Long QT syndrome

Anyone have this?

LLMD just emailed me stating that the EKG I had done while in the ER Christmas Eve indicated I had Qt heart rhythm disorder that can cause fast, chaotic beats—associated with a deadly condition. Due to genetics or the systemic anti fungal I was on (Diflucan, Ketoconazole). So, stopping those meds —but what else? Mayo Clinic says to stop physical activity? That can't be my future….

-p

Is that related to the warning with Zithromax?

Can't remember if you shouldn't take Zithromax if you have the Long QT syndrome....or if Zithromax causes it...
I'll see if I can look it up.

Sorry you now have this added to your lyme stuff, Pirouette!

Get your genome sequenced. It can also be hereditary.

So, I did read that if it's acquired (ie drug induced), then it usually goes away once after awhile off of the drug).

There are quite a few medications that can cause QT interval elongation, but they usually don't. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, or even divalent cation imbalances can contribute to the problem. If you can correct them, the elongation will most likely go away.

Please stay positive. THe body does has the power to heal himself. It is a multi-system entity and the nerves need to be calm in order to heal. Don't worry too much about it. Also, there is a recent study that says for every gene that goes wrong, we have a back up gene. But we have to take care of the whole multi system in order to heal and psychiatric part plays a huge role, although we don't realize it. THere are people that were really sick and completely heal with a sugar pill just because they truly believed they could. Crazy but true. Dr K talks about it and the importance so often forgotten when we are sick of the mental state.

I'm praying for you, Piroquette.

I know that certain meds can cause irregular heart beats...after stopping those meds that she told you, did you do another EKG, and did it go back to normal?
Although I'm far from being an expert at this, I think that once you stop the cause, it should bounce back to normal. I highly doubt you won't be able to exercise your whole life...but for now, they don't want exertion on your heart. Lyme can also cause irregular cardiac stuff, so we do have a goals of getting better...which means your heart will too.
Keep us posted. Let us know how next EKG comes out.

This website has interesting info:
www.qtsyndrome.ch/drugs.html

Some meds we talk about here for lyme & co treatment are on the KNOWN RISK OF TdP list:
Chloroquin
Biaxin/Clarithromycin
Erythromycin
Levofloxacin/Levaquin
Zofran/Ondansetron

/www.crediblemeds.org

Thank you Louise—that was helpful.

-p

I guess I need to find a cardiologist. I just saw my LLMD Friday and see a gastroenterologist (gall stones) on the 26th. My ND who was handling all the endocrine issues just left her practice and now does not take insurance so I need to find a new one… My nutritionist has not been helpful lately so I need to find a new one since my diet issues became really complex almost overnight.

So I'm a little overwhelmed with all the specialists at this point but the cardiologist needs to happen. I'll ask my gastro for a reference when I see him since he is lyme-friendly and is colleagues w/ my LLMD.

Please let us know how your appt w/ cardiologist goes—curious what he has to say. That is awesome that your he told you you should exercise! I just rode my bike this AM… I felt a little defiant, actually. But my bike is my only mode of transport right now and it also helps me stay sane to be able to get out in the fresh air and do something. With this QT condition—anything could happen no matter what I do… so I'm not going to get freaked out about it.

There are meds you can take and other mechanisms to help regulate (like the pacemaker Louise mentions) although all of that seems like a nightmare. I definitely need more testing done so I'll just start there. And keep reading in the meantime.

-p

Thanks Louise. Unfortunately, I do feel erratic palpitations and for the past week, I've felt dizzy sitting or lying down (these are not severe dizzy sensations when you can't keep your balance at all) they are less intense but do require me to close my eyes. I mentioned it to my LLMD when I saw her Friday and she went into an endocrine discussion (thyroid, neurotransmitters)… and we never really had a good discussion about the dizzy spells. During this conversation, neither of us knew about the EKG results.

I stopped all my meds except the hypothyroid Naturethroid, which is a natural desiccated pig replacement. I am getting my port looked at this week due to issues so I'm not on Rocephin right now. And I stopped taking all my herbs last week because I kept forgetting to take them… So I'll start adding things in one at a time to make sure I can pinpoint any issues.

I haven't been on the diflucan in about 2 months and that is the only other Rx I'm on besides the Rocephin. I do take Nystatin powder but it's natural.

-p

Thanks d2gw! I hope this all goes back to normal, too.

The email was from one of the LLMD's nurse's assistants, not the nurse or the LLMD so not sure how they feel. But the thing with this particular nurse is that she is very nice and proactive and responsive, but I can tell immediately when she is out of her comfort zone, which she is about this kind of stuff, so I don't get much reaction from her at all. I would be willing to bet she will just refer me to a cardiologist.

I am in the process now of trying to search for means to test my genealogy to find out if I should prepare myself for a permanent situation or if there is more likelihood that it was drug-induced. Will post what I find out!

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 1/19/2015 9:09:17 AM (GMT-7)