Just diagnosed with Dysautonomia BY MY CARDIOLOGIST

Question

Hello ALL! I am looking for some help and i will try to make it to the point.. I was just recently
diagnosed with Dysautonomia after a REG STRESS/ECHO TEST at my cardiolgist 6/10/2013..

Here is the run down of me!
I am 40yo white male no drugs, no bad life style, and exercise regular.. I am a bit over weight(5'11,240lbs- but ex football player build 38" waist)-->for the past year i have been heavy into CARDIO EXERCISE on the eliptical or indoor bike..
My 4 times a week cardio routine for the past year has been ELIPTICAL or indoor bike for 30-40mins at faily high intensity.. where i burn 300-500cals(that what it says), RPMS 75-90 and I keep my HEART RATE around 150-160
my heart rate recovery has always been great.. i get it to 170 for a few seconds, then what it drop  to 120-125 within 1mins,... 

OUT OF NOWHERE->JUST 2 weeks AGO started to notice my HEART RATE would goto 130 whenever i started to exercise.. NO OTHER SYMTOMS.. NO cheat pain, not out of breath.. I would even push it to 160 but it would get there to fast and i would get fustrated.. THIS ALL HAPPEN within the past 2 weeks.  

When it first happen i was very upset and i pushed through the workout for 20mins.. when i was finished my HEART RATE stayed at 125 after 10mins-- SO I FREAKED OUT and went to the FIRESTATION.. They tooka ECG and BP, PULSE --etc-etc..  Nothing other than Sinus Tachy and of coarse HIGH BP cause i was worked up(170/100)

I went home took .25 XANAX and it dropped to 75..

I went to the cardiologist showed him the ECG and he did a STRESS ECHO.. What he was was the following during the stress echo/ MY HEART RATE WENT UP to 130 like nothing during the walk, then around the 6 minute it was at 156pulse.. He said I COULD STOP cause he had enough INFO OR I COULD KEEP PUSHING !! 

I said lets push it to the max.. I maxed out my HEART RATE at around 190 with ZERO symtoms and just a slight shortness of breath.. He told me to stop.. I could have keep the fast incline.. Not sure what level i was put maybe 10-12mins..  

After the TEST I talk to the CARDIOLOGIST..HE said my HEART fuction is fine per the test, but my pulse
was the problem. and he diagnoised me with " DYSUAUTONOMIA " and wants me to take a BETA BLOCKER( aetnolo ) for 2 months then see him again!!

This doctors has known me for 8 years and he knows my family for many.. He knows had ANEXITY from the age of 33 to 38 and i have not had it since I AM now 40.. BUT my anexity started at 33 cause i had a heart PAP.. so now i am thinking maybe this whole time i did not have ANEXITY but it was caused by paps..

What KILLS ME THE MOST!! is that my CARDIO and heart rate has been like a RACE HORSE(atleast for me ) this past year and doing great cardio.. I mean i would follow my heart rate normally it would be at 100 starting to exercise, then move to 115, then hang around 120s .. it would NEVER get into the 135-145 unless i pushed it! Then after a while into the 165s but pushing hard.. THE PAST 2 weeks it gets to 130's easy!
I am trying to short this out.. 

He wants me to take a BETA BLOCKER, but unsure.. he alsowanted me to take WELBUTRON by i am not depressed.. 

I have research " dysautonomia " and i look at my past 5-7 years and i have had symtoms of such for a long time..
paps(not often), BLOOD PRESSURE SPIKE, heart rate spike (a few times a years) and I had BAD GI PROBLEMS in 2010 that no doctor could diagnoised. 

ANYHELPis greatly apprciated!! sorry for the long post!!
Thans
D.

Flycaster305 · Answer

Thanks for getting back.  Sky gives good advice, but I have to warn you that as your system slows down because of a beta blocker, you need to cut down the calories as your metabolism is slowing, and weight gain is common unless you mix in a weight loss diet to your routine.  

I'm going through a complete change in meds and  what I can do with exercise and the need to be extremely careful with diet, so understand your angst. I'm also adding an anti-anxiety med to my regimen.   Stay in touch with your progress.

skydnsr · Answer

Glad the atenolol is working for you.  As for the weight, you'll simply need to find a diet that will allow you to eat properly without being hungry.  There are some good, health, satisfying diets out there that you can follow forever.  I have had good success with Volumetrics.  Again, there are other good diet plans.  The key is to find a way of eathing that is healthy and that you can stick with longterm.  Support from other people can be very helpful in losing weight.

dax0007 · Answer

Flycaster/Lisa729/Skydnr

Thanks for all the comments.. I did try the aetenolo and i will admit love it! I felt so normal and a tad sluggish.. the past 4 years i realized if i over eat myHEARTRATE stays 90's to low 100s for a while.with aetenolo  i am a cool cuecumber...lol..

my mind is just boggled cause as someone who has tracked his heart rate daily for a while consistently i am just at a loss for the high heart rate with little exursion.. my doctor did state that me handling about 190 beats during the stress test with no issues was a good sign plus my echo image was supposevily a normal.. he wants me on aetenolo for 2 months then a follow-up...   i just know once u get on this stuff u gotta stay on it cause when u get off BAM ur system cannot hold back..  

I guess i either better loose 50lbs and take the pill.. i have been on a diet my whole life but cant b consistence with DENYING MYSELF MAN AMOUNT of FOOD.. However my whole life i have always been consistent with exercise which has given me fair cardio...

I need to look into breathing exercises too..  I do realize I am a high strung person //

thanks

Flycaster305 · Answer

An example of how effective Atenolol can be to calm and slow down the heart, it is a banned substance for such activities as shooting and archery.  Also, a relative who is a professional on-stage musician takes it to prevent stage fright.

Lisaz729 · Answer

Dysautonomia is like an imbalance between the accelerator and brake pedal of the autonomic nervous system. The atenolol will act as a brake pedal by lowering the heart rate. If you do have components of anxiety, I would try relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing.