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Avatar universal

heart rate rise

Hello everyone,

I am 4 wks post tx and my heart is still pounding. I had a 4 point drop in my hgb during treatment, but because it was always hovering around 11.4 I didn't go the procrit route. I was very breathless, which seems to be lessening as time passes. My hgb is still low, but a bit better. My concern is my resting heart rate has gone from 50 to 80 bpm. I get the odd flutter, but it generally is steady. It pounds and I can feel it in my throat. It doesn't seem to change in intensity much. It always feels strong even at rest. This feeling started at about week 20/24 of tx. Anyone else experience this?  I am booked to get a cardiac monitor put on me for 24 hrs to see what is going on.

Love to hear if any of you have any similar stories.

I am an acute 1b, treated 24 wks. Now just recovering. It is a slow process, but I got my appetite and taste buds back quickly, I have been dashing around the house cleaning, and I am able to have long and animated conversations with friends and family. I am starting to feel 'me' again. It is truly wonderful to get out of the fog!!! Now I just want this heart thing to resolve.

Thanks everybody
25 Responses
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92903 tn?1309904711
Forsee the Puritanical beach babe? Why I'm dumbfounded. One of those North-South cultural things I guess....
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Avatar universal
Girth, nudies, nipple rings...ah foresee, I am getting homesick.

Ina
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92903 tn?1309904711
As saggy as my 48 y/o butt cheeks have become (apologies for the visual for those reading over morning porridge), tan lines for me are "a thing of my a$$". But it's true that <a href="http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/clothingoptional/l/bl_nb_ctymrn.htm">most of the local beaches</a> are tollerant.

Took mom-in-law and her sister on a walk along bolinas beach a few years ago (next to Stinson, Forsee). People do whatever there: clamming, dogs, pot, nude frisbee, kites, surfing, fires, whatever. That was a trip. I think it was the female nipple rings and the passing joints that finally tipped the scales.

FL - I too am with you all the way brother. I think of you every single day. Hang in there.
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86075 tn?1238115091
my question is, what would you have done if your mom-in-law dropped trough and just got in with the scene! That's what I loved about Germany and Scandanavia, they are way less uptight about those type of things, which is kind of a healthier way to look at it...they could always tell that I was an American cause I'd have the bathing suit on...it was embarrassing, I'd always have to answer, yes, I'm an American....
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Avatar universal
I am almost 4 mo post tx.  My hgb dropped to the 7's the last two mo of tx and the weird heart flutterings, etc. started.  Long story short, I had a stress echo at about 6 weeks post and because I couldn't walk more than three minutes, I flunked it.  It showed some ventrical regurgitation on the left.  

After an angiogram a few weeks later, I find out my heart is beautifully normal.   A few weeks later I no longer had the flutters like I did.  I think sometimes we just have to give ourselves more time.  I'm also starting to think we should have a stress echo before we start tx.  

My resting heart rate was elevated from the last two mo of tx on and I think it is now about where it was pre-tx.  

My GI was very proactive in getting me in to a cardiologist.  

There is another thread below about high BP post tx below you might want to read. Wearing the monitor might be a good idea, if nothing else, to ease your mind.  Hope you find your heart in great shape!

Good luck.

miss
Helpful - 0
131817 tn?1209529311
I had the Stress test just before tx. I thought I would flunk, but they kept me going. Probably would flunk it now. Glad to hear your heart is normal. Great news! Mine flutters now and then...

How about the neuropathy? Any news on this issue?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It must be a good feeling to have had the test pre-tx and know you're good.  This tx knocks us so far down it seems to take a lot to get back to where we were.  Hopefully most with the heart symptoms will allllll be just fine.

I've been working on my legs to try to strengthen what I can but seem to have reached a plateau and can't get past it.  I'm hoping when spring finally arrives and I can get my bicycle out that I can make more progress.  The pain is better but I swear someone is still giving me shots in my legs as I sleep, lol.  For now, I'll just have to have something close by to pull myself up with when I have to get down low.  The weird pains have returned in my face too (I really don't think it is trigeminal neuralgia but a facial neuralgia instead).  I'm not going to go thru any tests to confirm that, I am so tired of doctors.  It feels like real course sandpaper rubbing my face and neck.  Ugh!

I would have trouble doing custodial work so have gone back to work doing parapro work.  I actually taught three computer classes last week!  The kids were great.  I even had to tell one gal to stop typing, she kept shaking her hands.

I did finally email you awhile back.  I hope you got it.

I gotta say, you amaze me in that while txing and feeling ucky you never have an unkind word for anyone, only support.  This board is blessed with your presence here.  While txing I was so needy I don't think I made many friends here but I did my best.  Now that I'm finished, it's my turn to return all the support I was given.

Hope you have a good day in your warmer weather down there.  It's still in the 20's here with an air inversion.  Can you say cough, cough, lol

miss
Helpful - 0
131817 tn?1209529311
You are so sweet! Thanks for the cudos. So awful with the legs and  face. It is scary, huh? I'm glad you are doing the teaching and not the custodial work. Although teaching computers you have to run around the room too! I haven't tried B12 yet, but a few people have mentioned it. I sure hope this all just goes away for you with time off tx.

I think about your long bike rides and am envious. I still haven't picked mine up yet! The weather is great here. Warm and a little crispy in the morn. I'll look for that email...sometimes days go by and like threads the mail piles up.
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Avatar universal
I feel better hearing everyone's stories. It is interesting to note that my blood pressure is currently sitting at 90/50. I have always had low pressure and low HR (47-50). I guess it makes sense when the poor body is coping with reduced oxygen-carrying capacity (ie low hgb and low rbc), and low blood pressure, that the heart has to kick up the number and strength of contractions. It is a scary feeling as the heart flutters and leaps in your chest. I am happy to hear that those with heart issues, even with extensive tests, are normal.

I keep talking about this treatment as the gift that keeps on giving. But enough already!! Really, you can leave me alone now. I am finished.

I go and get my 4 wk post LFT tomorrow. Here's to seeing the alt and ast in the low normal range. I am so paranoid about relapse...

To those still treating: you won't believe how wonderful life after tx can be. Hang in there, it really really does get better.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My heart rate was always in higher range (low 80s), I was told by a cardiologist that it is due to low blood pressure (typically, 90 - 100 Systolic). Now, on treatment, my heart rate is really high (mid & high 90s). The Dr. could not do a stress test, because my resting pulse was 110. But the same time, I always have different degrees of fever... I'm a second year on Infergen/Nuepogen/Riba.  My primary Dr. prescribed Toprol (25 mg; I think, it is the smallest dose).  My pulse now w/Toprol in high 80s, and I'm not out of breath anymore.

All the best,
E
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92903 tn?1309904711
I hear 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches, but I think that's just a bunch of wanabes bragging on a questionaire....

Why you askin??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've also been feeling my heart race since beginning treatment, however I'm only on week 13...my last ekg (12/1) showed my heart rate at 52, but I'm usually in the low to mid 40s (and sometimes it dips below 40).  

You're probably fine but I would check with a cardiologist if I were you.  When I told my GP about some heart flutterings I had (about a year ago -  pre-tx), they were very aggressive about determining the cause.  She was concerned about my low heart-rate and referred me to a cardiologist.  He was unconcerned about my low-heart rate (from exercise) but was extremely concerned about what I described as the flutterings.  They did an electrophysiology (EP) study on me to try to locate the abnormal heart rhythm and ablate it with a laser.  This was an awful procedure where they stuck catheters through both sides of my groin and in my neck and proceeded to pace the heart via a computer program - in what felt like an attempt to make it explode.  It turns out I was fine, and they couldn't find a problem and I haven't had that particular symptom since.  Those flutterings are very scary when they happen - it felt like my heart was in my throat.

I'm not trying to scare you - I'm only trying to point out how seriously many docs seem to take cardiology issues.  You may be able to find some useful information on the heart forum as well.  Riba is known to make the heart race so maybe you just need to give it some more time to get out of your system.  Good luck!!
Helpful - 0
146021 tn?1237204887
Sorry, don't know anything about the heart rate. 50 sounds really low, did you exercise a lot prior to tx? I know that the more sedentary I am the higher my resting heart rate, but I've never had a heart rate lower than 65.
You sound great! The thought of you dashing around the house and having animated conversations is very encouraging to me.
Hope all goes well with the monitor.
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Avatar universal
I have noticed that I get winded easier and when that happens my heart really pumps.   It is strange.  Must have something to do with the meds.
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92903 tn?1309904711
hey, it's the girth that counts

<small>That's just swell.</small>
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Avatar universal
Thank goodness for drugs, sometimes, lol.  

This makes me wonder if us with lower BP might be more prone to the strange heart feelings, fluctuating BP and heart rate while undergoing a regime such as Peg/CoPeg or Infergon.  With you treating so long I can't imagine what you went thru knowing what was normal for you.  Here is another example of why it might be good to have a stress test pre tx.  I have always been told how fortunate I was to have low BP and all I could do is laugh and say "Easy for you to say but you aren't the one who has to be careful how fast you stand up."  lol


Anyway, happy you were able to find something to help out.

miss
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86075 tn?1238115091
Does anybody know what an "average" resting heart rate is? for a person in their early 50s? I think mine has always been a little high, but then I get nervous when I'm taking it...ha ha! thanks!!!!!
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96938 tn?1189799858
I was just thinking earlier, what a conformist and a conservative fuddy-duddy I've become. Nah, no Crockett and Tubbs influence here. But, I was at a Miami beach yesterday for a photo shoot (longer story) and just on the other side of a small and low berm was the local nude beach.  A stark reminder of the good 'ol days. My neck is feeling somewhat better today, thanks.
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86075 tn?1238115091
a little birdy told me that since he's stopped treating...Goof goes to so many nudie beaches that tan lines for him are 'a thing of the past'...spends a small fortune on sunscreens...tsk tsk...

I always keep a watch on you...let us know how youre doing...
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86075 tn?1238115091
hey, it's the girth that counts, or so I've heard...just wondering because I've always been a bit paranoid about hearts rates, etc., God knows, just another neurosis, one of many...
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86075 tn?1238115091
No, but I'm going to get a facelift with my pcr...hey, what's up with you? feeling alright? youre in my thoughts, sending you healing vibes...so do you dress like Miami Vice while in Miami? always wondered...think a Floridian Man would look fetching in shirt, first three buttons unbottoned...throw in a medallion for good measure...
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Avatar universal
I'm glad to see you post.  I haven't experienced the rise in heart rate, but I'm happy to hear your tastebuds are back and you are starting to "feel like you" again 4-weeks post tx.  I'm at week 20, so you give me hope.  All my best, Aiuta
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92903 tn?1309904711
I was pretty wired for a month after tx. I think you'll likely start unwinding pretty soon. I would try to keep up the cleansing water attempt moderates walks or something.
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96938 tn?1189799858
You get a pcr with the lft?  It would be a nice time to some results for your work.
Helpful - 0
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