Intermitent Tachycardia

Posted by Joe on August 04, 1999 at 09:47:25
I am a 32 year old male in reasonably good health.  About 4 years ago I got a severe case or tachycardia that landed me in the ER (183bpm).  No matter what they did it would not go down (Ativan, Valium (made it worse), and some other mystery drug).  After about 4 hours it just slowed by itself.  I saw a cardiologist for about 3 months after that and he could find nothing wrong although the halter monitor showed a daytime resting pulse of 100-120 and a sleeping pulse of 75 (I am told these are high).  He said other than the speed there was nothing wrong.  He gave me Inderol which made me pass out every time I tried to sit up so that was stopped.  He diagnosed me with chronic fatigue and told me to get 6 months of bed rest (he did no tests for CFS and since seeing him I have gotten the tilt table test and passed it).  A couple of months after seeing him my pulse went back to normal.  Now a couple of times a year for about a month the racing pulse comes back.  It is starting to become annoying and I am starting to worry that it may be something more serious.  I have called several cardiologists and been told to go to the ER.  I went to the ER once recently and they sent me home saying I was only a little fast and to see my doctor (a catch 22).  I have not been able to put a pattern on the occurance of this although hot days or bad air quality seem to make it worse.  I guess I should also tell you that I am a light smoker (I know I am trying to quit) and I partake of NO caffeine.  I stopped caffeine after the first episode and have not gon back.
Any ideas as to what could be causing this and what I can possibly do?
Thanks,
Joe
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on August 04, 1999 at 11:00:54
Dear Joe
I suggest seeing a cardiac electrophysiologist, a cardiologist with further specialization in fast heart rate problems. You may have experienced an SVT as the cause of your symptoms. You may also have an inappropriate sinus tachycardia. You should also have your thyroid function tested.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Posted by Joe on August 04, 1999 at 11:13:23
Please pardon my ignorance but what is an SVT?  I have had 3 thyroid tests and they have all come back normal.  I have looked in my insurance book and found a cardiac electrophysiologist.  I will make an appointment today.  How serious is this problem with my present resting heart rate of 100-120 (usually much closer to 100).
Thanks for the help.
Joe
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on August 04, 1999 at 11:49:33
Dear Joe
SVT stands for a supraventricular tachycardia - a certain type of fast heart rate that can come and go. The resting heart rate of around 100 is unlikely to cause you any harm; of course, your heart rate response to exercise would also be important to determine.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.