After a couple weeks of poking, puncturing, and scanning, the diagnosis is finally in thanks to an event monitor: Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs). While certainly annoying and distressful, they are not dangerous.
Normally, pretty much everyone gets the occasional PVC. Drinking too much caffeine, stopping after intense physical activity or just being startled can trigger the occasional extra thump that people feel from a PVC. In my case, the PVCs were going on all day. My heart was throwing in extra beats where there shouldn't be any and not resetting back to normal rhythm. The resulting inefficiency was leaving me breathless and fatigued, and was giving me symptoms of a mild heart attack.
For now, I'm on a low-dosage medication to keep the PVCs from happening and to see if that manages the situation. While only on my second day, I think the medication is working. It's nice to be able to get through the day without feeling that double thump or fluttering sensation in my chest.
Of course, the fallout is that I'm a couple of weeks behind schedule now. Kind of hard to write when the computer is at home and you're laying in a hospital bed. I think what I will do is once I begin the final edits, I'll make Nobody available for pre-ordering.
Pricing for Nobody will be $4.99 for the ebook, but will be on sale 20% off for the first few weeks at $3.99. My way of saying thanks to all the people who purchased Nobody (The Pirate Arc) over the past couple of months.
Pricing for Nobody will be $4.99 for the ebook, but will be on sale 20% off for the first few weeks at $3.99. My way of saying thanks to all the people who purchased Nobody (The Pirate Arc) over the past couple of months.
Saw my doc, last week. Told him about your 'fun'. He pulled out his stethoscope, and had a listen to my old ticker. Save for my 'sinus arrythmia' no problems heard. Or, at least he didn't mention anything. My meds for high blood pressure remain unchanged. You're right, when you say many people experience PVCs. When IT'S get cold, all of the sudden, they pop up left, right, and center. Hang in there, and do what the doc says. You'll overcome this.
ReplyDeleteThe medication definitely seems to be working. The PVCs have been reduced to just a couple of thumps a day, rather than the marathon they had become. It makes it so much easier to focus on other things, now. It's nice to have a regular heartbeat again after months of putting up with the rattling and fluttering going on in my chest.
ReplyDeleteI don't like having to take a medication; having my life revolve around a pill. But, the end result is welcome, so I guess I can put up with it.