posted
I just got back from the gym. I was on the elliptical... I kept having heart palps, but just flutterings. I just kept pushing through them. BIG MISTAKE!
My goal was to go an hour and I was at 58 min. when my heart starting beating weird. It almost feels like it's not fully beating, but vibrating. Does that make sense? Plus my chest hurts and I can feel my heart in my throat.
I've only had this happen one other time and that was in April, before I was dx'ed with LD. When it happened then, it finally started beating normally about 3 hours after the weird beats started.
I'm just scared. I don't know if I should go to the ER or wait it out. Oh how I wish I lived in Canada so money wouldn't be an issue. I don't want to go and have them do pretty much nothing and pay and arm and a leg for it. Aghh!!!!!!! Anyone else have these episodes??
p.s. I just started taking biaxin today. I'm supposed to start omnicef tonight, but I think I'm going to skip that for now.
Posts: 248 | From Tejas | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Doesn't sound good to me at all. Please call someone who knows!!!
Why are you exercising that hard??? Dr B says aerobic exercise is not good for Lyme patients. And if you have babesia, especially not good. [in my opinion]
Let us know how you are doing, OK??
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Are you ok???
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
I haven't had anything like this, but I'm still not able to exercise on that level, so I'm not the one to ask.
But what I would want to stress is that when it's dealing with the heart, you really really need to get to the ER and get it checked out.
Yes, I know they overcharge and are usually worthless with lyme patients, but saving your money by not going will mean nothing if this turns out to be something serious.
Please let us know how you are. Please!
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
I hope you went to the ER but I wanted to let you know that I had every muscle in my body react to Biaxin including my heart- and it got rid of almost all my twitching!! I had that nervous vibration in muscles that you usually get after having worked out REALLY hard and you get all trembly- everywhere including my heart- Biaxin gets into all the muscles really well including the heart- the heart IS muscle-
Definitely go to the ER if it involves your heart!!! Not something to mess with!!! But if it all checked out ok that may be why you had this- a Biaxin herx- with muscle tissue- Best wishes, Sarah
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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I'm fine now. I almost went to the ER, but right when I was about to go it stopped. It was really weird because I got this burning sensating in my throat and my heart flip-flopped, then it just started beating normally. It was almost as if my heart shocked itself back into the right rhythm.
I'm pretty sure it happened because of a combination of things: I was a little dehydrated, I pushed myself too hard at the gym, and I started Biaxin (and have already felt worse, so I think there are more toxins floating around in my body).
I'm scared to go back to the gym on Thursday (one of my normal days). This time I'm just going to focus on the fat burning programs that don't get your heart so elevated. The whole time I was on the eliptical my heart was between 175-180 bpm.
Also I'm going to just do about 20 min. at a time. When I was on the eliptical last night I think my body was giving me warnings to get off when my heart was fluttering. I should of listened.
So anyway, I'm fine now...Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all of your advice! Posts: 248 | From Tejas | Registered: Jun 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Lauren, you need to talk this over with your LLMD because Biaxin is one of many drugs that is associated with the following- Long QT Syndrome- your doc may want to pull you off of it!!! If I were you, I would get an EKG- I DID get an EKG and I was fine (I did not go to ER but got one at local doc in the box-!)- when this happened with me. But this COULD be an issue for you and I would make sure to get an EKG- just to rule out any abnormalities which could be exacerbated by Biaxin!!! Sincerely, Sarah
Long QT Syndrome
Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of the electrical system that triggers the heartbeat, and regulates the muscle contractions that pump the body's blood supply. There are two types of LQTS:
It is not known exactly how many people have LQTS, but the inherited type is thought to be a common cause of sudden, unexplained death in children and young adults. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The QT Interval
A waveform on an ECG represents the electrical activity of each heart beat.
Most people are familiar with electro cardiography (ECG or EKG), a test in which electrodes are temporarily attached onto the chest, arms and legs to record the heart's electrical activity. The electrodes send information to a machine that records and prints a "picture" (an electrocardiogram) of the pattern, or rhythm, of the electrical impulses that pace the heart beat. Each impulse generates a heart beat. The line created for each beat on the ECG is called a "waveform." The letters, P, Q, R, S, and T represent different parts of each waveform.
The space between the beginning of the Q wave and the end of the T wave (called the QT Interval) is a critical juncture. It represents the time it takes for the heart's electrical system to recharge after each beat (a process called "repolarization") before generating the next signal to activate the ventricles, the major pumping chambers of the heart.
In Long QT Syndrome, the interval between Q and T is longer than normal. People with this syndrome are susceptible to an abnormally rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) called "torsade de pointes." When this occurs, the heart muscle cannot contract effectively, and the normal volume of blood is reduced to the body and - most important - to the brain. If the brain is starved of oxygen, the indivdiual faints within seconds.
If the heart cannot regain its normal rhythm, it may go into spasms that lead to a deadly arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation.
Without immediate emergency treatment, death follows within minutes.
Fainting is the primary symptom - and may be the only warning sign - of LQTS. Once a person has been diagnosed with the LQTS, all family members should be tested, including the parents, siblings and children of the affected individual.
LQTS is caused by a dysfunction of cells in the heart called ion channels. Ions are "charged" particles found in substances such as sodium and potassium. It is the flow of ions in and out of the cells that produce the heart's electrical activity.
Some medications may cause acquired LQTS. There are at least 50 or more FDA approved medications that are known to prolong the Q-T interval. This generally is not a problem and does not lead to torsades de pointes or other heart rhythm disorders for most people. These medications should be prescribed carefully, however, for people with some types of health problems. They must be avoided altogether by people who already have been diagnosed with LQTS. (Some of these medications may require monitoring in the hospital when they are started.) If you are taking any medications that cause dizziness, fainting, confusion or irregular heart rhythms, notify your doctor immediately.
Drugs that prolong the QT interval and/or induce Torsades De Pointes The following list of drugs is derived from information found in the labeling of FDA-approved drugs, or in the medical literature. There may be other drugs and/or substances that also cause these heart rhythm problems that are not listed here.
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I've been to a Cardiologsit before to get a full work up. This was before I had even been diagnosed with LD. I even wore a monitor for a full month and recorded everytime my heart did something weird. They said everything looked normal.
I'm thinking about going again. Maybe I could get my llmd to refer me to the Cardiologsit- I think you need that to get an appointment.
Anyway, thanks for the advice. I don't know why I've had so many heart issues during this whole ordeal. Is it a herx? I can handle all the other herxes. I don't like them, but I can put up with it, but when it involves my heart I freak out.
Posts: 248 | From Tejas | Registered: Jun 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Yes- can definitely be a Herx and with Biaxin- it really does have great muscle penetration and the heart is just another muscle!(_!(!
Glad you had a full-work up- they should have found Long Q-T then if you had it*)!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I would suggest reading Dr. B's comments in his treatment guidelines regarding exercise.
I've been in treatment for almost a year and am doing very well. I still can only do cardio about 75% of the time I go to the gym and when I do, I work at 120-135 bpm (I'm 44). I used to work out at 140-150 bpm before I got sick. Plus, I'm only doing 30 minutes, and sometimes only as much as I can handle.
Maybe focusing on weights, yoga, etc. would be better for now.
Think of it this way, it's not JUST your heart, your body needs energy to heal. Even healthy people fall into the trap of overtraining, which is counter-productive.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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CD57
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Member # 11749
posted
Does Zith do that to the heart too? I know they're in the same class. I had bad heart palps and same vibrating sensation as you, Lauren, when I was on Zith!
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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quote:Originally posted by CD57: Does Zith do that to the heart too? I know they're in the same class. I had bad heart palps and same vibrating sensation as you, Lauren, when I was on Zith!
If it is the Biaxin causing this, I wonder if my body will get used to it. How long did you stay
on Zith? I was on Zith a couple months ago and I seemed to have a lot of heart palps then, so
it could be that those antibiotics are more prone to cause that. On doxycycline I didn't
have anything weird happen to my heart.
Posts: 248 | From Tejas | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
You definitely need to check with your LLMD about everything, but especially how much exercise you're doing and the changes in your heart. You may not realize the strain this puts on your body while undergoing treatment for Lyme disease.
Your LLMD should know all the details about your heart situation, even though it seems to be OK now.
If it were me, I would be very concerned about the uneasy feeling in the chest tonight.
Cardiac problems can be caused by Lyme disease and/or some meds. Don't want to alarm you, but certain things need the doctor's attention.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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