Stress Management

[rejoice1942]

I had open heart surgery last year, and I am doing great.  Walk 5 miles a day and am very active.  My question is about tachycardia.  Under stress this happens.  We have tried several different methods to alter what happens, but the therapists believes that the problem is in my autonomic system.  This is the only problem that I haven't been able to alter or change from my childhood.  I do not get a heart rate that is beating to fast, but rather a heart that is pounding to hard.  The atenelol always helps, but it is a very uncomfortable problem which happens only under sever stress and about maybe 2 to 3 times a year.  Do you have any suggestions that might help with this response.  I Extreme fatigue follows the tacycardia and I need to sleep.  I do not have any residual effects after I sleep, but I hate to lose the time.  Thank you for your time

[Momto3]

Congratulations on your successful OHS!!  Walking 5 miles a day is awesome!!

Have you asked your doctor about taking a "boost" of the beta blocker when you have an episode?  Sometimes, the doctors are OK with taking a smaller dose for breakthrough episodes.  I used to take Inderal LA80, but had 20mg tablets with me in case of breakthroughs.  

[rejoice1942]

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.  I will be having a complete checkup in November, and I will seriously talk to cardiologist then.  I take 25 mg of metopolol extended release a day, but I can take twice.  I think that I would do better if I had a different back up and will talk to dr. about inderal LA80.  I would like to have it for just the breakthrough episodes you are talking about.  I am so pleased with how well I am doing.  I am 67 years old, and I do not have CVD, but rather they think that my problem was caused from stress.  So, I tend to get more tense when my heart beats to hard.  Don't want to go back there again.  I will leave now and look up Inderal LA80.  Hope to hear from you again, and get to know a little about you.  My daughter is the Mom of 4 and they just started her on procardia at 40.  Runs in the family.