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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/21/2008 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, thought I'd see if anyone here has had any experience with these. I've been getting heart palpitations since the weekend. ONLY as I'm going to sleep. It's the oddest thing. Happens when I go to take a nap or at night. Wakes me up even. I used to get them a few years ago when I was working (same thing just as I go to sleep), saw my doctor and everything. He didn't think it was anything to worry about, did a EKG and that was normal. Told me to exercise more and not worry about it. They did go away.

But now that I know I have Crohn's, not sure if maybe it's related? I don't think I'm anemic, just had a blood test last month. Maybe a vitamin deficiency? I've also been under some stress lately, so maybe that's it too. I see my GI in a few weeks, so I'll bring it up to him. Just wondering if anyone here has had the same problems, and what they did for them?

Posted 2/21/2008 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, for some reason they like to come about just when you're trying to relax. I get them sometimes when I am somewhat dehydrated. My EKG's & blood pressure are always real good and I know I don't have a murmur. Glad yours went away but I would mention it to the GI anyway.
Posted 2/21/2008 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
i think it could have to do with a vitamin deficiency. my heart bothers me when i'm low on iron and b12.
Posted 2/21/2008 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Jen, you should go read my post entitled "Some light info on PVCs" or something like that, I recently posted it in the heart forum. It will give you some good info about palpitations.

These palpitations could be worse for you if you are fluid-depleted (i.e., you've had a lot of diarrhea lately), so if you haven't had a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) done lately you should get that done to rule out low potassium, and perhaps get a Holter monitor, which is a 24-hour recorder of your heart rhythm (you just wear it under your clothes, no big deal) so they can analyze your heart rhythm over the course of an entire day, rather than an EKG, which only records the rhythm for a few seconds.

My advice would be to ask your PCP about what I just mentioned and in the meantime make sure you are hydrated, and also try some exercise, because intense exercise for several minutes can be very helpful in "re-setting" the abnormal rhythm. In a young, otherwise healthy person, usually these freaky beats are annoying but "normal" in the grand scheme of things.

Hope this helps - let me know if you have other questions.
Posted 2/21/2008 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
I get the palps & have been since this whole mess started last June/May. I had problems with arrythmia before, and my EKG shows sinus arrythmia. No one seems worried about it, so I wouldn't worry too much. Just get an EKG to make sure & make sure your doctor knows. They will want to check into it, just to make sure all is well. Worrying about the palps can give you more palps, lol!
Posted 2/21/2008 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Most heart palpitations are benign and are often related to stress or fatigue. Lots of people get them, and some suffer them much of the time. They can also be triggered by caffeine and/or tobacco use, and are also a symptom of low B12. Quite often they simply go away with time.  Other than B12 deficiency as a cause, I doubt that there is any direct relation to Crohns with them.

Posted 2/21/2008 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
I, too, have the 'ol palpitations from time to time. Actually, more often than I'd like. Usually at night but sometimes out of the blue during the day. Palpitations, racing...I've had it for years, even before the Crohn's, though. Since it's bothered me a good bit at night lately (my chest also gets heavy-feeling), I'm seeing a Cardiologist next week.

My EKG's and blood pressure is always good. I've done the heart monitor thing about 12 years ago. I imagine this Cardiologist next week will also have me give the monitor a go again. The thing about EKG's is that they only show what's going on at the moment in time you're having it. So if you don't have a palpitation then, it probably won't show anything.
Posted 2/21/2008 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
When I was with a severe anemia I used to have this heart palpitations exactly I when I trying to get rest, maybe that is the same happening to you.
Posted 2/21/2008 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info everyone! Looks like quite a few of us get these fun things.

So I had them again last night. I also take Toprol 50mg for high blood pressure. My PCP upped the dose to 50 from 25 in early January. My BP seemed to be on the rise. It's been quite good during the day for me at this higher dose. Yesterday I got 117/75. Which is REALLY good I thought anyway.

But when I woke up at 2 am with those fun palps again I decided to take my BP. I got 112/62. The 62 is pretty darn low for me. So I'm wondering if maybe that could also be causing the palps? I read that low bp can. So I don't know, the earliest I could see my PCP is Monday, so I made an appointment for then. Maybe I need a holter monitor to see if I'm having some weird arrythmia. Just the thought scares me, I've read about them putting in pace makers and everything for them. Does anyone know if that is usually the case? Or can they just control it with meds? At 30 I can't imagine adding heart problems to my long list of health issues. sad

Posted 2/21/2008 6:08 PM (GMT 0)

IMHO, quit laughing now, I am humble.  I have noticed the palps when I go to nap or go to bed and I always figure I had them during the day too but did not notice as I was active.  Now I am quiet and they are more noticable.
Sarita has a good post if you want to take a look at it. Here is the link.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=42&m=1023755


My best to all of you,
Kitt

Posted 2/21/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
That's true, maybe I just don't notice them during the day! Even if they turn out to be nothing, it's really disturbing my sleep. I don't know, maybe it's just stress, and now added stress from worrying about them! Sarita's post was good and quite informative. I sure hope that's all they are too!
Posted 2/21/2008 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I have what they call sinus tachycardia it has gotten worse over the last year,I take cardizam 120mg twice a day now my cardiologist says that it is my bodys way of handling the stress of the disease and malnutrition, infections ect... Right now i am wearing an event monitor that when i have symptoms i push the record button and it records my heart rythm and i call it in and it reads like a ekg. I have to do this for a month, then they will send the results to mayo so i can see a specalist there, an electrophysiology what ever that is anyway not that I want anyone to have this going on i am glad i am not alone!!!!!!!
Posted 2/21/2008 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hey AL19, it is nice to not be alone! Keep me posted on what your doctors say. Hopefully neither of us have anything serious. We've got enough going on already without heart problems too! Does the cardizam seem to help?
Posted 2/22/2008 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
The cardizam has helped some , but you all seem to have trouble at rest and mine is more when i am active doing everyday things. altough when i was on TPN this summer it was even happening at rest. I just hope that I get this surgery done this late spring ( my son is in baseball cant miss) my body can finally get back on track. Ive been fighting this for almost 5yrs never wieghing more than 109, I just want relief. (sorry for babbleling)
Posted 2/22/2008 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I used to get them alot back in my mid 20's and my GP at the time told me that everyone gets them but not everyone notices or gets the symptoms like what I got when it happend...the symptoms were a shooting pain in my neck going into my head and feeling dizzy/light-headed and like my heart was going to pound right out of my chest...I also had very high cholesterol at the time too...I didn't start exercising until about 6 yrs ago (when I was 34) but I noticed that since I started exercising regularly and eating healthy that I no longer get them (the symptoms anyways).

:)
Posted 2/22/2008 1:23 AM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
I used to get them alot back in my mid 20's and my GP at the time told me that everyone gets them but not everyone notices or gets the symptoms like what I got when it happend...the symptoms were a shooting pain in my neck going into my head and feeling dizzy/light-headed and like my heart was going to pound right out of my chest...I also had very high cholesterol at the time too...I didn't start exercising until about 6 yrs ago (when I was 34) but I noticed that since I started exercising regularly and eating healthy that I no longer get them (the symptoms anyways).

:)

I think mine are similar. I've noticed when mine happens my pulse is still normal. Not going too fast or too slow. I'm just very aware of it, and it feels like it's just pounding. Sure doesn't feel good.

I'm very out of shape, and really need to start exercising. I bought an exercising video not long ago but I think it was too advanced for where I'm at. Need to figure out somewhere that I can start slow. That's what my doctor advised a few years back, to exercise. Ever since I lost all that blood it's been hard. Even though I'm not anemic anymore, seems like the energy just isn't there. Something I need to work on, I'm sure that would help too.

Posted 2/22/2008 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
get it checked.  I had the same issues and ended up being Dx'ed with SVT
Posted 2/22/2008 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Jen77 :)

Starting a mild exercise program is not as hard as you might think, finding the time if you're busy could be an issue but even 30 minutes/day for 4-5 days is better than nothing at all...there are so many forms of yoga out there from easy to extream, pilates is another good way to get started, doing 15 minutes of cardio before engaging in the above is a great way to get your heart/cardio in gear...aquasize is another option to start and then moving into regular cardio and weights isn't so hard if you start with something easier, slowly work yourself into harder things.

Your overall health will improve as well as many aspects of your life...I sleep like a baby now, have more energy and feel better about myself, it really helped with the severe anxiety and depression I was going through.

:)
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