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Heart probs / high pulse

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Posted 3/24/2008 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, it's me again.... confused

I went to see my PCP today for some sinus problems, my WBC is higher than it's been in a long time (she is calling my rheumy), she checked me for mono and strep and did a chest xray.... everything was fine, turns out it's sinusitis. She gave me some rx's, hopefully it will help.

She did notice my pulse was very high (again), some of you may remember I had an abnormal EKG last year, went on to have a stress test with scan which turned out fine. Anyway, she is concerned and wants me to have an Echo, which is scheduled in a couple of weeks. She said my arteries looked good but now we need to look to see if my heart is enlarged. As we all know lupus can attack our muscles and the heart is a muscle. I don't know anything about heart problems and lupus and this is scaring me and my DH.

I didn't know if any of you have gone through the same thing or not. eyes
Posted 3/24/2008 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stacie, I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. I really do know first hand how horrifying it is to have to deal with heart issues. I had an echo done a while back. It showed some (stiffness) and extra fluid around the right side of my heart sack. I've been dealing with high pulse rate for some time now. So between the stiffness and inflamation my PR usually runs around 90 at rest and 120 when I'm moving around.
She recently put me on a beta blocker called inderal and it has brought my PR down to between 65 and 70 which is more normal. It helps keep the heart from having to work so hard. I don't appear to have any side effects from it so far. I have a machine to check my 02 stats which also has a PR on it so it's kind of handy for me to keep track.
The good news is your arteries are in good shape! I'd tell ya to try not to worry but I know it's easier said than done. I will be praying that things will come back ok with your echo. Sometimes certain meds will cause problems like this as well. Hopfully it is somthing that will just take a little med adjustment.
hang in there I'll be praying for ya
love
carol
Posted 3/24/2008 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your prayers Carol, I'm gonna need them!! My Endocronologist is the one who noticed this several years ago. My resting pulse is usually around 100. Today at the doctor's office it was as high as 116 and that's after sitting for a while. What baffles me even more is my BP is fine, it usually runs 98/68, today it was 88/70.

I am only 36 why is this happening? It seems like just about every time I go to the doc it's something else.

I'm sorry for the whine..... thanks for listening. hugs and luv to all
Posted 3/24/2008 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Actually I was on high BP meds for awhile put she took me off of them because my PB is about 120/80. which isn't to bad at all. I'm 50 years old. I ask the questions. Why is this happening. It's incredibly unfair. I started getting sick in my 30's
Yes it does get rather frustrating to go from one thing to another.
You aren't whiney you are worried and frustrated. a little rant is good for the soul. I'm glad they decided to run these test and address the issue. This lousey disease is so hard on the body. You just never know what you'll hear out of doctors mouth next.
hugs
carol
Posted 3/25/2008 3:20 AM (GMT 0)

Stacie...  I am so sorry this is happening!  I had one bout with pericarditis last year, coming from the sulfa drug I was on for the Crohns.  I never want to go through that again.  Could this be medication related?  I've shared how incredibly sensitive I am to medications, Ive been told because of the inflammation in my intestines and entire digestive system, the absorption goes awry somewhere.  I know you have some of the same gut problems I do... I just wonder if you may be having side effects that are manifesting after a while on a medication?  Its probably not that, Im just trying to think of all the reasons this could happen.  Remember I shared with you that Flexeril makes my heart "hurt".  After the second or third flexeril, I feel a deep ache, my heart flutters, and I experience mild tachycardia.  My 17 year old daughter has the exact same reaction.

Please let me know what you find out.  I am praying for you, that He reveals exactly where this is coming from and that it gets addressed and fixed quickly.  You have enough on your plate as it is.

(((((((((HUG))))))))))

Posted 3/25/2008 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Stacie,
Sorry that you're having issues right now, I know how frightening all this is. I have Sinus Tachycardia which is a rapid heartrate. Without medication my resting heartrate is between 110 and 130. Along with that I will occasionally have PVC's (pre-ventricular contractions) when I'm under stress or sometimes when I've had too much caffeine. I never had an echo but I did wear a heart monitor for 24 hours. I was having a lot of PVC's at the time and the cardiologist said that I had 1200 extra heartbeats in a 24 hour period. No wonder it felt like my heart was jumping out of my chest. They never figured out what was causing it so they blamed it on fibromyalgia at the time because that's the only diagnosis I had. Now that I've been diagnosed with Lupus my rheumy seems to think it's the Lupus. I'm on a beta blocker right now and that controls the tachycardia and now my resting rate is 70. I know when I've had odd problems it has always helped me to know that there were others on this board that had the same symptoms or problems. You'll be in my prayers. Good luck!
Posted 3/25/2008 8:48 AM (GMT 0)
I had pericarditis in 97, they thought it was the pregnancy at that time but I was in a major flare and the malar rash was highly present. High doses of anti-infams and steroids were administered via IV and I was delivered immediately. I responded to the IV meds right away. I think a good cardiologist is in order. Higher than normal heart rate is called tachycardia and there are medications for it. But they need to find the cause. When I am pregnant my resting pulse is 100 when I am not it is 70-80. My husband's heart rate was high a while back but since he gets more exercise now it is back to normal again.
Posted 3/25/2008 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stacie,

 

Do you get any little heart palpitation feelings? I had a high resting heart rate, palpitations, with normal blood pressure back in 2000. That is one of the reasons how I got my diagnosis.  Turned out I had an inflammed mitral heart valve.  I was put on prednisone and I haven't had any issues since.  I get an echo done every year to make sure the valve is working properly.  This inflammation, caused by lupus is called Libman Sach's Endocarditis.  I'm not saying this is what you have!  But it might be a possibility. The echo will tell you exactly what the issue is. It's a great ultrasound.  Let us know what results you get okay.

 

Posted 3/25/2008 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
(((Stacie)))),

   I'm sorry your dealing with this on top of everything else. I hope they find the source of this soon and get you on the right treatment. Heart symptoms are very scarey...((Hugs)).   

    Symptoms vary from person to person with the heart, especially in females. I've always had a rapid pulse and low blood pressure so I was shocked when I had a stroke a few years ago.  I've had pericarditis in the past and now I have a blockage in a left branch artery. I was having chest pains and abnormal heart beats. The only way they found the blockage was by doing a heart catherization.

   I hope you get some answers soon and relief. Hang in there and keep us updated. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                             Babs

Posted 3/25/2008 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Stacie, I'm so sorry you are going through this. Any worry about the heart has to be scary. Please keep us posted on what you find out. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care (((((Hugs))))
Posted 3/25/2008 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Carol, Victoria, Gidget, Redrose, Ginny, Babs & Hippi you guys are the best! Issues with the heart are so scary and it seems a lot of us have had a scare or two along the way. (((( everyone ))))

Carol, no matter how old we are this disease sucks, doesn't it!!!! I know you've been through a lot too and I appreciate you being here for me ((( Carol ))).

Victoria, I don't think it's med related as it's been going on for a while now, I'm ashamed to say for a couple of years. I just never followed up as I should have, I've just been focused on other things with my grandma and mom moving in with us (temporally) and of course dealing with the rest of my life and lupus. Now, I'm wondering if I've damaged something. I can't remember what year it was but I'm almost sure it was before I was dx with lupus which was in 2005. At that time I was only on Plaquenil. I see my rheumy before I have the Echo, I plan on talking to her about it and get her thoughts. Thank you for your prayers.

Gidget, thank you for sharing your experience with me and for your prayers. So the only way to treat the Tachycardia is with meds? I am so glad we all have this place to come to, I really don't know what I would do without all of you.

Redrose, I am wondering if my lack of exercise has anything to do with this? I am going to try to start walking and see if I can tell a difference. Maybe I should check my pulse before and after I walk. I will defiantly see a cardiologist if I don't feel comfortable with the upcoming results.

Ginny, yes sometimes I get the palpitations but not on a regular basis. I am glad my PCP doc is being aggressive with this and ordered the Echo and not blowing me off. I will let all of you know as soon as I find out, I wish I didn't have to wait until the 9th to have it done. What is the treatment plan if it's related to lupus?

Babs, I've had some chest pains on and off, sometimes so bad that I thought I was having a heart attack. Now, they don't last as long and after having the EKG & stress test the doc said it was probably pleurisy from lupus. I've told my rheumy about it and she said to keep up with a diary of when it happens. Maybe between the 2 docs they can figure all this out. Thank you for your prayers.

Hippi, thank you for the hugs and prayers, it really means a lot to me.

With everyone sharing your experiences I am gaining more knowledge of all of this, so thank you to each one of you for opening up and sharing with me. I just can't wrap my head around a normal BP and high pulse?!?! It just doesn't make sense to me nono
Posted 3/26/2008 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
(((((((( Stacie ))))))))) Sorry you are having such trouble. I sure don't know anything about the pulse or heart issues . . . but wanted to say hello and send you a hug. I'll be watching for your updates. Blessings!
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