Having heart arrhythmias

[burntout77]

A CT scan started me off having flip-flopping arrhythmia. It seemed as though the radio contrast that was put into my veins messed with my heart and now ever since then it has been out of sync with its normal rhythm. The doctor did an EKG today and said it was called PVC (Premature Ventricular Contraction). He put me on a blood pressure med because I was having very high blood pressure along with it. So hopefully this will help. He also put me on magnesium. I have never had any heart health issues before but know that with Sjogren's syndrome the inflammation can sometimes aggravate the heart. So, not sure really where this constant ongoing everyday arrhythmia came from at this point. Just wondering if anyone else has had issues with the heart like this.

[Sharon]

I have never had any heart issues before either and have begun arrythmias and chest pains while taking a biological drug (Orencia) which actually helps with inflammation. So I can't explain it.
I also had an MRI this week with contrast and have been feeling especially awful in general since.

[bluegardenia]

did u have an holter? you could make a one day or two or even one week holter so you will know better  and more precisely which kind of arrhitmias u have

[irish]

If you have not seen a cardiologist I would think that is the next step. I would want to get more tests and a more in depth study to find out just what is going on and the long term effects. Yes, people with Sjogrens get arrhythmias and this warrants more research into this event. Hopefully you will find out just what the whole story is. Good luck. Irish

[burntout77]

No, I haven't had a holter put on me, yet. Excellent idea. And no, I haven't been referred to a cardiologist, which these two suggestions are a great idea. Wonder why the doctor didn't suggest that. I'm wondering why the doctor didn't order an x-ray of the heart to see if I had a heart attack. It dawned on me this morning that I could have very well had a small heart attack after the radio contrast infusion. The CT scan was only for the abdomen and pelvis so it probably wouldn't show any heart damage, if any. Sometimes I feel they just don't take these things serious enough. Still feeling kind of nauseated today, although the arrhythmia and blood pressure are better after taking the new blood pressure med and magnesium. Thanks for your input on this. 

[irish]

They can frequently tell about heart attacks by the ECG. I would ask for a cardiologist referral cause of the autoimmune component and it takes someone with expertise to figure this all out. Irish