Premature Ventricular Contractions
Remember, the Cleveland Clinic is the top heart hospital in the country! As a review, this is how I discovered my PVC's:
1 - Had Quintuple Open Heart Surgery December 13, 2010.
2 - Began cardiac rehab, January 2011. After second session was "kicked out" of rehab, because I was having PVC's during my exercise program.
3 - Had a second heart cath - all by-passes were working fine.
4 - Changed my beta-blocker Metoprolol from 25mg to 50mg to 100mg and continued to have PVC's. And they seemed to occur at a lower heart rate. First, the PVC's came at a heart rate of 95-100. Then, on 100mg, the PVC's came at 90-95.
5 - To make a long story, short, after experimenting with my metoprolol, we agreed on 25mg. The more I used, the more lethargic I felt. And the PVC's were not interfering with my exercise. I just managing them and worked passed the PVC's.
After 3 and 1/2 years I still have the PVC's. I wear a hear monitor - a Polar Watch with a band around my chest. I know I have the PVC's, because the monitor goes crazy around 95 to 110 heart rate. As I increase my pace, the monitor will read - 75 - 80 - 85 - 90 - 95 - 191! If I back off my intensity to 90-95 heart rate, the PVC's stop!
So, I continue to exercise, but keep a watchful eye on my monitor. I really do not "feel" the PVC's, but I get the strange reading on the heart monitor.
I continue to exercise and try to maintain a positive mental approach! More on that later!
