Saturday, April 16, 2011

Learn More About PVC's

Found this great website about PVC's.  Have a look at: Heart Rhythm Society - PVc's.


One thing they mentioned is they are very normal.  And, you can learn to tolerate the PVC's.  I think that I have been able to tolerate!  The site is great because it shows a visual of the heart & a heart beat with a PVC.  This is what mine look like at cardiac rehab!

Another reading I found interesting introduced me to more PVC vocabulary:

Yes, many people have multifocal PVCs.  For any one person, however, a holter monitor can determine if you have unifocal or multifocal PVCs.

A great look at PVC's can also be found at:  Ventricular Arrhythmias - PVC's 

This site gives great definitions and pictures of different abnormal heart beats. 

And last, another site about PVC's - Premature Ventricular Complexes (PVCs)


Thursday, April 14, 2011

FOUR Months after Open Heart Surgery

This is my four months after surgery update!  At this point of my recovery, there are days I forget that I had surgery!  Below is a list of things that remind me!

*  After a shower when I see my 10" scar in the mirror!
*  When I walk my son's English Bulldog and he sees a rabbit!
*  When I take my "handful" of meds!
*  If I lift more than I should - 25-50 pounds
*  At rehab when I have my crazy PVC's
*  When I walk around the block - uphill - I feel the PVC's
*  When I get a hug at school or church from people that have not seen me.

And, when I go to bed at night - I am sleeping well!

My cardiac rehab should be over in two weeks & I should play my first round of golf on April 25th!!!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

PVC Triggers

More research.  How about reasons?

Found this interesting article about PVC triggers at Yahoo answers:

* Anxiety/Stress
* Chocolate
* Caffeine
* Cocaine or other stimulant
* Calcium/magnesium imbalance
* Dehydration
* Exercise
* Hormonal imbalance
* Hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning)
* Hyperstimulation of the Vagus nerve
* Lack of sleep/exhaustion
* Overeating
* Low copper
* MSG

 I'm looking at a couple on this list! 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

PVC's and more PVC's

I am on a mission!  Had cardiac rehab today & the PVC's are back & persistent!  Here is what I have noticed -

FACTS
After I was kicked out of rehab for the 3rd time I was put on 100 mg of Metoprolol.  The other variable is I'm back to work (41 more days but who is counting till retirement) and coaching - so long days!  The cardiac rehab is now in the afternoon, instead of in the morning.

WHAT I HAVE NOTICED
At rehab I am now throwing PVC's during my first 20 minutes on the treadmill.  When I was on 50 mg of Metoprolol, exercising at 8 AM at rehab, and not working I would get passed the treadmill with no PVC's, but would have them when I took it up a notch on the rowing machine or elliptical.  My heart rate is now showing PVC's at 90-100!

So, what is next.  I have 4 more rehabs & I am finished - the game plan is to not get kicked out & wait till my cardiologist appointment in June.  Until then, I will continue to workout, wear my pulse monitor, and be careful.  I also found this interesting article about supplements & PVC's at:
The American Heart Association & PVC's

Below is the discussion:

Re: Bigeminy after heart bypass
Posted: Apr 10, 2008 8:41 AM   in response to: heartofwisdom in response to: heartofwisdom
  Click to reply to this thread Reply

Work with your docs but I take supplements that has reduced my PVC's by 95% and on most days, I feel virtually nothing. I've had bigeminy PVC's for over a year.

2 to 3 capsules of Omega 3 fish oil 1,000 mg each (cheap $10 for 3 mo supply)
2 250 mg Magnesium (cheap under $5)
100 mg CoQ10 $$$ very expensive ($36/month)
1 to 2 bananas/day for the Potassium
2 750 mg Coral Calcium/day ( $9 2 mo supply)

I also take a Multi Vitamin

Eliminate all caffeine (coffee, tea, colas)

Also, when the PVC's come for a visit, try coughing hard a few times or hold your breath and bear down and tighten your stomach/ab muscles for 5 to 10 seconds. repeat if necessary. It has never failed me

I must tell you that until I started taking the Fish Oil, Magnesium and the CoQ10, none of the cardiologists meds worked so I know that the supplements work. For a fast, soothing relief, soak in a bath tub of Epsom salts (loaded with Magnesium) your body will absorb the Magnesium.

Hope that this helps

Interesting!  Will need to print it out to take to my cardiologist.  I have started to take Omega 3 fish oil - 1200 mg per day.  I seem to be OK on it, I only feel like swimming upstream once a year!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Long Day!

Trying out the new heart.  Today was a long day.  At school by 6:15 AM, classes throughout the day, track meet at Elizabethtown, home at 8 PM!  Fourteen hour day!  I'm trying to eat better & get to bed early!  And will take a day or two off from track practice, but must get to a couple cardiac rehab.


The next 4-6 weeks will be the busy part of the schedule!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

First All Day Track Meet

This was another test of my recovery - the first LONG Saturday Track Meet.  Our Black Knight Invitational is not a real long Saturday, but long enough to see how I would feel after a day of competition.  Since our staff was in charge, Coach Bowers & I were in charge of clerking the track events.  Breakfast at 7 AM with the coaching staff, to the track to set up for the meet, meet starts at 10 AM & ends at 3-4 PM.  Also, running (fast walking to check out the pole vaulters competition).

Things went well & of course I was tired & took a good nap when I got home!  The track meet went well, the boys & girls teams won the team titles, & the pole vaulters were awesome!  Both the boy & girl events were won by Hempfield kids! 

Sunday was an easy day - Church in the morning and Phillies baseball & Master Golf Tournament in the afternoon! 

I have 5 more days of Cardiac Rehab - hope to get in two this week!  Will have a busy week in school & track practice.  Will try to coach Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, with rehab after school Tuesday & Friday.  Have a church meeting Tuesday night from about 7-9 PM & an extra pole vault practice at Prestige Gym from 8-9 PM.

Hope to find time for exercise & relaxation!