posted
Anyone else having a fast heartbeat and feeling absolutely exhausted after climbing stairs?
My heart is checked and ok.
I think it is the immune system causing this - because when you have a flu you have same symptoms - or ?
Anyone else?
Posts: 188 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2009
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MariaA
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I have the same issue sometimes. It went away with babesia treatment annd came back ith other babesia symptoms when I had a relapse. Last night I was laying in bed and my heart was racing for no reason- I didn't check heartrate but I know my heartrate pretty well and this was unusual. I'm pretty sure I don't have actual Lyme carditis or anything. I think I have vagus nerve damage and this is probably related.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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Keebler
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I have similar issues but for me it's definitely not a hypercoagulation issue. I've been bleeding more easily lately, although my platelet count is just below normal.
I've been treating for Babesia but haven't got any clear picture if Babs causes easy bleeding. It messes with your spleen, so I guess bleeding easier could happen.
I also have those days where I feel I'm having a heart attack. Just weird and eerie sensations. All my tests always check out okay--surprise, surprise--but I'm convinced my vascular system has been affected.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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TerryK
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posted
The fast heart rate after exertion is typical of dysautonomia, specifically the low blood pressure which can be caused by a low blood volume.
I suspect for me the low blood volume (I've had it tested 2X's) is caused by babesia. I have a low red blood cell mass which is what causes the low blood volume. Babesia bursts red blood cells. A small study of CFIDS patients found the low blood volume/low red blood cell issue and most of the people included in the study.
Tracy - heat can dump the blood pressure which will make your heart rate speed up to try to keep the blood pressure up.
Not saying this is the problem for everyone but I can relate (and many others with lyme and CFIDS can relate) to the blood pressure and fast pulse rate issues.
Tracy9
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posted
I also recently was hospitalized for pericarditis and it recurred about two or three weeks later. I get constant pain in my heart and think there is still fluid around it.
I see my primary care in a couple weeks and will see what he wants to do about it.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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randibear
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posted
well i'm on a higher dose of bp meds and have to go for an ultrasound of my heart.
my resting rate is still in the 90's and if i'm up and around it will go to 120 or so.
so far nothing has been found.
dang...i mean that's good but it's frustrating because i get so worried and then it's LYME.....
i think it means "chronic fatigue"????
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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MariaA
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posted
chronic fatigue immune dysfunction
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
posted
It was very bad when I initially got sick. A heart rate of 140-150 after climbing stairs SLOWLY. Blood pressure was actually very high. Orthostatic hypertension (not to be confused with hypo).
I mountain biked 20-30 miles a day at least a few times a week all summer, so I wasn't in bad shape before this. I was 23. I can't do much more than walk a little. Anything strenuous and my heart gets stuck (though I haven't done strenuous stuff since my last stress echo).
Most frustrating part was my PCP telling me that everything was just anxiety. I never quite got her logic. However, she did eventually give me anxiety when she kept telling me nothing was wrong with me and no further testing was necessary. I should have switched doctors a lot sooner.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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MariaA
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yeah, that was kind of my situation- I was in good shape (for having serious babesia) in that I had been working out just a few months before, and I don't think I lose 'shape' that fast- and my heart rate would shoot up to 130-140 after walking up one flight of stairs slowly at my house. I never checked blood pressure when this was happening but I'm sure my whole situation was some kind of orthostatic whateverit'scalled- I'd "black out" when standing up too fast, also. Yeah, the whole feeling felt like anxiety but there wasn't anything to be anxious about- it was a physically-triggered problem that went away with more Mepron and other babesia treatment.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
posted
The same thing happens to me. I have POTS a form of Dysautonomia. Heart races after climbing stairs, hot shower, EATING, which is the worst. I take BB to help.
Posts: 56 | From Austin, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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MariaA
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what's bb?
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
posted
Beta Blockers.
Posts: 56 | From Austin, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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MariaA
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posted
oh, that's very interesting.
did you by chance have air hunger as well? Did beta blockers affect that ? I don't see why they would, but the POTS and air hunger felt related to me, not sure if it actually was or if it was just my 'feelig' about it.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
TerryK
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posted
kday wrote: Blood pressure was actually very high
What happens to me sometimes is that my blood pressure becomes volatile. While my body is trying to adjust to the activity, my blood pressure is all over the place. If you take it and then take it again a few minutes later, you may find that there is a huge difference in the readings. This can go on for awhile until it settles at which time it is usually low (for me).
That said, my sister had high blood pressure when she first got sick and now she has low blood pressure.
kday wrote: However, she did eventually give me anxiety when she kept telling me nothing was wrong with me and no further testing was necessary.
I can relate to that. I was told the same thing repeatedly and had to go to a research hospital to get anyone to actually look at the problem and figure out that it was NOT anxiety.
MariaA - Thanks for defining CFIDS. Seems like so many people with lyme get diagnosed with that first that I forget that not everyone knows what it is.
Stefan - you might consider having your blood pressure readings done while standing still for at least 3 minutes to see if it drops. You may want to consider researching the possibility of a tilt table test. They mention tachycardia (fast pulse) as a possible reason for a tilt table test. It is commonly done to determine if one has the orthostatic problems with blood pressure and pulse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilt_table_test
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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TerryK
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littlebit wrote: My heart rate ranges from 120-150 resting. EKG came back normal so the primary care doc wants to do other tests.
Food allergies can cause this for me.
littlebit wrote: I tested negative for the babesia but that was from the mayo clinic lab so who knows.
I tested negative for babs too but I've had some of my best progress with treatment for babesia.
Terry I'm not a doctor
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I've been having similar issues and am currently wearing a 30 day event monitor to try and capture these events so the cardiologist can try and figure this out. I think it is related to Babesia - I've been treating with Mepron for two months and have in the last week had a major flare of air hunger symptoms and the racing heart/pvc's. Just got the monitor yesterday - hope I can record some of this so they can see I'm not crazy!
Posts: 239 | From Virginia | Registered: Jun 2009
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I think it is the immune system and chronic inflammation causing this - because when you have a flu you have same symptoms - or ?My doc agrees with this...
Posts: 188 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2009
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TerryK
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Stefan- could you please explain how/why the immune system and inflammation causes a fast pulse and exhaustion on exertion?
I know cytokines can cause inflammation but I've never heard of the immune system or inflammation being a cause of POTS and I've done quite a bit of research over the 20 years that I've had it so I'd be very intrested in knowing more.
I know allergies can cause a fast pulse but the fast pulse happens while sitting or standing so that's not really POTS which seems to be what you are describing.
Thanks for any information about this.
Terry
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map1131
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I have this too with stairs. I can do an hour long exercise program in the heated pool at the Y and not have the exhaustion. But let me walk up a flight of stairs and I'm wiped out.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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This is me too. I used to mountain bike and hike, but last summer, I couldn't even go up a flight of stairs of have a shower. It's gotten better now, but as with Map, I can exercise, but not go up stairs.
Posts: 503 | From Alberta, Canada | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
my brother had a stress test done... heart racing turned out to be due to severe anemia; he needed blood transfusion (does not have lyme). I would suggest you have a current blood count done.
Posts: 758 | From now TX | Registered: Mar 2001
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Tracy9
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Small Fiber Neuropathy, an autoimmune disease that can be caused by Lyme, causes the blood pressure to be all over the place. It is one of the systems because the nerve fibers that control heart rate, breathing, blood pressure are damaged. You can be tested for this by punch skin biopsy only by a neurologist. The treatment is IVIG.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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When you have a real flu and fever you feel faster exhausted and the heart beat is faster.
Btw , funny thing is - as soon I take Tinidazol the exhaustion symptoms go in remission.
Stefan- could you please explain how/why the immune system and inflammation causes a fast pulse and exhaustion on exertion?
Posts: 188 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2009
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I am relieved to know I am not the only one with elevated heart rate issues. I was also a very avid mountain biker three years ago (25 miles no problem), but then had some very weird symptoms tied to Lyme (sweating, heat/cold intolerance, headaches, vacillating blood pressure, fever/chills). Igenex did not show definitive Lyme/Babesia etc. in three different tests. I've been tested for just about everything else with no issue. As of one year ago, I have not been able to exercise as much; going just a mile on the bike or jogging just a few hundred feet, and my heart rate is up to 170-180 bpm. It only declines about 30-40 bpm after one minute, and often stays there for a few minutes. Stairs does something similar. Overall, it's as if my stamina just dropped off. I'm 38 and not accepting this as stress or anxiety.
I am trying to find another LLMD where I live, since I have not improved with my current one. I only took a doxy/amox regimen for 2 months with negligible improvement; I have heard that you must stay on these abx longer.
I am not accepting that I am getting older, and that's the reason. I really want this situation to be resolved.
I started taking whole, raw garlic (one clove per day -- in the evening so I don't scare away my day shift coworkers). I hear the allicin is good for you.
Thanks for reading. I will keep others posted if anything improves.
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