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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Bradycardia
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Re: Bradycardia
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on August 15, 1998 at 15:28:55:
In Reply to: Bradycardia posted by Shannon on August 12, 1998 at 17:25:02:
I am a 24 yr. old female with a heart rate of aprx. 44 bpm. This seems to have started after the birth of my first child in 1993, with wich I suffered with preeclampsia. I've been doctoring for about 5 years for symptoms of fatigue, mental fogginess, weight gain, hair loss, etc. The symptoms present as hypothyroidism, but when checked, all levels are within normal limits, all blood tests posible are normal. Echocardiogram was normal, 24 hr holter test was normal. I live in a rural area and I am fed up with not getting any answers from my physician. I've been told I suffer from depression and CFS. You'd be depressed too if you were 24 and felt like, well I suppose, a 100 year old. Can you give any suggestions to other possible causes of Bradycardia and what my best course of action should be? Thank you for your time I'd appreciate any suggestions.
~Steamless
___
Dear Steamless,
Firstly, this is certainly not a case for the country doctor, and secondly it is
very possible (regardless of the cause) your bradycardia is causing your symptoms, and
untreated these can lead to depression. Many times bradycardia requires a pacemaker
insertion, as only highly trained athletes are able to fully function with a heart rate
in the 40s and 50s. If your heart rate also does not respond appropriately to your
attempts to exercise, then again a pacemaker is almost always required. Just so you
know, a pacemaker insertion is a procedure, not an actual surgery, and you are awake
for the entire procedure. The type of cardiologist you need to see is an electrophysiologist
who specializes in rhythms of the heart. Since a very few but definite patients can have signs
of hypothytroidism and yet not have the corresponding lab abnormalities, it would greatly benefit
you to also see an endocrinologist, which is an internal medical doctor (internist) who specializes
in abnormalities of the hormones of the body. Now since these are no where near common diagnosis thatj
we are discussing, you need to go to an academic/major medical center that has a medical school, as
these are usually the centers where all the difficult cases go to. You are much too young to be feeling as
you do and things will only get worse if these symptoms are left untreated or simply placed in the 'grab-bag'
diagnosis of CFS without a full and proper work-up that preceeds such a diagnosis. Good Luck. Unless your
insurance company says otherwise I would suggest you see these two specialist that I spoke of without going to
a general internist first.
Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only,
actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by physicians with whom you seek care.
In Reply to: Bradycardia posted by Shannon on August 12, 1998 at 17:25:02:
I am a 24 yr. old female with a heart rate of aprx. 44 bpm. This seems to have started after the birth of my first child in 1993, with wich I suffered with preeclampsia. I've been doctoring for about 5 years for symptoms of fatigue, mental fogginess, weight gain, hair loss, etc. The symptoms present as hypothyroidism, but when checked, all levels are within normal limits, all blood tests posible are normal. Echocardiogram was normal, 24 hr holter test was normal. I live in a rural area and I am fed up with not getting any answers from my physician. I've been told I suffer from depression and CFS. You'd be depressed too if you were 24 and felt like, well I suppose, a 100 year old. Can you give any suggestions to other possible causes of Bradycardia and what my best course of action should be? Thank you for your time I'd appreciate any suggestions.
~Steamless
___
Dear Steamless,
Firstly, this is certainly not a case for the country doctor, and secondly it is
very possible (regardless of the cause) your bradycardia is causing your symptoms, and
untreated these can lead to depression. Many times bradycardia requires a pacemaker
insertion, as only highly trained athletes are able to fully function with a heart rate
in the 40s and 50s. If your heart rate also does not respond appropriately to your
attempts to exercise, then again a pacemaker is almost always required. Just so you
know, a pacemaker insertion is a procedure, not an actual surgery, and you are awake
for the entire procedure. The type of cardiologist you need to see is an electrophysiologist
who specializes in rhythms of the heart. Since a very few but definite patients can have signs
of hypothytroidism and yet not have the corresponding lab abnormalities, it would greatly benefit
you to also see an endocrinologist, which is an internal medical doctor (internist) who specializes
in abnormalities of the hormones of the body. Now since these are no where near common diagnosis thatj
we are discussing, you need to go to an academic/major medical center that has a medical school, as
these are usually the centers where all the difficult cases go to. You are much too young to be feeling as
you do and things will only get worse if these symptoms are left untreated or simply placed in the 'grab-bag'
diagnosis of CFS without a full and proper work-up that preceeds such a diagnosis. Good Luck. Unless your
insurance company says otherwise I would suggest you see these two specialist that I spoke of without going to
a general internist first.
Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only,
actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by physicians with whom you seek care.
