I've posted a few times in here before. Just posting again about my appt. this morning with the cardio. She wants to do more tests to determine the size and whereabouts of the shunt she thinks I have.
I have also developed terrible palpitations where my heart is actually skipping a beat every two to three beats. She increased my Metoprolol for that. She also mentioned the possibility of a pulmonary embolisom. My husband came with me and tried to get more information from her and to try and get her to move more quickly but to no avail. She says she doesn't want to go too fast because she doesn't want to miss anything. In the meantime I am miserable and scared. I had the palpitations non-stop for 8 hours the other night and couldn't even sleep they were so bad.
So... I am having another stress treadmill test done with an echocardiogram with bubbles right after it on Nov. 11th. Then I have my return appointment to go over those results on NOv. 21. So, basically I sit for three weeks waiting to find out what is wrong and what we are going to do for it. I am supposed to try and get a sleep study done during this time also.
I guess I will just try to be patient and ride this out. The doc said if I didn't feel well to not go to work but I shouldn't stay home all the time because then I might dwell on it too much. I don't know about any of you but when I have palpitations I tend to dwell on them since they scare me to death.
Well, I will post when I know more.
Take care,
Mary Ann
Possible shunt (hole) in the heart. October 2005
Diagnosed MCTD, Fibromyalgia June 2005
Diagnosed with Aortic stenosis, leaky heart valves, heart enlargement on both left and right sides, one side larger than the other - July 2005
Hi MBarbee! So sorry your going through all this stuff including the waiting which drives ya crazy! The irregular heart beat sounds like PVCs or PAC's. (Premature ventricular or Atial Contractions) Did you doc mention that? Generally they are benign and not life threatening but more of a nusiance than anything. Unfortunately the worst thing we can do when we have them is to panick or stress about them which in turn makes them worse. Easy to say not to stress or panick but try hard to relax when you have them. I do deep breathing or just get off my duff and get myself busy so I don't think about them when I have them. Seems to help me. Luckily I rarely have them anymore but when I was having them I also took Metoprolal to help calm them down. It does sound like your doctor is checking out everything real good so that is a plus! Some docs aren't that concerned it seems. Let us know how the different tests go and keep posting here when you feel upset about it all. Its great not to be alone through all of this! God Bless, Pat
Since I posted last, I have found out that I have sleep apnea and need a cpap machine. I am going in on Friday night to get the right adjustments for the machine.
Today, I had some side affects from the Metoprolol that was increased. My heart rate dropped into the 50's and I was just about incapacitated. I had to leave work and come home and lie down. Called the doc and they told me to take the Metropolol all at night so that I will sleep throught the worst of the side affects. This is kind of scary because with the sleep apnea and my heart rate slowing down I'm afraid I will got sleep and not wake up.
I have an appointment on Thursday with the doctor and I will be discussing this with her. Also, I still don't know if I have a shunt or not. The second treadmill/bubble study didn't show a shunt, so now they want to do a TEE. I guess I will be discussing that on Thursday also.
Just wanted to keep everyone updated. I know I don't post here all the time. I'm usually over at the LUpus boards.
Well, the cardiologist said that we have pretty much gone through the cardiac gamut. I told her that I was doing better and about having the sleep apnea and she said that was probably all my problem. She said that she wanted to wait to do the TEE until I have been on the CPap machine for awhile. Actually, though, I found out indirectly that the reason she is waiting is because she doesn't have hospital privileges yet. Her nurse told me that. Does that mean she isn't qualified enough yet? My husband wants me to get another opinion, which will make my third opinion since she was my second.
I am so confused. And now because they are messing with the dosage of metoprolol my blood pressure is 160 over 98 right now and I have a splitting headache. Not too happy right now. But I do know that God is in Control..
hi maryann, how much metropolol have they got you on, i had such problems with being tired . good luck with that cpap i had minor sleep apnea but i thought i would give it a shot, i couldn't handle it, my daughter has severe sleep apnea and it has been a god send for her
I am now taking 75mg. of metoprolol. I was taking 100 mg. So far my pulse is doing okay, but my blood pressure is slightly elevated. I guess I will just try and adjust it on my own. I am going to go to a different cardiologist and get a second opinion.
well i am no doctor, but that is a pretty good dose, i bet a bit less would be better. some people can tolerate meds better than others and i can tell you if i was even on 50 i would have been comatose, that stuff made me feel like i was 80 years old. i would definitely get some other opinions, my sister is on atenolol and has no side effects on 50mg
Thanks, Dreamgirl. I have been on this medication for about 3 years now and they keep playing with the dosage. I was on 50 mgs., then they increased it to 75mg, then to 100. I was on 100 for 3 months and then my heart rate decreased. It's really weird, the doctor said I must be super sensitive to meds. Sometimes I can tolerate things and sometimes I can't.
I hope the new doctor will have some good advice. I'll ask her about atenolol.
hi maryann, how much metropolol have they got you on, i had such problems with being tired . good luck with that cpap i had minor sleep apnea but i thought i would give it a shot, i couldn't handle it, my daughter has severe sleep apnea and it has been a god send for her