Lately I have been besieged by bouts of an elevated heart rate. I use to walk the dog about a mile a day, now, half way through the walk my heart is pumping like a steam locomotive and I have to stop to catch my breath. I checked my pulse when I got home and it was 114 per minute.
Closing the blinds, not to strenuous an activity and my heart was at 95, vacuum one room, 109. This has been going on for a couple of months gradually getting worse. Then as all things go with me, it mysteriously improved today.
My normal pulse at rest is between 64 and 68 and when I was riding my exercise bike, (before all the surgery and chemo) I could never crack 110, even playing video games was to strenuous and I have noticed that when I lay down to go to sleep my heart stars pumping hard for a couple of minutes.
The kidney doctors said it has nothing to do with the kidneys and the urologist said it has nothing to do with the chemo, now it's off to the rheumatologist. Any ideas.
No idea what might be causing the spike in heart rate, but would love you to vaccuum my house when you're done with yours :)
Seriously, please follow up with your doctor and let us know what might be causing this. Sorry that you've got yet another SOMETHING to deal with, Epson.
Epson-
It might be a good idea to get your thyroid checked. I had problems with my thyroid in my 20's. It was overactive and my heart felt at times like I was running a marathon. Over the course of 3 months, I lost something like 45 pounds. It also kicked in after each of my kids was born. With my first, I lost all of my pregnancy weight and then some in about 6 weeks. At times, it would feel like my heart was going so fast it was going to beat right out of my chest.
That's the only thought I had on it. I hope you get a good answer (not one that involves sticking long, yucky things into bodily orifices)
Tracy
epson
i dont know, i know i was getting palpitations for a while, could feel my heart pounding in chest and a faster beat , was told this was all symptoms of fibromyalgia, reading into that i see that surges in adrenaline in system noted in fibro, cause this , but im no expert
T x
Hi there my fine toothed friend,
I know what you mean about the heart rate gong up with a minimum amount of exercise, that's awful. I know sometimes I can walk for a couple of miles and not have any problems, other times, I walk up a flight of stairs and I'm breathing very hard and the heart rate is through the rough - like it wants to beat out of my chest (and let's not even mention the sweating that comes with this). Whew, I thought it was a just me kind of thing. Anyway, spoke to the pulmonologist and he's referred me to a cardiologist, hummm, this is getting interesting.
Good luck and take care my friend.
Patze
Epson, you had asked a while ago about low blood counts and shortness of breath...this could be a different side of the same issue. I don't know how often you have a CBC done, but after 4 surgeries and ongoing chemo, the counts are still subject to dropping, and could cause the rapid heart rate (as well as the shortness of breath).
Thanks to all,
Good food good thought, Patze, what you described, sound very similar to what I am experiencing. Feels like my heart is beating right out of my chest.
Tracy, I have had my thyroid checked a couple of times and the test results couple with my resent weight gain, rule the thyroid out.
Linda, my GRI has dropped to 47.76 in a matter about 2 weeks, but told that this should not effect heart function also I would think that the low (slightly below low normal) blood count could be a source of the problem, but again told that it is unlikely.
Mc Haggis, good point about fibro, which I do have and also found that Sjogren's could be a culprit after read about a hundred articles. It,s so hard to figure out what doctor to see in order to get this sorted out.
Bonusmom, are you looking to hire domestic help, I'm available.
Epson,
I get an elevated heart rate as a side effect of Evoxac. If you read the side effect profile, you will find it listed. I've been on Evoxac for almost two years and noticed this from the start. So, I'm not sure if this is your issue or not. I don't get it every day but it happens from time to time. It usually occurs after my second dose. Mine seldom goes over 105 but still I feel it. My family doctor didn't seem too concerned about it. It usally only lasts for an hour or so. Just a thought.
Anna
Anna,
I also take evoxac, been on it for 2 years and never noticed any side effect, not even an increase of sweating, but that doesn't mean that it couldn't start causing a probelm now. Thanks for the info.
Hi Epson :)
The only time I've ever been aware of my heart rate was when I was on anti depressants at one stage. They made it beat fast.
I'm weird though. When one is hypothyroid one of the checks to aid dx is a slow heartrate. I have an underactive thyroid and my resting heart rate is always between 85 and 95 - most ioften in the 90s. It doesn't take much exercise to set it higher either. Go figure! :-\
Hubby's resting heartrate now he's on beta blockers is 44. I think I'd stop functioning if mine was that low.
Take care - Scottie :)
I don't take any of the drugs mentioned, and my thyroid is fine. However, my pulse is often over a hundred. It has been 120 on occassions. Doctors have commented, but nothing more. I have a feeling my heart rate increase is due to my inhalers.
Kathyx
Absolutely. That is a clear symtom of the Sjogrens effects your autonomic nervous system. I get that and was even hospitalized last year with a suspected heart attack. Once in the cool hospital and laying down there wasn't a single symptom and they were baffled.
Here is the defination of what happens with autonomic neuropathy...
Definition
Autonomic neuropathy is a type of peripheral neuropathy that affects involuntary body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration, digestion and other processes. Instead of a specific disease, autonomic neuropathy refers to damage to the autonomic nerves that results in a variety of signs and symptoms. This damage disrupts signals between the brain and portions of the autonomic system such as the heart, blood vessels and sweat glands, resulting in decreased or abnormal performance of one or more involuntary body functions
Steve