weakness, low bp and high heart rate in a.m.

[LynnSB]

I've had problems with tachycardia and palpitations for about 20 years ( i'm amost 50, post menopausal, normal weight). I've had several heart event monitors ( last for 2 weeks in December), holters, stress tests, echos, the works. Years ago it was "MVP";over the past several years i was told I don't have that, maybe a little reentry  problem and inappropriate sinus tach, nothing life threatening.I am having a physical tomorrow and would like suggestions about questions to ask about this : I have no stamina and i feel exhausted when I wake up. Sometimes it is worse than others. I have low blood pressure in the a.m. and a little pulse pressure.for example,this a.m. I awoke after 8 hours, walked downstairs and felt so tired I could hardly talk. my bp, standing was 95/68, pulse 113. I sa down for 10 minutes -- 108,67 , pulse 95. just took it after sitting a few more minutes -- 96/56, pulse 94. I've had nothing to eat or drinkFor about a month,episodes of feeling faint- not graying out but dizzy ( not vertigo)i also have had some problems with my ears and sinuses but a quick look/see by a doc said no fluid in my ears but both eardrums are retracted so i don't know if tht could cause the dizzy feeling,,don't feel any palps when that happens. I wonder if it blood pressure fluctuations. 10 years ago i had the tilt table test, told I did have some mess up with my autonomic nervous systme and to drink lots of water. basically, i'm blown off, I think , as a nutso middle-aged woman. I'm not.sometimes in a.m.so weak i feel i can hardly talk to my little boy.gets better after hour or so

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Lynn,
I would suggest seeing about a repeat tilt-table test.  It may be that you are just 'volume depleted'.  If this is the case you need to do more than drink water - you need salt to go with it.  Many people who are volume depleted are on low salt diets (2-3 grams) when really they need to be getting closer to 6-8gms a day.  Also I would investigate rheumatological conditions as well as chronic fatigue syndrome.

[LynnSB]

PS.  I also have a problem with swelling in my lower legs. In fact, i've had people i don't even know think i had HEART FAILURE. However, I don't. My GP noticed it and shook her head and said, well, must be varicose veins. Where? I have maybe 2 small spider veins.. how can varicose  veins thta are invisible cause non painful edema equal in both legs? I wonder if this is related to my other problems.
1. I also wonder if a very small pulse pressure at times ( bp was 96/73 a little while ago, standing) is dangerous or indicative of something wrong with my heart?
2. i have lots of symptoms of hypothyroidism but my thyroid tests are always normal.
3. when i say i have no stamina, i mean if i cook a big dinner, i am not just tired, but can hardly function the next day. I went on a weekend trip , non-stressful, and was physicall ill from exhaustion from 2 weeks.
I am NOT exaggerating or lying or imagining this. no one will listen to me or take me seriously. i drag myself to work and sometimes have to lie down for my lunch hour.

please, can anyone help?

[VALERIA]

YOU SOUND LIKE YOU WERE DESCRIBING ME.
I'M 41, AND MY PROBLEMS STARTED IN OCTOBER OF 1993, I WAS ABOUT 32.
THAT DAY IN THE A.M. MY HEART STARTED BEATING VERY FAST, AND STAYED THAT RATE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. EVERYDAY SINCE THAT DAY, THE SAME THING. I NEVER SPOKE TO A DOCTOR ABOUT IT, I GUESS PARTLY FROM BEING AFRAID, AND JUST GETTING USED TO IT. BUT THIS ONE DAY IN FEBRUARY IN 1998, IT STARTED UP, AND DID NOT SLOW DOWN, LIKE IT USUALLY DOES. THAT NIGHT I WENT TO THE E.R. AND SAW A DOCTOR FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THIS. SINCE I HAD BLOOD TESTS, ECK, ECHO, MONITORS AND REALLY DONT KNOW ANYMORE NOW THAN BEFORE. ALL I HAD BEEN TOLD, IS NON APPROPRIATE SINUS TACH. I SEE MY CARDIOLOGIST EVERY FOUR MONTHS. IN THE E.R. THAT NIGHT AFTER THE BLOOD TEST, I WAS TOLD MY CHOLESTEROL WAS 340. IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS ON MY OWN AND NO CHOLESTEROL MEDICATION, I DROPPED IT TO,  I THINK THE LOWEST I HAVE SEEN IT HAS BEEN 189. BUT BOTH MY PARENTS HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL, AND MY MOTHER HAS HAD ARRYTHMIAS SINCE SHE WAS 17. SHE IS NOW 74, AND HAS BEEN ON INDERAL SINCE HER 40'S. ALSO BOTH MY PARENTS HAS HAD ANGIO PLASTYS.
MY OLDEST SISTER TOO HAS MVP AND WPW, AND HAS HAS AN ABLATION, ALSO MY OTHER SISTER'S SON AT 15 HIS RATE WENT TO 245 ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE, NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS, AND ALSO SHORT TIME AFTER THAT, HAS AN ABLATION. BUT THE DOCTOR SAID I DON'T HAVE MVP OR WPW, AND I'M NOT A CANDIDATE FOR ABLATION.

SORRY TO MAKE THIS SO LONG, WHAT I WANTED TO ASK IS, WHEN I FIRST GET UP IN THE A.M. AND STEP OUT OF BED AND START TO WALK AROUND, SOME DAYS MY HEART JUST TAKES OFF, ALSO ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER EATING, IT STARTS TO RACE, ALSO WHEN IT IS AROUND THAT TIME OF THE MONTH, THE SAME THING, I ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN MY HEART IS BEATING FAST, THERE A FEELING IN MY STOMACH, LIKE IT IS ALL IN KNOTS, OR LIKE IT TIGHTENS UP, THEN IT FEELS FINE WHEN MY HEART SLOWS DOWN, DO FEEL ANY OF THESE THINGS ABOVE AS WELL?

VAL.

[LynnSB]

Hi Val,
If i eat a large ( meaning normal, not gourging or overeating) meal, i feel weak and my heart races over 100. Every time. Which makes me think there's some imbalance with my autonomic nervous system, blood pressure control, something. I am so tired of feeling this way. I try to ignore it. I swear I do. I don't talk about it. I try so hard. but my entire life is a lie, faking that I am feeling ok, forcing myself to go ahead and do this and that while feeling lightheaded  and , out of the blue , having palps or feeling i might faint. now, on the good side, i realize that if i've had these weird symptoms and been checked out over the years several times, heart-wise, the odds this is something life threatening are small. Still, i'd give just about anything if someone would listen to me seriously and try to help. and the weakness in the morning is getting to be an every day thing. The only thing that helps is caffeine -- but i'm not supposed to take that because of the palps. it's a nightmare.

[VALERIA]

I TOO SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM CAFFEINE. I'M CURRENTLY TAKING TOPROL 150MG. A DAY AND BEING A BETA BLOCKER IT LOWERS THE BLOOD PRESSURE AS WELL AS THE HEART RATE, WHICH MAKES YOU FEEL TIRED. IT HAS HELPED ALOT TO KEEP MY RATE DOWN, BUT ALL I HAVE TO DO IS MISS A DOSE AND I FEEL SYMPTONS, BUT I DON'T THINK I CAN'T GO THROUGH ANY DAY, JUST 24 HOURS WITH NOT FEELING SOME TYPE OF SYMPTON, WETHER IT BE THE FAST RATE, OR PAC'S OR PVC'S. I USUALLY MAKE THE COFFEE THAT IS HALF AND HALF IN THE MORNING, SO 2 CUPS I'M REALLY ONLY DRINKING ONE CUP OF REGULAR COFFEE. PLUS I HAVE A TERRIBLE WEAKNESS FOR CHOCOLATE WHICH IS CAFFEINE AND SUGAR. I TOO FEEL TIRED AND SOMETIMES DIZZY, BUT IT IS FROM THE TOPROL, THERE ALL SIDE EFFECTS, ALSO MY SINUSES BOTHER ME ALOT WHICH CAN ALSO MAKE YOU FEEL DIZZY. BUT TO BE HONEST, I ACTUALLY FEEL BETTER AND MORE ENERGETIC AFTER A LITTLE COFFEE OR CHOCOLATE.

[evesme]

Hi,
I'm new here.

Had 2 angioplasties in last year and Still have this racing heart rate.  Been going on for at least 5 years.  Once it starts I have a hard time, sometimes almost impossible, to bring it down slower.  One of the reason I went to ER the first time.  Last stress-echo my Doc acted surprised "never seen anyones heartrate go up so high, so fast!  A year ago, my first time in hospital, I would just walk to bathroom and it would go from 80 to 150. (And I have a "good" doc?).  Anyway, it leaves me exhausted.  It's like my heart just beats so hard (regular)that it wears me out.

A trip to my internist this week and she Dx it as "hyperdynamic heart syndrome".  She says the triggers are unknown. She has only seen it in women.  Its treated with beta blockers and SSRI's.  Already seems to be getting better.  Why my cardio doc didn't get it...Well, looking for new Cardio!

Has anyone one ever heard of this.. ?  I have looked and looked and can't find anything by this name.

[jdm]

To LynnSB:  Hi Lynn, I have had similar problems as you but with somewhat different focus ( see the question I posted some time ago ).  I also have pulse rate increase soon after eating ( and VERY inappropriate continuance of high pulse following exercise ).  It goes to 100 to 110 and stays there hours ( without the attenolol that I am on at this time ).  With this as my resting rate any movement or exertion drives the rate much higher.  So I was going up and down multiple times a day.  In my case this led to severe anxiety reactions that drove it higher.  I believe that this is not life threatening as they maintain.  However, they ( the docs ) sometimes treat me like I am nuts to be bothered by this.  Attenolol mutes this reaction very well and it takes very little.  I take 25 mg a day and cut the tabs into quarters ( requires some practice ).  The docs cannot believe that 7.5 mg will affect me ( 190 lb man-age 52 ) at all but it has a strong effect.  The side effects , though , are bothersome. Dizzy, cold extremities, irritable, sexual response ruined.   Now, when I eat my body temp goes from 97.2 or 97.4 prior to 98.8 and I get hot for several hours.  However, with the attenolol my pulse goes from 60 to 64 up to only 70-74.  In other words a normal reaction to an increase in metobolism due to eating. I have had classic migraines all my life ( aren't I special-most sufferers are women! ) and also have severe sinus headaches.  Both other these headache types are triggered by severe changes in the weather ( pressure I suppose ).  The docs tell me this is not possible.  I have lately begun to think that the vascular funny business involved in migraines and severe sinus headache may be in some way related to my odd vascular/cardiac response to eating and exercise.  I am kind of settling in now as I approach a year learning to use the attenolol ( one 25 mg dose was a disaster ).  I feel like I am at least 20 years older than my 52 years and , once a fitness addict, I am fat and out of shape.  By the way, over the past few years I have become HYPER sensitive to caffeine and alcohol , both of which increase my pulse enormously now compared to the past.  At least I never smoked and don't "need" to drink alcohol.  The bottom line is that the attenolol is basically putting the finishing touches on ruining my life as I once knew it.  However, it is also what is making it possible for me to live any kind of life at all.  It might work for you.   Good luck.

[Linda123]

Hi
I'm so sorry to read your story.  I read a very similar one (low blood pressure, feeling faint, exhausted, etc.) in a magazine only yesterday and it turned out the lady had, I think it was, 'Addison's Disease'.  I've been trying to find the magazine so as to put exact detail into my post but I'm sure I'm on the right track here.  Doctors often miss this condition apparently.  My advice would be to get checked out for this.  In the meantime I'll look again for the magazine and come back with more details.
Best Wishes
Linda

[Linda123]

Hi Lyn
I've found the article, here goes:-

Mrs Little (75) began feeling a bit dizzy and "distanced" from things and then whilst visiting family she collapsed and was whisked off to hopsital for a suspected heart attack.  She remained there for 10 days and had innumerable tests but nothing untoward was found.  Mrs Little says her blood pressure was found to be very low and she became breathless even on walking to the bathroom.  She was discharged from hospital with a diagnosis that she was suffering from "anxiety and very minor heart defects which were apparently negligible" and was advised that no treatment was necessary.
However Mrs Little had a stroke of luck, her husband told their local vicar (a retired anaethetist) of his wife's symptoms and he recognised what was amiss and suggested she been seen at another hospital.  
Mrs Little turned out to have Addison's Disease, in which the adrenal glands fail to produce sufficient amounts of the steroid Aldosterone resulting in - low blood pressure, dizziness and breathlessness on mild exertion.

The account I have written is not word for word but just about.
The article was written by a Dr James Le Fanu and was in yesterday's UK's The Sunday Telegraph (28 April 2002).
Lyn - I understand this disease is only found occasionally, so you probably haven't got it, but I thought the article was worth posting.
Best Wishes
Linda

[Addie]

My 2 cents here would be that those suffering with these symptons should be seen by the best endocrinologists they can find.

One cardiologist I saw swore it was all Thyroid related, yet I knew I had thyroid tests done.  Wrong.  I then had 2 different types of Antibodies tests done.  Both were positive. My TSH fluctuates between 4-8.  Even though they say normal is 1-4., The British Journal and many top notch docs (here and abroad) are aiming patients between a TSH of 1-2 for a feeling of well being. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos thryroiditis. This can wax and wane between high and low thryroid. I even have symptoms of Graves Disease which is also thyroid/autoimmune related.  I was tested for Cushings and Addison also. Again, get to a good doctor and discuss the possibility of this.  I am not a doctor but also a fellow sufferer. There are many Throid Web sites out there.  One is hosted my Mary Shalom a fellow sufferer of Thyroid disease.  There are also many good books on the market for Thyroid/Autoimmune problems if one has these. Wishing all good healthier days ahead.

[LynnSB]

thanks for all the comments. I just got back my blood tests. My thyroid was normal, at least by these tests. The only abnormal finding was my white blood count ( 2.7) which, however, has been low for 20years and I don't come down with many colds or infections. My lymphs were a little high.

I realize that many of my symptoms sound like an adrenal related problem but I don't have the dark skin symptomatic of Addison's and docs act like you are nuts if you start spouting suggestions like " well, could it be adrenal insufficiency secondary to panhypopituatarism" or whatever....

when i say i have no stamina, let me explain it this way.. if i do something normal that takes energy, but not an enormous amount -- let's say cooking Thanksgiving dinner and cleaning up .. I honestly can hardly walk or function the next day or two I"m so weak. I hate to travel because i am so fatigued i just drag myself around and try to hold in the awful fatigue. accompanying the fatigue are heart palps, usually low blood pressure, and total, total exhaustion.  it feels as if whatever energy supplies my body has are completely wiped out and i have to rest as best i can to get back to my "normal" yet low energy state. I eat an extraordinarily healthy diet, by the way, i'm not overweight, etc. this is all so crazy.

The doc yesterday commented on my swollen lower legs and I pointed out to her they are blotchy, dusky, red.. she said, "well, you don't have a heart,kidney or liver problem, so  there's not much we can do.." i said i did not buy that this was from varicose veins -- where are they? she finally agreed and said, well, it's a mechanical thing probably -- venous insufficiency or something. I would just like someone to put ALL these weird symptoms in context. it seems to me they are connected.

[Goodgal]

I read, with interest, all the comment made, and was wondering ifmy blood pressure was exceptionally low compared to all of you in here. My normal daytime Bp is around 85/62 but it fluctuates to anywhere to 80/57, with a pulse of 67. When I feel as if i am getting "high"blood pressure--it goes to 128/85--and it almost makes me pass out. Lately --last few months --I have noticed that its mainly the systolic reading that goes up significantly and the diastolic remains the same...eg, 87/65  to 128/65, and the pulserate increases to about 90.My heart is in the "upper limits of normal" but i havent got myopathy or anything ,, and im also not fit,(but not overweight and unhealthy) because i cant walk for more than 500m without nearly collapsing.Anyone know anyhting about low blood pressure in relation to only the systolic pressure increasing?

[itsa4847]

Doc acted surprised "never seen anyones heartrate go up so high, so fast! A year ago, my first time in hospital, I would just walk to bathroom and it would go from 80 to 150.



i was reading your article in one of your responses and that is what happens to me and it happened at the hospital my pulse was 64 i went in the bathroom brushed my teeth combed my hair, got my clothes and they came down from the nurses desk i was out of breath they had to put me back in the bed with oxy. she said that they wanted to know what i was doing?  they saw it on the monitor.  
and that is what happens to me alot when iam home, ill answer the phone and my sister will say what are you doing running a marathon? i say no just came from the kitchen, cause iam huffing and puffing.  
i do have a slight blockage and angina, but now wonder if there is more of a blockage? can't do anymore till may 17th when i see my card.  i just got out of hospital sat. may 4

[ccfitzner]

I have the same simptoms. For the past 4 years I have had all test you can think of preformed on me. Prior to each test I would not be able to eat or drink anything. My heart was normal, my digestive tract was normal. Everything checked out normal. After I ate, I would have to sit still because of chest pain and shortness of breath if I moved around. The pain got so bad, I finally went to the ER. I was being treated at that time for a "nutcracker esophagus". The doctors preformed a catherization on me and said I had blockages. The 27th of Dec of 2001 I had 5 by passes done.  I just could not get over the surgery. The middle of January 2002,I developed fluid in lungs. February 4, 2002, the doctor did another catherization.  Four of the by passes had collapsed. The doctor placed 2 stents in 2 blockages, but while he was doing this, my heart had a spasm. Now I have been diagnosed with "eNOS". This is a nitrate oxide defientancy gene. Unless a person's heart is having a spasm, everything checks out normal. Cigarette smoke causes a spasm. Even second-hand smoke can cause this.

[cece]

i'm s 36 year old female with a low bp of 96/73 sitting up and 101/66 laying down. what could this be. my bp use to run 120/80. i feel dizzy and i have headaches often

[maryjb]

I read all of your descriptions and have suffered from the same.  I was finally referred to an allergist and, low-and-behold, I have severe food allergies.  Food allergies can cause a host of different "reactions", including weakness and high pulse rate, as a response of your system reacting to a "foreign" body.

I recommend reading Gary Null's books:  "Women's Health Solutions" and "Ultimate Lifetime Diet".

Good Luck!

[DOBIEBIAS]

I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.   BLOOD PRESSUR VARIES BUT PULSE RATE IN AM MAY BE 89.  I HAD A CHEST EX RAY DONE, AN EKG, A STRESS TEST TODAY AT 3:00, AND BLOOD WORK.   MY OXGEN CHECK BY FINGER WAS 94%.   i AN GOING BACK TO SITE, I AM TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WITH THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM.   MY FEELING IS MY FATIGUE COME FROM HIGH PULSE RATE, BUT WHAT CAUSES IT I AM STILL LOOKING.    THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO, IT GIVES IDEAS FOR QUESTIONS TO MY DOCTOR.

[DOBIEBIAS]

I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.   BLOOD PRESSUR VARIES BUT PULSE RATE IN AM MAY BE 89.  I HAD A CHEST EX RAY DONE, AN EKG, A STRESS TEST TODAY AT 3:00, AND BLOOD WORK.   MY OXGEN CHECK BY FINGER WAS 94%.   i AN GOING BACK TO SITE, I AM TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WITH THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM.   MY FEELING IS MY FATIGUE COME FROM HIGH PULSE RATE, BUT WHAT CAUSES IT I AM STILL LOOKING.    THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO, IT GIVES IDEAS FOR QUESTIONS TO MY DOCTOR.

[DOBIEBIAS]

I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.   BLOOD PRESSUR VARIES BUT PULSE RATE IN AM MAY BE 89.  I HAD A CHEST EX RAY DONE, AN EKG, A STRESS TEST TODAY AT 3:00, AND BLOOD WORK.   MY OXGEN CHECK BY FINGER WAS 94%.   i AN GOING BACK TO SITE, I AM TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WITH THE SAME TYPE PROBLEM.   MY FEELING IS MY FATIGUE COME FROM HIGH PULSE RATE, BUT WHAT CAUSES IT I AM STILL LOOKING.    THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO, IT GIVES IDEAS FOR QUESTIONS TO MY DOCTOR.