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HT65

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  1. Hi...well, she is holding off ont he TTT since I am actually feeling better at the moment. Actually my heart rate seems to be coming back to normal...we're not sure why. She said if the symptoms come back, then she'd ecommend the TTT. However she did agree that the Sotalol was likely making me feel worse because I may very well have had POTS, and may still have it. We'll have to see how it goes. I really hope it keeps going well..feels good to feel almost normal again...without any medication! Thanks for all the help. I'll keep you updated.
  2. Nina, Actually I am not on any medications at all right now. The only one they ever gave me was Sotalol, and I stopped taking it weeks ago. Thanks for the information.
  3. Well, the last few days seem promising. I see my GP tomorrow, and will discuss things with her. However, the last two days have been great! Today for the first time in ages there has been no large jump in my heart rate when I stand up! It can still go to around 107 when standing, but that's from 88 bpm sitting, which is a considerable improvement. It seems to be lowering, and it's even been under 100 when standing tonight. I've generally been feeling better since Saturday, with improvement everyday. I really hope this keeps up. I can't imagine why the sudden improvement, perhaps it's the multi-vitamins...who knows...but something is different. I'll still ask for the TTT, because this may not last. But I'm feeling better today than I have in months. I even have the energy to work out tonight, and I've been regaining weight. This seems to have happened relatively quickly. I have to ask, however, has anyone else had sudden improvements like this, only to have the symptoms come back shortly afterwards...or even some time afterwards?
  4. I'd like to hear more about this too, since I also can't seem to tolerate beta-blockers, so calcium channel blockers were also recommended by my GP. I stopped taking the Sotolol I was given (it made me feel like the walking dead), for weeks now, but have not agreed to the calcium channel blocker yet. I'm not on any medication at all at the moment. I just don't like the idea of being told to try this and try that, or try this if that doesn't work, without a proper diagnosis. Also, these meds are not exactly inexpensive, and our company health plan does not cover perscription drugs. It's a waste of money, and I'm afraid it will just make me feel worse...which I can't afford most days. I'd like to know more about calcium channel blockers, and experiences with such, for that reason.
  5. Justin, MM, Nicole and Everybody... Thanks for your responses. I'm back from my trip as of yesterday. The first two days were sort of rough, I was anxious, very tired, my legs hurt, and I was getting that weird 'burning" sensation in my chest muscles and upper back, as well as the accompanying super sensitive skin in those areas. I also experienced a few short lived episodes of sudden heavy SVT palpitations when bending and getting up quickly. But, it got better the last 2 days. I'm feeling pretty good today, not as fatigued as usual and no other symptoms, except the usual high heart rate while standing. However, I have more strength in my legs today, and more energy. This is how it can go, I can feel good and think I'm getting better, then all of a sudden I feel lousy again. As I'm sure you all know, this can be discouraging and frustrating. I bought some new mulit-vitamins today...thought they might help. I am seeing my GP on Wednesday. I plan to go armed with info and the data I have collected on my own regarding heart rate, BP, and symptoms. I am planning on telling her I need to see an Electrophysiologist and obtain a TTT as soon as possible. I just need some sort of proper diagnosis so I can deal with this. I just want to get back to my life. I'm not interested in a sick leave from work (although it's available), or anything else..I need to work. Okay some more questions... First, you all have much more experience with this than I, so perhaps there are some useful tips you could pass on regarding the best way to talk to my GP without getting irritated or getting the "brush off"? My doctor can seem (at least to me) to be very off putting, and unfortunately I am becoming fairly ticked off about it. She should know by this time I am not someone who over dramaticizes things. Secondly, since I do not experience any hypotension with my postural tacycardia, will they still do a TTT? I already know my heart rate takes a big jump when I stand, and that can be easily shown. I get the impression from some of what I have read on the web, that the test is more for people who passout or faint, or experience low BP while standing, or sinus bradycardia. So, in my case, since I have seen not noticed a significant drop in BP after standing for a 10 minute period (although perhpas it just takes longer), is this test actually appropriate? However, having said that, I do have to sit down after a while standing, and I have experienced periods of lightheadedness. I have not taken my BP during those times because I usually do not have my cuff with me, so I do not know if there is a drop or not. Third, what about an EP study? Is there any point in getting such a study done in my case? Last, this may sound weird, and may just be a coincidence...but the last few days I have done all those things they say not to do, like drink real coffee and have 2-3 glasses of wine or beer at night, and strangely this coincides with feeling better. Odd, but I thought it was interesting, since I've been avoiding those things for a while now. Thanks for all responses, and I hope you are all feeling well.
  6. Thanks for the responses. A bit of an update. Seems while I was typing my post, the elusive cardiologist called (working late I guess), and left me the following abrupt message..."ummm....I looked at your tests (thyroid I guess), and there's nothing wrong...(I already knew that, my GP gave me the results)...so I guess there's nothing else...good bye." That was it!! Is this dude serious? So he perscribes a drug which made me feel worse, and was supposed to be monitored to begin with (but was not, except by me), then just says well I guess that's it. I don't even take the drug anymore...I had to stop taking it, and of course the tachycardia has returned along with some of the other problems. I don't get it. What does he think, I was just going to take this drug to treat a symptom for the rest of my life, and never have to talk to him again, or what?? No further inquiry, no actual discussion with me. he was so sure he had it all figured out with the hyoperthyroidism suspicion, and then when it's not that, he dropsthe whole thing like a stone. I'm 38 years old, and now I feel more like 68. This guy is only in town every 2 weeks, and it takes a lot to get a hold of him or to to get him to call a person back...now that I've missed his call, I expect I won't be able to contact him again. Grrrr...this is going to be a nightmare, I can see it now. Well I'll try again with my GP next week. Unfortunately if she doesn't want to help, there's not much else I can do. No other doctors here, or anywhere near here, are taking new patients. That's just the way it is in Ontario these days. I have to go on a business trip tomorrow, which I do quite a few times a year, I hope I have one of those good days tomorrow because it's going to be very busy. I don't know what else to do if my GP doesn't get serious. This *****.
  7. Wow! I live in Canada as well, so at least I can be grateful that I am not saddled with large bills or large monthly health insurance premiums. However, as Justin states...I do think those with access to private hospitals and doctors in the US, do fair better when it comes to getting diagnosis and treatment. Although our system is nearly completely publically funded (and we pleantly of taxes for that), there are increasingly long waiting periods to see specialists and finding a nw doctor is virtually impossible right now. This is why I'm stuck with the docotr I have, I'd get rid of her in a minute if I could! All the doctors here are very busy, and therefore the quality of care, and time taken to properly investigate symptoms, suffers badly. Nina, sorry to hear you are having such a tough time...it really really *****! I'm sure your lawyer will handle it, but then you'll owe him a bunch of money. You may want to look into credit counselling, and let them deal with the collection agency for you. It's a lot less stressful. I hope things improve for you soon.
  8. Hi, I've been reading this site with great interest. Some brief history...I apologize if this seems a bit on the long side. In late July 2003 I suddenly found myself being rushed to the local ER, with an extremely high heart rate (over 200), with violent palpitations, dizziness, chest tightness and pains. Actually it felt like my whole body was being shaken by my heart beat. This came on suddenly while sitting at my desk doing nothing more than typing an email. At the time I was not experiencing any stress, or anxiety. I felt lightheaded of course, became pale and felt liek I might go down..but I stayed on my feet. When I got to the hospital, and was laying down on the table in the ER, my heart was still racing along at 198 bpm. An IV insertion was made, as well as oxygen applied. I had a 12 lead ECG, chest xrays, blood tests, aspirin, and 6 hours later my heart rate slowly returned to the mid 70s. The ER physician told me I likely had SVT, and sent me home. At the time I had no idea what that was, but I was relieved to learn I hadn't had a heart attack. I'm only 38 and was in fairly good physical condition, and I have had no history of heart problems, or high cholesterol, heart defects, or anxiety attacks. I immediately started researching SVT online when I got home. However, the high heart rate did not go away, although it has never risen quite as high as it did that day. I was given a Holter Monitor about a month later, and I was to wear it for 48 hours. Of course at the time I wore it, I thought I was doing better, and thought they would not likely find anything significant. Then I was to see the Cardilogist 2 weeks later, the same day I was scheduled for a echocardiogram. The echo went well and showed no structural heart problems. The holter monitor, however, showed a very high heart rate nearly all the time (averaging 110 bpm over 48 hours) with rates regularly hitting 174 bpm, as well as 140+ incidents of sustained SVT or something like that. Apparently my heart was way out of normal range on the high side even while sleeping. Yet the ECG showed no sign of an electrical problem with the heart, only a very high heart rate...according to the cardiologist. I also had other symptoms that had developed, I lost a lot of weight (mostly muscle), at the time 15 pounds in a matter of weeks, and this sudden weight drop had preceeded the first incidence of tachycardia. I also felt "wired" (even though I had given up caffeine as requested), my eyes hurt like there was a pressure behind them, I was tired all the time and weak, I was irritable and experiencing sudden anger and mood swings, my hands had a tremor, I experienced periods of diarhea and constipation, I was often too hot even when nobody else was, and would wake up soaked in sweat during the night, I suddenly couldn't stand the sun, and I generally felt and looked terrible. I suddenly went from a healthy looking individual to a wreck in a matter of a month and a half or so. Since the ECG showed no obvious sign of an electrical abnormality, the cardiologist figured it could be hyperthyroidism...but my GP had already had me tested for this, and it turned out negative. The cardiologist ordered more thyroid testing in order to rule it out totally, and perscribed Sotalol for my high heart rate. All the thyroid tests came back normal. Since that time I have not heard from the cardiologist, even though he was supposed to have followed up by now, and despite me trying to get him on the phone. However, this is Ontario, and we have a doctor shortage and they are all very busy. Well, it's been almost 3 months since my first heavy attack of tachycardia, and one month since I was first prescribed Sotalol. I still have not had any diagnosis. My weight has dropped more, and I still feel fatigued and weak (especially my legs). I look dramatically different from June to now. I have started to have other symptoms as well, like periodic stomach pains, and a weird burning sensation around my chest and back area...and I also seem to experience sudden chills. Chest pain (like a brick on my chest) has been fairly constant since it all first happened. Interestingly, when I first started Sotalol, I bought a good heart rate monitor which I could wear all day. One of the first things I noticed was that my heart rate would jump at least 30 or 40 bpm whenever I stood up, and it would remain high, and get higher, until I sat down again. The change is very quick. At first I thought it seemd like a big jump, but also assumed that is a normal reaction to standing. I also thought it might be because of the drug. Then one day on a tachycardia discussion forum, a young woman there clued me into POTS. I didn't know what it was, but began looking into it immediately. I was quite astonished at what I was reading. I had experienced many of the symptoms, many of them sounded much like hyperthyroidism. That was interesting. But what really struck me was reading that the hallmark of POTS was a jump in heart rate (30-40 bpm) when standing up. I've since tested this many times with a my bp/pulse rate monitor, and the effect is consistent. However, I do not seem to experience any drastic change in bp. I stopped taking Sotalol because I felt it made me worse, and I am on no other medication at this time...yet this heart increase, when standing up or lieing down, reamains dead on consistent. I feel somedays like I could be feeling better only to find the next day I feel even worse. My work collegues, and my boss, are concerned about my apparent degeneration. I have to travel a fair bit for work, and I am very busy. Work has never bothered me though, and I like to be busy. Now I am finding it difficult, and it's getting increasingly harder. I still have not been able to contact the cardiologist to get him to follow up, and my doctor appears all to eager to put all this down to anxiety. I know that is total rubbish, however. I have an appointment with her next week, and I intend to make my point that this requires more investigation...like a tilt table test at least! I read many of the stories here, and I see the frustration with the GPs, and I can really sympathize. But I am becoming more and more convinced that I am experiencing either POTS, or perhaps "innapropriate sinus tach". If anyone here has had a similar experience to mine, or has any insights, I'd love some feedback. Thanks for reading my long post. Take care.
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