My 21 day heart monitor showed that I had multiple runs of ventricular tachycardia. Usually it was only 3-4 beats, but along with the pain I feel, the electrophysiologist said it is not normal for a 23 year old.
Then he asked why I'm taking antibiotics- and when I told him, he was upset that I didn't mention Lyme earlier. He said everyone knows that Lyme can cause cardiac problems How nice to find a good doctor!
He gave me metoprolol to start and I'll follow up in a month to see if it's helping the palpitations. If not, he'll consider Lyme as the possible cause since this didn't start until I started having major neurological involvement, getting really sick.
I'm wondering how everyone else has done on beta blockers.
Also wondering if anyone else has heard that their v tach is attributed to Lyme- and what was the fix???
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I had to stop taking beta blockers because it lowered my bp so much. So now I just put up with the palps.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
The Met. is a good drug but it does not work for
everyone. There are others. I think the fix is
catching it early and treating before permanent
nerve damage. Where you may get a pacemaker. But on
the other hand if it is needed they have new ones
that do not have the old complications. And could
be used to save a lot of lyme lives where the
drugs do not work. Glad you got a good doc who
knows what Lyme can do. If you have any problems
do not hesitate to call him.
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
Beta blockers weren't possible for me either. Ask the doctor if this kind of VT is benign, or if it is dangerous. It is probably fine. If so, then I suggest using a tiny amount of xanax when it happens. It prevents secondary panic symptoms when the heartbeat is off. Beta blockers really lower b.p. I could not even feel my arms, and I had a weird depression that was worse than anything I have ever felt.
I don't know if you are female or what your age is, but I will tell you that once menopause was over, I did not get this much anymore.
But, it might work for you.
Posted by soleil16 (Member # 16326) on :
He said it is almost impossible to tell right now if this is benign... but he said it won't kill me within the next week by any means. Letting it go with no treatment would be bad, though.
It's just that this didn't start until my condition started deteriorating so fast, and that really concerned him. I've felt it since I was 17, but an EKG/echo can never catch it and now I've had it getting progressively worse for 6 years.
My biggest concern is that it will lower my b.p. even more. It's already really low and I get dizzy/lightheaded/blacking out sometimes- so I hope this doesn't make it worse.
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
Oops, I see that you are 23. I was plagued by VT and PVC's for years. Have you had your hormones checked out, or your thyroid? I wouldn't assume this is directly Lyme, before having other things checked out.
If you had a monitor, and the VT showed up on the monitor, I would think that the MD could tell whether it is benign or not. Have you talked to a cardiologist, or is this your GP?
Have you just started abx, or is this an ongoing problem while on the meds for a longer time?
There is nothing scarier than heart palp.'s and tachycardia, but you should be able to find out whether it is a scary nuisance, or something to really worry about.
Maybe put this question in writing, in the record, so that the MD has to find out!
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
You should also get your Magnesium levels checked. LabCorp does a RBC Magnesium test.
IV Magnesium could also be an invaluable healing tool. I too suffered from tachycardia and watched myself transform in 20 minutes by IV. If you're low on mag, no amount of orals will restore you. And heart palps is a common result of being low.
BTW - switch to the brand name Toprol (from generic Metropolol). You'd be much better off
Hi Soleil, I've been on Inderal for over 10 years now. I've been on most of the beta blockers mentioned here.
I take 20mg about 2x a day, and if I need a 3rd the Dr. says its ok to take if I feel necessary.
I like it because it seems fast acting on the palpitations, and I feel more in control with the
doses. I usually just take 1 in the morning and 1 at bed time. I do suffer with mild depression
at times. This could be a side effect also. I will deal with the mild depression over the
annoying palpitations. I know they scare me much more. I hope this helps you some. Big Hug, Fran
Posted by soleil16 (Member # 16326) on :
It's an ongoing problem that actually became much worse after starting IV Rocephin in January. My thyroid/ hormones/ everything you can think of has been checked and is all 'normal'.
There's absolutely nothing to suggest that this is anything but a heart problem, per the electrophysiologist. He did say magnesium can help (and I do already take as much as I can) but will not correct the problem.
He also said that he doesn't think it's going to kill me in the next week, but left alone it will certainly continue to get worse. He wants to try the metoprolol first to see if it has an effect- and if not, he will want to scope my heart.
Thanks, Fran for the info. I also would deal with the mild depression over scary heart thumps!
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
I don't really understand why this MD is scaring you. My daughter had continuous VT for a few months, with resting heart rate of 140 and her pulse went way up when she got up, or was active. She was a teenager. She had the opposite problem: the cardiologist told her it was probably hormones and would go away, and she should not worry about it. At the time, she had a lot of symptoms from the tachycardia, and we were floored by the casual tone of the MD.
She cannot take beta blockers because she is on insulin. In a few months, the VT did go away, although she still had b.p. problems w/stars and wooziness, taking a shower or getting up quickly.
My VT was more like yours, for a few beats at at time but not continuous, and was many years ago. I was told it was benign (this refers to the actual heart rhythm pattern I think) and, as I said, beta blockers were a nightmare for me.
Maybe get a second opinion, or find out what the MD means when he/she says it will get worse. Because other MD's may say something different.
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How nice to find a good doctor!