Please Help!

[Cgd1]

I am at the end of my rope. I have been to 3 cardiologists and have received absolutely no useful help for my problem. I am 35 years old, obese, have high blood pressure, pvc's, and slight enlargement of the left ventricle. I have been taking Tenoretic 50 (1/2 tab in the morning and 1/2 at night) for nearly 5 years until recently. In March, I went to my GP because I was getting bp readings of 183/100 and higher at times and my pulse rate was in the 40s. I was also experiencing unusual pvc's. I was having long pauses in my heart rate at the bottom of each breath I took and multiple pvc's in a row with normal beats in between. My GP sent me back to the cardiologist who tried metoprolol (12.5)  and lisinopril/hctz (20mg) I started having racing heart beats and wheezing and my bp was still high. So, he put me back on the Tenoretic with lisinopril (10mg) My bp reduced too much. He took me off of the lisinopril and reduced my Tenoretic to half the dosage...just 25 mg a day. My bp was out of control still and my heart was pounding and racing at times and slow at other times. He told me to seek a second opinion. I ended up having to go to the hospital shortly after this. I had 34 pvc's (ventricular bigeminy) in a row and was having chest pains. I had a catherization done while at the hospital. The doctor said there were no blockages. He placed me on 6.25 mg twice daily of Coreg and lisinopril/hctz (20 mg) Once again, I had the severe wheezing, heart pounding and racing, and no effect on bp.  My Gp recommended me to a new cardiologist who I conveyed all of these things to and he told me, once again, to just take 1/2 of the tenoretic. So , I am back at square one and have no idea what to do. I am now anxious and depressed...crying daily. I can't sleep or eat. My heart constantly has palpitations and pounds. My bp does not go under 140/90. It is mostly 150/90 or higher. I called the new cardiologist and he said I would be fine and unless my bp went to 170/110 dont call him. He also said if it got that high just to go to the ER. I am also on potassium chloride 20meq, 4 pills a day because my potassium is extremely low. No one has told me what could be causing this. I feel hopeless and I am never going to get this solved. I actually feel like I am going to die. I don't want to call another doctor for fear of spending more money to be told the same thing. Please give any suggestions you can. I am desperate at this point.

[Mom2four85]

believe me I'm not stronger than anyone else dealing with arrhythmia's; we all have to find our coping mechanisms and learn to deal with things no matter what it is...

what's strange is I knew I felt my heart stop back in Jan & Feb 2009; I even fainted driving then one night while out walking during a bad episode...my husband helped me up and I went on like nothing was wrong...but I cried like a baby for weeks after they told me they found a lump in my left breast, couldn't sleep, eat and worried myself sick over this lump that was small and just needed looking after yet I couldn't control my anxiety over feeling like I had cancer.

I don't know why, I'm going to talk to my therapist about it...maybe because my mother died of breast cancer & family history of it so it was close and hit home? heart disease is very prevalent and maybe that's why we relate to it more...

hang in there =)

[Cgd1]

Wow...Mom...you are one courageous woman. I applaud you. I wish I had some of your strength. I hope that you find the answers you are looking for and a good doctor. >hugs<

[Mom2four85]

opps sorry, my brain doesn't work as well as it used to ...I hit the reply too early lol

I'm now 44, and on Inderal; which seems to have worked until a few months ago; Midodrine for my ANS issues and I take Hydrocodone for my spine problems, but that may all change once I go to Mayo clinic - I'm getting a 2nd opinion on the HOCM and having genetic testing done.

[Mom2four85]

Thanks =) I really try to keep things in perspective and act like I have nothing wrong, sometimes it get too much though.

Yes I have dangerous heart rhythms, had multi form pvc's and polymorphic VT/Vtach episodes.  When I was first tested back in 2009, my tests showed no structural problems but my functioning was affected and I just found out they diagnosed me back then with HOCM (obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) so I'm much like you with questions, searching for new doctors and answers.

no matter what's wrong with us, it's always a relief to have others who understand us and to talk to about what we're going through, you'll find a great bunch of people here who understand what you're going through and can help =)

[Cgd1]

I am soooo sorry to hear about your arrythmias. It makes me feel bad for complaining about my issues. How old are you now Mom? What kinds of medications are you on? What do you mean by malignant heart rhythms? Are your rhythms dangerous? I can't imagine going through what you are going through. I hope it is ok to say I will be praying for you. Just know that you are in my thoughts. :-) Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. You have made me feel alot better just by having someone to talk to.

[Cgd1]

Tenoretic has atenolol and chlorthalidone (Sp?) in it. The chlor is a diuretic. Although, I still have pitting edema in my legs and swollen ankles. I take 12.5 mg of chlor a day right now. I haven't asked what could be causing the low potassium. I guess they just don't bother to tell unless you ask. I think they checked my kidneys when I was in the hospital about a month ago. My potassium was low then too. I have not been checked for autoimmune disorders or had my adrenal glands checked as far as I know. It may be because I am on a diuretic?? But, I think it needs to be investigated. Thank you for your questions they are helping me plan what to say/do at my next visit.

[Mom2four85]

I know I wish I could make everyone's problems magically go away and tell you there's a magic cure, but there's not...medicine I'm told is not an exact science and sometimes there are no easy answers.

I've lived with fainting and arrhythmia's since I was 9, been told I was "faking it" I was suffering anxiety, stress until I had roughly 50,000 pvc's...I really believed fainting and what I was feeling was "ok" but it wasn't.  

Then there was the miracle cure drug...Toprol; which put me in the hospital and then 95% success rate on ablation was THE cure and i would get my life back...only that didn't happen for me like it does for so many here.

I just happen to be the 1 in 10million for whatever odd reason happen to have a really strange heart and have malignant heart rhythms.

It's ok to be scared and anxious, do whatever you can to cope and deal with what you're feeling.  If you feel good enough you may find mild exercise to help; some here do find it alleviates pvc's.  Part of the process is going to be trial and error finding what works for you.

[Cgd1]

I'm sorry. I just realised I didn't answer many of your questions. I have had a basic metabolic panel done. They found that my potassium was low, but did not mention anything else being abnormal. I have to take 4 potassium choloride 20meq pills a day for now.
I have not asked if my meds could be causing some of these things. That is a great idea and I will do that at my next appointment.
I have at least 10-20 per hour and sometimes alot more. Sometimes I have groups of them...like 30 plus at a time. They told me it was called Ventricular Bigeminy (sp?) but was still benign. The pvc's haven't really bothered me much until recently. I have had them for at least 7 years and was diagnosed with them about 5 years ago. They have just been different lately. They pound and make me feel dizzy. I just went to the doctor last week and he seems unconcerned about them. But, I still can't help but feel that something isn't right, especially since they come in groups and race alot. They have put a holter on me recently and I just stopped wearing an event monitor.
I am stressing over my blood pressure alot since it is detrimental, according to the doctor, that it remain under control or the lvh could lead to heart failure. Yet, they see my high readings in the office and I bring them my home readings and they don't seem concerned at all. My bp prior to this had been pretty good ranging in the 120's over 80's range and sometimes even lower. I just don't see how it can be good for it to be getting so high right now. The anxiety isn't helping, I'm just not sure how to stop being anxious when I constantly feel ill. I know what you mean about your when your blood pressure increases it makes you feel bad. I am having that right now. I have had a headache for 2 days and ringing in my ears. I just got off the phone with my doctor's office and they told me that it wasn't of concern unless it got to 170/110 or higher and then I should go to the ER. I know I am repeating from earlier. It just infuriates me. This is my health and my life. Yet, I have been to so many doctors I feel like it is a waste to try any further. I tried to post to one of the doctors on the board but wasn't sure how to do so. Anyway....sorry for the rambling. Thanks again for your response. Have a great day.

[Mom2four85]

I just read that your potassium is really low; they didn't check into why? it could be a multitude of things and can cause pvc's, have you been on a diet plan, laxatives or taken diuretics?

maybe they need to find out why - good thing also is to ask about a high potassium diet and be careful of changing your diet if you're diabetic or have other health problems.

also, have they checked your kidney functioning, blood for autoimmune disorders, adrenal glands etc?

I would def ask alot more questions and try to figure out why the potassium isn't helping - some type of absorption problem could be in play also

[Cgd1]

I am not sure if I am doing this right. I don't know how to post back on the board to your questions. First of all, thank you for your response. I have had an echocardiogram and CT scan. The doctors found that I have Left Ventricular Hypertrophy. Although, they told me that I have a structurally normal heart and my pvc's are benign. I'm not quite sure how my heart can be structurally normal when my left ventricle is enlarged. I guess they have certain criteria.  They haven't told me much about it or what to do for the LVH other than to control my blood pressure. But, they haven't really provided any help for me to do that. They have said it is ok for me to exercise. I, admittedly, don't do it much because I get scared when my heart starts pounding. I am suffering from some pretty severe anxiety right now. I have asked about meds for that but haven't gotten any help there either. Thank you so much for responding again. It helps to know that others are going through some of the same things. I wish you the best of health.