Had an abalation...and NO ANSWERS!

[kindallj]

It all started New Years Eve, I was with my mother at a restaurant having lunch (I had severe period cramps before going into restaurant). She gave me 1 ibuprofen and usually that eases it off but that day I had to take 2 pills and I was still in severe pain. I kept feeling like I had to have a bowel movement, so I kept walking back and forth to the bathroom. Nothing would come out, I had a hot flash I guess ( I was freezing wearing a jacket etc. then I started sweating in the bathroom. I knew something wasn't right. I blacked out in the bathroom, walked out to the front counter of the restaurant (because it was near) and told them to get my mom, I was sick. I collapsed, fainted right then, fell to the floor and woke right back up. I had lost my cell phone in the bathroom that's how I know I must have blacked out in the bathroom. EMT came my blood pressure was at 60/30. I went to the hospital they got me feeling better and discharged me, basically said it was a vasovagal. Which I was uncertain of because I wasn't nervous or anxious causing me to faint. So, I go to my gyno and had a pap smear done because I thought it could've been related to my cramps and period. She said everything looked normal, I then see my Primary Doctor. After going to her twice telling her I was having bad anxiety she sends me to the cardiologist. He put me on the monitor for 30 days. It picked up heart rates of 190 mostly while I was exercising and once while I was sleeping. I go in for my results and he gave me 3 options, they were either take medicine everyday of my life and I'm only 21, and he said that could be hard for me to get pregnant one day while on the medication, second option was to take a pill whenever I feel my heart going fast, and 3rd was to do an ablation and never worry about these problems again. So, of course I said ablation. He sends me off to meet his EP surgeon (almost a month later). In between this time I had I guess my first tachycardia that I was aware of. I was at work and my heart started going 145bpm randomly, my legs and face started tingling and my left shoulder was very sore almost like a shoulder workout the day after. Anyways, I meet the surgeon. He was laughing, very unprofessional and basically was like why are you here 190bpm is normal for you, looks like sinus tachy to me. He says I can do a EP Study if you want but up to you. I was confused as to why he was giving me options on whether to do it or not. The very moment I left the room, I went to the front desk and told them I needed a appointment asap before surgery with my cardio. They got me in the next day. My cardio doctor was very certain I needed this procedure, he said trust me the surgeon will be surprised once he starts working on you. My surgeon is young has 5 years of experience and my Cardio doctor has 31 years of experience so of course I listen to the cardio doctor. Now, its the day of surgery, they roll me back to the cath. lab and begin the EP Study ( I was put to sleep) but my family said it only took him about 30minutes until the nurses called saying I was in recovery. Which my cardio doctor said it should take a hour and half to complete a EP Study and he did it in 30 minutes. Anyway, I get back into my room after surgery my heart rate was at 145 and the nurse was concerned, the surgeon happens to walk in so she asked him if I was ok and he said yes she's fine. I asked my surgeon now what?!? He said well, I couldn't get a arrhythmia started so go get your thyroid and adrenal glands checked and your kidneys lets see if its a underlying problem. They discharged me from the hospital at 8:30pm with a heart rate of 133. I immediately go to my Primary doctor the next week got blood work for all the underlying problems it could be and everything came out normal, blood work is fine! I next have a appointment with my cardiologist and he walks into the room and says well I'm sorry I was wrong and didn't have the right answers for you..so I say now what do I do?! He gave me a beta blocker ( which I refuse to take because we don't know what the problem is! ) I have recently been having low blood pressure and the beta blocker he gives me lowers blood pressure. I obviously don't need that..my blood pressures been dropping to 74/45 lately. I've been having to eat salt to stay out of the hospital. Which it was weird and I believe the reason he gave me a beta blocker is because my blood pressure happened to be high that one very day 139/99, I've never seen that before. Anyway, my resting heart rate is around the 90's now past medical records my normal BP is 110/71 and my heart rate is 71.  My blood pressure has become back normal this week, I haven't had any problems with it. If I take a shower or do any activity my heart rate jumps up to 120s. If I dare to run(exercise) it goes well over 160bpm. Meanwhile, I found a cardiologist out of town and he is one of Americas top physicians and many other awards. I have an appointment with him on June 11. Until then, anyone have any advice as to what could be going on? I just don't know why my cardio doc was so certain I had a arrhythmia based off my monitor and now he is agreeing with the surgeon saying he has no idea maybe sinus tachycardia? I'm so lost!

[RNRita]

That bottom number (diastolic) is perfect. In fact, I could sell 107/57 on eBay!  

[kindallj]

Also, I have really random blood pressures such as 107/57.. why is the bottom number so low?

[kindallj]

yes, I do take them at the same time on a wrist blood pressure machine but I also have the machine for around my arm.

[RNRita]

Just to throw in the fact that when your BP drops, your HR increases to compensate (in a normal person). The first time this happened, you said your BP went extremely low, and then you noticed the tachycardia.  Are you having your BP taken at the same time?

[kindallj]

Thanks so much! I have searched POTS now and a lot of the symptoms seem to be me. I hope if so, its just a passing thing and will eventually go away. This *****.

[Lilymin]

You mentioned you take salt for your BP.  When I had a problem where I fainted and when I was checked out my BP was low and my HR was elevated.  I had a tilt table test and even though my HR was already elevated (they give people medication to increase the rate) the technician had to call the doctor while he was dong the test on me to ask him whether to give me the medication since my HR was already elevated and the doctor told him to give it to me, which made me pass out.  The doctor after reviewing my test told me I need salt, which is what they give people with POTS.  Since then (about 20 yrs ago)  I haven's had those episodes, but a couple of doctors I've seen come up with that diagnoses.  There are more symptoms that go along with POTS and other ways to treat it besides salt.  I hope this helps.

[kindallj]

ok thank you! I looked up Pinski and I seen he wasn't near but if he is worth it, then I'll go!

[kindallj]

I know someone who has POTS and I thought maybe I had that? She blacks out and faints all the time. I have fainted once completely, then another time exercising I nearly fainted, but I just sat down an drank water. Why do you think I have POTS? Just wondering..

[researcher09]

You want to go to the bulletin board and post your symptoms there.  POTS sounds like a possibility.  Another reason you want to go to a top expert as they are so backed up that they will not offer ablation unless they think they have a good chance of fixing it.  I was confused about Pinski's location.  He is in Weston so quite a bit farther for you to get to.  Hopefully, you get an accurate diagnosis in Jacksonville.

[Lilymin]

Sounds like you could have POTS, worth goggling.   Good Luck!

[kindallj]

Thank you, I don't really know how this website works and all the groups lol. I will look into that doctor if my new Cardiologist has no answers. I will be going to Baptist Health in Jacksonville, FL. I will be seeing Dr. Paul Dillahunt, he has been named Americas Top Physicians and many other awards. Hopefully, he can figure something out.

[researcher09]

Sorry to hear that you are going through this and having to deal with the inexperience of the EP.  5 years is very green on the ablation learning curve so I suggest finding a group that does a lot of ablation procedures.  I belong to the lone AF forum so come and check it out.  Lots of people young and old of both genders contribute their knowledge there on AF.  I see you are in Gainesville.  The top expert ablationist in that area is Sergio Pinski at Cleveland Clinic, Jacksonville.

[kindallj]

Thanks, I can't get into my doctors very quick to get any medicines so I will just be dealing with it but I see a urologist June 3 (next week), to see if its possibly my kidneys.  I will still see my new cardiologist June 11. I'm trying to avoid all medicines at the moment because I'm only 21 and 96pounds. I have a hard time swallowing pills so this could be miserable if I have to take meds the rest of my life.

[bigkev414]

I'm 71 years old and have been putting up with similar episodes for nearly 20 years. Blood pressure goes all over the place. Don't worry unless it soars and STAYS HIGH for days on end. 139/99 is a bit high but not much.
My advice is to take the beta blocker which will slow and regulate your heart rate. Atenalol is  common one, and it doesn't have much affect on your blood pressure even though the info says it does. Take a low dose daily until you see the guy on the 11th.
Get some Valpam (diazepam) from your doc and when you start to feel a funny turn coming on take 5mg. It will calm you, and is NOT addictive. That is my advice, and that's the best I've been able to do.