Virus Turns Into Bronchitis Turns Into.... Heart Palps!?

[AshleyPooh]

Hi all. I have been sick with a really nasty acute virus lately. Fevers, aching, sinus stuff etc. Well the virus turned into Bronchitis , and i've been dealing with that in misery. However, I'm noticing a serious increase in heart palpitations, and I can't figure out if it's just being sick? Or perhaps dehydration? Does anyone else get lots of heart palpitations when they get sick? my blood pressure actually seems to be doing okay ( i think it actually gets higher when i'm sick), but the heart palps are driving me crazy and making me not able to tell whether the shortness of breath is from the virus or the palps. Any ideas on how best to deal with acute illnesses with dysautonomia would be great!

[Katybug]

Could the heart palps be from a medication you're taking for the bronchitis, etc.?

[AshleyPooh]

Hi Katy

I don't think so. I mainly have taken an albuterol inhaler, but only about every 12 hours. I'm not sure if that could make things worse. I have avoided cold medicines b/c of the stuff in it that is a stimulant, so I'm pretty bare bones on the meds right now. I wonder if it could also be from coughing. Constant coughing might upset my condition i suppose, and make heart palps, kind of like the way over eating or losing sleep does.

[Katybug]

Albuterol is similar to adrenaline and could definitely make you feel like your heart is doing strange things. I'm not saying you shouldn't check with your doc about the heart palps, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear it's the inhaler. My immuno wanted to put me on albuterol inhalers but I reminded him about my tachy and he backed off right away.

[looneymom]

Go easy with the steroids. A short round of prednisone seems to help my son the most. When my son has this kind of illness, he wants chicken broth and freezer pops, and ice cold fruit smoothies. This is a pretty rough illnesses to have to deal with on top of POTS. Stay connected to your doctor and rest. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Rachel

[lejones1]

I agree with Katybug about the albuterol. I don't think it's actually bad to use with POTS if it's just occasional (or to get you through this), just aware that it can definitely can palpitations.

Another thing is that you be hyperventilating a little bit, which can cause palpitations. I have asthma and I know it's really common to hyperventilate with it and when I've had bronchitis I've had the same sort of feeling. Sometimes if it feels like you can't catch a breath, you can sort of starting gasping for breath and it'll set off an unhealthy breathing pattern. Try consciously regulating your breathing and see if it helps.

[AshleyPooh]

Thanks everyone. I forgot about how the albuterol acts, i haven't needed to use it in years. It's possible that it's aggravating it. Also I really didn't think about the hyperventilating thing. I have been having trouble breathing, so it makes sense that it would affect my heart palpitations!

And lol Looney, I know how your son feels. I go for hot tea, cough drops, throat spray, and the inhaler. i feel a little better today than before, so I'm hoping I'm over the worst of it!