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Posted 4/29/2013 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I know I've been posting a lot lately. I hope you aren't getting tired of me!! I am anemic, but not severely, and I believe I am in a Crohn's flare with D, but not a lot of pain. I had an iron infusion on Friday. I've also been having ongoing heart racing. My GI doc does not think the heart racing is from anemia, and my internist does not think there is anything wrong with my heart, although he did no testing, just listened with a stethoscope. So I am waiting a few days to see if the iron infusion kicks in. This morning I was ironing my shirt (not exactly a strenuous activity) and I felt nauseous and like I was going to pass out. I sat down and my pulse was going at 120 BPM. So I cancelled my morning, but still hoping to go to work this afternoon, and I made another appointment to see the internist tomorrow, and I plan to call my GI after that. My question though, is that it really scared me. I don't feel like either of my docs are too worried, but I feel pretty terrible. I also have an awful headache. I'm tempted to go to the ER if I have another episode, as I'm thinking they will do an EKG and other heart tests and possibly see if I'm bleeding from my Crohn's, etc. Many years ago, I had a bleeding ulcer in my small intestine and I lost blood very quickly. Maybe I'm just losing patience. I'm absolutely sure this isn't anxiety based. I was going along having a perfectly happy life until all of this started. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Posted 4/29/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi have you seen a cardio doctor yet I would recommend seeing
a cardio doctor asap. Especially with your racing heart rate.
If it doesn't get better I would go to the ER.
Posted 4/29/2013 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
what is your blood pressure? Any chance it is too low? And why not schedule a visit with a cardiologist? You could simply have an idiopathic atrial fibrillation that is making you feel bad. My dad has this - he was treating it with a beta blocker for many years but just had to step up the meds because he had a bad episode last month (heart rate was over 200 for more than 8 hours) that required a chemical inversion procedure.
Posted 4/29/2013 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kazbern,
I agree that I should see a cardiologist, but in my town, I need a referral and my internist seemed unconcerned. My plan was to demand testing or a referral to a cardiologist when I see the internist tomorrow. My dad has atrial fib, but he's 86. I am, however, 54, so I'm not that young---I feel like I'm not being taken seriously, or maybe I'm just panicking....it's hard for me to tell. I do tend to have low blood pressure, but I don't know why that would make my heart race. I guess I'll just see how the day progresses. My office is only a few blocks from the ER. I hate the long slow process of trying to figure out what is going on when I get sick. Thanks for responding.
Posted 4/29/2013 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Gumby....you said you had 120BPM so if you measured that this may not be a help.  I have had a lot of heart racing, rumbling and chest pain over the alst year.  Went through all of the tests and turns out my heart is fine (despite family history).  With a lot of help here and my own research, I got my GI involved and he found a hiatel hernia--"but it is nothing major.

What I ahve found is that all my chest pain is related the the GERD and hernia related symptoms.  I find the most problems when I get very hungery or too full.

I saw you had GERD in your notes...is this a possibility for you?  Just a thought.

Posted 4/29/2013 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Habs,
Yes, I do have GERD, which seems like it would explain some of my coughing and chest discomfort, but does that explain a racing heart? The only other times I've had this has been when I have been anemic, which is why I asked for the blood work last week. I don't know, I'm getting overwhelmed and I feel like I can't think straight. The temptation of going to the ER is that I can get everything figured out at once instead of piece by piece. I missed work for an entire week two weeks ago, and I'd like to try to get through the day if I can. I am having D...but drinking a lot, so I don't think it's dehydration, but that's another thing I came up with. I hate this!!!!! Thanks for listening
Posted 4/29/2013 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
When I had those weeks of PVCs two years ago I did a lot of googling about it and learned that some people (not all, and certainly not MDs) think that vagus nerve irritation can cause irregular heart beats. The vagus nerve runs through the diaphragm I think and the theory is that upper GI problems can irritate it.
Posted 4/29/2013 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kazbern (and teddybearweiser too BTW) My heart has settled down for now, although I feel like I'm about to have major D again. (I'm usually constipated, I'm pretty sure I'm in a Crohn's flare) Thanks sooo much for being there for me...it makes this all less scary. My plan is to try to go to work and if things get worse, I'll cancel and go to the ER. You folks are the best!!!
Posted 4/29/2013 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
I started having issues with my heart racing in my early 20's, along with periods of extreme sleepiness/fatigue that seemingly came out of nowhere. I questioned several dr's about it and they said I was both depressed and suffering from anxiety lol. They were wrong, for me I noticed that it would happen after I ate certain foods, mostly wheat but also beer and nestle quick? I assumed it was some type of hypo/hyper glycemia and just quit eating them for the most part. I went into my GP one day after eating some donuts and my resting heart rate was 125bpm lol, she wanted an EKG but I knew it was just the food. I have also had arrhythmia a few times over the past 10 years, sometimes it feels as though my heart is actually rolling over in my chest, and sometimes just feels like it is skipping beats, a few months ago it happened after eating cookies made with wheat flour, then again a few weeks later after eating a couple flour tortillas at dinner, it was so bad I was contemplating going to the ER, when I checked my heart rate is was randomly but continuously skipping bets, 12345 stop, 1234 stop, 1234567 stop, but I got online and googled wheat allergy and arrhythmia and what I found is that in celiacs gluten will cause inflammation in the lining of the heart which will cause palpitations (racing heart) and/or arrhythmia. I have been tested and I do not have a gluten intolerance but I do have a moderate IgG intolerance to wheat (a 2 on a scale of 0-4). So if it is happening randomly and frequently then maybe keep a food log of what you have eaten within the past couple of hrs and see if their is any connection? I don't know if other types of foods could cause it, but for me it only seems to be the wheat products now. And it doesn't happen to me every single time I eat wheat, but never happens if I haven't eaten wheat. I don't touch beer or nestle quik any more but wheat is harder to give up.
Posted 4/29/2013 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
As simple as this is I'm guna say it anyway incase it's been over looked. With a flare and having D it could just be from dehydration. I get palpitations a lot when in a flare and I tend to find that us the main culprit.

Feel better soon
Posted 4/30/2013 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gumby,
Have you had your thyroid checked? My cousin just went through a similar episode and it turned out to be her thyroid. Hope you are on the mend.
Posted 4/30/2013 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gumby! Sorry you have been having so many problems with this DD lately!

As a person that had many issues with SVT (sudden onset heart rate above 150- mine usually would spike to 190) I know how disturbing and uncomfortable it can be. If you are feeling bad with these episodes, your body is definitely trying to tell you something is not right. Since you are anemic, that would have been my first suspicion but dehydration and Vegas nerve stimulation would be my second and third choices. When I was having so many problems with my crohns being out of control, I had Vagus nerve issues per my very sharp cardiologist. He said was increasing my heart rate and making me throw PVC's but as soon as I got my flare under control, those issues faded over time until they disappeared completely. At least for now. I would suggest and appointment with a good cardiologist so you can get the complete battery of tests, not just an EKG. You should also get with your GI asap because it sounds like you are in a stubborn flare that will need more tweaking of your medications.

Sorry you are not feeling better!! Many hugs to you!!
Posted 4/30/2013 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your responses! I don't think I'm dehydrated...my D is not massive and I'm drinking constantly. I have an appointment with my internist today, and I'll see about a referral to a cardiologist. I plan to call my GI after that appointment. My docs are both nice people, but I do not think they understand how sick I feel. I try not to act hysterical so they take me seriously, but I think it has the opposite effect and they think if I'm speaking calmly, that I must not feel that bad. I'm well educated and well-spoken...I don't know why I find it so hard to communicate and be heard. At least you folks understand...I am grateful for that.
Posted 4/30/2013 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hey gumby...I checked and racing was in my list too (I had copius notes because I was not getting answers).  I had the 24 hour holter monitor and the racing did not show significantly on it, but I really felt it.  Scared the daylights out of me so I completely sympathize with how you are feeling.  If you are on a PPI, maybe it needs to be increased?  I also watch closely to not let myself get too hungry as that made it worse.

Hope things improve

Posted 5/1/2013 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and thanks to everyone,
I saw the internist who gave me the 24 hour holter monitor, and I'm wearing it now. I'm still coughing, and he did suggest increasing the PPI. He also ordered a stress test and echo. So then I got home and realized that my fever is back. This all started three weeks ago when I had 102 fever. I took Cipro for three days, but was having bad D, and my internist thought my lungs were clear, so I stopped it. So now I don't know if I have an infection like pneumonia and it came back because I didn't finish the antibiotics, or if my fever is due to the Crohn's flare, as I was also anemic. UGGGGH! So our plan is to get the results of the holter monitor, then possibly do a week of Pred to see if the D calms down, and if not, then do a Pill Cam and colonoscopy. I really want a chest x-ray too, but I don't think my internist agrees. So the good news is that I'm finally getting the docs to pay attention to me an do some testing, and the bad new is that I still feel very sick. Very exhausting!!!!
Posted 5/1/2013 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
A temperature of 102 is not a normal Crohn's fever which are usually low-grade. My doctor says any temp over 101 is not related to Crohn's or my AS.
Posted 5/1/2013 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
ok thanks. I suspect that I have two things going on at once, an infection and the Crohn's flare. Right now my fever is 99.5. It was only 102 a few weeks ago.
Posted 8/26/2013 5:59 PM (GMT 0)

To gumby44, Pentasa has a low risk of heart arrhythmia. I started Pentasa about 5 weeks ago, and I was having fast and irregular heartbeats within a very few days.  I stopped the Pentasa after a week, and the arrhythmia decreased but still has not stopped.  My GI said to see my Primary Care doctor or a cardiologist if it didn't get better.  At that time, I thought it was getting better, but since it is still happening, I am looking into seeing a cardiologist.  Undoubtedly it will mean some testing, but I at least want to get a cardiologist's perspective.  This is a side effect of Pentasa, so I think it should at least be acknowledged by your GI.

Posted 8/26/2013 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bank,
This is kind of an old post, but funny you should bring it back up today, because my heart was racing again and I know I'm not currently anemic. I was having a bad "poop-a-thon" day, so I kind of attributed it to that today. I've been on Pentasa since 2007, so I don't think it's related. My appointment is tomorrow with my GI, so I'll mention it. I had a 24 hour holter monitor and stress echo. They could document a fast heart rate, but no specific heart problems. My docs are not particularly concerned about it, but it really bugs me when it happens. Thanks for your input.
Posted 8/28/2013 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
gumby, I have the heart races as well. I am borderline anemic but I also have Reflux and feel the heart races and palps have something to do with that. Feels like I'm having a spasm pounding or racing in my throat. The burning I have is always contained to the esophagus/ throat area. I was sent for an EKG and an Eco. I do have a slight enlarged heart but other than that they say the ECO was okay. I usually get the racing after heartburn from eating a lot of chocolate, raw onion or something, sometimes it seems the heart is racing so bad that I have ran to my blood pressure machine to monitor. Sometimes my BP is up over normal but lasts only a few minutes. Other times surprisingly my BP is within normal range, the pulse at times is elevated but that is probably from panicking. I have read that others who have reflux also have had heart palpitations but there is no sound medical evidence of the two being connected. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
My doctor said unless my pulse is over a 100 not to worry about it. The racing episodes I have last seconds to only a couple of minutes tops.
Too, there have been times I think prevacid may be related causing rebound reflux.  Could it have something to do with the sphincter relaxing or causing spasm?

Post Edited (dorri) : 8/28/2013 9:40:42 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/28/2013 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dorri,
Thanks for your reply. I feel convinced that my heart racing is not causing any heart problems, so for now, I'm just trying my best to ignore it when it happens. I thought for sure it was from anemia, but now I'm thinking it also happens when I'm in pain. It does get up to the 120's, but it usually only lasts a few minutes, and it's happening a lot less often since having my iron infusions. I do have reflux, but it doesn't really seem related for me. I'll chalk it up to more strange and mysterious symptoms with Crohn's!
Posted 9/7/2013 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Gumby

I had the same issue about 10 months ago while recovering from a GI bleed

Afterwards, the bleeding stopped, and my Hemoglibin and Hematocrit started comning up, but my heart was racing all the time - Doctors thought it could be anxiety, the prednisone, etc...

They had me where a monitor and saw that while my heart rate was high, there was no issue with my heart.

After about a week, I looked really close at all my blood work.

One of the things I noticed was that my RBC was unusually low.

I have had GI bleeds (large bleeds -Lots of Black blood in the toilet) in the past, but Looking over my past 8 years of blood work, this is the first time that I noticed a low RBC.

When I looked into it, I saw that the symptoms of a low RBC- Rapid heart rate.

My issue is that I am on 6MP and this actually affects the bodies ability to recover RBC count. that being said...the heart rate issues subsided after about 3-4 weeks.

my RBC is still a little low (4.2) so the rapid heartrate doesn't bother me, although when I run, or do long term exercise, it does take my heart a little longer ot get down back into the 90's.

My Hemoglobin and HEmatocrit are now in range.  I figure as long as I am on 6MP my RBC will be a little low.

Check you last CBC and see if your RBC is low.

If you want to talk about it let me know and I can give you my cell so we can talk.

I know I was really nervous the whole time I had it, and I also came to healing well, and got a lot of the same types of responses you are getting (where heart rate monitor, see a cardiologist, etc...)

Take care 

Posted 9/7/2013 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks zozo,
Since my last iron infusion, my labs have returned to normal and my heart finally stopped racing, so I'm doing much better. I'm quite sure my symptoms were related to anemia and I'm not worried any longer about my heart. Thanks for the info, and I hope you are doing well.
Posted 9/7/2013 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
I get racing heart and they pretty much concluded it was related to my perinatal fistulae. I seem to do better when I am on antiobiotics.
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