr about that also. He explained (I'm paraphrasing) that I wasn't having a rapid heartbeat, but a very slow heartbeat/flutter. That was triggering an adrenalin dump from my body and that it has a half-life of about 45 minutes. So each time it happened I'd lay there at night with serious fight or flight instinct trying to kick in for no reason at all.

Thank you for your post
Not the same as mine at all

no flutter. Everything is exactly as it should be according to a myriad of tests

Thank you

Maybe I misunderstood... You describe exactly what I had, including normal tests.