heart rate racing after a meal

Question

I am 37 years old and for a months i have been suffering with my heart rate going up at night or after a heavy meal especially after alcohol with dinner that always gets it started i want to say about 120 beats or more it so scary for me and i had a old doctor that claimed he never heard of the happening needless to say months of hearing this made me full of anxiety because at the time i was taking blood pressure medication i switched doctors and my new doctor prescribed me xanax low level this helped with the anxiety but not the heart rate so i think in everything i have read that i need beta blockers once i have them i will blog again to show if this helped or not also i will be checking my thyroid to see if that could be the cause

This discussion is related to Tachycardia after eating a heavy meal?.

eljean · Answer

Hi, I often get what is called postprandial hypotension which is characterised as feeling anxious, elevated heartrate, feeling of adrenaline, shaky, clammy, cold hands and dizziness, after eating very large meals (doesn't happen with small meals for me). This is linked to joint hypermobility syndrome. I believe they hypotension is also called dysautonomia, although my specialist just lumps it all into features of JHS. Check out JHS, maybe you have this too.

Nisalou · Answer

Glad I found this I have seen many doctors for the same symptoms ( tachycardia and sweating about 15-20 minutes after eating) plus I had grave's disease and then thyroidectomy... but it seems to be worse after a big meal or after anything with white sugar ( honey doesn't affect me though) ... I will check out the post prandial hypoglycemia, hypotension thing for sure.. What I would like to ask is if anyone here has an inverted breastbone mine sinks in and I just now thought of that and heart or nerve stimulation when swallowing I will ask a doctor about that for sure, but the breastbone thing is genetic I believe. I have been put on too many meds Effexor for anxiety, welbutrin for depression beta blockers etc...I don't want any of them and, it seems they are not helping the actual problems I also begin in the evening around 8 pm with the same thing happening many times during the evening and at night waking me... racing heart and sweating it is most pronounced though after a meal and after white sugar.. Thanks you guys.

chitswood · Answer

Howdy Everyone, I have finally found a blog where everyone is describing very similar symptoms. I am still seeking a final identification of the problem; i'm getting closer but not quite there.

It started seven years ago. The first time it happened I had a terrible cold and was taking pseudoephedrine. I was taking my wife to dinner when I became lightheaded and suffered my first SVTachycardia, which lasted 45mins - I went to the hospital and they shot me with adenosine which stopped my heart momentarily. The second time was a few months later and again, I had my heart stopped with adenosine. Other symptoms that were occurring but I was treating separately were, eye Uveitis, itchy eyelids, psoraisis patch on my leg, anxiety. Nothing could be explained by doctors. 
One day I was having an event and was headed to the hospital when I released a deep lower bowel belch. As soon as it passed my heart returned to normal. I realized I didn't have a heart problem but an intestinal problem. I was having problems with my old fillings breaking apart and soon link some of the problem to mercury poisoning. I had all my mercury pulled out of my teeth and almost all the symptoms went away. the SVT still occurs but about once a month and all I have to do is coax a deep belch from my lower stomach, left side, and it stops. Rates reach 140 - 212bpm. It is usually associated with eating too much or too little and when I'm feeling sick;flu like symptoms.

I would love to end this, I'm worried there is something wrong with my intestines. Doctors want to prescibe the purple pill but I think there is something else going on.  Can anyone add to this? I've been keeping a log in excel. Thanks
Chit

jrbon · Answer

Have you been checked for something called reactive or postprandial hypoglycemia?

After a meal rich in carbohydrates, the patients feels the same symptoms of having a hypoglycemia (low glucose in blood) although not necessarily the glucose it is low in those people.

It happen after the meal and in about 4 hours has disappeared. Some of the symptoms include:

    Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness
    Palpitations, tachycardia
    Sweating, feeling of warmth 
    Pallor, coldness, clamminess
    Dilated pupils 
    Feeling of numbness "pins and needles" 

You can see it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_hypoglycemia

Jesus