posted
I still have a rapid heart beat from lyme, babs and bart-I have POTS, but it is much better. Some days everything is "calm". It seems my symptoms are worse in the morning.
Anyone on beta-blockers? Do they make you tired, or do they help?
My cardiologist suggested them, my LLMD is against them, as it will mask if I'm getting better. My neurologist said POTS can take months to clear, even once the infections are gone.
Thanks for your help.
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I am on the beta-blocker Pindolol and I love it!
I take 5mg three times a day.
I used to feel tense all the time, and it has REALLY helped with that. It might help any insomnia too....because you feel more peaceful at night.
I feel like it gave me more energy too, and more drive to do things. Overall, I became less irritable and more optimistic.
I think it can make some people tired, but for me it was the opposite.
Also, it did lower my pulse. For the first time in like 5 years, it was in the 80s. In the beginning, I was breaking up the pills into segments, to only end up with 5mg a day. Even that helped, so I don't even know if I should have increased it.
When I told my LLMD about it, he was like, "that is a great idea! I don't know why your dysautonomia doc didn't put you on that earlier!"
So, he didn't have any problems with it.
Prior to that, I was on Midodrine for dysautonomia (similar to POTS), but I don't think it was really helping.
Pindolol did give me some chest pain in the beginning, but I think it was just my body adjusting to the medicine.
Good luck!
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I am on Toprol (it helped great, but recently it seems it's starting to not help as well as it used to. Not sure why this is). I also believe I have POTS, but my first LLMD never mentioned my low blood pressure and rapid heart rate (tachycardia). I was put on Toprol by my cardiologist after having extensive heart tests ran because of the tachycardia and palps and all coming back normal.
I'm seeing a new LLMD in August and am going to make sure to ask him about POTS.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I have been on a beta blocker for about 10 years. Tachycardia and arrhythmia were actually my first clinical manifestation of lyme, and the beta blockers have helped with that. There are times when there are just lots of other things going on and the beta blockade is not enough, but taking them really changed my life. It's hard not to be anxious and nervous when your resting heart rate is 110! The beta blockers don't make me tired, but I did put on a lot of weight after starting them. It's hard to tell whether the weight is from the beta blockers, or just the lyme screwing with my metabolics.
Good luck!
Posts: 393 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
My resting heart rate is @ 80-but when I stand and get moving, it goes to around 100-120. I'm just afraid of adding more meds to the mix.
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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