LymeNet Home LymeNet Home Page LymeNet Flash Discussion LymeNet Support Group Database LymeNet Literature Library LymeNet Legal Resources LymeNet Medical & Scientific Abstract Database LymeNet Newsletter Home Page LymeNet Recommended Books LymeNet Tick Pictures Search The LymeNet Site LymeNet Links LymeNet Frequently Asked Questions About The Lyme Disease Network LymeNet Menu

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter




The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

LymeNet Flash Discussion
Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive


The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

LymeNet Flash Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Continual Heart Palpitations with a normal EKG??

 - UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!    
Author Topic: Continual Heart Palpitations with a normal EKG??
BarelyBreathin
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6063

Icon 5 posted      Profile for BarelyBreathin   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
So I went to the dr. complaining of Extreme weakness, worsened dizzyness, worsened concentration, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath and she ran an EKG..It came out normal.

Oh and she said that none of the Dr.s at the clinic think ANY of my symptoms, including the fire in my knees has to do with lymes disease. I WANTED TO CHEW HER FACE OFF! So what the heck is goin on?

I went from horribly sick to at times imobile, n so frightenly weak im afraid i'll go to sleep n not wake up.

Ive never been tested for coinfections. I have no llmd here in WA or OR so...I guess my question is this.

How can you have frequent palpitations and a normal EKG? How many of you experience this and what helps?

Have many of you taken a huge nose dive physically after coping for years and being able to semi function, only to crash so hard so rapidly that you see the grim reaper each day? lol.

Thanks,
BB


Posts: 158 | From Vancouver,WA 98682 | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

Icon 1 posted      Profile for lou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
What you need is a 24 hour Holter monitor to record the palpitations. Not saying that will make ducks take it seriously, though. Seems they can ignore or make light of almost anything.

If you are this bad off, maybe you should consider going where ever you have to in order to get some treatment. I know it is difficult to travel in bad condition, but it is better than becoming too friendly with the reaper. Make him wait as long as you can.


Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
algr
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6197

Icon 1 posted      Profile for algr     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I had, and still have, heart palpitations. They did an echo cardiogram, EKG, and halter monitor 24hr thing. Nothing showed up.

I don't know if that indicates anything, but I know that my heart gets stressed out more easily than it used to, and I know that I have Lyme. There's no other explanation for heart palpitations than everything else causing it.

For me, laying down helps. If i can't wherever I am, then sitting is the next best thing. That and deep breaths.


Posts: 119 | From NJ, USA | Registered: Sep 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
lymeinhell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4622

Icon 1 posted      Profile for lymeinhell     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I had the EKG, Echo, Nuclear Stress Test and wore the 24hr halter. Nada - nothing. Everything's fine.

With treatment, this all passed for me. I have Lyme and Bartonella (I think the Bart's gone now). The only time I get heart palps is during my one day a month herx.

Just a thought - could be having anxiety/panic attacks?? It happened to me from Lyme, and I know it's happpened to many others here. A good LLMD could help you with this. Again, it does go away with proper treatment.

I understand completely being dismissed by ducks - I saw over a dozen before getting dxd. I think you need to find a way to travel to see an LLMD. Maybe a supportive friend or family member can assist you??

Best to you.

------------------
Julie G.
___________
lymeinhell


Posts: 2258 | From a better place than I was 11 yrs ago | Registered: Sep 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
TreeLoafer
Junior Member
Member # 6358

Icon 12 posted      Profile for TreeLoafer     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I had about 25-50 palpitations a day about a year ago for about a month. (Felt like my heart was doing summersaults in my chest)

They then went down in frequency to about twice a week, which is how it currently is.

My arthritic symptoms showed up a year later (currently) I, too, had an EKG back then & a couple of weeks ago, with nothing showing.

The halter monitor showed nothing because the summersault didn't happen that day. I go in for an Echo on Tuesday.

I haven't been diagnosed with Lyme, but still suspect it. (Partly because of these palpitations!!!)

***Has anyone heard that lyme can cause frequent palpitations (like I had a year ago)in its earliest stages? They started right after a backpacking trip in WV...hmmm....interesting.


Posts: 7 | From arlington, va, USA | Registered: Oct 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175

Icon 1 posted      Profile for minoucat     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I had a terrible time with palpitations for about a 3 year period. My heatbeat would regularly go over 100 bpm resting, and remain at that rate for hours.

My EKG was normal. But, as Lou said, unless they catch you in the palpitation act (like with a 24 hour halter) it would be.

I was diagnosed with mild mitral valve prolapse, which seems to occur quite frequently with LD, and often seems to resolve with treatment. However, I've read that the MVP dx can be highly questionable -- really depends on how and who is doing the imaging. MVP does not necessarily show up on the EKG.

I also had significant blood sugar fluctations for a while. Hypoglycemia can contribute to palpitations in a big way.

I also had massive panic attacks, related to the palpitations. The palpitations would start, I'd get scared, there'd be an adrenal surge, and off I'd go. Once I stopped reacting so emotionally to the palpitations, they weren't quite so bad and the panic attacks lessened a little. Some people have reported relief from palpitations with Valium, Paxil, and other sedatives.

Looking back, I also think I had neurally mediated hypotension, also now resolved.

My local doc is also treating me for adrenal insufficiency, a common occurrence for people with longstanding chronic illness. The palpitations did return recently and very mildly after I'd been in a moderately stressful situation for about a week, and forgot to increase my cortef intake (I'm at a very very low dose of 10 mg/day).

Here are some links with helpful information. Keep fighting for treatment. This is NOT in your head. I'm really glad that you keep posting and searching for answers. I'm so, so sorry that you're going through doctor hell, and extremely sorry that the doc I thought I'd found in your area did not, upon close inspection, check out. Keep looking.
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001382.html
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021610.html
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/024626.html

My heart palpitations and panic attacks have resolved with treatment. Babesia as well as LD seems to play a big part in the heart stuff and shortness of breath.


Posts: 2331 | From WA | Registered: Jan 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
BarelyBreathin
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6063

Icon 1 posted      Profile for BarelyBreathin   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Tree loafer,
It seems alot of people also have these palpitations like you and I. Do you have any other symptoms? Oh I lived in Clarksburg WV until I was 8 and off n on at 12 and 15, I believe this is where i got the lymes disease.

BB


Posts: 158 | From Vancouver,WA 98682 | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

Icon 1 posted      Profile for lou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
The reason I suggested a Holter monitor is because, unlike some who posted, it did catch my palpitations. Won't use all the technical terms to describe various heart events, but it became clear why this was waking me up repeatedly. The number of beats per minute would zoom from 50 something to nearly l50! While I was asleep.

It does respond to treatment. My opinion is that both Lyme and babesia can cause palpitations.

[This message has been edited by lou (edited 27 October 2004).]


Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
TreeLoafer
Junior Member
Member # 6358

Icon 1 posted      Profile for TreeLoafer     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Barely Breathin,

I do have other symptoms, which started with my hands mildly swelling.

Then, my knees and ankles puffed up one day, and eventually started to hurt in the joint.

Now the bottoms of my feet, hands, wrists and eyelids are tender and sore, especially in the morning.

My jaw soreness was another early, continuing symptom.

I had dizzy spells that brought on small panic attacks, and they seem to be the only symptoms that have disappeared with the 3 weeks of doxy they gave me "in case of lyme"

All of my labs show that i'm the picture of health, no auto-immune response has shown, nor has lyme (although it's Qwest labs, which are not lyme literate.)

I have no idea what's going on with me, but i'm going to see infectious disease MD soon, and i'm going to try to get the igenex western blot.

What else have you experienced?


Posts: 7 | From arlington, va, USA | Registered: Oct 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
richtersl
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 2554

Icon 1 posted      Profile for richtersl     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
So I went to the dr. complaining of Extreme weakness, worsened dizzyness, worsened concentration, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath and she ran an EKG..It came out normal.

Man, does THAT ever ring a bell! You just described some of my Lyme symptoms to a tee! The frustrating part was trying to figure out how, with all these symptoms, one could possibly come up with a normal EKG!

For me, the intensity of these lessened greatly after I was properly diagnosed and put on antibiotics. The normal course of treatment for these symptoms failed miserably for me. I must have gone through like 6 beta blockers to control the symptoms. None of them worked.

You might consider magnesium supplementaion to see if these symptoms improve. Just do a Google or Yahoo search using Magnesium and heart and your search terms and watch what comes up. You can also do a search in this forum using just the term Magnesium.

But by far the best thing you can do for yourself is to find a Lyme Literate doctor (LLMD) in your area and schedule an appointment.

Linda


Posts: 749 | From New Hope, PA | Registered: May 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

Icon 1 posted      Profile for lou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
If you want to do some reading about abnormal heart rhythms, try the Merck Manual. It is on-line at http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section16/chapter205/205k.jsp

Can also do a search on lymenet using the word heart and get a great many responses from the past. Lots of lymies have heart problems.


Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
BarelyBreathin
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6063

Icon 1 posted      Profile for BarelyBreathin   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
TreeLoafer,

I started having leg and arm jerks 6 years ago, which evntually subsided then came the chronic fatigue, blurred vision, poor memory, stammered speech, eye floaters, dizzyness, weakness in my limbs, panic attacks, thinning hair, back pain, fire in my knees, then the arthritis in my hands set in along with stiffness EveryWhere.

My head often feels like im tripping on acid. Remember dreams ever morn i wake for 6 years. I quit smoking, cause it was making me sicker, swelling in face, hands etc. gosh you name it i have it.

Anger thats like "whoa where the hell did that come from?" After a few years of that i learned better to recognize "lyme Rage" and bite my firey toungue? lol Now shortness of breath, n heart palps.

Im sure there are other symptoms i failed to mention. If I would have been diagnosed sooner im sure i would not have experienced all these symptoms, but dr.s here in washington are, forgive me, Dumb A$$es! So.... hope your gettin good treatment.

BB


Posts: 158 | From Vancouver,WA 98682 | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
jo3
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6317

Icon 1 posted      Profile for jo3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Should I see a cardiologist for the same reasons- palpitations? I thought that was part of having Lyme? What about if there is heart probs. big time in my family?

QUOTE]Originally posted by lou:
What you need is a 24 hour Holter monitor to record the palpitations. Not saying that will make ducks take it seriously, though. Seems they can ignore or make light of almost anything.

If you are this bad off, maybe you should consider going where ever you have to in order to get some treatment. I know it is difficult to travel in bad condition, but it is better than becoming too friendly with the reaper. Make him wait as long as you can.[/QUOTE]


Posts: 247 | From san antonio,tx | Registered: Oct 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

Icon 1 posted      Profile for lou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Yes, it is part of Lyme, but if your family has a history of heart problems.....maybe you might want to consider that you could have more than one problem going on. That's the trouble with ticks, they can bite people with other health problems already, and make the diagnosis and treatment more sticky.

Not saying you should go to a cardiologist, but consider it anyway. Or ask your lyme doc what he/she thinks.


Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804

Icon 1 posted      Profile for AZURE WISH     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hi,

a while ago I had heart palpataions and breathing problems. i thin k my ekg was normal.

it was few years ago.

I had ehrlichiosis.... when this went away so did the symptoms

I'm not positive that ehrlichiosis is the coinfection that causes these symptoms... cant remember ... very tired and its kinda hard for me to remember some stuff when i'm this tired....

BUT i think you need to be checked for coinfections if u havent been.... and remember coinfections can be diagnosed clinically as well.

best wishes


Posts: 3860 | From nj,usa | Registered: Mar 2001  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
caat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2321

Icon 1 posted      Profile for caat     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I just had one and overheard the nurse say something to the doc at the infusion place about a little bit of variation in the (short waves? st waves- hard to hear her). Then later she turned around to me and said it didn't pick up anything at all- it was perfectly normal.

Although she *was* acting wierd and pressed me to take asprin.... I will show the EKG to my doc who wanted to do a diagnostic EKG anyway.

If you are at all suspicious get copies of all your records including the EKG print out. It's a good habit anyway, always. Many many doctors will lie and say nothing at all is found if they find a small variation of anything. However, that small variation may be a good clue as to what is going on with you. And those small variations certainly add up.


Posts: 1436 | From Humboldt county ca usa | Registered: Mar 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Pitnum
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 4906

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Pitnum     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I also have had some serious palpitations with Lyme. Fortunately, mine showed up on EKG as frequent PVC's. This occured every 3 beats. I had a holter monitor, event monitor, echo and stress test.

All the tests showed more of what the EKG showed. Their explanation was that the Lyme had invaded my heart and that the symptoms could last for awhile. On the other hand, they said these symptoms would resolve with treatment. They have lessened, but have not gone away.

The only other finding was what looked like myocardial ischemia on EKG during these episodes. Cardiologists have no explanation.
So, it seems that many Lymies are plagued by numerous heart symptoms.

Hopefully, your symptoms will subside with proper treatment. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to the heart!


Posts: 195 | From NJ | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code� is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | LymeNet home page | Privacy Statement

Powered by UBB.classic™ 6.7.3


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, NJ 08534 USA


| Flash Discussion | Support Groups | On-Line Library
Legal Resources | Medical Abstracts | Newsletter | Books
Pictures | Site Search | Links | Help/Questions
About LymeNet | Contact Us

© 1993-2020 The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Use of the LymeNet Site is subject to Terms and Conditions.