posted
Hi! The last couple of nights I have been really tired and when I go to bed and I am almost or am asleep(don't know) I am waking in a sweat with my heart racing and at the same time I get a shot of pain through my head.
Ok I know you all think I am nuts but this is what is happening.I couldn't work it out last night ,just kept waking all night and tonight I realised what is happening.
Anyone else had this??
Sue from Downunder.
Posts: 801 | From Kiama,Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
Hi Sue,
I have this quite frequently. Recently I got a blood pressure cuff, thinking maybe my blood pressure went up, cause I could feel my blood pounding.
Instead I found my blood pressure would be very low, with a very rapid heart rate. we are still trying to find out what causes it.
One thing I've found that may be part of it, is that it is more likely if I am dehydrated. Less blood volume causes the heart to beat faster in order to get enough blood where it needs to go. So, I'm trying to drink more.
So far, my strees EKGs came back normal, and my thyroid meds are a little on the low side, so we're still looking.
posted
I think this is what they call a "Panic Attack". My daughter used to get them. We would listen to her heart pounding away so fast. She would also get beads of sweat on her wrists at the same time. Doctors had not explaination. many think it is "psychological", but it is real!
Posts: 505 | From Western NY | Registered: Dec 2002
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lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622
posted
Sue, I had this too for months until I started treatment for Lyme/Bartonella. It's gone now after 3 mos of treatment.
Healthy thoughts to you.
------------------ Julie G. ___________ lymeinhell
Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Hello everyone,
I have the heart racing too, although it is under control with medication. It started the day I pulled out a tick, and has never gone away. I am pretty darn sure there is a babesia connection. The sweats and any low fevers can be Lyme but they can also point to co-infection with Babesia. My blood pressure runs low, and I get orthostatic. I also get the pounding heart rate, and I am on atenolol for that.
I would ask your LLMD to refer you to a Lymeliterate cardiologist and have a Tilt Table Test done with Isuprel challenge. The test will determine if you have the heart problem, the blood pressure problem or both. Both of these measure Neurally Mediated Hypotension which is caused by the bacterial inflammation of the central nervous system. the vagus nerve leading from your heart to your brain malfunctionsand the result can be one or more components of NMH. Ask me if you have any questions, I have been dealing with this for 3 years. I have a set of links near the bottom ofmy lymelinks page on my website. Cheers!
posted
me too... not a panic attack. It got better on Mepron/Zith, so maybe babs??
Posts: 688 | From CT | Registered: Jan 2003
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TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3162
posted
Sue, I responded to all three of your topics, this one plus the one about heart block, under your topic about Rocephin because it seemed more logical to compose my reply that way. Then, I realized after doing so, that it might be a good idea for me to provide the link, both for your convenience as well as for the convenience of anyone else who is interested in this topic.
Some people here have speculated that there may be some (still unexplained) relationship between apnea and lyme. To that end I'll offer an alternative explanation, for whatever it's worth.
People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often wake repeatedly (as a result of the periodic suffocation, of course). When they become hypoxic (during the episode of suffocation, or "apnea") and then start breathing again they can eperience tachycardia. Here's an explanation of that (HR = heart rate):
"Hypoxia has varying influences on HR according to the presence or absence of airflow, and the balance of its parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulatory effects. In the absence of airflow, hypoxic stimulation of the carotid body is vagotonic, and causes bradycardia (45, 46). Conversely, in the presence of airflow (e.g., hypoxic rebreathing), hypoxia causes tachycardia because stretching of the lungs inhibits vagal outflow to the heart and permits unopposed cardiac sympathetic discharge."
OSA can also cause nightsweats, which you mentioned. (Breathing cools you off, so apneas can lead to overheating; though you may not wake up until you've started breathing again and have become chilled).
Most people with OSA don't know they have. It is common, causes sleepiness and fatigue, and leads to cardiovascular disease. And just because you have lyme doesn't mean you can't be blessed with other diseases :-)
I've experienced these episodes myself and it is in part for that reason that I use CPAP, even though I tested negative (there is a 25% rate of false negatives on the overnight test); I'm not taking any chances.
posted
That was my worse symptom back in the early days of Lyme. Had to take something to sleep because of it. Cleared up after 6 weeks IV Rocephin. I definately believe it is from the Lyme.
Feel better, DawnE
Posts: 158 | From Great Neck, New York | Registered: Sep 2002
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