Heart Problems?

I have been going out of my mind -- almost stark raving insane for the last eight months now with problems. It started on/about September when I would start getting freak cases of palpitations. I don't normally overreact with such things but when I checked on a heart rate monitor, it was up in the 130-range which at my age (25) is a bit high.

I have had *EVERY* test known to man except a 24-hour holter monitor or a PH-study done. I've been told by a gastrointernist that the palpitations (most noteably at night and after eating at night) are caused by GERD. I've been on protonix - of which I had mediocore results (it made me sick!) so I was put on nexium (25mcg/daily). I went to a doctor after two weeks of putting up with NEXIUM and now my regular physician says it is related to high blood pressure. The reading on my right arm by the way is higher than my left arm (120-130/75-80 left) as opposed to the right arm (145-155/80-90).

I have no idea (neither does my doctor) where these problems are coming from. Generally, the problem starts with my legs feeling somewhat weak or disoriented. Then I begin to get a slight feeling come over me which I can only describe as being similar to an adrenaline rush. The other most recurrent symptom is frequent heart burn at night which completely throws off the original theory (panic/anxiety disorder).

I post here only because I cannot get an answer from my doctor beyond "Well it might be heart related." Although I don't mind throwing money at the problem - I have already thrown a LARGE chunk of money at it. I would like to know if a cardiologist is the next safest bet here. Because as I've said ..I would like to discontinue throwing money and insurance cards at this problem and actually get a solution that works for me for more than week like NEXIUM or high blood pressure medicine (zebeta).

Hi dm - Welcome to Healing Well forum.

I am really sorry that your have so many problems.  I would suggest seeing a cardiologist.  For one thing, they can monitor your high blood pressure.  Also if you even suspect that it is at all heart related you should be going to one.  Then when your primary doctor says "Well it might be heart related" he should of hooked you up with a cardiologist by a referral.  So I would defiantly seek out the opinion of one.  Anxiety and or panic disorders can increase your heart rate and simulate heart attack like feelings and chest pressure.  It can be most uncomfortable and distressful for the person going through it.  But if you've taken medications for this and it hasn't helped it may point in another direction.

Take care and please let us know how it goes....

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~elisha

He did hook me up with a cardiologist referral and I'm planning on seeing him sometime this week. I've just been wondering if this could be something non-cardiac related like Anxiety, Marfan syndrome or Fibro.

I've also been on 5mg of bisoprolol for about a week now. Until the last two or three days it's worked just fine. Now I'm getting high end readings on my right arm again (147/82).

 Take a deep breath DM, it will be okay. anxiety can cause your blood pressure to raise and i tried protonix and hated it, it made me ill too, also gave me insomnia, i now tke 10 mg of prilosec and it works very well for me.  of course not eating after 5 is a biggy. please let us know how things go with the cardiologist.  i did not know you could have different levels of bp in each arm, i am going upstairs and try that on myself. please keep in touch.

My wife thinks it's not heart related and that's it's all some form of anxiety disorder. I think perhaps not eating after five is a good idea - but I have insomnia (fairly badly) and I don't normally get to sleep till around four or five in the morning. So I imagine I'm going to be very hungry ;)

Welcome DM, i completely agree with Els. Let us know what the cardio doc tells you. It's always better to be safe now than sorry later. Then you can throw that money at a new tv or computer or something you'll enjoy. I'll keep you in my prayers. DELTA

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{ Listen to your body talk. } Deltacece

My gastrointernist suggested this could be something related to something digestive because of earlier IBS like symptoms I had originally. I'm going to try to sneak into his office on Wednesday or sometime this week and get a work-up done by him first. Unfortunately, that PROBABLY involves some kind of endoscopy *sigh* Does anyone have any experience with such procedures?

    hI dm, very interesting. first off, i had an endioscopy done  last year, no big deal and i am a whimp.  they put a drip in your arm and you are basically out of it, like when you get a colonoscopy. have you always had this insomnia problem or can you trace it back to a medication, the protonix did that to me. also, here is a quick little story that is interesting.  i went to my dr. because i was short of breath when i went on my usual neighborhood walks, noone thought there was a thing wrong with me but i insisted on a calcium deposit test, that showed i had a 90% chance of having a coronary event, well even after that they reluctantly did an angiogram, i literally had to beg for it, the cardiologisst was totally shocked to find my blockages but put in two stents.  well i was a bit anxious to say the least and two days after i ended up back in er with what i thought were chest pains,  well an internist saw me and said she thinks it was my stomach, i have a hernia, and that is what originally the reason for my shortness of breath , not my blockages, so , i too have ibs, and am an 'a' type, so wioth a little luck you may just be experiencing what i was. will be waiting to hear from you.sosrry for the capitals and length.

  one other thing dm, nexium is not the same as prilosec or protonis, it is not as strong a product and i would see about changing to a proton pump inhibtor like prilosec, it will clear that acid out of you stomach causing those night problems, but you have to stop eating at least 3 hrs before bedtime, surely you can do that.  and get that insomnia under control, i hated to do it but i went on ativan, it is very addictive but i was glad for the rest.  however there is benadryl, i would try that first if you haven't already  it is great for sleep, cheap and over the counter.  i am no expert, just offering info based on my experiences. bye again

Thanks for the advice - I am going to follow up with my internist first and see where that leads me because I think it is something he will find through either colonoscopy or endoscopy. What is really strange is I just got done playing an hour of the Godfather game as I'm a sucker for mafia stuff. I started to feel a little weird and took my blood press - 157/88 and heart rate of 116. This is becoming really weird - maybe I should discuss with my doctor increasing my dosage of bisoprolol to 10mg instead of the 5 he gave me? I sat down and phoned my wife (who is an RN and my greatest support in the world) and after about three minutes of talking to her (literally) my rates had dropped to 133/74 heart rate of 70. How darn weird is that?

BTW ...do you use AIM/MSN/ICQ? It might be easier than playing forum tag all day ;)

Hi dm-  You can add AIM/MSN/ICQ these to your profile by going into control panel on the blue bar at the top of the screen and then going into edit profile.  Then your information will show up under your user name so if another member wants to message you privately they can do so.

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~elisha

So I called the cardiologist that my doctor referred me to today. The nurse answers, takes all my information and then tells me "Oh we're sorry - we don't accept your insurance here." So I said "Okay fine ..I'll bite - let's do self pay then" then she pauses for about a minute and says "Uh ...sir? We don't take self pay here, sorry" and hangs up. So much for the hypocratic oath huh?

dm - Well, I would call your Primary Care doctor's nurse and report just exactly what you were told.  Specialists get a lot of business by referrals of PCP's and there is no reason for them to be rude to prospective patients.  Also, this way you can ensure that your doctor does refer you to the right cardiologist for your insurance company this time.  Let us know how it goes.....

I complained to my doctor today that my blood pressure is not being lowered the way I would like. He stated that it can take up to two weeks for zebeta (bisoprolol) to take effect. Is that even remotely true?

 i cannot answer that las t question, but i want to let you know that your blood pressure goes up because you are intense when you play that game.  i love to go to the casino and play the slots, butr my bolld pressure goes way up, even if i watch a show on TT and get into it my pressure goes up, that is why is topped watching after 8 pm so i can calm down before bedtime