Irregular heart beat

[Sailorsong]

About 2 months ago when I was taking my BP at home the meter indicated an irregular heart beat. I immediately took my BP again with no indication of the irregular heart beat that time. And both reading had good BP ( for me) , but I did notice that the pulse was kind of low ( 52 ). Normally it runs around 62. I have taken my BP several times since then and my BP and pulse have been normal for me and no more irregular heart beats detected.

Next week I have appointments with both my Neuro and PC. Since this was a one time incident I am thinking it was a meter error and not really my heart, but I do intend to mention it to my PC next week.

The question I have is should I also mention it to my Neuro? Could it have been another MS  thing going on as I have been having more MS symptom problems for the last few months?

Dennis
PS I have not had any of my heart problem symptoms during this period.

[jensequitur]

I might have some cervical lesions - I do get a tingling numbness down the back of the neck when I'm tired.  I've never had a real MRI of that area.

However, the weird head-rush feeling I experience is much more like when you've been upside down for a while and your head is full of blood.  I have to look hard to the left - like at my left shoulder or something - for this to happen.

So it sounds like your blood is nice and thin!  Nothing to worry about there.  I was on coumadin for a while, and had to get my blood checked every month.  That got very old.

[Sailorsong]

Do you have any cervical lesions? The reason I ask was after my last MRI ( with cervical lesion) my neuro asked me if I get dizzy when I turn my head to the side. I didn't ask about why he asked this but maybe that could cause the dizzy / fainting sensation you mentioned.

After your post I was doing some looking on-line about low pulse and irregular heart beats. Turns out a low heart rate can cause an irregular heart beat. At the time of the irregular heart beat my pulse was down to 52. Any pulse below 60 in a normal person is considered too low.

I know that my BP medications do lower my heart rate. MY PC had adjusted my BP medications in the past when I had a pulse of 58.  So I expect she will adjust them again when I see her again. On the other hand the current medication just barely keep my BP in the right range.

I'm glad you mentioned "no documentation". I'll have to remember to take in my BP monitor with me so my PC can see the irregular heart beat and low pulse on it. I would think that would suffice as documentation

I am also already on blood thinners of sorts. I take aspirin every day plus two of my other  medications also thin the blood as side effects.  The other day I was testing my glucose and my finger bleed for about 1/2 hour.

Dennis

[jensequitur]

I've had shortness of breath on and off since my diagnosis.  No clue as to what causes it.  Could be that ol' orthostatic hypotension, as it seemed to be triggered by changing positions (from reclining to sitting up, and from sitting up to standing.)  I've been to the pulmonologist, but they couldn't find anything wrong, aside from a weakness when I exhale.  I've also had irregular heartrate, and no clue there, either.  And elevated heart rate.  No reason found for any of those problems, and no documented data for the doctor to look at.

I have two theories.  I do have a lesion on the brainstem, which could be interrupting autonomic functions.  I also have (theory only, not verified) pancaked veins in the left side of my neck.  The reason I think there's pancaked veins is because I can turn my head to the left and just about pass out - I get the blurred vision/dizziness whoom-whoom head rush sensation.  

What s u c k s about all of this is that none of these symptoms last long enough to be documented.

However, you have very good reasons to get the shortness of breath and irregular heart rate checked out.  An irregular heartrate can cause blood clots, so perhaps you should be on some sort of thinner.  (Like you need another drug and something else to monitor!)  Best of luck, and let's hope that the PCP will get you checked out.

[Lulu54]

Dennis, you are as normal as the rest of us.  Oh, but that might not be saying much, huh?  LOL

I thought of you yesterday because your friends were cutting through my yard, again.  Four middle sized does, I believe.  they always make me think of you.

good luck with talking to your PC about the heart rhythm.  I have had that happen before on my monitor where it makes me stop and wonder.  It also goes away, just like yours did.

-L

[Sailorsong]

Are you calling me normal? I'm insulted! LOL :)

I do have a history of 2 heart attacks with a 3x bypass in 2006. I also have a heart murmur, COPD, and on and on....

I do plan on mentioning this to my PC so that she might, and I stress might, refer me to a cardiologist. It took months of complaining about shortness of breath before she even referred me to have my O2 levels checked. And even that didn't do any good. Every time a low comes through here or I go up in elevation I start huffing and puffing but as a result my O2 levels stay up so they don't do anything about it. One of the main reasons I do nothing around my home ( chores) when the weather is bad.

I also don't hold out much hope in talking with my VA Neuro about this either. They are functionally illiterate about MS for the most part. When I first developed the hiccups I mentioned it to them and they said it could not be MS, but my real MS neuro (Vanderbilt) at once said it could be a brain stem lesion when I talked to him. Luckily the VA Neuro is leaving the treatment of my MS to him. But maybe they will decide I need some better imaging of my brain at least ( can you say 3T MRI). When I had my last MRI at the VA my MS Neuro thought it was done on an open bore MRI due to quality.

Dennis

[Guitar_grrrl]

Hi, Dennis!  I would mention it to your neuro (brainstem lesions can possibly be the source of autonomic function glitches), but definitely to your PC, and maybe get a referral to a cardiologist.  Most arrhythmias in an otherwise normal person are benign, but it's important to see just what these are.  A 24 hour Holter monitor will record your heart beat, and folks like me will scan it and put together a series of strips for the cardiologist to read.

Remember, it's not always about MS, and your arrhythmias may or may not mean anything.  Find out.

Cheers,
Lisa

[Sailorsong]

Unfortunately the Neuro is first which is why I was asking this question.

At the time this occurred I was having daily hiccups which I know can be caused by a MS lesion in the brain stem. This is the main reason I was wondering if this could also be caused by a lesion in the brain stem. I think I remember somewhere reading or hearing that your heart is controlled through the brain stem.

One other thing is that I was getting those pesky electric shocks we get in the general area of my heart at the time, though I don't remember any at the exact time I was taking my BP.

Dennis

[sllowe]

Hi Dennis,

Are you going to the PC first? Doesn't sound MSish to me, but maybe the PC can look into it and you can then report the issue to the neuro too for good measure.