Sinus node sinus tachycardia

[gogetter7]

When your sinus tachycardia is caused by your sinus node and they can't do abulation surgery for you and you can't take the medications because of raynauds syndrome..what other options do you have?  I have been having these spells for 3 years now.  It leaves me exhausted.  I would love to get back to normal.  I can't even sweep with a broom without it sending me into a spell with my heart rate racing to up to 180 bpm.  I'm only 41.  I have quit the caffeine intake since July 2014 and switched to decaf coffee and caffine free soft drinks.  I used to smoke 1 pack of cigarettes a day now I'm down to around 2-4.  Still having the same spells..I see no improvement.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thank you in advance.

[gogetter7]

Do you also have low magnesium levels?

[gogetter7]

Mine is sinus tachycardia my spells last for 15 minutes with high blood pressure and heart rate as high as 180 beats per minute.  Yes it does pound out of my chest then I feel suffocated.  I get me a bottle of water and get under the ceiling fan and get a cold wash cloth.  I sometimes can have four in a row which is a total hour.  Only once have I had one last 45 minutes straight.  My electrical heart doctor said that the other medications may have the same effect as the metoprolol did because of my raynauds syndrome.  So the metoprolol made my symptoms worse.  After the spells at times my muscles spasm and my teeth chatter.  I'm hoping that magnesium fixes me.

[KisekiShiawase]

I just read you mention about magnesium.
Oxide absorption isnt so good compare to other. Its more for laxative, antacid.
There are many form. Citrate, glycinate, etc.
Magnesium, calcium, potassium need to be in balance.
Instead of muscle testing its better to get RBC magnesium test.

[KisekiShiawase]

Send support to you :)
Its a dilemma ive been through many dilemmas myself too and its hard :(

Anyway how about ivabradine? Its a medication for IST work on sinus node.

And if im not mistaken isnt Pace maker could regulate sinus node?

Anyway i wanna ask you and also other people, when experience tachycardia does every heart beat punching/exploding out of chest and last for hour?

Take care :)

[MichelleP_3811]

It first of all isn't your fault the child is the way he is.  If anyone is possibly to blame it is the mother for doing drugs while pregnant.  And possibly is why she neglected him so severely.  Facing that sort of guilt has to play on her on some level.  Addiction is hard.  It is just a tough situation for all of you.  Your children really just don't understand.  I am sure one day when they are grown they will see you as a hero not as someone they resent.  But being kids they probably were maybe a bit jealous of the attention you gave him.  It is understandable but you can't take it personal because it is true, you did do the very best you could and tried to give him a life when no one else would.  You should be very proud, not guilty or a failure.  For your whole family's sake getting him more advanced help was by far the best choice and quite frankly the only choice.  Caring for that child is beyond any one person's abilities.  Do not beat yourself up.  You simply just can't save or fix everyone but the fact that is what you want shows how beautiful of a heart you have regardless if it gives you some trouble.  Please just be gentle with yourself and hold your head up high at the fact that you tried to do the right thing.  It matters not what anyone else thinks.  You know what you did and why you did it.  Your intentions were in the right place.  

[gogetter7]

Thanks for lifting my spirits.  Although your right I did do everything I could for him.  I am a worry wart and felt guilty for everyone.  I felt sorry for a child born with such disabilities and born to a dope addict that should have never be given the title mother.  I also felt guilty for the other three children who set holding their ears from the screaming.  I felt it was all on me to keep everything under control while they tried to sleep, after all they had school and work the next day.  I was going on little to no sleep at times and thus became my coffee and caffine intake to keep me running.  I have to admit when the doctor said it was all my fault I was mad and told him this day and time he should be great ful I never turned to any other source of energy lifter.  I had just beat down myself enough I just needed encouragement and help to get this big heart of mine in check.  I also admit I said to him me...I'm young remember nothing's wrong with me.  As per my visit with him two years prior to my ER VISIT.  Outsiders like neighbors or some other people that I know think that I should have jumped in the air like I just won a Toyota when my step son moved out.  They don't feel the heartache and failure that I feel.  My body just wouldn't cooperate to continue although it wasn't fair to the rest of the household.  I gave him love, a home, new clothes, toys, took him on vacations and let him have the childhood he never had, and got him healthy and strong.  I will always be proud of that because I know at least I did that.  My oldest daughter said the meanest thing to me she said if I ever have a retarded child I'll give them to you cause evidentially you like taking care of them!  I was so hurt.  I felt they never looked at me as a mom who had a big heart and was caring enough not just for them but to love him like my own. I still can't bear his bedroom door opened its just thing I have to adjust to in my own time I guess.  I still at times wake out of my sleep and head down the hall thinking I heard him up to realize he isn't here.  Sorry to go on and on.  Your sweet to take your time to reply to everyone having problems.  God will bless you I'm sure of this.  P.s.  On a positive note I mopped the hall and living room today.  I may have had to take several breaks but it's something I couldn't do last week although last week I had spells daily. :) happy for any relief from those spells that I can get.  How have you been feeling?  Lost my manners.  Sorry I've been just talking about me, me, me.  I want to be here for you if I can.  Lord knows as much as I've been through I've got broad shoulders. Lol.

[MichelleP_3811]

You can also click on or hover over the members name and see an option to send a message.  

[MichelleP_3811]

Up at the top under My Medhelp go to your profile and near the account settings you will see messages. You can send private messages to other members that way.

Well I am glad you got proper help for the child.  You should not at all feel guilty about this.  It sounds clearly like he needed much more help than you could provide.  It is not a reflection on you and your ability to care for others.  This is a situation where a person needs experience and training in how to care for someone with such extensive needs.  It is important now that you get your health in order.  You did the best you could and even more than some would so just be proud of that.  You did right by this child.  Don't feel bad.  

[gogetter7]

I do not know how to send a private message :(

[gogetter7]

Thanks for the information.  My health got so bad that we got my stepson his own home with 24 hour staff.  Although I worry myself sick because I know no one will care for him as I did.  He will bite and hit himself and others while tending to him or just whenever he takes a notion.  He refuses to eat so it's a struggle or drink for that matter and a feeding tube was not an option, nor an implant for the puberty ..he was no longer a candidate after his bone density test results showed early onset osteoporosis.  He moved at the end of the school year but has not cooperated well for them either.  I am trying to regain some strength back after all the trauma the caretaker role did to my system.  It's an adjustment to say the least for all of us, I seem to have the hardest time with it and don't talk about it much to them.  I can visit but haven't yet.  I know that sounds terrible but I'm afraid I'll fall the rest of the way over the edge if that makes any sense.  I've done pretty well the last couple of days with the spells except for a few incidents where out of no where I lose my breath for a second.  I had a migraine for 3 days but it's gone today.  I have time like this where for four days I won't have any full blown spells, unfortunately then they return.  P.s.  I did have a few respite workers unfortunately non could handle him..he head butted them broke chairs and screamed then every task they hollered for me to help well do the task for them.  So they were more stress for me then help.

[MichelleP_3811]

Yes, I as well mostly had low blood sugar spells but have seemed to have leveled off with that issue for the most part. Well not quite as skinny as I use to be so that is probably helping.    I would say you are under a tremendous amount of stress given your circumstances and stress hormones can have a huge impact on our bodies and heart. It isn't so much the heart rate that is the issue, 143 isn't terribly high but your blood pressure was really high.  That is something that needs to be watched I would say.  Does it tend to be high in general?  If so then you would want to watch your sodium intake.  But I can imagine that you have not been able to take care of yourself all that well, as well are you getting good sleep either.  I can't imagine having a person in your house screaming for 10 hours straight.  I had a lot of anxiety when I was younger.  I still have it but I am more in control of it as opposed to it controlling me now but I don't know how well I would handle such a situation.  I can't imagine too many people are prepared for such a heavy responsibility and to all of a sudden find it your duty must be a lot to take.  You might want to consider setting some boundaries up for yourself.  Work with the hospital and care workers to find out ways to get help with this boy.  I would think there are some sort of services available for someone so disabled.  A nurse to come by or even someone to come and watch him for a few hours a week might give you the option to have a little much needed me time.  You definitely need to make that a priority or you will crash under all the pressure.  Well bless your heart for taking the responsibility on.  It is huge what you are doing.

My svt was avnrt and an ablation fixed mine so I am fully recovered from the svt but I still get ectopic beats.  I probably waited too long to fix it and as such I can get a lot of pvcs and pacs but they have settled down enough I am pretty much able to ignore them for the most part.  I got my ablation done 3 years ago at 44 after it was getting kind of persistent and I was noticing my heart being really jumpy which turns out was the ectopic activity but I just didn't know any better.  But though I no longer get tachycardia in the 200s I  can still can get sinus tachycardia if I drink too much and become dehydrated which can be in the 140s resting.   Being yours is related to your sinus node they would have to put in a pacemaker and essentially eliminate your sinus node to take care of the issue.  A pretty big deal but if your life is severely compromised it may be something to discuss with your doctor.  Just keep going back to them until you can get yourself to a place where you can function.  Get your electrolytes back in balance and see where you are maybe that will correct the issue in and of itself.  As well do what you need to do to get your bp in check.  Make sure you take time out to destress and see if that helps. And yes, eat.  You seem pretty under weight which could also be part of the problem.  So just do your best to try and eat a bit more.  And do talk with your step son's father about the tremendous physical toll this is having on your and talk about what you can do to get some help so you don't physically breakdown.  It is more than you should be taking on yourself.    I don't know much about your type of tachycardia but I would hope with a few lifestyle changes your tachycardia may subside on its own but you need to make sure your health is a priority.  Kind of like the oxygen masks on a plane.  The adult caretaker is always supposed to put their mask on first so that they can properly care for those in need.  You no good to anyone if you are physically breaking down.  It isn't selfish to get help and insist on some relief.  It is essential for your survival.   Take care an if you need to talk you can always send me a private message.  I would see those quicker than this forum.  

[gogetter7]

My blood sugar was tested it was 112 I usually have low blood sugar spells.  I have been drinking 4-7 16.9 oz bottles of nestle water with added minerals and have been adding Epsom salt to my baths to absorb some magnesium through my skin.  I am 5'4 and weigh 114 lbs I weighed 124 pounds in July then lost to 108 while on the metoprolol.  Did they do anything to help you?  I have had enormous amounts of stress for the last four years I was taking care of my step son whose mother lost all her rights due to neglect and abuse.  He only has 1/2 a brain, has cp, autism, one kidney, cannot chew, non-verbal, she let his bowels rupture, has early onset osteoporosis, naval leaks protein, cortical blindness, and severely mentally retarded, and a seizure disorder.  He was 51 pounds at 14 years of age at this time and had only eaten gravy since 18 months of age.  He is now 18 115 pounds, had Botox injections for cp 3 times, all his teeth fixed which had never been brushed, and his naval cardarized 8 times, now he has eaten everything even shrimp scampi but this is all puréed.  He is 100 percent dependent for care and hygiene.  He is not potty trained and is having a terrible time with puberty.  I was so focused on getting him well and tending to my three children by health went down by the month.  I feel stress has had a major impact on my health.  Maybe the reason for the magnesium deficiency.  There were days he would scream for ten hours for no reason (puberty).  This was stressful for the whole family. I really hope these spells go away and never come back.  I'm usually hyper anyways so setting looking out the window is not my cup of tea and makes for a long day.  They told me to rub my juggler vein in my neck while having the spells because I was at stroke level.  That's enough paranoia to drive you crazy.  At the hospital in July my blood pressure was 196 over 100 oxygen 83.  Heart rate 143 then I didn't look at the monitor anymore I like you also felt as if I was going to pass out.  I think the scariest part is the suffocating feeling with this tachycardia. I appreciate your response.  I'm glad to talk to someone who understands this stuff.  Bless your heart (literally) that your heart rate was over 200.  No wonder you were passing out.  So are you fully recovered?  Is there hope that this is reversible?

[MichelleP_3811]

Are you under weight?  Magnesium levels being off could be part of the problem.  Hopefully if you get that straightened out you will feel better soon.  I will say smoking and caffeine do dehydrate your body so I can understand why the doctor may have come to that conclusion thinking it was all dehydration.  Since you cut back a lot that seems to exclude it as being the main cause but do try to drink more water for a while and see if your symptoms improve.  Water really is great for the heart so long as we don't have heart failure which you don't have.  I would also see if you can try and push through and do some cardio.  I had an svt and my heart rate reached well into the 200s so it isn't like your heart can't handle it and the more conditioned your heart the better you will be able to tolerate a faster heart rate.  Since your doctor suggested it, it might be worth a try but do not do it on an empty stomach and make sure you drink lots of water.  Have you had your blood sugar tested recently?  Problems with blood sugar can have an impact on us as well.  

[gogetter7]

I had a stress test two years ago and that doctor told me I was young, active and that I was fine.  He was called in to the hospital when they admitted me and told me it was all my fault for drinking caffine and smoking.  Another electrical heart doctor was called in he offered abulation surgery or medication the medication he prescribed metoprolol caused my symptoms to be worse because I have Raynauds syndrome which was on my chart so I don't know why he would have ever given me that to start with.  Long story short I took it for 16 days then called and asked for a surgery appt.  I was told then that after further review of my egg it was my sinus node and he could not do surgery on me.  He told me to get some ME time and eat more often and exercise.

[gogetter7]

Thanks for responding.  I had my thyroid checked at the hospital in July 2014 and they said it was fine but my magnesium was low.  1.7 they told me talk magnesium oxide 480 mg daily I have done that since July it's now jan 2015 and its lower 1.6 from what I read this can also cause arrithymia.  I have an appointment Tuesday for muscle testing to see what magnesium will absorb better for me.  The cardio monitor 30 say testing has ended and the results were sinus tachycardia, with artifacts and possibly svt but I haven't heard from my doctor yet.  The highest rate they recorded was 163 and lowest while sleeping was 53 while sleeping but only once.

[MichelleP_3811]

I saw your other post.  I assume you have but just want to ask if your thyroid has been checked?

[MichelleP_3811]

Boy that sounds rough.  I was going to suggest exercising.  I had an svt that ran at rates around 230bpm.  Before I started to exercise I had to sit down for fear of passing out but once I started a cardio routine I could actually almost function with that high a heart rate.  I understand that 180 is pretty high just pushing a broom but maybe discuss with your cardiologist if it is safe to take up cardio.  Super slow at first, even as a walk and build up.  It worked for me.  Maybe they can give you a stress test and see how you respond to exertion to know if it is safe for you to exercise.  Done in a safe environment maybe it could give you the confidence to push yourself even when the heart rate seems high. But again this needs to be discussed with a doctor familiar with your health history.  If exercise is not possible then I would say drink a lot of water if you can.  Water helps the heart function better and may help you tolerate your tachycardia better.  Other than that you really need to discuss other options with your doctor.  I do hope you can get a handle on this.