HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Continuous scary heart issues!

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/30/2017 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
I'm starting to get more and more concerned about my heart issues related to lyme. I started antibiotic treatment in January of 2017 so it's been almost a year. Most days I feel pretty decent(way better than I did a year ago) so I know I'm making progress. But the one symptom I deal with on a daily basis is irregular heartbeat/rapid heartbeats. Along with that difficulty breathing. I have told my LLMD this and she assures me I'm on the right path. But my concern is possible permanent damage to my heart. Is there anyone who has had these same issues and made a full recovery? I need feedback. I use to be an avid runner now I struggle with walking at times.
Posted 12/30/2017 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not fully healed yet, but I feel 'something' in my heart area sometimes.

Are you taking Hawthorne herb? If not, I suggest you add it in
Also CoQ10 supplement (but not if you're taking Mepron)

I get my Hawthorne from Woodland Essence. It is a Buhner recommended source.
I ran out once and went to the local health food store...and I knew it wasn't as good because it didn't have the same 'flavor' as the WE. It's got a distinct flavor to it.
Posted 12/30/2017 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks girlie. I do take CoQ10 but have not tried Hawthorne. I will look into it. I want to support my heart the best I can.
Posted 12/30/2017 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Wisco, I had horrible heart involvement with my lyme. Very scary blood pressure, pulse, flutters and erratic.

I healed from lyme and my heart is just fine.

Nothing permanent happened. This is a great article that gave me some good tips. www.sagewomanherbs.com/general-info/article-center/caring-for-the-heart/

I swear by garlic!! I had horrible breath, but my gut was good and so was my heart. Garlic to the rescue!
Posted 12/31/2017 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
It really sounds like you need to see a cardiologist and get a 30-day cardiac event monitor if you're having anything that sounds like a possible arrythmia (which in Lyme could indicate something serious like heart block, rare but possible), which can be hard to detect if it's not happening right when you get a single EKG. An event monitor allows you to take an EKG from home *immediately* w/ symptoms and have it sent for monitoring. As people are saying, doing more cardiac support herbs etc. sound really helpful (others you could try: motherwort is good for racing heartbeat/tachycardia, you might also want a balanced mineral formula specific for heartbeat/anti-arrhythmic) but if you can get your LLMD to refer you to a Lyme-lit cardiologist or at least one who will track you comprehensively like that, it might at least give more peace of mind.
Posted 12/31/2017 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Are you taking azithromycin? It can cause irregular heartbeat. I had to stop running when I started taking it because my heart would feel funny whenever my heart rate went up. It went away when I stopped it. Bartonella can also cause heart problems.
Posted 12/31/2017 4:47 AM (GMT 0)

Notime4lyme said...
Are you taking azithromycin? It can cause irregular heartbeat. I had to stop running when I started taking it because my heart would feel funny whenever my heart rate went up. It went away when I stopped it. Bartonella can also cause heart problems.

Azithromycin has the risk of Long QT syndrome. But it should go away once you discontinue it.

Notime4lyme - were you diagnosed with long qt?

Not everyone has symptoms when they have it and an EKG doesn't always show it.
Wearing a monitor for 24 hours is another option
Posted 12/31/2017 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
The 30 day event monitor is much better at catching a problem than a spot EKG (24 hr Holters can also show a lot, but they cover 24 hrs vs. 30 days) because you keep it with you at all times for 30 days straight, and the second you feel your heart racing or skipping beats, etc, put fingers on the electrodes and transmit it in to someone (24 hour facility) and if they see anything dangerous, they contact you/doc and can urge you to go to ER -- then entire 30 days can also be reviewed. Just wanted to clarify that.

But also, if you look on QTc number on an EKG and look up the range for Long QT, you should be able to tell if you are having QT prolongation. A *lot* of antibiotics are risky w/ Long QT, and should be stopped if they're causing this. There are safer options. https://www.sads.org.uk/drugs-to-avoid/
Posted 12/31/2017 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Taken from that page I just posted of "drugs to avoid with Long QT Syndrome": https://www.sads.org.uk/drugs-to-avoid/

Antimicrobials
Macrolide antibiotics: azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin*, spiramycin, telithromycin
Quinolone antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin*, gemifloxacin*, grepafloxacin*, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, sparfloxacin*
Antifungals: cotrimoxazole, fluconazole (caution with itraconazole), ketoconazole, voriconazole
Others: pentamidine, trimethoprim sulfa (bactrim)
Antiviral: foscarnet (HIV)

Antimalarials
amantidine, chloroquine, halofantrine*, quinine


As noted, if the QT Prolongation is caused by a drug, it should go away after you stop the drug but sometimes isn't immediate from what I understand. There are other meds on the list people might be taking too (i.e. migraine meds for pain). So worth consulting entire list too.
Posted 12/31/2017 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
I had to look this long QT syndrome up, as I've never heard of it before. I really wish it was caused by medication because then I would essentially feel better when I stop taking the pills.
JustPiccd- however I'm not currently taking anything in that list. Maybe others cause it too? It's been fairly consistent since the beginning though. I've switched medications periodically over the year. Also I had a week and then a 30 day event monitor last year when I was looking for a diagnosis. The doctors told be they saw "minor" activity that was a little off but they never gave me any solid info. This was one of the hardest things for me. It really is an invisible illness. My heart was going crazy and they couldn't even see it.
PeteZa- thanks for the article. I am glad you're heart is acting right again. This gives me hope.
Notime4lyme- I have been diagnosed with Bartonella, so maybe it's just taking a long time for this Bart to die. I just hope it leaves soon. It's been a year of feeling like I'm being suffocated while running a marathon.
Thanks everyone!
Posted 12/31/2017 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
I know two MDs that cured their heart issues by treating a dental infection. I also cured my heart issue by treating dental. I have no clue it that is ur cure but it certainly could be. Google dental meridian chart and see what teeth match the heart-if you have root canal or other work there you should consider seeing a biological dds.
Something is the cause
Posted 1/1/2018 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Magoo2- Interestingly enough I went in to the dentist a few months ago with really bad tooth sensitivity in a particular tooth. That tooth does correspond with the heart as it's organ.
Posted 1/1/2018 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Wisco women- something is the cause. Biological dds can make all the difference
Posted 1/1/2018 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
How do I get a hold of one of those?
Posted 1/1/2018 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
I would use google.
Or call the iaomt
Posted 1/2/2018 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
I had the heart issues as my first major symptom. I used to have episodes where my heart would race and I felt like I was going to faint. Later, I also had shortness of breath, typically when I was talking. The heart racing episodes and shortness of breath have gone away with treatment. i still have tachycardia. I'm originally from WI but I think I got lyme in CA. I haven't run since late March, when my first heartrate episode happened. But I'm going to attempt a slow come back starting this week.
Posted 1/3/2018 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
PDX- that's awesome that you are going to try running again. I use to be addicted to working out. Now I haven't seen the gym in a year and three months. Thank you for sharing the personal experience you have had; it gives me hope. I hope your heart continues to strengthen.
Posted 1/4/2018 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Wisco woman! yes, hang in there! I did my first run today! It was more of a run/walk but I didn't want to overdo it. I hope you can do the same soon, too!
Posted 1/4/2018 9:28 AM (GMT 0)

Wisco woman said...
I'm starting to get more and more concerned about my heart issues related to lyme. I started antibiotic treatment in January of 2017 so it's been almost a year. Most days I feel pretty decent(way better than I did a year ago) so I know I'm making progress. But the one symptom I deal with on a daily basis is irregular heartbeat/rapid heartbeats. Along with that difficulty breathing. I have told my LLMD this and she assures me I'm on the right path. But my concern is possible permanent damage to my heart. Is there anyone who has had these same issues and made a full recovery? I need feedback. I use to be an avid runner now I struggle with walking at times.

Look up costochondritis. Does that seem to fit?


A few months ago I ended up in the ER on a Saturday night because I had all the "go to the ER right now for a heart attack" signs. I got two EKG's done, but they didn't see any problems in either of them.

Pain in chest, tightness when inhaling, etc. can all be costochondritis, which makes sense to me since all my problems seem to stem from the infection settling in my tendons and cartilage.

Of course, when I mention "costochondritis" to doctors they just shrug. "There's no direct treatment for that." Yeah, okay, what else is new? But at least then I'm not constantly afraid I'm dying from a heart attack, and that helps, ya'know?

I found a tip on a costo forum that rubbing vicks vapo-rub on the chest, the one with real menthol and eucalyptus, can be helpful. I've been doing that and it seems to help a little.

But no, I can't run or even walk very fast. Hurts to breathe.
Posted 1/4/2018 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Wisco woman,

Have you treated babesia and bartonella, as well? Autonomic related heart symptoms and trouble breathing (air hunger) can be from babesia. Those were both prominent symptoms for me when my chronic Lyme symptoms kicked in in 2009. Cardiologist did EKG, blood test for bacterial infection, echocardiogram. I had mitral valve regurgitation (per Buhner, bartonella can cause this), which I'd known about previously. Was told my heart was fine and the cardiac symptoms were likely secondary to whatever else was going on in my body (Lyme and co gone gangbusters).

My impression from your post was that you've been treating Lyme for a year and coinfections need to be adequately treated.
Posted 1/4/2018 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Have you been tested or treated for Babesia? It can cause those symptoms.
Posted 1/8/2018 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Just as some more background info. I have been getting treatment for lyme for a year and I have been treated for bartonella for about nine months. My lyme doc had addressed the Bart but when I ask her about babesia, she says she doesn't feel that I have it. I never got the Igenex test as I don't have any more money to give this disease. But I'm very curious. If i had babesia this while time I should have been treated for it. Idk maybe the Bart can do all the same symptoms. It's so difficult to decipher between all the lyme and all it's co's.
Posted 1/8/2018 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe have a discussion with your LLMD about doing a Babesia protocol.

My LLND only treated me for Lyme and Bart for 2 1/2 years.

I recently (finally) treated Babesia and the Mepron hit me hard. I had bad sweats and some morning waking anxiety while taking it.
Now my sweats are pretty much gone, as well as the anxiety.

Babesia can cause dysautomnia - and that can affect the heart.
Posted 1/8/2018 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks girlie. I have another appointment with my doc at the end of this month. I'll see what she has to say. I repeatedly asked to be treated for babesia before the start of a new insurance year because I heard mepron is crazy expensive. But I understand she is diagnosing off of symptoms and doesn't want to give me something I don't need.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply