Yeah my doc has said it is IST. he was the one who suggested the sinus node modification and then the EP said theres no way until I basically cannot function anymore. I feel like I am getting to that point quite rapidly. What are the chances there is really something else going on and it's not just IST? All these new symptoms worry me. I did not know that beta blockers can cause the chest pain. I am also very forgetful on the beta blockers. I feel like I am living in a daze. Sometimes my husband says I just walk around the house aimlessly and I told him that's because I can't remember what I was going to do. I will be writing notes for school and be writing something completely different than what I am seeing on the page. I have also been running low grade fevers for the past week and a half now. The highest it has been was 99.4. Which isn't that high but high enough to be concerened I think when you are steadily that temp for almost 2 wks. I am all for trying other meds, but I am just not tolerating the beta blockers very well. In response to Jerry's comment, I do think that this justifies more extrememe measures like the sinus node modification and apparantly so did my doc, but one of the reasons the EP doesn't want to do it is bc the chances up having to have a pacemaker put in are high. I guess he doesnt want to have to put a pacemaker in a 23 yr old. Which you know I would rather not have one either, but I need to have somewhat of a normal 23 yr old life you know? Thank you all for your comments and opinions! When I go see my new doc for a second opinion I will mention to her some of the things you all talked about.
Beta blockers are a waste of time; they only take the edge off of the arrhythmia. That is, they make you feel it a little milder.
If the EP suggests a sinus node modification, that means that your heart rate, even though it is quite fast, it is very regular. What they do is to ablate part of the sinus node to see if it can be corrected. The sinus node is where the cardiac electrical cycle begins. Of course there are risks with ablations of the sinus node. That's why the EP will not do the procedure unless you just cannot tolerate the situation.
yeah it sounds a lot like IST....you should do some research on it over the net...and bring it up to your doctor....
Some good points on Beta Blockers.
I had a check-up visit with my Cardiologist last Monday, and given the little time I got we didn't talk about much, but he did say relative to my statement that my rest HR has been going up and is nearing 100, and that even with 200 mg of Metoprolol (BB). He said some people take 400 mg (no thanks, given the side effects I get from 200 mg).
So I decided to experiment as I have on hand both 225 mg Propafenone and 425 mg Rhytmol SR. These I had taken in the past in an attempt to convert my AFib with medications. It didn't happen, so the doc said stop taking them.
Yesterday evening and this morning I took 1/2 a 225 mg Propafenone and I see my rest HR is hitting in the upper 70s again. I'll next try moving Metoprolol back first to 100 mg and then to 50 mg while I increase my Propafenone to 225 mg twice a day and watch my HR. It seems reasonable to me that a medication developed to stop AFib might slow down AFib even if it can't stop it. As my high HR is due to the AFib coming through to the ventricle, less AFib means lower HR.
I used to convert to Sinus under the shock treatment, and would then take Propafenone and Warfarin, only, no Toprol, and in those times my rest HR was in the mid 60s.
Any experience out the among readers of this post on using Propafenone to lower HR, even if AFib persists?
beta blockers can tire you out. i also think they can give chest pain and shortness of breath, because it's messing with your blood flow and blood pressure. i think they're hard to handle if you don't have high blood pressure. while they work to lower the heart rate in many people, they don't always work for some. and, after you are on them, you're all "beta-blocked" (as my dr says) and the body gets used to them. i do think it's a hard drug to be on. there are other options, like an ablation, etc, or even biofeedback.
has anyone said anything about a dysautonomia condition? usually there's a reason why your heart is overreacting to exercise/movement, and it can be something having to do with the autonomic system. has anyone mentioned IST (inappropriate sinus tachycardia)? that's when the hr is in normal sinus rhythm, but is inappropriately high for the activity (like walking or loading the laundry, like you mentioned).
hope you get some relief!
Given you have advice from specialist there isn't much I would try to add.
I take high dose Metoprolol ER (200 mg a day) to control my HR. My problem being atrial fibrillation driving a high HR. With this medication I am able to do light work, even walk up hills (e.g., a walk in the woods) and keep my HR under 150. Without meds I was running about 130 at rest.
You must have tachycardia, not AFib, and as it sounds to me like the rate is high enough to justify extreem measures, including a pace maker, which you didn't mention, but that may be part of the sinus node modification you mention, I do not know.
Hope others post more helpful inputs.