Erratic Pulse

What does it mean, when your pulse keeps changing? I have a Pulse Oximeter and this evening, I decided to check myself, just on a whim. My pulse was reading anywhere from 79 to 91, in under a minute (it kept going back and forth). My Oximeter has a "sound" feature, where you can hear your heart rhythm. It shows a graph of your heart rhythm, as well. The graph looked terrible. Normally, it has almost identical "mountain-peak" shapes but, this time, they were all very different from each other and sometimes, they looked "squashed". As far as the beeping sound that it makes, the tone kept changing from high to low tones, back and forth. A couple of times, it didn't beep for a second. I removed the Oximeter and put it back on, about twenty minutes later, and it didn't skip "beeps", that time, but all of the other stuff was still happening. Any ideas?

By the way, If it helps any, I have been having a variety of other symptoms, which may/may not be related. Please accept my apology, if the following symptoms are unrelated:

I've had unexplained edema, for several years, for which I am on Lasix and Potassium Chloride. I have edema on both sides of my body (from my head to my toes), but the right side is much worse. I feel the constant urge to urinate, but I usually don't urinate very much at a time (except, when my Lasix first kicks in).

I haven't been able to sleep, comfortably, on my left side, for quite some time (I sleep on my right side, now).

Also, for some reason, my reproductive system (male) is almost non-existent. I'm on Testosterone Gel, now (2 vials per day), but before I was put on that, the following was true: I had virtually no Testosterone or DHEA and my genitals had shrunk. In addition, I didn't get fully erect and my semen volume was very low and had very little force behind it. I had lost almost all of my body hair.

My Testosterone levels are a little higher, now that I'm on the Testim Gel (although, still not inside the normal range yet - I am due to be tested, again, so my levels may be higher, now). My erection is somewhat better and so is my semen volume and the force is still not that great. My genitals have increased in size, some, although, my left testicle is still smaller than the right one (significantly). My body hair is back, for the most part, but there are many patches of baldness, on my body.

I have a lot of Pins/Needles pain in my hands and feet (and numbness of the feet - I'm constantly losing my shoes).

Now, I've developed seizures and I have soooo many more symptoms, but these are my main symptoms.

Thank you, for your time. Have a great day. :-)
Joe

[itdood]

I can only guess on the heart stuff.  The variance is probably sinus arrythmia which is normal.  Your rate will go up as you inhale and slow down when you exhale.  The skipped beats are either the pulse ox simply not detecting a pulse (malfunction) or it could be a PVC or PAC you are picking up (fairly common and usually benign).

[Your_Average_Joe]

Thank you, for your reply. Usually, my pulse is steady, on the pulse-ox. But, lately, I've been taking on more fluid, because my Mom is in the hospital, in Critical Condition and I've been visiting her twice a day (I'm doing much more than I normally do, as a result). The thing that worried me, the most, is that, my Mom's pulse was doing the same thing (bouncing around) - the Doctors said that she was in Atrial Fibrilation. A couple of weeks later, she suffered Cardiac Arrest and received CPR, for almost twenty minutes and was revived. She stayed in a coma, for almost a week and then came out of it. Her mind isn't working, all of the time. So, you can imagine that I would become alarmed, when I saw my pulse doing the same thing.

There's no reason why both of us would have the same heart problem, virtually at the same time, though. That's just impossible, so I was just over-reacting to it. I'm glad to know that it's normal. I asked a nurse, earlier, what she thought and she said asked me if I had any symptoms at the time. I told her that I felt a little tightness, in my chest and I was having a weird feeling. She said that, as a precaution, I should probably pay a visit to my Doctor, to have an EKG done. I know that there's a fine line between precaution and hypochondria. So, I guess what I want to know is, is this really worth checking out or should I just forget all about it?

Thanks. :-)

[SassyLassie]

To be on the safe side, I would have it checked. It appears that you are under a large amount of stress and having a good check up would probably be a good idea.

[Your_Average_Joe]

You're right. Better safe than sorry. I need to be tested for MRSA (Staph Infection), because the Nurse at the hospital said that Mom tested positive for it and that I may have contracted it, from her, while I was taking care of her. They insisted that Mom got the infection, while at home, which makes me think that she probably got it from the hospital. I did some checking and discovered that this particular hospital is notorious for Staph Infections.

To make things worse, they said that they have been unable to find a way to rid her of the infection. They have her on two different antibiotics and, for some reason, an anti-fungal. They also have her on several other, unrelated, drugs.

Yeah, I am under quite a bit of stress (both physical and emotional), so I will definitely be scheduling an appointment, to see my Doctor.

Thank you, for your advice. You've been very helpful. :-)
Joe

[Gary3201]

Hi Joe do you have any swelling in your ankles?, Short of breath, lightheadedness, overall fatigue? If so when you see your cardiologist you may want to request that he do an echocardiogram. Some of what you say to me points towards congestive heart failure. A simple echo will provide the Dr with the general info as to the size of your heart as well as the efficiency level of your left ventricle in its pumping blood out to the rest of your body.

best of luck
gary

[Your_Average_Joe]

Hi Gary,

Thank you, for your reply. :-)

I have edema, throughout my entire body (more on the right side, than the left). Most of my swelling is in my lower legs and ankles, though. When I lean up against something, it leaves an indention on my legs, which stays there, for quite some time, I do have shortness of breath, occasional lightheadedness and major fatigue. I've had an ultrasound done, on my abdomen and chest and they said that I have Cardiomegaly and Swollen Left Ventricle (Mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy). They also said that I have "Definite Regurgitant Lesions (Heart)". Most (if not, all) of my organs are swollen. I also have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver. My Gall-Bladder is only functioning at 50% and my reproductive system is shot. I have terrible Neuropathy, in my hands and feet and really bad pain all over. I have a LOT of trouble with urinating, for which, I am taking Lasix. Lately, I've been having seizures and my Migraines have worsened (I have the kind without headaches).

I was actually hospitalized, for severe edema, two years ago, but I was released from the hospital, after a week, with NO diagnosis and no treatment plan (with the exception of an increase in my Lasix dosage). I've tried to discontinue my Lasix, but I quickly took on even MORE fluid, causing me to gain greater than thirty pounds. Before it got any worse, I started taking Lasix, again, and I have lost thirty pounds, within a couple of weeks. I STILL have a LOT of edema which, no matter how much Lasix I take, I can't eliminate.

Thanks, again, for your reply. I hope that the information I've provided, will shed some light on things. I look forward to hearing from you, again. :-)
Joe