Palps, SOB, Irregular HR - Please Help!

[*Robin*]

I have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, and am currently on antibiotics for that, but I am having constant palpitations, shortness of breath, and a fullness feeling near my sternum. I also just have strange sensations in my chest, like something is missing. My heart rate (per my Polar Heart Monitor), drops to 36 bpm sometimes at night. It is normally between 80 and 100 bpm.

As of June, all of my heart tests were normal.

My insurance dropped me because of the Lyme, so seeing a Cardiologist right now isn't a possibility.

I'm so scared that I have an arrythmia, or even worse, cardiomyopathy from the Lyme.

Are these just self limiting symptoms that will resolve with treatment, or should I be more concerned?

[caregiver222]

Actually slarew, your comment was right on the money and something I should have said. A heart rate of 36 meets the criterion for ER treatment and admission and an immediate work-up.

[slarew]

next time you get a reading of 36 for a heart rate, just go to the ER...they cannot refuse to take you, and they HAVE to do everything in their power to make sure you're okay....ask them about getting in to see a cardiologist, but they'll definitely do a work up you and if they think you need to see someone, they will get you to that someone.

[caregiver222]

I would be very cautious about taking Hawthorne for cardiac irregularities, or any other herbal medication without an M.D.'s supervision. I have been a know-it-all when it comes to naturopathic remedies and in a moment of utter embarrasment, once almost put myself into cardiac arrest drinking an extract from berries provided me by a "healer", who told me it would "help my fatigue". Hours later in the emergency room I almost couldn't admit to the physician (who I knew well) I had drank something I knew little about. Stomach pump city. Hello, poison control.  I don't know what was going through my mind. Sort of like in the television commericial: "this is your brain on drugs". I consider promoting this product and this company to be inappropriate.

[RickerRick]

  
I have some great news for a lot of you guys. There is an amazing homeopathic product called  'Hawthorn' which is a type of berry  it is specifically designed for heart health and i take it liquid form from a company called  A.Vogel. It works amazing when you have heart rythme disturbances and pvc's check out : benefits of Hawthorn and try it it works wonders....when i have alcohol the night before or just really bad irregularities and skipping beats it really works and apparently it makes beta blockers work better. Try it...It is the only thing that has worked for me........

[Manhattan]

i have a friend who had untreated lyme and it affected her heart. i'd say this is one area worth taking a loan out for. that being said, i had palpitations with lyme too - you tend to get them with illness. it doesn't always mean your heart is affected negatively.

[kitcurious]

Polar monitors are not reliable for measuring your heart rate on a medical level. They are for exercise. If I recall from the past  posts you've made you've had countless tests that show your heart is fine.

From a 2004  study abstract "Cardiac involvement usually occurs within weeks to months of the infecting tick bite ... Cardiac manifestations of Lyme disease are treatable with antibiotics."

Looks like even if you had something wrong back then it would have been treated by the antibiotics by now.

There is a lyme disease forum now. Perhaps they'd be more informative for you.

[Artaud]

Hi,

Instead of the Polar Heart Rate Monitor, have you tried to take your pulse at the wrist, using a watch or clock with a second hand to time it. Of course, you can count the number of beats for 15 seconds, or 20 seconds, or 30 seconds, or even 60 seconds. If less than 60 seconds, multiply the number x4 for if you counted for 15 seconds, x3 for twenty seconds, or x2 for 30 seconds. Do this and see how far your pulse drops.

Can you see your Family Doctor? Many (if not most) Doctors have an EKG Machine in their office. This would be a start for determining some things about your heart. Also, many Doctors have rather extensive supplies of medication that is delivered by Drug Representatives that work for the Drug Companies, and your Doctor may be able to supply you, for a short time, with needed medication at no cost (other programs may also exist). Also, if your Doctor believes that more testing is warranted, there may be other ways to fund the testing, (In the U.S. there is the Hill Burton Act) and your Doctor's office may be aware of where to obtain such services. I do not believe, in the U.S. at least, that if you need care for an urgent condition, that you would be denied on the account of not having insurance.

Start with your Family Doctor, explain the circumstances, permit him/her to do some basic diagnosis, and go from there. With PVCs, the more you worry about them, the more you often get. No one on this group could diagnose your problems. As far as having an arrhythmia, they are not necessarily dangerous, only your Doctor can make that determination. (read the postings on this Forum).

Wish you great health.

[dolfnlvr]

Your insurance dropped you AFTER you were diagnosed with Lyme Disease?  Isn't that illegal?  They can drop you for pre-existing maladies, but ones that happen while under coverage???  Really?  That's just WRONG!!!  What's the point in having coverage if they can drop you for getting sick?

Since you cannot go to a cardiologist there is little we can say.  However, one of the symptoms of Lyme's is palpitations/arhythmia's.  If your heart is not damaged then the arhythmias are likely benign, but without a workup no-one can be sure.

Good luck.  I hope you are able to find insurance soon!!!!!!