Rene S.

Hi - I am actually not on Atenolol anymore. I started Paxil about a year ago, and slowly weaned off my atenolol. Atenolol worked well for me, but I like the Paxil much better because it doesn't tire me out. Maybe there is a drug out there that's better for you than atenolol...

Thanks Yogini. I too tried Paxil, but to no avail. I'm glad it works for you! I was actually thinking of trying Pindolol again since I only took it once and didn't like the way it made me feel but I may not have given it a chance.

Rene

Atenolol and beta blockers have been around for years and are widely regarded as safe for their intended use. All meds have some risks, and BBs are actually not so bad compared to other drugs prescribed for POTS. I haven't heard of the website you used to do your reearch, but there are always docs that disagree with the main medical community. I think whether you should keep taking them depends on what's going on with your individual body. You are taking a super low dose, by the way. You may stlil want to check with your doctor and/or pharmacist.

Hi. Thank you for your response. I know it's hard to find the right drugs especially for most of us who are so sensitive to many drugs. I was just doing research yesterday on the various beta blockers when I stumbled across those two articles.

I know you are atenolol as well, and am glad it's working for you. I am on a small dose, because if I take more, it crashes my b/p, which is all over the place. I have tried many others and my body seems to reject them along with various other medications.

I am seeing a POTS specialist next month, and hopefully, he will steer me in the right direction.

My intent was not to dissuade people from taking their betas. I just wanted to know if anyone else had read that particular article.

Thank you.

Rene

Well, I'm not running to the medicine cabinet and throwing out my beta blocker.

Does your beta blocker do what you want it to do? That would be the question. Mine keeps my heart rate below 160 bpm and keeps my blood pressure from spiking. It also lessens a lot of the chest pain I have and it seems to make migraines less intense.

Are beta blockers the wonder drugs some have made them out to be in regards to preventing everything that might ail one? Ofcourse not. For me, though, I have to think that lessening the work load on my heart and providing me with a little symptom relief is certainly worth any small risk.

I will state that I DO have high cholesterol and I'm a borderline diabetic. Probably has nothing to do with with my taking a beta blocker as these seem to be problems that run in my family.

Hi. Thank you for your imput. NO I would never tell anyone to throw out their beta blockers. Nor did I intend to upset anyone. Being fairly new to the dysautonomic world, I am doing as much research as I can on the subject and when I came across that article it did alarm me, but not everything you read is true, as we all know.

I'm so glad that your beta is work for you. Am I thrilled with the Atenolol? I can say truthfully that it was the first one that I started with and I've been on about 5 others and even though I have side effects it's better than the awful tachycardia.

I appreciate your response very much

Thank you.

Rene

Ruekat,

I consulted with my Pharmacist/Dad before I posted, and this is HIS take:

That Buzzle article was written in a very "media-scare-tactic" way. It seemed like it was written for those who have hypertension due to obesity/lifestyle and were probably given atenolol (just the most commonly prescribed) in an effort to lower their BP. If they continue to engage in a lifestyle that CAUSES their high BP (obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, etc,) no drug will stop their slow progression towards diabetes or heart attack, it will simply mask the warning signs until the inevitable. HOWEVER, if you do not have the other risk factors, it is not shown that the drug increases your risk of developing heart disease or diabetes.

***EVERY side effect that a drug COULD have must be listed as possible according to the FDA, whether it has EVER happened or not!***

The MOST important piece of the treatment puzzle (and I know you don't have this yet ) is a doctor who will monitor and adjust medications according to your tolerance and symptoms! EVERY drug, herb or supplement will effect us differently than "normals," because our normal is not normal!

If it were me, and it was helping, I would go for short acting BB and not take it at night.

Thanks, Jenn,

As I said, I didn't want to alarm ANYONE including myself nor did I intend to cause any scene or make anyone upset with me.

I was actually going to call you and ask if your dad heard about the so called study. And I knew you would have further insight on it!

I'm not loving the way I feel on the Atenolol, but for now it seems to be my only option until I see the specialist next month.

Thank you for all of your support and for clarifying things for me. I'm doing my best to muddle around on these new grounds.

Wishing you a great mother's day!

Hugs,

Rene

Hi. By all means, I don't wish to alarm anyone who takes Atenolol since I am one of them.

There's an article on Buzzle.com that states that Atenolol may increase heart attack risk. I've also found this topic on another website. I know you can't believe everything you read but being on the drug I was a bit concerned.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/blood-press...ttack-risk.html

http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/493299

This was a UK study that stated the people should back off Atenolol due to increased risk of heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The article states that beta blockers slow you down and lower your hdl and insulin sensitivity, with Atenolol being the main culprit. It's especially dangerous in people over the age of 50. (I just turned 50). Should I think of switching bb?

Now, I have been on 6.25-12.5 mg of Atenolol for over a month and it does lower my h/r. I'd just like to know if there is any validity to this article.

Also, if you do a google search and type in atenolol causing heart attacks you can find one or two other articles speaking with drs in the US that concur with these findings.

Just want some clarification and to see how true these articles are.

A lot of us are one Atenolol and I'm sure we'd all like to know if this is a horrible rumor or if there is some truth in the articles.

Once again, please, anyone on Atenolol please do not stop it! I was a bit scared myself but I don't want to harm anyone by bringing this article into light.

One other question that has to do with Atenolol for myself personally and perhaps others have experienced this - At night, in a supine position, my diastolic number goes to 50 or below, and I can feel it happening. I get sweaty and just know that something isn't right. Once it actually went to 70/40 and that was when I was on 12.5mg of Atenolol. The cardio said there is no way that the atenolol at that dosage could do that! Wrong!

Thank you.

Rene

Ruekat,

I'm not going to add much here because it looks like everyone has been very helpful and supportive.

All of you who have has caths done are very brave----especially the EP studies-----those scare the heck out of me, and I never did get mine done. The idea of someone having control over my heart beats, and inducing arrhythmias make me want to climb out of my skin.

Morgan, I thought it was very nice of you to share your knowledge, and offer your support. I just wanted to add that, because people like you can make all the difference in the world from someone having a BAD night to having a good night---- Nothing worse then going to bed scared out of your wits because your feeling pain your not familiar with after having a pretty invasive procedure done----------especially in our ANS dysfunctional bodies.

Ruekat, I hope you feel better soon, and start gaining some of your strength back.

BIG HUG

Maxine :0)

Maxine I want to thank you and everyone else on the boards for their support. It's so wonderful knowing that there are caring, beautiful, loving people out there who are there when you need them with their wonderful advice.

Morgan has become my angel of mercy along with Liz, Dana, Nina, Jenn, Michelle, M. Koven, Sophiha and everyone else who offered their support. Please forgive me if I left anyone else off the list.

Thank you all so much. You'll never know how much it has meant to me.

Hugs,

Rene

This thread is kind of prescient - Today my EP's office called to tell me that my Transoma device has been sending in some weird tracings and well, I might have to get another ablation (via cath.) Fuuuun. It has been a year this month since the last one. I'm all up for it however, if they can get rid of the crazy heart stuff. I really don't want to end up dead from it like the rest of the familia. Such a lovely thought.

Oh Liz,

I'm so so sorry. I hope everything goes well and wish you nothing but the best. Keep us posted.

Hugs,

Rene

Just wanted to say I am glad you got through this experience and hope the post op side effects fade quickly.

Thanks, Sophia. Still not feeling quite right. I thought by today I would be normal.Just can't seem to gain my strength back.

Rene

I only had a topical anesthetic where they went into my neck... nothing else. It was one of the freakiest things I've ever been through. Because it was part of an NIH study, they couldn't give me any meds-- I would have LOVED to have been a bit "out of it" and if I ever have to do something similar again, I will insist on being 10 sheets to the wind!!!

Oh my gosh, you poor thing! Wow! How brave! I couldn't even imagine. Through your neck? Wow.

Hope all is well now, Niina.

Rene

Mighty Mouse! Me too. It was soo freaky to feel the cath moving through my veins. they actually had to back it up and try another route on me because my veins are so small. At one point I nearly came off the table when they "took a wrong turn", it hurt so bad. I ended up getting a bit of something at that point that took the edge off, but I was wide awake through the whole thing, answering questions. I was very very glad that back in the old days for the first one I was knocked out totally!

Hi Liz,

I had the same experience. They had to take another route due to small veins. Ouch! I wish they had given me more to take the edge off!

Was anyone's puncture site closed with St. Jude's angio-seal? That's what they told they used on me. I only found out yesterday when I called the lab. They told me that they should have given me a card to carry for the next 90 days until it disolves????

Rene

PS When I was reading a few descriptions on the internet it says that they give you heparin? Was in done through the iv during procedure? Is that in all casess? And when I was told to take an aspirin, I took my normal baby. They didn't specify full strength.

Still feel weak. Wish this would pass!

Rene

Rene, it's like drugs, even if they can't be sure a side effect was actually a side effect, they have to put it in the info. In 13 years I never saw a single one of the complications you have mentioned.

Heart attacks and strokes would actually be caused by breaking off a piece of plaque, which you didn't have, so that would be at the time of the cath itself. And they have ways of making sure the plaque doesn't cause the problems. People with severe heart disease are much more at risk, simply because they are a walking heart attack to begin with. And although many people do go home 2 hours later, (I did) they wouldn't be allowed to drive, They seldom, if ever do these without drugs, except in very special cases. (say for instance, Miss Mouse)

I've never seen infection, and as for blood clots, nope. You should be able to do pretty much of anything you can by now. If this was done Thursday, it's all healed over and you are past any of the stuff you are concerned about. Blood clots can happen to anyone, with or without a heart cath, so you see, it's just a cover the behind type thing.

Nina, I felt that stuff too and remember telling him to stop giving me pvc's, I didn't like them. He said, give her more drugs and I was lala again....morgan

Hi Morgan,

I just thought by now some of my energy would return. And I have a wicked headache, but that could be from the rainy weather.

I remember them telling me to take an aspirin before I came to the procedure but I took a baby aspirin since they never specified which dose. I'm assuming that's what they meant since I take one on a daily basis? Last night I felt some weird chest pains, but I also have fibro so who knows??? I just want to return to "normal".

Oh yes, having them induce the PVCs was the worst!

Nina did this without drugs????? OMG!!!! The drugs for me didn't even help since I was speeding so from the prednisone.

I guess I just have to slowly start building up my strength but I still feel like I got run over by a truck! Guess we're all different and being weak to begin with, didn't help.

Thanks again, Morgan.

Be well!

Rene

Rene,

I took care of literally hundreds if not a few thousand people who had heart caths over a 13 year period. Never saw any complcations from the cath after 24 hours. The biggest one is bleeding, and I never ever saw or heard of it except within the first day. The knot in your thigh is a hematoma or bruise and you can get a pretty good sized bruise, but this is very very common! The fact that your BP came up nicely clearly indicates you are not bleeding. This is arterial, so it would be a very fast thing to happen. With no improvement from taking in liquids.

At this point, I wouldn't be worried about complications of the heart cath itself. I remember when I got my pace maker and the doctor came in and in a very mundane voice explained the procedure and the complications. Of course I knew it all, so no big deal. Then out of the blue, he said, oh yeah, I guess I should mention you could die. My husband and best friend were there. We all just burst out laughing. I have to tell you, the pacer never bothered me, the site never bothered me, but the meds to put it in....oh did I feel gross! For about a day and a half.

The only thing I would worry about the cath itself is very severe back or abdominal pain. A bruise may or may not form and spread and look much worse than it is. Severe back or abd pain is an indication of a bleed, but remember, I have never seen this except in about the first 10 hours or so after and it's typically by people who are very non compliant about lying still. And back then, people who had heart caths stayed overnight, so it's not like they got up and left a couple hours later and we never knew what happend. It was always a 24 hour stay till about 2000 or so. And I only saw it one time in all of those.

You got a whopping dose of steroids and your body has to adjust to them leaving the system. I have no idea why they didn't just give you a shot in the behind, which proves to be much less symptomatic and lasts a lot longer without all the side effects of the high dose pills. The last time I took steroids, it was a full two days before i stopped getting surges from them and it was a dose pack, which is a smaller dose they titrate you off of. The life of the drug is the same though. if you have klonipin or any type of benzo you take occasionally, you can try that to help calm your system down, but it's like going through a withdrawal. It will get better, but the shakiness, lightheadedness and all the symptoms you describe are withdrawal type symptoms, not heart cath problem symptoms.

I hope this helps. Your body will rid itself of this stuff and the half life of steroids is not that long, it just feels like forever when going through this. If you are not feeling better by tomorrow give the doctor a call, but my guess is, all this hyper stuff will settle down on it's own. Take care sweetie. morgan

Morgan, you are a doll! How can I ever repay you for setting my mind as ease? I don't have a huge knot at the entrance site. Just a bit sore and now turning black and blue. Or shall I say yellow and purple!

I was a bit peeved that I wasn't told to remain still the first day. I was most compliant in hospital and then went home with a friend. I had to stop at my house and unfortunately, do one flight of steps but I did them very cautiously. Then went back to my friend's and stayed on the first floor.

Yes, I know I got a boatload of steroids. And my dear friend klonopin barely touched the side effects! Wow. No wonder people go out of their minds on that stuff. I have in the past years ago, taken the medrol dose pak but nothing compared to this doozy of a prep.

Sorry you had to endure a pacemaker. I hope you are doing well now. Morgan, may I ask what my chances are of developing a blood clot since I'm not as active (not that I was before!) I've been getting up walking around and unfortunately or fortunately, going up and down the steps. Living alone I have to fend for myself. I'm careful not to lift anything and tryint to maintain eating healthy.

That's great that the dr. told you afterwards that you could die. How insensitive. Although my dr was not any better. He never even explained the risks! All I got was a printed out sheet saying do things in moderation.

I've been pushing the fluids but I thought by now the steroids would be gone since my last whopping dose was on Thurs morning. I did sleep better last night compared to the days that I was on the steroids with absolutely no sleep in sight!

I'm glad it's all over and it still has me shaken up. I have a friend who is was a cardiac nurse and she had horror stories to tell me. That's the last thing I want to hear.

When they say chance of heart attack, stroke or infection around the heart are they talking about shortly after the procedure? Yes, I'm still freaking out about this. I just turned 50 in April and you would think I wouldn't be such a baby.

Just wondering why (I know the answer is insurance!) that they don't keep you longer in the hospital so they can keep a better eye on you. The nurses only came into my room when I accidentially moved my right leg! Then I got yelled at! A friend told me she had it done, and was up and out in two hours and drove herself home! That I find hard to believe!

Things have definitely changed for me since the dysautonomia. Everything seems to be intensified and I worry much much more.

Thank you for being here for me. You truly don't know what it means to me. You are an angle!

Be well,

Rene

I had a cath several years ago. The knot is very normal. My guess is you are having more problems from the drugs than the cath. Hopefully they will wear off fast, keep pushing the fluids. Steroids can make the most normal person feel weird and out of sorts and you got a pretty good dose of them. However they don't stay in your system forever, like some drugs and my guess is you will start feeling better very soon.

Remember, none of us react to stress well to begin with, so just take it easy for a couple days and let your body get back to baseline. The dressing should just be a bandaid or a bit of kelp they now often use, so no big deal. It will just look like a vampire gave you a bit of a nip! I was a cardiac nurse for 13 years, so know some people just feel better than others after this. Hope you are fine by tonight or tomorrow! Oh and glad everything looked super! morgan

Hi Morgan,

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I don't know why I'm still scared even after the procedure is over. Spending too much time on the internet reading about complications I guess that will do it every time. I've been pushing fluids big time. Not sure how long the steroids stay in your body but I hope by now it they would be gone. Wow, it's a horrible drug taken in such large quantities. 120mg over 17 hours period that and pepcid and then when I got to the procedure room they ived benadryl which always gives me a paradoxal reaction. And I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm under 90 lbs! I was speeding to say the least. You would have thought that the nurses and techs would have been more compassionate instead of telling me that I needed to learn to control my anxiety better and were offering suggestions such as yoga and meditation. I did change the dressing yesterday with a simple bandaid. If complicatons were to occur, how soon after the procedure?

I did mention that the following morning I was feeling awful and lightheaded and sure enough my b/p had crashed to 70/48, but it came right back up again after I had some juice and cereal. I don't know if because the day before it was elevated due to stress and the steroids but it did give me a scare. I held off on my beta that day.

I so appreciate you answering my post. There are so many horror stories on the internet about the complications from the cath. I think if I had read them prior I would not have gone through with it!

Please let me know if there is anything else I should be on the lookout for.

Thanks, Morgan for your time and expertise!

Rene

Hi Rene, yes I had massive body aches and soreness. I'm sorry your doctor didn't tell you about this stuff! When you are forced to lay for a long period of time, while you are anxious and worried, all of your muscles tense up, and frankly, the carts and beds in the cath lab aren't meant for comfort. I had no side effects that I was unaware of, but my mom was an ER nurse and I worked in a hospital for 10 years, so I might have been more aware of what would occur?? Well, actually the first cath was in the late 90s for an ablation and I guess it was a bit complex. I actually was on the table for 7 hours under a general due to the complexity. I was poked twice in each side because my veins are so bad they kept having trouble getting the cath to thread. Soreness was an understatement. The last time was last year and it wasn't as bad at all.

Do you have an electrophysiologist? (Not sure if I got the spelling right) That might be helpful if your problems aren't related to a block. An EP cardiologist was the first one to suspect POTS and paid attention to my complaints about arythmias, and referred me to my POTS specialist, after clearing me for other issues. He was much more attentive to issues related to heart pounding, skipping, etc.

Hope you are resting and feeling better soon!

Liz

p.s. forgive the spelling. I wish boards had spell check.

Hi Liz,

My original cardio was an EP guy but he and I differed in opinions on other subjects such as he didn't think you could have high b/p and have dysautonomia. He wouldn't have performed the cath anyway it would have been one of his partners.

I'm not thrilled with the cardio that I picked to do it. Seems like he never went over any of the risks or aftermath. I did get a print out just addressing if something should happen with the puncture site.

Yes I was terrified. I think all the prednisone I took didn't help. It turned me into a basket case. And when the nurses and techs kept telling me to relax I wanted to punch them! Even with the versed and fentanyl it didn't do anything to calm me.

So sorry that you underwent the procedure twice. Wow. You deserve a medal. I'm still scared of complications that can occur after the procedure. I spent yesterday researching and now I've gotten myself scared silly. Things like heart attacks, strokes, embolisms, fluid in the heart, etc and they say these things are more common in the elderly and women - I guess because our veins are smaller. At what point can I consider myself lucky that complications haven't occured? Do they happen weeks later? Days later?

all I know is that my neck, chest and back ache and I'm hoping it's just from laying flat on my back all that time.

I question now why I even went through with it. All heart tests prior were perfect including a zero calcium score.

Liz, when you say you were sore, may I ask where? I know when they did the procedure the cardio said he was going to trigger pvcs and pacs and I think even SVTs. It was awful. And he told me at one point that my chest was going to hurt briefly during the procedure. But he never even came back prior to my discharge. I guess he just wants to collect his money and run.

I'm also more shakey today than usual, but no fever. That I keep checking. So fearful of something going wrong. Not easy when you live alone.

Next month I'm scheduled to see an EP cardio that is on the POTS list. Dr. Goodkin. He's about an hour away but I hope it will be worth it.

I just want someone now to allay my fears and that what I'm feeling is normal. All the literature that I've read said I should be back to "normal" by now, then again they aren't dealing with what we are.

Liz, may I ask your age? I just turned 50 last month. Never thought I'd have to go through this. All because of an elevated troponin level that was a lab error. Very frustrating. Oh and the cardio doesn't even want to see me for a follow up! It says see your primary dr. I should have trusted my intuition and not have done it. But it's over with and there's no turning back.

Please let me know if there are any symptoms I should be looking out for. I just don't understand the total exhaustion.

Thanks!

Rene

PS. My chest is sore but I can replicate the pain by touching it. I guess this is ok?

I remember I felt best sitting in a lazy boy with my hip extended (let not at a 90degree angle to body). Normally I sleep with a pillow under my knees, but I really wanted the leg straight, or it ached. Moving helped some. I don't remember what the restrictions were. For me they were longer because of the hematoma.

You can still rejoice that you have pretty arteries. It's supposedly the gold standard. But I am sorry you had to under go all that. Ican certainly understand not wanting to repeat it!

I'm glad you are doing better now. Sorry that you had the hemo. My leg is sore and i'm just totally exhausted. My energy level is sub zero. Just did some laundry and feel the need to lay down. Just want to avoid a blood clot.

I guess I shouldn't have done a search on cardiac caths yesterday. Lots of complications can occur. I wonder how soon after?

Steroid side effect is often that sunburned face feeling, anxiety increase, sleeplessness and exhaustion for me. I've been on them a million times at very very high doses and these happen every time even at the levels you got. I've also had a couple of caths, and frankly, I felt like I'd been hit by a mack truck afterward both times. If you are worried about the steriods, call a pharmacy and ask them about side effects that are common. Rest and let your body heal from being traumatized. In a few days, you will feel better I bet.

Hi. Yes, that's exactly how I feel - like a mack truck knocked me down. Then I go and read about complications that can happen after a cath, especially more likely in the elderly and WOMEN! Great. And being the fact that my arteries were clear, I wonder if I put myself at unnecessary risk for further complications. Never a dull moment.

Thanks for the imput on steroids. They are totally brutal, to say the least.

Did you experience all over body aching after the cath? I feel like my shoulders are aching, headache body aches but then again I also have fibro and maybe due to lack of sleep. I'm just mad that the cardio didn't tell me all risks that could occur. I'm being quite sedentary and I don't want to throw a blood clot.

Sorry that you have a couple of caths. Did you have any complications? How long ago were yours done? I'm just a worry wart, but two days out I thought I'd be feeling a little more energized.

Take care and thanks again.

Rene

I was still in the hospital when it was time for the dressing to come off, so it was done under supervision. I did have a hematoma a couple days out--obviously expanding bruising and pain. Got it checked out and it wasn't serious. It did take quite a while to totally disappear though.

I hate being on and coming off steroids. each is awful. i really tank when i stop. give it a day or two and you should go back to baseline.

i think once some cardiologists see a clean cath, they want to be done with you. I was pretty quickly ejected from the hospital once my arteries were deemed healthy, despite being in the same condition as when I arrived. chest pain and I could barely sit up. the hospital where i was had nothing to offer someone with ans problems.

I can totally relate to how you felt. You are so right. As soon as the cardio finds out that your arteries are "clean" they want nothing to do with you. After the cath, I was just laying flat on my back and my heart was racing at 118. That was supine, not moving an inch. No one seemed to care and when I mentioned it to the nurse, she said she would put a call into the dr and sure enough he said her arteries are clean, I don't care what her heart rate is! And I remember now him saying during the procedure that the pains I'm experiencing can't be cardiac with whistle clean arteries. So, I'm in the same boat and I'm sorry you went through that as well.

Did your b/p go up while on the prednisone? Mine did and then today I had that crash! Wow. Also, I know I was prepped so not to go into anaphalaxis, but at one point during the procedure I remember saying that I couldn't swallow and they retorted back your stats are fine. Relax! Grrr. And today, and last night, my face feels and looks as if it's sunburned? Does that make sense?

One more question - i know the steroids made you hyper and anxious as they did me, but did you feel depressed the next day? I'm in such a funk today.

I'm hoping to continue and get some answers when I see Dr. Michael Goodkin, a POTS specialist (I believe he's an EP cardio) next month. These regular drs don't have a clue. It' horrible what we all have to endure to try and maintain some level of health.

Take care,

Rene

Hi Rene,

I am glad that you made it to and through the procedure. It must have been scary for you, and I know that you are still not feeling well now. Just keep reminding yourself that the prednisone got your ANS all hyped up and if you can just hang in there, you should start to feel better in a few days. Also, no worries about tapering the prednisone - there is no need for that since you had such a short course. I am happy to hear that they didn't find any blockages in your arteries though. Good luck changing the dressing - maybe bring the supplies you need close to the bed or couch and keep a cool wash cloth close at hand incase you start feeling worse or lightheaded while dealing with the dressing. I am sending you positive thoughts and a quick recovery!

~ (Michelle) Broken_Shell

Hi Michelle,

Yes, I was very scared and today I feel yucky, to say the least. I've been drinking tons of water to get the prednisone and all the other meds out of my body. And to have to start a new beta blocker today well I may just wait on that. Too much shock to my system. Thanks for the info about not tapering. It sounds like you've been through the prednisone route as well. Horrible drug to say the least.

I'm not going to change the dressing today, I called the cath lab and they said it can wait till tomorrow. Just not up for seeing it yet and I'm not usually squeamish!

Thanks for all of your well wishes. How are you doing????

Take care and thanks for posting!

Rene

Great to hear that you're okay and that the test showed clean arteries. It took a couple days for me to get over the steroids. Prednisone also gives me some pvcs. My ans symptoms are usually worse for a bit after I come off steroids. But for a very short course, there is usually no taper. Try to take it easy and let the puncture site heal.

I guess now the trick is figuring out the cause of your chest pain-- but now you can rest assured that your arteries are healthy.

Hi. Yes, I had horrid PVCs the night before and even yesterday when they had me in the room to prep me for the cath. They all showed up on the monitor so I guess it wasn't just me being crazy.

Today I'm feeling totally wiped out. As if our bodies are not under enough stress. I'm just not sure why my b/p crashed so low this morning. Did something simiilar happen to you? Perhaps it was all of the drugs in my body fighting one another and it was too much for me to handle.

I did go back in the archives and read what you went through last summer. I'm so sorry for your ordeal.

To have to do the steroid prep twice. Horrible.

Did you change the dressing the next day on the puncture site? I didn't shower today (afraid of passing out) so I did call the cath lab and they said it could stay on for 48 hours. I'm just feeling rather depressed today and wondering if it's from the prednisone. Also, I'm more shaking today than usual.

The cardio just said that my PVCs, PACs are benign. Kind of angry with him. He never even came back into the room prior to my discharge.

I'm trying not to lay in bed too much, for fear of a blood clot but my energy level has totally tanked. And the prednisone kept me up for two nights.

Thank you for your well wishes and your response.

Rene

Hi. Well, I had the cardiac catherization done yesterday. Not a picnic considering the day before I was to be prepped with a course of steroids (40mg at 2pm, 40mg at 10pm and 40mg yesterday morning). In addition, I had to take pepcid 20mg with each dose. (Can't do benadryl makes wired like crazy!). So the prednisone was no picnic. I was as hyper as could be and didn't sleep at all.

I was having the cardiac cath done due to chest pains and one elevated tropin level (cardiac enzymes). Since heart disease ran rampant in my family, my cardio suggested the cath. And since I went into anaphalactic shock at the age of 24 due to contrast dye I needed to be prepped prior.

By the time I got into the cath lab I was speeding away on the prednisone and as an added measure they threw a bit of benadryl into the mix! They tried to sedate me with versed and fentanyl which did nothing. The test itself was a bit uncomfortable especially when they induced palps and weird rhythms which seemed to last forever. They go in through your groin and then use a collagen plug to close the puncture.

Gratefully, my arteries are clean as a whistle so it must have been a lab error with the elevated troponin.

I was to lay flat on my back for a few hours (not easy to use a bedpan in that position!).

I know that M. Koven had this procedure done as well. And thankfully her's was negative too.

Now the weird thing - this morning not sure if it was due to the large amt of prednisone but I started feeling shakey and knew I was going to pass out. I quickly sat down drank some juice and took my b/p and it was 70/48. I shook like a leaf for a bit then it came back to 106/60. Very scary.

And now I'm scared to change the dressing on the puncture wound. All in all, I feel yucky and not myself.

Just taking it easy today but wonder if I feel so awful from the combo of drugs, the stress of the procedure, etc? I did have some funky heart beats today and I'm supposed to switch from the atenolol to pindolol today but I may just forgo the beta blockers for today due to this morning's incident.

If anyone else has had this procedure done, can you tell me how long it takes for the awful prednisone to pass out of the body? Also, I always thought you had to taper, but the pharmacist said that since I was only on it for 3 doses that it wasn't necessary.

I did have some groin pain this morning but it passed after taking the tylenol. I'm just too chicken to change the dressing yet.

I would love some advice from anyone who's been through this or has taken a large dose of prednisone and felt horrible overwhelming anxiety.

Thank you.

Rene

I'm supposed to stay away from estrogens with my funky migraines. Since I'm doing this more for symptom relief than for bc, this seemed like a very conservative option. My periods themselves aren't that bad (sorry if too much info) , it's just how lousy I feel from ovulation on. It seems like the whole area of hormones, esp. the whole bioidentical controversy, is one where opinions are all over the map, and there aren't a lot of data. It was actually my new eds geneticist who recommended trying this.

The trick is when I look on line, I just keep bumping into controversy, without a lot of data. It seems like the recent stuff from the women's health initiative was done with "synthetic" estrogens/progestins. But then the more mainstream response is that it doesn't matter the source of the hormones--even if it's your own body. And the bioidentical folks claim that "natural" hormones have to be safe. I don't know how to evaluate the controversy, and am generally reluctant to try new meds. But if the cream helped even a little with some of my many hormonal symptoms, and if it's safe...

Hi. Sorry to chime in so late, but I've been reading your postings and I can tell you that there is a bio-indentical vaginal progesterone called Prochieve which is despensed at the pharmacy with a prescription from your gyno. I was on it for quite so time. It used to go by the name Crinone. It comes in 4% and 8% strengths. The 8% being used for pregnant women to maintain their pregnancies, the 4% to be used by pre/menopausal women as part of the HT regimen. Simple to use, prefilled applicators and it's to be used every other night. Not messy and stays in place.

Hope this helps.

Rene

If you search thru the archives, I posted a lot about this last summer as it was happening--last June esp.

I certainly don't want to contradict anything, but I'd be a little concerned about beta blockers if there is a fear of anaphylaxis. Beta blockers block the effect of epinephrine. We had an allergist weigh in. I was not and am no on bbs. to be safe and really cover everything, I got a double allergy prep--80 mgs of solumedrol three times, spaced eight hours apart. that was A LOT of steroids. and I took benadryl before and after. It ended up okay. I would urge the docs to talk to an allergist. they really helped reassure everyone about how to proceed most safely.

I took klonopin before the test--which I really needed, as all those steroids made me WIRED. And during the procedure they gave me versed and dilaudid. I still remember everything. except for one insensitive nurse, everyone was really nice. for them, it is a totally routine, standardized procedure. the allergy stuff adds some trickiness, which is why an allergist should be consulted, esp. if you're on a betablocker.

HI. Sorry to bother you again. The email I had for my allergist was invalid and he won't be in until later. I have questioned my cardio many times this week and I do believe he's frustated with me but this is my life at stake. He told me to stay on the beta but I'd like a second opinion. I just don't know what I should be doing at this moment. Fear has taken over and I'm paralized with it.

I was told that since I had the reaction to the day (over 25 years ago) that since then the dyes have changed and have less iodine however that does not make me feel better knowing that it almost killed me.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Best,

Rene

If you search thru the archives, I posted a lot about this last summer as it was happening--last June esp.

I certainly don't want to contradict anything, but I'd be a little concerned about beta blockers if there is a fear of anaphylaxis. Beta blockers block the effect of epinephrine. We had an allergist weigh in. I was not and am no on bbs. to be safe and really cover everything, I got a double allergy prep--80 mgs of solumedrol three times, spaced eight hours apart. that was A LOT of steroids. and I took benadryl before and after. It ended up okay. I would urge the docs to talk to an allergist. they really helped reassure everyone about how to proceed most safely.

I took klonopin before the test--which I really needed, as all those steroids made me WIRED. And during the procedure they gave me versed and dilaudid. I still remember everything. except for one insensitive nurse, everyone was really nice. for them, it is a totally routine, standardized procedure. the allergy stuff adds some trickiness, which is why an allergist should be consulted, esp. if you're on a betablocker.

I'm grateful that you have informed me about the beta. I've read about it as well, and questioned the cardio but he brushed it off and it's been one of my biggest fears. I just emailed my allergist (a friend as well) and hopefully I can get this settled by 2pm since that's when I need to start premedicating. I'm so terrified that I can't see straight and just swallowed a klonopin!

Did you do the prep at home or in hospital? I'm only to take 40mg of prednisone 2 twice (at 2pm and 10m with the pepcid) and then again tomorrow morning when I awake. I dread the wiring of the steroids as I'm already as wired as can be. Yes, I do believe that versed an another drug will be pushed through the iv to relax me as if that's going to happen!

Please tell me how I go through the archives so I can read your posting.

Thank you again for this most important piece of information.

Rene

can i ask why they want to cath you? i had it done last summer. the anxiety was worse than the procedure. if you can take something for anxiety between now and then, I would. i also had to premedicate with steroids. i did develop a nasty hematoma at the puncture site that took a while to resolve, but as complications go, that was minor. i guess i'm glad it was done--because it was clear it was going to happen, with my ongoing chest pain and (false) positive stress test. we now know my arteries are clear. so now we can focus a little better on other things..

You must be reading my mind! I was just coming to the boards to ask if anyone had been cathed and pre-medicated due to a contrast dye allergy. Thank you for posting! They want to cath me because 3 weeks ago I had a sustained b/p of 195/90 along with horrid chest pains and very intense palpitations. I waited them out through till morning and I wound up calling 911. Unfortunately, my first set of cardiac enzymes were slightly elevated, followed by two normal readings. The cardio felt perhaps I had had a coronary spasm due to the elevated b/p (prior to being on a beta) or perhaps some cellular damage. I get chest pains alot and I guess they want to get to the root of the problem. All other heart tests have been normal and I've had all of the noninvasive procedures done. I have a strong family history of heart disease so I guess they want to rule everything out. Just wish there was another way to do it.

I'm so sorry that you had to go through this. Yes my anxiety is already through the roof just from the sheer anticipation. May I ask if you are on a beta blocker and were you at the time of the cath? I'm so so terrified because the one and only time I had contrast dye was when I was 22 and went into anaphalactic shock. It was horrible.

Do you remember how your prep went? I'm supposed to do 40mg of prednisone at 2pm (tomorrow) along with a 20mg pepcid, then again at 10pm and then the morning of the procedure, Thursday.

I'm in sheer terror and can't get my mind off of it.

Did you have any reactions to the pre-med prep or the dye? The whole thing just terrifies me.

I would love to hear your story since I don't know anyone firsthand who has been through this and also needed to be pre-medicated.

I'm glad yours turned out well.

Feel free to either post here or PM me.

Thank you so much again.

Rene

Rene,

I'm on Propranlolol and it lowers my BP down so that it is usually 110ish/60-70 when I am UPRIGHT. Put me down and watch it drop to 80-90/40-50). My HR is also slow (40's) when I am supine(unmedicated) so the docs stopped my nightime dose of BB. You may want to continue with your meds, but back them up so that you take them in the morning.

Jennifer

Thanks, Jenn. The only good thing about the atenolol is that if I take it around dinner it helps me sleep but I don't want my pressure plunging so low that I don't get up!

Hope things are well with your grandfather.

Take care!

Rene