Heart Rythem Issues after CABG x 4

[Vickennedy]

Ok this will be a long question from a FREAKED OUT newbie.

Background - I am a normal, healthy 52 year old that goes to the doctor with what he thought was arthritis and waves of lightheadedness thinking it is just the process of getting old.  

I was surprised to find out I had High Blood Pressure 165/110 and was told we needed to get it down quickly.   We did blood test - all normal and a stress test that showed an indication of something we should look at.  I had one three years prior that was “Perfectly Normal”.  So I to the Cardiologist and he said we should do a heart cath and MAYBE put in a stint.  When I come out of the Cath Lab I was told I needed Quad Bypass.  

This all was done sooo fast and took me totally by surprise – So I had surgery the next day on April 19 2008.  I won’t talk about recovery so much except that the first 10 days are the worst.  Home after 5 days, back to work after 4 weeks and back to full time work after 6 weeks.  Played first game of golf after surgery - June 9 my 53 birthday.

Cardiologist indicated I did not have a heart attack and I had a strong and healthy heart.  He also told me he would be dead and gone before I needed to come back (which I do not believe in the least) because I had all the plumbing fixed with total revascularization.

He put me on Toprolol XL 50mg, 81 aspirin, and 50 Simvastatin.  I Was already taking Omeprazol for my stomach.

Now for the issues.

It has been 5 months now and I have had good and bad days.  But two week ago I had a spell while traveling where I was not feeling good and stopped to check blood pressure and it was 187/114 pulse 110.  I was fighting nausea and quivering of the stomach.  Of course I freaked out and went to the emergency room.  BP was still high at 179/105.  Blood test normal, EKG normal and chest x-ray all normal.   ER Doctor said it was probably anxiety – I don’t think so because I am not an anxious person (until now).  Anyway, I was still nauseous on and off the rest of the weekend with elevated BP.  My Doctor put me on Lisinopril to work harder on BP because it was higher than he wanted it.  He also told me that I don’t need to go to the emergency room (unless there are other symptoms) and to relax and let the spell pass.  

Anyway, I started Lisinopril then two days later I had a rapid heart rate and what felt like a high fever, stuffy nose, tickle in throat for about 4 hours.  Went to bed and finally fell asleep.  I felt much better the next day but not good enough to go to work.  Had stomach upset and diarrhea.  Note – this seems to be a 5 to 7 day cycle now over the late month and a half – the stomach nausea, feeling weird in the chest, blood pressure up and diarrhea then I get better.  Then it starts again.

Also, I recently have been having different kind of heart beats (arrhythmias) -  for example beat ... beat ... beat ... beatbeat... beat ... beat ... beat ...beatbeat  etc.  or those notorious  skipped beats with the pause and thump after words.  

I have had these skipped beats all my life and never thought anything about them.  However, now that I have had heart surgery and I am experiencing different kinds of heart rhythms it cannot be good.  A couple of times with certain exertions I have had what I can only describe as fluttery heart beat that last less than a minute but only because I hit my chest and cough (I think).

So what the heck is going on??  I was fairly healthy before surgery (although now I know I was having unstable angina all the time and I was lucky I did not croak)

But these “up days” and “down days” with the chest discomfort and the flipping, flopping, skipped heart beats and the blood pressure going up and down none of this ever happened before and something has to be wrong.  All within 5 months.  I feel like I am a walking corpse and I cannot get any straight answers from the Doctor (at lease not straight enough for me).

I have seen in these forums that if your heart STRUCTURE is normal then the heart rhythm issues are probably not serious but how do you know if the heart structure is good?

Not only that but I quit smoking a week before seeing the cardiologist and I am now trying to eat NO fat, NO Cholesterol, NO Salt it is killing me.  I am 6”0”, 144 pounds (not overweight at all) and I am trying to increase my exercise level so what gives.  

I am almost to the point of deciding that it would have been better to take my chances with the widow maker artery than have the surgery.

What do I do?  I just want to feel like I did just one year or two ago.  I am tired of freaking out over HBP and heart arrhythmias and wondering if I am going to suffer from sudden death.  Can all these issues be fixed or am I doomed to suffer for the next 10 or 20 years worrying about all this ****?

Anybody??

Sorry about this being too long but it is all interrelated and I need answers.

Vic

[ravensunn]

i just got out of the hospital for high blood pressure 189/120 im on toparol xl 50 also and protonix they said i had a blood clot gave me blood thinners and all that crap when i saw my doctor 2 days later he said i didnt need the blood thinner and i did not have a blot clot, i was fine im 45 years old i feel weak,dizzy and my head feels like its on fire. he gave me zocor my cholesterol is 201 he said it was only 1 number over the limit. i was told i could not have any oil of any kind nor could i eat any animal protein. i already gave up salt 2 years ago so my food is limited as it is.   zocor is making me very sick at my stomach. i cant hold down any thing and i dont know what to do either. my blood pressure jumps up to 189/120 and drops just as fast to 90/82 when it drops is when i get the shakes.

[greendave]

Vic, you've been through a heck of a lot in such a short space of time with no time to prepare! Does your doctor know how you feel and that you don't believe what he is telling you and is any support on offer to help with building up confidence that you are not going to drop dead? The only experience i have of this is through my father who used to help via biofeedback therapy people like yourself regain confidence in their bodies and 'anxiety' was a big issue and do not under estimate it as it does produce very real symptoms.
So from an outside viewpoint reading your post surely step one is to be honest with your Cardiologist and tell him that you don't believe him and ask him to help convince you.
Once you can accept that you do have a normay heart structure then we have the PVC's to deal with- so step two must be to eliminate anxiety and you may need help with this after the speed of events that you have gone through.
Then I would suggest getting expert advice on your diet as to me it looks unbalncesd as we all need certain levels of fat in a well balance diet and many nutrients and for a six footer you seem to be light at 144 pounds.
I hesitated to reply to your post as 'what do I know' but I know that talking helps and so please take my comments in that vein.
keep in touch and good luck
dave

[griffs_adamsdad]

I think I would recommend seeing an electrophysiologist(sp) about your rhythm problems. I had SVT's for 8 months before they could finally put their finger on it, and I went to a great heart hospital.(Loyola Chicago). Also Toprol XL and me just did not get along, not only did it not take care of my arrhythmia, it made me feel like i had asthma.
Once I had the ablation for the SVT's everything was fine. Also the smokes may have been part of the problem it takes a couple of weeks your body to adjust.
Just my opinion. I hope you get better soon. This is just my opinion and what I went through.