Tachycardia, PVCs, Muscle Twitching, Weight Loss, Hypotension, Others

[jonan]

Hello all.

About 18 months ago (sudden onset), I was in and out of the ER for a couple weeks then admitted to the hospital for a week while all sorts of tests were run (blood,ECG,CT,MRI,etc.).

Initially I presented with orthostatic hypotension (up to 130bpm), dizziness, weakness, and flush feelings.  They thought I was just dehydrated and not eating well. Dehydration was certainly possible, but I eat very well. If anybody has suggestions...

Previously:
- Constipation
Initially:
- Tachycardia
- Weight loss (16lbs)
- Light headed
- Cold, shaking, fluids helped alot
Over the next several months:
- Muscle twitching everywhere, even internal, not painful
- Ringing ears
- Foginess a few times
- Skipped beats
- Tachycardia (7 times now) at 200bpm...ish. for about 1 minute each time. Sudden start and stop.
- Sudden Tension Headaches

At first, they put me on fludro (smallest dose) and BP shot to 150/90 within 1.5 days.  So I downed to 1/4 pill.  A couple weeks later I went into the ER for chest discomfort and my potassium levels had dropped under the min and I got pills.  I went off fludro and started adding moderate salt to my diet.

I've gone on to feel much better. Take a magnesium pill (helps twitching), hydrate well, and eat better.  Gained weight back.  I have more HR variability than average when breathing.  I'm still thinking electrolytes, even though tests have been fine. They refuse to link lots of this together even though it all started together.

The heart stuff worries me and I just want to get to a root cause of all this and not treat symptoms.

Thanks in advance

[jonan]

Oh, and I'd like to mention that my heart rate can still goe up to 100-130 while standing these days but I don't feel horrible when it does.  They only saw my BP drop a couple times, which I guess is normal for a healthy person...their BP just goes up to compensate.

[CollegeGirl143]

im assuming you've already been tested for diabetes and thyroid issues.. The sudden onset of a 200 bpm pulse and sudden stop needs to be looked into. when you say sudden, do you mean within an instant? or a few minutes? Generally arrhythmias like svt start and stop in a second, these can be treated fairly easy ususally and might ease some of your symptoms.

[jonan]

Yes, they have done thoyroid tests on my twice now I believe.  All their standard "T" tests used to detect thyroid problems, but not ALL of them.  There is some debate from what I gather about what is a really thorough set of thyroid tests.  And I have had a couple different diabetes tests too.

And when I say sudden, I mean an instant.  I think they are triggered after a single PVC, although I have PVCs now and again without the Tachy.  They last for about a minute each time and suddenly stop by themselves.

The trouble is this only started after all my other issues, so I'd really like to get to the underlying cause if possible.  With so many symptoms that can be caused by chemical imbalances, I'd hate to go treating with medications which can cause more problems first.

I've also had a tests for MEN2B, Adrenal Function, homocysteine levels, etc.  The thing is that I have had a pretty good work up, but the docs seem to discount a common thread causing these multiple things to happen all at once.

I have heard mention of MEN 1 a couple times, but no tests yet.

[jonan]

Oh and I am on an event monitor for the second time now to try and catch this fast heart rate on a monitor.  But I have said...it has only happened 7-8 times over the past 18 months.  Usually a couple months apart, although last week it happened twice in 3 days.

The doctors don't seem to be very concerned about it, but obviously I'd like to get to the bottom of it.  And I forgot to mention that it always happens while standing, I never have any problems when playing basketball pretty hard (although it's been over a month since I have played).

[CollegeGirl143]

sounds like it may be svt to me.. The sudden onset and stop is very typical of svt. Ide say keep the event monitor until you catch it..

[jonan]

Yeah, I wish they'd let me keep it.  I'd really like to catch it so that I can get a definitive answer about what type of arhythmmia it is.  Although the monitors get really uncomfortable after a couple weeks.

If anybody has some suggestions on possible cause or further tests...I'm all ears. If someone has had similar symptoms bundled together I'd love to hear about it too.

The weight loss is what gets me.  I've literally never lost or gained more than a couple pounds since high school.  And in less than a year (not sure when it started exactly, could have been 3 months for all I know) somehow I lost near 18 pounds?  Then all this stuff happens.  It's not like I had alot of extra weight to lose.  I'm really skinny and always have been.

[CollegeGirl143]

when i was getting my svt every day, i lost 20 lbs in 2 months, i weighed under 100 lbs, it was pretty bad.. I was having SVT for hours, multiple times a day, at rates well over 200, so it was like my body was running a marathon everyday even though i wasnt moving a muscle. i also stopped eating because eating always triggered my svt.. I had to have an ablation because i was wasting away.. I dont know if thats why you are losing weight, but it might be a factor, also the stress of it all can cause weight loss.

[jonan]

Well, all my weight was lost before I was really symptomatic.  I did just have a find after looking through my charts and getting another test ordered.

My aldosterone and renin levels are both low.  My aldosterone levels are pretty much non-existend and my cortisol levels are normal.  I've been staying well hydrated with gatorade and feel mostly okay as I've said.  Seems like things are matching up partially.

Now my question is what might be the underlying cause of all this.  From what I read, low renin levels can be caused by hypothyroidism, but my thyroid levels have always come back normal.  Although there are reports that sometimes this will be seen before hypothyroidism can really be detected?

Any ideas?

[woodstock933]

was wondering if you ever resolved the problem.  I recently started having the same symptoms that you described.  Weight loss 20 lbs. muscle twitching,  etc.  No one seems to be able to diagnose.  i also have times during the day where my body just seems to get weaker and weaker very quickly.  Any ideas?

[mark82]

Hi,I am very interested in what symptons you are getting & what you have been tested for ? etc, As my father has the same type of symptons, started with sore muscles & slowly progressed to uncontrollable twitching,signifcant weight loss & very low on energy..He has been to a neuro surgeon & been tested for diabetes which came back negative, his heart seems to be working normal..

If any 1 could give me any information or ideas as to what the problem could be it would be very much appreciated..thank you