posted
Of all the possible lyme complication the heart issues is the one thing that really freaks me out. I have been trying to think back to see if I could have been infected a while ago and if I have felt any of heart complication symptoms...
Back in the fall I had my gall bladder remove. It was due to weight lost. I am sure it was the weight b.c my friend who was also losing weight at the time had it remove as well. I went to the ER when I was having gallbladder pain. The doc did an ekg and told me everything was fine but that he did see something in the ekg but told me it could have been a loss lead which happens sometimes. I mention this to my surgeon before the gallbladder surgery and he told me they would do another on before the surgery which was fine. I do remember the ER nurse having issues getting one of the leads to stick (I have a hairy chest :-) ). Anyway, I really have not had any hear symptoms I think. I can ride my bike for 50 miles with no issues. Never felt palpitation or any unexplained fast/slow beats nor have I ever had issues with blood pressure. My question is what are the issues I should look for?. Am I over reacting? Are the cardiac issues more prevalent with folks infected over a long time?
PS. I think the abx are working...I feel pretty good today after 10 pretty crappy days. I know I still have many weeks on abx but at least I am feeling I can get over this thing
Posts: 324 | From Philly | Registered: Jun 2010
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My cardiac symptoms are one of the worst things I've dealt with throughout this ordeal. I have an abnormal heart rhythm, typically in a bigeminal (every other beat is abnormal) pattern. It sometimes lasts for hours, sometime days. Unfortunately, diet, exercise and omitting caffeine, etc. from my diet hasn't helped.
In addition, I have tingling in my left hand/fingers, stabbing pains through the left side of my chest, chest cramps, shortness of breath, dizziness, pressure in my head and a few other things, all of which happen when my heart is acting up.
Sorry I am not too much help but hopefully this will ease you worry Posts: 52 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2010
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
I was aware that I had developped arrhythmia years ago, probably when I was bitten, but the heart symptoms have only recently [many years into illness] become a real problem.
Last year I had bad heart symptoms [skipped beats, extra beats, big thuds, tacchycardia, faintness, severe fatigue, associated difficulty breathing steadily], all very much to the foreground rather than you being aware of them in the background.
Blood tests showed I had moved from hypothyroidism [on meds for 14 years for it] to hyperthyroidism and it took a long time to die down. I was house bound for several months, I had various tests, saw both a cardiologist and endocrinologist [still seeing the latter].
Suddenly, a week ago, the bad symptoms returned in a big way and, as I am not on thyroid meds anymore, it is unlikely to be hyperthyroidism, but I am awaiting blood test results. This time I have been put on a heart-selective beta-blocker, and I am unsure how well I am going to tolerate it as I build up the dose.
Many people have palpitations from time to time, the odd skipped beat or racing pulse episode and that may not be a cause for anxiety unless it gets a lot worse.
Literature implies that only about 8 to 10% of people with Lyme develop related cardiac issues and it really doesn't sound as if you have this problem at present, so forget about it: you'll know if it becomes an issue without having to watch out for it.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I just have to add that I'm so jealous. I would LOVE to be able to do about a tenth of that again!
It's helpful to see where you are in diagnosis, treatment before answering. As you are dealing with what might be a flair of a previously undetermined bout withe lyme - but clearly (mostly) a NEW and acute case, be sure to talk with your LLMD about "riding [your] bike for 50 miles" even if you have no issues.
However, you said above: ". . . after 10 pretty crappy days." Hmmm. That might be some important information.
====================
Your post on 16 June, 2010:
4 weeks ago dx with LD with a positive test EISA and a negative WB test. All this after finding a tick in my hair, . . .
. . . 7 years ago I started to have panic attacks followed by tension headaches and finally BFS(twiching) and TMJ. It was a really stressful time in my life (school, work, mother stroke, parents' divorce etc).
After being freaked out and scared for a few weeks. I did some counseling for my anxiety and I got better. Basically everything went away. I was back to 100% in a few weeks (aside from the occasional anxiety about the getting the panic attacks again).
Can all this stuff that happened 7 years ago which went away without meds in only a few weeks of stress management etc, be the LD that I am dealing with now? I don't want to blame everything on LD but makes me wonder."
end quote
==========================
It's great you can do that but (for some) can be very stressful, still, and take away from your body's immune function to go that far and that long.
On the flip side, early on when the body has not been ravaged for years before diagnosis, your bike may be your very best friend. It obviously is working for you.
As each person is different, of course, talk to your LLMD. There may still be some support supplements helpful to ensure your continued success with this.
In general, aerobic exercise when dealing with an infection may damage the heart. It also can impair immune function. You may be a special case if you can ride that far - and your LLMD may think it's okay but he may also advise a change. To be sure, look over details below and discuss it with your LLMD. Again, your case differs in many ways.
What's below is a basic set - and clearly with your ability to ride 50 miles with "no issues" you have to ask is that because your adrenal system is pumping so much to mask symptoms?
However, since you said "no issues" I assume you feel fine afterward and the next day and do not get hit with post-exercise fatigue that is just crushing and debilitating for most lyme patients.
However, since you have not been ill for a long time, your body is in better shape to start. Just be VERY careful so that your body stays that way. Your exercise plan may vary from the one below but it's important to know the basics before you and your doctor then figure out your best plan.
Many lyme patients tend to overdo and then get clobbered. I'm one of those for whom it happened. But that can be avoided.
Your LLMD is the one best to guide you. He may want to STUDY you in regards to exercise for those who are lucky enough to obtain early diagnosis.
Treatment Guidelines, 16th edition, October, 2008 Joseph J. Burrascano, Jr., M.D.
Page 20:
. . . If treatment can be continued long term, then a remarkable degree of recovery is possible.
However, attention must be paid to all treatment modalities for such a recovery - not only antibiotics, but rehab and exercise programs, nutritional supplements, enforced rest, low carbohydrate, high fiber diets, attention to food sensitivities, avoidance of stress, abstinence from caffeine and alcohol, and absolutely no immunosuppressants, even local doses of steroids (intra-articular injections, for example). . . .
* Page 27 for SUPPORTIVE THERAPY & the CERTAIN ABSOLUTE RULES
Page 31:
LYME DISEASE REHABILITATION
Despite antibiotic treatments, patients will NOT return to normal unless they exercise, so therefore an aggressive rehab program is absolutely necessary. It is a fact that a properly executed exercise program can actually go beyond the antibiotics in helping to clear the symptoms and to maintain a remission.
Although the scientific basis for the benefits of exercises is not known, there are several reasonable theories.
It is known that Bb will die if exposed to all but the tiniest oxygen concentrations. If an aggressive exercise program can increase tissue perfusion and oxygen levels, then this may play a role in what is being seen.
Also, during aggressive exercise, the core body temperature can rise above 102 degrees; it is known that B. burgdorferi is very heat sensitive. Perhaps it is the added tissue oxygenation, or higher body temperature, or the combination that weakens the Lyme Borrelia, and allows the antibiotics and our defenses to be more effective.
Regular exercise-related movements can help mobilize lymph and enhance circulation. In addition,there is now evidence that a carefully structured exercise program may benefit T-cell function: this function will depress for 12 to 24+ hours after exercise, but then rebound.
This T-cell depression is more pronounced after aerobics which is why aerobics are not allowed. The goal is to exercise intermittently, with exercise days separated by days of total rest, including an effort to have plenty of quality sleep.
The trick is to time the exercise days to take advantage of these rebounds. For an example, begin with an exercise day followed by 3 to 5 rest days; as stamina improves, then fewer rest days will be needed in between workouts.
However, because T-cell functions do fall for at least one day after aggressive exercises, be sure to never exercise two days in a row. Finally, an in intermittent exercise program, properly executed, may help to reset the HPA axis more towards normal.
On the following page is an exercise prescription that details these recommendations.
This program may begin with classical physical therapy if necessary. The physical therapy should involve massage, heat, ultrasound and simple range of motion exercises to relieve discomfort and promote better sleep and flexibility.
Ice (vasoconstriction) and electrical stimulation (muscle spasm and trauma) should not be used!
The program must evolve into a graded, ultimately strenuous exercise program that consists of a specific regimen of non-aerobic conditioning- see below.
Have the patient complete a gentle hour of prescribed exercise, then go home, have a hot bath or shower, than try to take a nap. Initially, patients will need this sleep, but as they recover, the exercise will energize them and then a nap will no longer be needed.
NOTE: a cardiac stress test may be necessary prior to exercising to ensure safety. -------------
Page 32:
LYME REHAB-PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTION
. . . (there is a P.T. prescription all set to fill out here) . . .
Excerpt:
PROGRAM:
1. Aerobic exercises are NOT allowed, not even low impact variety, until the patient has recovered.
2. Conditioning: work to improve strength and reverse the poor conditioning that results from Lyme, through a whole-body exercise program, consisting of light calisthenics and/or resistance training, using light resistance and many repetitions.
This can be accomplished in exercise classes called "stretch and tone", or "body sculpture", or can be achieved in the gym with exercise machines or carefully with free weights (see cautions above).
3. Each session should last one hour. A gentle hour is preferable to a strenuous half-hour. If the patient is unable to continue for the whole hour, then decrease the intensity to allow him/her to do so.
4. Exercise no more often than every other day. The patient may need to start by exercising every 4th or 5th day initially, and as abilities improve, work out more often, but NEVER two days in a row. The nonexercise days should be spent resting.
5. This whole-body conditioning program is what is required to achieve wellness. A simple walking program will not work, and simply placing the patient on a treadmill or an exercise bike is not acceptable (except very briefly, as part of a warm-up), as aerobics can be damaging and must be avoided. . . .
From Dr. Bruno's "Fainting and Fatigue" in the Spring 1996 CFIDS Chronicle
Post-polio expert Dr. Richard Bruno points out that physical over-activity is the biggest cause of post-polio symptoms. [3]
Excerpt:
``when mice infected with Coxsackie B3 were forced to swim in a warm pool, the virulence of the virus was drastically augmented.
In fact, viral replication was augmented 530 times. This did horrendous things to the animals' hearts. We all know that to play squash with the flu can lead to heart attacks.
Much the same danger can be courted by undertaking hard exercise with M.E. (CFS).'' - End quote.
==============
This thread also talks about POTS, etc. (but, again, that is for a different segment of lyme patients. Just listen to your body, though, if you experience any changes). See the post about brain hypoperfusion (and how aerobic exercise making that worse for CFS patients) from the SPECT details from the Nightingale group. --------- http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/77325
Topic: To everyone with cardiac symptoms please read !
This thread contains good detail for cardiac support. -
[ 06-21-2010, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
You may be able to find more also by searching in
the box for heart.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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Unfortunately, diet, exercise and omitting caffeine, etc. from my diet hasn't helped. 
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