PVCs

What is a PVC you ask... well let me tell you a bit about them. A PVC is a premature ventricular contraction. Its an abnormal heartbeat that begins in the heart's lower ventricles. These extra beats occur before your regular heartbeat and disrupt your rhythm. The PVCs feel like a skipped beat or a flip-flop in your chest.

Some people can have several PVCs in a row...that is called a non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NVST) and can become a dangerous rapid heartbeat. Sam started getting these the past few years as his heart enlarged. He would get maybe one in a day or multiple. We usually noticed them more often when he was over-tired, stressed or over extending himself. They also made sleeping a little tricky... he feels them more when he is sleeping on his left side [I think because his left side faces my side of the bed ;)]. Usually they tend to go away or become less bothersome when Sam was active.

This week Sam had a NVST episode. It started on Tuesday and he progressively got more as the day progressed. He called U of M and left a message for Marguerite to call him back. She requested he get some bloodwork done to see if his electrolytes were low. Wednesday Sam went and got bloodwork done at Beaumont and a ECG at his doctors office. His bloodwork came back good and his ECG showed a few PVCs.

We were told by both Diane (Dr. Deeb's nurse) and Marguerite (Dr. Bolling's nurse) that these happen to EVERYONE after heart surgery. His heart is still working on getting smaller and adjusting to the trauma its gone through. He needs to relax (easier said than done) and just focus on getting better. Sam is more relaxed now knowing that these happen to people post-surgery.