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Heart/vascular issues with lyme, anyone?

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Posted 10/2/2018 3:53 PM (GMT -6)
Hey guys,

I'm wondering if anyone who's experienced heart or vascular issues with lyme or coinfections has dealt with tachycardia as opposed to the reduced heart rate typically associated with lyme carditis.

I had a three week hospitalization in the spring for pericarditis and an effusion, but I don't think they're getting it right. Or at least not getting it all. I'm still experiencing really difficult to explain to explain symptoms in my chest. I did test positive for anaplasmosis (the titres just made the positive cut off (1:64)), and wonder very much about lyme. Although I have yet to get alternative testing.. (I have an igenex kit I plan on using next week).

But yes, curious about the tacycardia, as it's something I've dealt with pretty consistently. despite my pericardium (apparently) now appearing normal on echo.

ANy insight you guys might have would be super appreciated.

Post Edited By Moderator (Girlie) : 10/3/2018 11:47:36 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/2/2018 5:13 PM (GMT -6)
Each of these infections can cause various issues like you are experiencing. One thing I've read is that babesia can affect the autonomic nervous system which is why some people get some of these symptoms. The testing leaves much to be desired, but if you have any other babesia symptoms it's possible that it may be that infection causing some of the issues. This is from an interview with Wayne Anderson, ND:

Babesia also can affect the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for much of the “automatic” functions of the body, such as heartbeat, breathing, etc. This means that the communication between the brain and body is affected, so any physical symptoms that patients have from Babesia can be related more to autonomic nervous system dysfunction rather than the organisms themselves. For instance, Babesia can cause postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS); a racing heart at rest and/or an irregular heartbeat and heavy pounding heart at night, but the problem isn’t in the heart. The problem is that the autonomic nervous system isn’t functioning properly.

Link for the rest of the interview in case it can be of interest: conniestrasheim.org/blog/2017/3/6/a-deep-look-at-the-symptoms-of-six-major-lyme-related-infections

PS. May want to edit your post and add a title for the thread, it might help you get more responses (ie, titling the thread "Looking for help with tachycardia and heart/chest issues")
Posted 10/2/2018 5:18 PM (GMT -6)
I have POTS from Lyme - meaning when I stand from sitting - my heart rate goes up - to about 100/110 bpm.

I think mine is from ANS dysfunction - as Sebreg mentioned in his post.

I have treated Babesia extensively - so not sure if mine is from Babesia - maybe it is and my ANS just needs some time to repair... or if it’s bartonella.
Posted 10/2/2018 5:47 PM (GMT -6)
My LLMD told me my ANS dysfunction is from bart...possibly babesia too.
Posted 10/3/2018 11:48 AM (GMT -6)
krr - I edited your first post...just to add a subject - you may get more responses now.
Posted 10/3/2018 3:19 PM (GMT -6)
My first round with Lyme & Co came after 10ish years of being misdiagnosed so things were more on the severe end of things. That being said my heart going crazy was a major part of it. Even though my BP stayed low (90/60) my resting heart rate was 170s. Spent a month in the hospital for ANS dysfunction (and dealing with POTS, ect.). However once I found my LLMD he said the Lyme had just progressed into ANS dysfunction and as the Lyme and Co were taken care of I was able to get off all BP and heart meds. Now that I've relapsed I've noticed my heart racing again, but this time it thankfully is only getting around 130 so not bad enough for meds just yet.

Cute story time--I had rescued a pastel calico kitten from the pound and she always knew when I was about to have a bad episode with my heart. She would follow me around the apartment making this meow-chirp noise and getting in my way until I sat/laid down, and she would curl up on my chest. Sure enough I would check my BP and heart rate to find one or both was severely out of wack. As soon as Mercy got up I knew it was safe enough to get up without worrying about fainting and could go about my day.
Posted 10/3/2018 4:39 PM (GMT -6)
I developed high blood pressure from the Lyme. It’s beibg controlled with 50mg of Metropolo right now but I’m praying that once I go through treatment I’ll be able to get off the meds. My pulse is remaining high (116 bpm) for some reason.

BookWyrm your cat sounds so sweet. Why do you think you had a relapse?
Posted 10/4/2018 9:39 AM (GMT -6)
Hi new here,

I, too, have suffered from reoccurring tachycardia and "air hunger."( I battle Babesia and Bartonelle, too). In fact, a flare up has brought me to this site, hoping to find answers, maybe "this time." I've always been athletic, regular runner since 13-yrs-old. And then suddenly at 33 I went from easily running three miles a day (1/2 up hill) to not being able to walk up the stairs with out heart pounding and feeling out of breath. That was 13 years ago.

I had a major tach incident at 207 beats and "threading." I was on beta blockers for a little while, but felt like crap and couldn't exercise. Went down to calcium channel blockers, then just magnesium glycenate, recommended by a cardiologist. This was three years before I could get officially diagnosed with Lyme.
But after three major heart workups, one just two years ago, I'm told I have the heart of a 15-year-old ( I was 48) and no cause can be found. According to every test, I'm healthy as a you can get without being in training for an Olympic event. :D

I've been on an herbal regiment lately and have been on cholestyramine on and off for three years. Every time I try to go off the cholesty, I get worse.

My tachycardia was mostly exercise induced, except, like another poster commented, when I stand up, my heart rate shoots up over 100. It also happens when I do squats. I ended up in the ER two yeas ago, and when (of course) my heart rate and oxygen were "fine." I said yeah, "I'm lying flat on back, of course it's fine." So, I got up and said, "Watch this..." I did 5 squats and my heart rate shot up to 130! They were amazed...oohed, ahhed, "how strange"...but then just tossed their hands up.

My original Lyme doc, who had me on a good path, stopped practicing and I've been bouncing around trying to find someone who help me get this under control.

I don't think the tachycardia, at least for me and maybe some others, is an actual heart issue. I feel like something, somewhere is not allowing enough oxygen to get through and the tachycardia is the heart's RESPONSE to pump more oxygen through the body.
Posted 10/4/2018 10:55 AM (GMT -6)
I've had recurring bouts of rapid heartrate at rest and/or irregular heartrate that feels like it's skipping or beating out of sync. Was really bad when symptoms first started. Heartrate was in 110's - 120's at rest and would speed up if I even moved in bed. Cardio workup (EKG and echocardiogram) revealed nothing other than the mild mitral valve regurge I already knew I had. Doc even did labs to check for bacterial infection and concluded symptoms were secondary to whatever was causing all the symptoms and not due to any defect or illness of the heart itself.

Mold exposure may have contributed to mine, as well, since I haven't had any bouts in the last 2 years since getting away from mold and detoxing.

Atlanticgrl said: "to not being able to walk up the stairs with out heart pounding and feeling out of breath." Ditto on that. I've had that lifelong. Add to that legs feel like spaghetti noodles. I believe I've been infected since birth or early childhood.

I forgot to mention, I've always had an unusually rapid heartrate - 80's - 90's where most people would be 60's - 70's.
Posted 10/4/2018 11:15 AM (GMT -6)

Atlanticgrl said...
Hi new here,

I, too, have suffered from reoccurring tachycardia and "air hunger."( I battle Babesia and Bartonelle, too). In fact, a flare up has brought me to this site, hoping to find answers, maybe "this time." I've always been athletic, regular runner since 13-yrs-old. And then suddenly at 33 I went from easily running three miles a day (1/2 up hill) to not being able to walk up the stairs with out heart pounding and feeling out of breath. That was 13 years ago.

I had a major tach incident at 207 beats and "threading." I was on beta blockers for a little while, but felt like crap and couldn't exercise. Went down to calcium channel blockers, then just magnesium glycenate, recommended by a cardiologist. This was three years before I could get officially diagnosed with Lyme.
But after three major heart workups, one just two years ago, I'm told I have the heart of a 15-year-old ( I was 48) and no cause can be found. According to every test, I'm healthy as a you can get without being in training for an Olympic event. :D

I've been on an herbal regiment lately and have been on cholestyramine on and off for three years. Every time I try to go off the cholesty, I get worse.

My tachycardia was mostly exercise induced, except, like another poster commented, when I stand up, my heart rate shoots up over 100. It also happens when I do squats. I ended up in the ER two yeas ago, and when (of course) my heart rate and oxygen were "fine." I said yeah, "I'm lying flat on back, of course it's fine." So, I got up and said, "Watch this..." I did 5 squats and my heart rate shot up to 130! They were amazed...oohed, ahhed, "how strange"...but then just tossed their hands up.

My original Lyme doc, who had me on a good path, stopped practicing and I've been bouncing around trying to find someone who help me get this under control.

I don't think the tachycardia, at least for me and maybe some others, is an actual heart issue. I feel like something, somewhere is not allowing enough oxygen to get through and the tachycardia is the heart's RESPONSE to pump more oxygen through the body.

Hi Atlanticgrl - welcome to our community!

I have the issue of high heart rate when I stand from sitting too. It's from POTS - which is a Autonomic Nervous system dysfunction.
Mine came on with lyme and co's.
Posted 10/4/2018 11:17 AM (GMT -6)

WalkingbyFaith said...


I forgot to mention, I've always had an unusually rapid heartrate - 80's - 90's where most people would be 60's - 70's.


Pre-lyme, my heart rate was low 80's too - (not 90's though). Even when I was in really good physical condition...
Posted 10/4/2018 3:53 PM (GMT -6)
Heartsinpain- I'm not really sure why I relapsed but I do blame stress. A lot of crazy stuff has been happening this last year and I think it just took its toll. My LLMD seems to think this could be the trigger as well. Hopefully though I caught it early and remission will happen quickly. I've been back on abx and herbs for a few weeks and have already noticed as ease in symptoms so here's hoping! smile
Posted 10/10/2018 1:50 PM (GMT -6)
Thank you so much for the responses everyone. I appreciate it a lot, and apologize for the late response. I was travelling.

I've run the gamut getting as much testing as I could through our health care system here (BC- Canada).
When it comes to alternative testing, I'm not sure how much a difference there is between say Mycoplasma pneumonia or Babesia microti from Igenex, and the CCDC/CDC standards I believe the labs the health care system here uses and would have to comply with. I know there are some larger differences and different tests available when it comes to Borrelia (lyme) species.
Not sure if I need to pony up and spend the money getting tested for Bartonella, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Tuleremia etc. if I've tested negative for them up here. ie. if they'd be using essentially the same test.

I do need to get the lyme done I know, and I haven't been tested for babesia. The anaplasmosis was just positive on IFA so who knows if it was a false positive or not. I've read it often cross reacts with C. pneumoniae and have a feeling it may with Ehrlichia as well (as they are very similar organisms).

Seberg- thanks for the ANS info. I'll check it out. I was diagnosed with MS six years ago, so docs are currently trying to rule out peripheral nervous system involvement (which the autonomic is a part of). Not sure if there are any good tests for the autonomic system, specifically the vagus nerve. Anyone?

Girlie- I definitely have some orthostatic intolerance. I hope with time yours HEALS UP!
And thank you very much for editing my post. smile

Atlanticgrl- Was that 207 prolonged or just while you were active? My HR has also been over 200 a couple times this past week (but with a bit of exertional activity carrying something up an incline). It took quite a while to come back to "normal", but started dropping as soon as I wasn't exerting myself.
What are you on cholestyramine for? Cholesterol issue? What kind of herbal regimen are you on?

And haha I feel like I've gotten that response a few times. "You look like the spitting image of health! Oohh that's weird... hmmm.. hands up... hmmm.. hope that gets better.. hmmm.. let's wait and see." I'm sure we all have similar stories.
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