17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
I have a friend who just started treatment for Babesia and Bartonella (she has lyme too of course) and she is in panic mode.
Her normal heart rate is 70. With malarone, zith, bactrim it constantly fluctuated between 50 - 140 and after 1 week she stopped everything.
(She also has agitation, emotional outbursts, internal vibrating, insomnia, arms and legs feel too heavy to lift...but heart is the big issue.)
She got a heart monitor and the tests done - heart is healthy with inappropriate tachycardia.
Now, two weeks later, she started the bactrim again and her heart is averaging 100.
She just wants to know how long she can expect this to continue.
I said I'd post and ask people what they experienced but that she's likely get a variety of answers.
I said to her, "what if one person says one month and another person says three months? will you be Ok with that answer?"
She said, "yes as long as no one says a year."
I think she needs some reassurance that she can survive this and since I never experienced it, I'm not much help.
Can anyone give some experienced insight here?
Thank you!!!
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
The heartrate increase only started after she started treating Babesia? Is it constant?
My son and my husband have intermittent racing heartbeat,.. My husband was rushed to the hospital by ambulance from work... nothing wrong with his heart. They would not do a W.B. in the ER. Same thing my son gets... but it goes away after a while. Not constant. I suspect Babesia.
What treatment is she on for Babs?
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
| IP: Logged |
bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Yup...been there done that. Before my diagnosis and treatment, I was getting a heart rate upwards of 180 BPM after 2 minutes of cardio, and even while doing relaxing activities like showering.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3139 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
| IP: Logged |
BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
I used to get brief episodes of tachycardia. They went away with Babesia treatment. I don't remember how long it took, but it wasn't long (2-3 months?). I never had a consistently elevated heart rate.
She should check with her LLMD. Maybe dosages could be reduced, or she could pulse her antibiotics to avoid such scary symptoms.
More and more Lyme docs are pulsing antibiotics for patients whose herxing is difficult to manage.
She should consider the herb Hawthorne. It's very good for the heart, and inexpensive.
kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
She needs to call her LLMD who prescribed her meds.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
She never experienced an elevated heart rate before starting lyme treatment. Her HR is normally about 70.
She had it the first time she started the 3 meds(see my first post)and she lasted 3 days,
then no meds for a week and everything went back to "normal",
and now started just 1 med (bactrim)it consistently stays elevated.
She just emailed me and asked, "Could you ask the lymenet WHY my HR stays up on the BactrimDS?"
Anyone know?
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Yes, she did already, a few times actually.
He said he thought the lyme was causing it and to continue on the 3 meds, and to take a beta blocker if it got unbearable.
She used to work in a cardiac unit and has seen what can happen when people take beta blockers.
She just didn't feel like she could continue the 3 meds so has restarted the 1 med but is getting the same high heart rate result and is looking for some input/direction from people who've been there.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I got that daily then more cyclically and so far in the cycle..no more.
During the first four months of abx (Rifampin and Clarithromycin)
after 3 years of neurolyme and no abx and then a second bite in July...
I have no evidence of Babesia but Bartonella and neurolyme.
I don't think mine was as intense but definitely there.
Now Plaquenil and Clarithromycin and no recurrence. So far in month 5 of abx, strict diet, supplements, homeopathic Rx.
-------------------- Not everything in life that can be counted counts and not every thing that counts can be counted...Albert Einstein Posts: 208 | From Northeast | Registered: Aug 2010
| IP: Logged |
beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
I had a racing heart...always at least 120-I developed POTS. All gone now...but it took a while!
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
COULD be the Bactrim itself..but more likely is the babesia it is hitting.
She probably needs to get on a more intense babs protocol so she can get rid of it.
So what happens to those on beta blockers?? I've been on them since my first episode with babesia and a big herx. Actually, I'm on verapamil now for the A-fib. Don't tell her all that......
( my tachy never really went away ).. but then maybe some of it is my age and permanent damage from Lyme & Co???
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
I think she said if your heart rate drops and you're on them, your heart rate can't be brought back up. She's seen people crash on them.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Thanks, Everyone! I really appreciate your help here!
Any more?
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
I had constant racing heart that went back to normal in 3-4 months of treatment. I rarely get a racing heart and palpitations I used to experience daily only happen occasionally now.
Posts: 26 | From New England | Registered: Mar 2010
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic