Anyone else have heart block late into infection (years in). If so what type and what are mainstream doctors doing about it for you?
I recently had right bundle branch block show up on an EKG which might explain my sudden bradycardia. Normally my heart problem is tachy. I also have almost no rise in BP during exercise as demonstrated on a stress test.
I am not new to Lyme. Treated aggressively with abx for several years. Now on herbs. Heart block just showed up recently. No new infection. This is from the pre-existing one.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
Up.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thank goodness they finally found the problem!!!
I would think it could show up at any time, but I do not have any direct evidence of that. Did you try Pub Med for articles on that?
Any chance you can go on IV meds for the Lyme?
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
No chance for IV meds. My block is supposedly "harmless" so I'm getting no treatment from mainstream doctors except I have an implanted monitor. It's right bundle branch/left superior.
What bothers me is that the first time a cardiologist saw this on an EKG was also the first time I started having problems with LOW heart rate (off meds) which is a major sign of heart block. Normally I have problems with my HR getting too high.
He didn't take me seriously whatsoever until I sent him photos of several BP and HR monitors showing HR of 39 awake (not resting). He never even mentioned the heart block to me. I saw it on my chart later.
He knew I was concerned about heart block/Lyme all along so I have no idea why he wouldn't discuss it or even tell me ANYTHING about it. The other abnormality that day was that my BP wouldn't rise above normal during the stress test. My highest reading was 116/66 after I stopped running and I was running pretty hard (17.2 METS 190 max HR). It even dropped at one point while still walking.
They don't treat this type of block apparently. It's supposed to cause no symptoms yet my HR is still dropping substantially lower than normal (currently in the 40's transiently). I also don't feel well. My BP is dropping a lot (he claims from autonomic neuropathy). I get close to fainting so many times a day.
I want mainstream help and still can't get any even for a condition that I can treat as completely isolated from Lyme.
I am treating Lyme and have a good Lyme doctor but unfortunately I don't respond well to treatment. It keeps me stagnant and I get slowly worse as evident by the development of heart block 3 years into infection. When I do nothing I get rapidly worse and cannot function at all. I'm on herbs right now but did heavy abx for several years addressing Lyme and all co-infections.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Very frustrating. Wish you could find a better cardiologist.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Have you been tested for CCSVI ?
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
Please get another opinion. BBB can be a sign of a possible impending MI. I'm not trying to scare you, but this definitely needs to be evaluated.
BBB are treated with surgery.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Hey Summer. Where are you located? I know of a Lyme cardiologist, but don't know if you can get to him.
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
I'm on the east coast and insurance restricts who I can see. Actually........I may lose insurance this week. Trying not to.
I'm scared. I have a severe headache tonight and caught my HR at 38 (flagged it on the monitor). It goes back up (no higher than 52 if I'm lying down) but I feel it and it's very uncomfortable.
I hope that this goes through tonight and they figure it out and help me. I'm afraid my heart is going to stop. The ER didn't do ANYTHING last time except try to contact the EP who didn't respond to them.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
But aren't you worse now than when you were in the ER last time?
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
No because what happens is the stress of being in the ER raises my HR and then they're like what the heck do you want us to do about a HR of 58?
The ER last time was not disrespectful or anything, they just don't know what to do. Neither does the local cardiologist so they called the EP. He called my house while I was in the ER assuming it was PVC's and told me to reconsider the beta blocker. I had a transcribed message that I read to the ER doctor who did NOT agree and advised me to not take a beta blocker until they make sure that it's not really dropping into the 30's as bradycardia.
Then the ER just did IV magnesium (for the 2nd time that week) and sent me home. So it's a waste of time to go again. Especially now that I have an implanted heart monitor. Although it always likes to skip sending the signal on nights that I need it to.
Normal for me is 80 resting and it should have been about 120 in the ER last month not 58 so I feel like crap when it's this low.
[ 05-23-2014, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: Summer3 ]
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
It dropped into the 30's again yesterday. Anyone have any ideas of what I can do to raise it myself since the cardiologist does nothing? Already tried caffeine, ginseng, moving around, etc.
It just drops in episodes randomly. Yesterday it didn't get above 50 all day.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
So what's up with the "monitor?" Is your Dr's office receiving info from your heart each day? It is being recorded?
If not, give him a call again.
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
It will automatically trigger under 30 BPM. Otherwise I have to wait for them to scan it in mid-August. That's the rules with coverage. They wait until you are at high risk of death from an extremely low HR before helping you.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :