Topic: Heart Palpitations ALL day long?! And three questions, please.
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Hey guys... so what I thought was shortness of breath all day a couple of days ago was actually palpitations all day long. I ended up going to the ER that night around 2:00 a.m. because I couldn't sleep with the palps.
The ER basically only did an EKG, took blood, and a chest x-ray. All normal. I am seeing my cardiologist tomorrow (AGAIN because I just saw him in August for palps that had occurred 2 hours straight. I am getting tired of having to see my cardiologist so often ).
I am so tired of these heart palpitations. They are so scary. I hate the heart symptoms - they are the WORST.
Has anyone else here had palpitations all day long? I'm starting to worry that this isn't caused by lyme and what if it's caused by something else??! But what, I'm not sure! I've had a holter monitor and echo's and EKGs and most of the things are "normal" according to them. The ER doctor did say my EKG was normal, but while I was on the heart monitor, he saw some PVC's. I know that when I had the holter monitor many years ago there were some PVC's and PAC's on there as well, but only a few.
So I have some questions:
1. I know lyme causes heart palpitations, but can it cause them all day long?!? And have you had them all day long before?
2. I've been seeing my cardiologist for about three years. I've never told him I have lyme. I never thought to, especially considering how many cardiologists and doctors don't believe in the problems it can cause. I am wondering if I should tell my cardiologist now and how I would go about it. I can't just say, "oh, you've been my cardio for three years and I just now wanted to tell you I have lyme." I'm afraid he'll just mark "anxiety" or "crazy" down in the report!!! Should I tell him or no?
3. I am expecting him to give me another EKG when I go, but I also want another echo (since the last one I had was THREE years ago) and maybe even get another holter done (since the last holter I had was 6 or so years ago!!!). I don't think EKG's can tell a person a whole lot, right? Should I ask to have a stress test as well?
Those are my three questions.... thanks!
-------------------- 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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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Disturbedme, I have a fourth question that I think you should have asked, but didn't.
4. How much magnesium should I be taking daily?
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Carol, you'll be happy that I've upped my dosage of mag and CoQ10, but to tell you the truth, I don't think it's going to do much good. And that's definitely not the point of this post. I've had palpitations and heart issues for a very long time.
-------------------- 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
Did you post your on florinef? How much? If sao you need to get your electrolytes checked. I had a lot of trouble with palps PAC's/PVC's, according to the holter monitor and take atenolol. They are scarey especially when they don't go away. Hated the flip flop feeling in my chest. If your pressure is staying low in spite of florinef you need your ACTH and cortisol checked. Your B/P runs too low according to your other post.
Posts: 383 | From Ar | Registered: May 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Zil, yes I am on Florinef, but only the lowest dosage possible. I have been having my electrolytes checked and my potassium is in the normal ranges. It's actually higher on Florinef than it is while off - and it's extremely strange.
I don't know what ACTH is? My cortisol I believe has been checked and it's normal.
PS - I just looked up the ACTH test and I have had that done before, but it was three years ago, but it was normal.
-------------------- 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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-------------------- Seeking renewed health & vitality. --------------------------------- Do not take anything I say as medical advice - I am NOT a dr! Posts: 830 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I have had that happen too. Several years ago I started getting palpitations and they just kept getting worse and worse. Soon it seemed like it was all day every day and it was so scary.
I know you are already taking coq10 and magnesium. Those were helpful for me. BUT I think what helped me the most was when I started taking the trace mineral Molybdenum.
I honestly don't remember why I decided that this might help. I remember doing some research on another message group and people talking about molybdenum. So I did some research on it and started taking it. I really don't remember what people said about it that made me look into it but it helped me SOOOO much. Sorry I don't have more info about why it would help heart palpitations but it did help me.
Lyme can definitely be the cause of heart palpitations and I am positive that is what caused mine. I too went and saw a cardiologist and they didn't find anything. Abx have further helped my heart symptoms but the molybdenum really was key for me.
I know molybdenum helps detox stuff from your body so maybe I had just accumulated too many toxins due to the lyme or something and that was causing heart palps? I have no clue.
Hope you find something that helps with this. I know how scary it is! People had some good suggestions here so maybe you can check into some of these things.
Do you have an LLMD? Maybe they can help give you some guidance on this.
Take Care! Pam :-)
-------------------- Sick since 10/2001. Tested CDC positive for Lyme 10/2008 through Quest and Igenex. Started treatment 1/2009 with LLMD. Lyme, Erichilosis, Chlamydophila Pneumoniae, Q Fever, Strep Syndrome and probably a few others I am forgetting. Posts: 451 | From Virginia | Registered: Feb 2009
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
disturbedme, for me severe heart palpitations and shortness of breath are from Babesiosis. Do you have it?
It is always best to have it checked out though.
I think you should tell your cardiologist that you have Lyme, because it is very relevant.
Posts: 4682 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
1. Lyme can probably do that .. but do everything you can to rule out other problems with the heart.
2. Boy, I don't know what to tell you on that one. Maybe you can say, "I've been afraid to tell you that I have lyme disease, but thought perhaps I should tell you in light of all the recent problems I've been having."
But I'm not sure you should tell him.
3. I would definitely get another echo and holter (they also have a 3 wk monitor)
An EKG can only tell if something is wrong at that point in time. Something would have to be going wrong right then for it to show up.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
/\/\/\/\ Anyone else?
-------------------- 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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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
distrubed,
many of our members are RNs/LPNS or other medical experience, they will suggest various things to you based on their experience.
please don't bite their heads off; they are offering you their work experience. thanks hugs
no heart experience here thank you god.....
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posted
Reflux and irritation of the vagus nerve is causing my palps.
Posts: 770 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Yes, I have had palps all day long. When I first became ill, and before I knew it was LD. It was literally palps 24/7. About drove me nuts.
I went to 2 cardiologist. Had the echo done. I was given Tenormin for several months. Had to stop taking it due to it making my BP way too low; but it sure did help with the palps.
Probably should tell him about the Lyme; but I get your hesitation. Still it is very relevant to the heart issues.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Can't remember if you said on another thread that you've had your thyroid levels checked?
My really bad experience with these symptoms this spring and summer was related to suddenly becoming hyperthyroid, despite having been on same meds for hypothyroidism for years.
Once this happens, it takes ages for blood levels to die down.
I finally saw a cardiologist for the first time [long wait] last week and was upfront about the Lyme [it'll be on my notes anyway] and he just commented that Lyme can affect the heart contractions.
If I were you, I would tell him: you can always explain your hesitation.
Hope you can get to the bottom of it, as severe irregular palpitations and shortness of breath are VERY unpleasant and scary,
Carry
Low cortisol may have contributed in my case: as you are on Florinef, I presume you have had cortisol levels checked too?
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disturbedme
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Member # 12346
posted
Carry, my thyroid is in the normal ranges, they checked that at the ER and I had it checked only a few weeks ago at my LLMDs office. I have to have it checked regularly because I am hypothyroid and take medicine for it. So we know it was not hyperthyroid.
-------------------- 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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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Me too on the thyroid. I have had every thyroid test there is especially for hyper, since I have lost so much weight and mine is always normal.
For me at least, I believe that the Lyme is affecting the heart.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Betty, it's okay. I've been talking about magnesium to Disturbed for a long time now, which is why I said she's probably tired of hearing about it.
Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
quote:Symptoms or signs of the cardiovascular system include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure and mitral valve prolapse.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Carol, but I have low blood pressure. And there's no evidence I have MVP, even though my cardio thinks I might.
-------------------- 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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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
From what I've read, I don't think you'll have all the cardiac symptoms if your cells are low in magnesium.
I have high blood pressure, but no rhythm abnormalities. I know I have low magnesium by symptoms I've had throughout my life, but not all at once. I got carsick easily. I had very sensitive sense of hearing and smell. My eyes are sensitive to bright light. I have had headaches, migraine, anxiety, depression. At times I've had twitching, internal vibrations, paresthesias.
When I was pregnant, I had nausea with some vomiting almost the whole time. It wasn't until I began to read about Lyme that I found out that is a symptom of low magnesium.
I even had pre-eclampsia, very high blood pressure when I was 9 months pregnant. When that condition causes seizures, the doctors give intravenous magnesium.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
I had them and other strange and disturbing heart issues that got worse with bart treatment.
Have you recently changed your antibiotics?
Treating bart caused my adrenals to come back online and the T-3 I was taking along with Isocort was too much. I stopped completely and the heart symptoms are much better...minus mild MVP.
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