Hey,

I'm a 21-year-old female.

I have an eating disorder and am being monitored weekly by my doctor. I've had several EKG's throughout the past few years, but they haven't been abnormal until recently. I don't know much about the heart, but I think I have "atrial fibiliation" or something???

Anyways, today I had an echocardiogram and the lady who did it said it looked fine. Obviously, the doctor hasn't interpreted the results yet, but I'm assuming she's right and I'm fine.

But how could an EKG give abnormal results and an echo look fine? I'm really glad that everything is okay, but unfortunatley I'm afraid I might start thinking it's okay to lose more weight.

Another question...I'm on Plavix (been taking it just over a week). I know brusing is a side effect...is excessive bruising dangerous? My legs are covered with bruises. I'm brusing more and more.

Excessive bruising is a adverse sign that should be reported to your MD. Plavix is an antiplatelet aggregator that is often prescribed for atrial fib but, studies have shown that aspirin may be just as effective. You should discuss this with your MD.
Be careful with dieting, that can lead to electrolyte imbalances that can affect your heartrate.

EKG/ECG's show the electrics of the heart, so atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia where your pulse races, and the beats are irregular. The echo shows the structure of the heart, and shows up if there are any abnormalities with the structure of the heart and correct me if I'm wrong it shows the blood flow through the heart. Just because the echo's fine, doesnt meen you dont have anything wrong with your heart...It just probably means the heart is a normal shape and doesnt have any valve problems. Anorexia can cause more serious arrhythmias, so please try and get the eating disorder under control! Also make sure you tell the doctor about the brusing when you see them...From what I know sometimes you have to go on anti clotting drugs if you have A fib, and if your brusing I think (instinct) that that could be slightly dancerous.

Hope you get better soon! I'm not medicaly traines so all the info is just from my oppinion and slight knowledge from researching on the net! :)

cat

"But how could an EKG give abnormal results and an echo look fine? "

The EKG measures electric impulses and its timing as it passes through the heart from different angles. It aids a diagnosis of any rhythm problems, but also can reveal and heart muscle damage and any enlargement of heart chambers...Your abnormal results relates to a possible rhythm problem, but can be as innocuous as a heart rate over 100 bpm without consideration for some test anxiety.

The echo rules out any abnormal size or function of heart chambers and no valve abnormalities in structure or function. The doppler that is part of the echo color codes blood flow in real time, and will show any back flow (regurgitation). The heart's ability to pump effectively is also measured and calculated by the percentage of blood pumped with each stroke.


Plavix: If the heart beats very fast there is a possibility some blood will pool and not be pump into circulation. The pooling can cause clots, and if clots get into the blood stream there can be a complete block of an artery and cause a heart attack.

The usual protocol for arhythmias is to prescribe a beta-blocker med to slow the heart. The slower heart beat has a less tendency to be irregular as well.
It seems more plausible to treat the rhythm problem directly rather than mitigate the results of a rhythm problem by thinning the blood and not treat the fib!

Hi everybody,

I can not thank you enough for your responses...I do have a few more questions though. If anybody has suggestions or more input that would be great. I'm a little worried.

I guess I understand the differences between the EKG and echo now...thanks.

About the bruising...my doctor did say bruising is a side effect. I guess I'm just having trouble knowing what excessive brusing is. I'm very thin, so my mom said that is contributing...but then again I just started Plavix a week ago. I'm having trouble realizing how bruising could actually be dangerous. But in any case, I'm seeing my doctor Wednesday. I don't need to look into this before then, do I?

Last thing...I didn't mention that I have chest pain (been lasting a couple weeks). My doctor knows about this. Just thought I'd add that into my "description."

Hopefully I'm imagining all these heart problems. My bloodwork was fine...it's just that EKG that's showing up abnormal.

I think if your heart is racing and you have an irregular beat, that can cause some chest pain. Is your chest pain at the same time or with the racing and irregular heart rate? (atrial fibrillation) If youve told the doctor about the chest paina dn tehy dont seem concerned, and they have ruled out other conditions with tests then maybe its just Atrial Fibrillation you have. Ye I'm sorry I didnt wright clearly last time when I said about echo's and ecg's. I read it over and it didnt make mcuh sence and wasnt very clear.sorry.

Get back to your doctor about the brusing! I'm not sure how serious that is, but maybe its a side effect, and you should see about it soon. Even iff you could ring them up to ask, or maybe ask a pharmacist?hm....not sure!

cat

Sunshine,

Get off the Plavix, take aspirin instead.
The bruising that you SEE is not dangerous but the internal bleed that you CANNOT see can be deadly serious. You are clearly breaking small blood vessels and there are many small blood vessels in the brain.

Take Plavix with aspirin for a couple months after a stent placement. Then it is PERHAPS worth the risk, but as a day to day routine I think it a horrible mistake. I think long term use is malpractice and I think the numbers bear me out. I hope I eventually see someone go to prison for peddling this stuff.

Yes, an EKG can show many electrical vagaries that in no way affect what is seen on an echogram.

Hi,

I'm very sorry for asking all these questions...but I'm extremely concerned and getting mixed messages about all of this.

Dancer_Cat86: To answer your question, the chest pain is hard to describe but constant. Sometimes it's more on the left side...even my upper shoulder area. Sometimes it almost itches...It almost feels like breast pain but the location is hard to pinpoint. I actually don't have a racing heartbeat, sometimes my heart will flutter/feel weird but I probably wouldn't have paid that any attention had the EKG not said I have atrial fibrilation.

I only have excessive bruising on my legs...none on my arms except where I had an IV. I have a very low BMI, so I also know that brusing is more obvious on me.

I'm hesitant to just stop taking the Plavix because I know my doctor put me on it for a reason. At my last visit I told her about the brusing but she didn't see it. Are there any things I should look out for?

Internal brusing is freaking me out...so I'm very concerned. My mom said maybe it's not worth the risk, but I don't want to have a stroke either. And the side-effects say bruising is a side effect. Eating disorders suck!

Hi,



I'm hesitant to just stop taking the Plavix because I know my doctor put me on it for a reason. At my last visit I told her about the brusing but she didn't see it. Are there any things I should look out for?



Yes,
Look out for frequent bloody noses. If they start occurring call your doctor <and record the call.>

Bruising that occurs after an injury is to be expected especially when you're on plavix, coumadin etc. You should be concerned if you are experiencing spontaneous bruising for no reason or with a slight impact. I thought the latter was what you were referring to and that's exactly what you should report to the MD.
You should never stop taking a medication without consulting your doctor. There are current studies that show that atrial fib can be treated with plain aspirin just as well as Plavix/aspirin combination but, that is something you need to discuss with your MD.
Atrial fib is potentially life threatening and serious consideration should be given to how it is treated.
Your eating disorder does contribute to the problem, you really need to try hard to get it under control.

Okay, I'll definitely talk to my doctor about this when I see her on Wednesday. As far as what's causing the bruising, I don't remember where most of the bruises came from. A lot are on the back of my thighs. I'm around kids a lot, so I imagine some came from taking care of them. If I were a little kid, people would probably suspect abuse, because my legs look pretty bad.

I'll keep taking the Plavix though.

Please post doctor's response to prescribing plavix and not aspirin! I haven't heard plavix is the drug of choice to thin blood!? More expensive and sometimes doctors are misled by the sale pitch, and/or the doctor doesn't have time/ nor inclination to do their own research.

I Also Have An Eating Disorder And Worry About The Effects It Is Having On My Heart As I Have Two Young Children I Dont Want To Die . I Have Pvcs And They Frighten The Hell Out Of Me .

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to update...

My doctor didn't see the bruises, but someone who works under her did. My doctor does know about them, though. She basically is saying that excessive bruises are expected while on Plavix, and going off it would put me at a greater risk for stroke. So, she wants me on Plavix still. But oh my gosh, they are sooooo bad! I have this huge one on my thigh now--no idea where is came from--but I'm hoping it isn't a blood clot or something! If an outsider could see me they'd probably think someone was beating the **** out of me daily...that's how horrible I look. I am so sad.

I'm getting a referral to a cardiologist, and maybe he can do something about this.

Did she say why you are on plavix? I can't believe you are on plavix and have a visual display of a side effect. AS Lenin stated it should be contraindicated if one experiences blood related symptoms. Do you have other medical problems such diabetes, stomach ulcers or a blood disorder?

I was on plavix for 6 months following a stent implant...I never had any bruising nor was that an expectation. Going off the medication would be a greater risk for a stroke, but the substitution of aspirin would provide protection. Aspirin may not be for you based on other conditions such as diabetes or.....

I'm actually considering getting a second opinion about this...I've told my doctor, as well as my psychiatrist, but they don't seem worried about the bruising...just my eating disorder.

Do you think it's just because I'm so underweight and the bruises are showing up easier? My doctor said I don't get enough protein, which is worsening things. I did mention the aspirin, but she wants me on Plavix. She said aspirin could tear up my stomach. She said the bruising is all superficial and not internal.

Basically the only other conditions I have are eating-disorder related. You know, headaches & stomachaches, fatigue, etc. Meaning, no diabetes/blood disorders, etc.

I just can't figure this out!

I see, that makes sense, no aspirin. Kinda figured there was a medical reason. Yes, diet is a very important consideration and may be a major underlying cause for your medical condition.

Doctors are overprescribing Plavix because they are being WELL PAID to do so. Let's not play the game with them becasue WE are the one's paying...with a great deal of money AND deadly bleeds.

Plavix is NOT a safe drug.

Doctors are overprescribing Plavix because they are being WELL PAID to do so. Let's not play the game with them because WE are the one's paying...with a great deal of money AND deadly bleeds.

Plavix is NOT a safe drug.

Lenin-

So what should I do? Get a second opinion? My doctor is extremely busy, and has told me she has 6,000 patients...so I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't think things through before prescribing this to me.

I just don't know what to do...I mean, is there any evidence that Plavix is so dangerous? Is the horrible bruising I see really a problem, other than an annoyance?