anesthesi&sedative for tachycardia, palpitation (share please)

ok so i have tachycardia & palpitation for years since i was little and i take beta blockers it helps a little but not so much. the cardiologist did some tests, couldnt find the cause and the diagnose was just tachycardia, palpitation and sometimes i got extra beats also which feels unpleasent but he said it was ok so i have to live with it. the thing is, i heard and read peoples experinces about sedative and anesthesi triggers heart problems and it worries me. so ive been avoiding it but i will need to get it for some procedures (my gastro problems and possibly other procedures require sedatives, anesthesi later). are most of the time sedative, anesthesi triggers heart problems for people who had heart problems? i guess there are some drugs which triggers it more and some that arent so much? what should i do to minimize the risk? (other than just mention to the doctor about my condition, because many times doctors that i met didnt seem seriously concern about it and oversimplify, so i have to be critical about it) would taking beta blockers if it does happen take care of it? please do share if you have experience with it or know some information about it id appreciate it and really like to read it. thanks :)

[michellepetkus]

What type of tachycardia do you have, sinus tachycardia or svt?  Were you ever giving a diagnosis of a particular kind?  How fast is your heart rate and does it start and stop suddenly or is it more gradual?  Is it well controlled on the beta blockers.  To be honest I would think the sedatives would actually slow the heart rate though maybe it slows it too much causing the heart to react.  I did actually have an instance in surgery once but I had svt which is a different animal than sinus tachycardia.  The thing is tachycardia in general is not a real danger to you.  The speed will want to be slowed down but even after a difficult episode the heart generally has a chance to rest and recover once the tachycardia is controlled.  So long as a person manages their tachycardia there isn't a major concern for long term health issues  I would discuss this with your doctor just so you know where you stand health wise with your issue.  This way you will know what your health risks are for the short and long term.  But from what I understand just like the extra beats tachycardia in general if the heart rate doesn't get super high or stay high for extended periods of time is not a real big threat which is why I asked what your rate generally is.  I would also ask your cardiologist about the surgery.  I would think you would be clear to go since you are beta blockers but ask him what he thinks and definitely let the attending surgeon know what health issues you have and what medications you are on.  This is very important when having any procedures done or simply taking on any new medications.  I personally think you will find out you will be cleared to go ahead with the surgery but your doctors who have your health history are really the best people to consult.  Good luck.

[KisekiShiawase]

thanks for your reply :D anyway my heart condition more gradual but sometimes it gets worse and sometimes it got better a little also depends of my quality of sleep and my diets and activities but no matter what or when i couldnt stay active like running, etc even when my resting heart was 70-80. so my heart rate depends on that also but when it was bad there are times when it reaches 170bpm. and the palpitation happens so often even when the heart rate isnt fast. the doctor didnt really give explanation about the type. he did echo, holter, ecg. i ask if its WPW or something he said no so  i gotta live with it and got beta blocker.
anyway did you have a surgery and got a problem with your heart because of it? is it local or general anesthesia?
i will of course consult it with the doctors but in here where i live isn't really advance in medical so i have to be really concern about it.

[michellepetkus]

I was born with my issue which was an accessory pathway svt.  I had avnrt though wpw is one other type.  My heart rate would go upwards of 230bpm.  The surgery didn't cause it but I had an episode when I had surgery once under general anesthesia.  That said, I could fall into an episode just sitting on the couch doing nothing all of a sudden my heart rate would be in the 200s.  This is the main sign it is an svt.  At the time though I always thought I was hyperventilating.  I didn't know I had svt.  It sounds like your doctors don't believe you have an svt but rather sinus tachycardia possibly inappropriate sinus tachycardia.  How often do you get rates of 170?  Do they happen in response to exertion or when you are not doing much?  Have you had all your electrolytes and your thyroid levels checked?   I would still ask the doctors about your issue and how it will affect your having surgery.  I might also try posting your question in the experts doctors forum.  This forum is more for patients to talk then it is for doctors.  Every so often a doctor shows up but for the most part we are all just people like yourself who have issues of our own so our advice is only based on personal experience.  I really think you should ask an expert to know for sure.

[KisekiShiawase]

thanks for your response :D ive tried posting there but at that time i couldnt see the posting button i guess its limited or something. ive been reading on this board, other people share their experience, advice and stuff it was quite informative :D so i also read that anti nausea drug which usually given for anesthesia after or during, triggers tachycardia. how did you know you had an episode when youre under general anesthesia? (youre unconcious right) did the doctor tell you? anyway ive read that for some people the sudden attack only last for minutes? in your case does it last for minutes or  longer? they checked t3, t4, tsh but said its fine :-/ when 170bpm+ i was resting but i get a low fever 37,- something celcius (i forgot) and my heart went bad for hours i took beta blockers but i was still suffering, pale, cold hand feet lips, hard to breathe feel about to die or pass out. there are also times when it stays >100 for hours almost all day(resting) it was not nice. 140bpm around for hours after eat. (i got a monitor to check my pulse) and often palptation where i feel my heart beats really hard like punching and about to explode (eventhough when it doesnt beat fast). also i want to know when your resting heart was normal can you run or doing activities that triggers high bp and ok with it?

[kimtitus]

I've been dx with SVT by EP study.  He could not ablate it because it was too close to phrenic nerve.  The biggest trigger for me is when I overeat or eat something that causes acid reflux.  I cannot have caffeine and a bunch of foods or it gets triggered.  The reflux also causes PVCs.

I'm normal weight but have a hiatal hernia and GERD.  Aciphex helped a lot for 10 years but recently I've had to add Gaviscon and carefully watch what I eat.

[michellepetkus]

I am sorry to hear you had trouble posting to the expert forum.  Maybe check out the contact us or help buttons at the bottom of the page and try and contact the admin of this site for help.  We are happy to and try to be as helpful as possible but just be aware we are not doctors so our thoughts are purely from our own experience and not from any medical training.  

The doctor stated to me when I was in recovery that my vitals went crazy while I was under but they stabilized me and everything else went fine.  I was a smoker at the time so I just assumed she meant something about that and she never pursued the issue further so I actually didn't do anything about it. It was only after I was diagnosed with the svt that I made the connection.  I stated that I had it my whole life but I didn't know I had it until actually a year ago.  Before then I always just assumed that I was hyperventilating because it was hard to breath and I just figured my heart was beating fast because of the hyperventilation not the other way around.  In hindsight I really think my doctor should have pushed about it more but she didn't though I am fine now so it is all water under the bridge.

I don't believe that running should cause high blood pressure though I do think it does elevate a bit but if it is going really high you might want to mention that to the doctor.  They may want to do a stress test to see how your heart is responding to adrenaline. Do make sure that you stay well hydrated when you exercise otherwise you could have bp and heart rate issues.  I would also say if you are having issues after you eat to check and see if you are having some stomach issues as well.  Acid reflux can really cause all sorts of disturbances with the heart.  The vagus nerve gets over stimulated and the heart gets affected by it.  So I would say try to watch starchy, sugary foods and see if that helps and maybe also try an antacid when you notice your heart getting to 140 after you eat.

I think in general exercising is good.  I would stop and avoid it if you are in tachycardia but in general the better conditioned your heart the better you will be able to tolerate what is going on with your heart.  As I stated I had tachycardia episodes my whole life.  When I first had them I could not barely sit up for fear of passing out but after I took on a cardio routine working out everyday I was almost able to fully function even with a heart rate of 230.  I still had to sit and let it pass but it was not nearly as bad as it was before I started working out so I would say to keep with your exercises unless you are always triggered into an episode by doing it.  If that is the case you really should do a stress test to get that evaluated.  

To some degree my tachycardia, though higher than what you experienced was probably less of an issue than what you are dealing with.  I would have episodes but most of the time they wouldn't last but a minute.  I wasn't in constant tachycardia for hours.  That only happened a few times so it must be a bit exhausting for you.  How often do you have the 170 rate?  If you continue to have it that high a lot you may need different meds to control it.  If it only happens once in a while but doesn't resolve quickly then don't hesitate to go to the er to get some help getting it to slow down.  A rate of 170 all day really has to be very draining on you.  

[KisekiShiawase]

thats really interesting and familiar with my condition. i have to be careful with my diet :/  i also know that gerd and tachycardia are related. anyway, have you had an endoscopy? if you had, is it after or before the tachycadia? they supposed to find the cause for gerd with the endoscopy right?

@michellepetkus i see, gladly the doctor did a great job. ive never done a stress test because i couldnt do good run on the treadmill and the doctor also knows it. so once he tried a test on me going up the stairs but i didnt do good. i know there are issues with my stomach thats why the doctor suggested endoscopy but i hestitate because im worried about the anesthesia&sedative, also the endoscopy seems pretty scary to me and when i have to face a nervous situation it triggers the tachycardia really bad. thats why i wanna be prepared. i got >150bpm usually when i eat fatty/sweet food, going upstairs, lack of sleep, nervous situation.