Any one having heart palpitations?

[GW1]

I have been on tx for 5 wks and last night I started with really bad heart palpitations. I even went to the emergency room. EKG was fine and they said it might be another side effect of the Ribavirin -- I havent seen anything that said that could be a side effect.
Thanks for the help!
GW1-

[Mikkimoe]

I believe the palpatations may be a sx of HCV as I developed them when I became Chronic over a yr ago  - I just started tx 3 wks ago but had to undergo a barage of testing due to the palpatations before starting. My tests (including a 30 day monitor) showed PVC (premature ventricular contractions, mild mitral regurgitation, dialated aortic root size etc basically mild diastolic disfunction with impaired relaxation) None of which are major at all but it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest literally. Funny thing that has improved during tx. I hardly get them anymore - use to be up to 10 times a day.
Now my heart just races if I try to do anything but much better since the virus is almost clear.

But you have to be pretty firm to get all the check ups you need. It's worth the relief. It was kinda cool as they were doing my echo one of the major palpatations started. Validation is a great thing.

[medicmommy]

The "palpitations during treatment" checklist....
-hemoglobin dropped rapidly ?(meaning more than 1 point/week)
-showing signs of "riba stress"? (anxiety, short temper, can't sleep)
-electrolyte labs okay? (calcium, potassium, sodium)
-Dehydrated? (tongue furrowed, leg/foot cramps, urinate less than X1/ hour, heart pounds and feel dizzy when you stand quickly) diarrhea or vomiting can cause this in hours...
-eating enough? (low blood sugar can mimic all of the above)
-thyroid levels okay? (too high can cause fast heart beat
-taking antihistamines? (used frequently for riba rash, but more is not always better...)
-chest pain/ pressure (treatment can cause a "collapsed lung" feeling, but if it's accompanied with chest pain or pressure that you sweat with, call an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency room...Though uncommon, txing can cause heart attacks...)                              Hope this helps....                         ~Melinda

[goldyn]

Do you suffer from anxiety? the riba will make you body jittery and make your nerves go up? how are you sleeping it will effect your sleep also , I was on ativan all through tx it kept my nerves down and also helped me to sleep it is an anti anxiety drug and you can take it as needed...
                                  Blessings
                                           Goldyn

[Snyder6117]

I had heart papaltations, it turned out to be panic attacks.  But it could also be a host of other things like low blood levels or mabey dehydration.  Make sure that you drink LOTS of water.  The formula the side effect nurse gave me is: divide body weight by 2, Example if your weight is 160, then you would have to drink 80 ozs. of water.  This will also hep flush you out & hopefully you won't get the horrible rash and will keep you from deyhdration.
Best of luck & God Bless!
Deborah
(Snyder6117)

[Bobby1952]

    My HGB before tx was 17 and all during tx it was 11.7 and I had heart palpitations its part of the Anemia. I think what is anemic for one person may not be for another though. But you can't convince the DR's of that because they put everyone into the same boat.

   I had an ER doctor tell me my HGB of 13, four weeks post tx was very good even though I told him my pre tx HGB was 17. You gotta be kidding me.    

Bobby

[GW1]

Thanks!
My HGB was 14.7 in Aug - my previous blood work before treatment. So I guess it hasnt gone done too much. I have just been so very tired - comma like for the first 4 weeks. Last week was good - lots of energy. This week, feeling tired again. Started doing B12 and folic acid at week four and still taking it - thought that was giving me energy.... but with energy going back down... who knows.
But I know I can make it through this treatment--- I just found out yesterday my viral load was "0"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I know its working - even after 5 weeks and all the crappy side effects - just 19 more weeks!
Thank you both so very much for your insight!
GW1

[FloridaMouse]

I agree with NY girl on your hgb being pretty good.  But like she said if you started high it may be making a difference.  I did start feeling the affects of anemia when my hgb went below 11.  Since you had yoru labs last done on 4/11 you may want to ask your doc if he will another CBC for you to check your count.   I was dropping almost a point in the week in the beginning so it is possible that you have had a drastic decline since 4/11.

Another drug that they can give you for low hgb is a drug called Aranesp which I will be starting tomorrow.

Good luck to you.

Mouse

[nygirl7]

Your hemo isn't that bad - do you know what it started at?

When your bloodstream doesn't carry enough oxygen around (anemia) you can get heart palps, faint, out of breath etc. but I don't think yours is really low enough for that.

When (if) it gets down to under 10 (first off you will definitely know it because you will feel it) they will (make sure with the doctor now in advance) Procrit or Epogen.  Is't VERY expensive so it's best to have it lined up with the insurance and doctor before hand - and it also takes between 2 to 6 weeks for it to work. So you want to have it ready.

IF you are feeling sides from the beginning of your hemo dropping (and it's not always just the number but how FAST it's going down) you will most likely definitely be needing it.

Good luck.

[GW1]

I am just learning to read my lab results. On 4/11 my HGB was 13.5. Is that my hemaglobin? My next lab work will be mid May.
Thanks!
GW1

[gauf]

I had it on tox as a sx of anemia.  More info:  http://tinyurl.com/57gnja

[FloridaMouse]

Have you talked to your doc about this?  Also, where is your hemaglobin at?  Anemia can cause tachycardia.

Mouse