am i worring about nothing? - Heart Disorders Message Board

bambi86 · 11-02-2004, 04:25 AM

ok hi, iv posted on here before about my palpitations (im an 18yr old female)and i went to see the dr again today to get the results of my blood tests for thyroid (all were normal). i had a ecg the last time i was there (a couple of weeks ago) which showed my heart rate as 119 and she thought my right ventrical was slightly bigger than it should be but she didnt think that was anything to worry about. iv been on amatryptiline (dont no if thats spelt right) for about a year (a different dr thought it would help with the cronic fatigue dont no why?) i no that can cause palpitations so i was told today to stop taking them. iv got another appointment to see the doctor again in december to see if that makes any difference. if it doesn't she said she could put me on beta blockers - but isn't that just treating the symptoms and not what ever is causing the palpitations? i mean is it normal to get palpitations for 10 to 20 minutes with sudden dizziness and an achey cramp type pain around the left collarbone area? also to get palpitations for a few seconds and missed beats everyday? i dont no maybe im worring about nothing but all the doctor did was one ecg and blood tests. the ecg didnt show anything because i wasnt having palpitations at the time. any ideas?

Jack51 · 11-02-2004, 05:46 AM

I am amazed that a doctor prescribed this old, bad drug for you (full of serious side affects). I would not see that doctor again.
An EKG only lasts a few seconds. Your heart rate was 119, but what is your average heart rate during the day? Find your pulse, usually in your wrist, and count the beats in a 15 second period. Then multiply this times 4. Do this while sitting and comfortable.
The side affects of the Elavil (amitriptyline)(palps, tachycardia, etc) might go away, w/o treatment. Rapid heart beat (tachycardia) is sometimes of unknown origin. Nicotine, caffeine, and other drugs can cause it. Beta blockers will slow your heart rate down, and may stop the palpitations. You could have a common side affect of these potent drugs (for damaged hearts and hypertension) which is fatigue and depression. If you truly have tachycardia, it needs to be treated. The next test for you would be an echocardiogram, that looks at the overall function of your heart, including the 4 valves. You could also have a stress test.

Amitriptyline PRECAUTIONS:
Patients with cardiovascular disorders should be watched closely. Tricyclic antidepressant drugs, including amitriptyline HCl, particularly when given in high doses, have been reported to produce arrhythmias, sinus tachycardia, and prolongation of the conduction time. Myocardial infarction and stroke have been reported with drugs of this class.
SIDE AFFECTS:
Cardiovascular: Myocardial infarction; stroke; nonspecific ECG changes and changes in AV conduction; heart block; arrhythmias; hypotension, particularly orthostatic hypotension; syncope; hypertension; tachycardia; palpitation.

bambi86 · 11-03-2004, 05:51 AM

thanks for the info - i didnt realises amitriptyline was so bad! i never really wanted to go on it in the first place as im not depressed, i just have cronic fatigue (i dont like that doctor anyway which is why i saw a different one for the palpitations). i was only on a small dose anyway (2 10 mg tablets at night). i took my resting pulse & its 104 when sitting down for 5minutes, is that to high? i dont smoke, drink coffee or do drugs. seeing as an ekg doesnt last very long i thought they'd do more tests as i get palpitations throughout the day - i never no when im going to get them, they just suddenly happen. anyway thanks again for the info

Jack51 · 11-03-2004, 02:26 PM

Bambi86, "normal heart rate" is defined as between 60-100 bpm. Tachycardia is most times diagnosed when the heart rate is >100 bpm. If tachycardia is accompanied by palpitations, and the other symptoms you mentioned in your 1st post, it should be investigted by a cardiologist. There are numerous causes. Some are serious and some are not. I have researched this and it seems that cardiologist (or the ones that publish on websites) can't agree on what it is, and what causes it. Most people with heart disease, such as myself, take beta blockers which really control/slowdown the heart rate. So, it is not a problem for us. I would REALLY hate to know, that I had to take beta blockers at age 18, to slow my heart rate. The side effects are too great.

If I were you, I would also have my thyroid checked by an endocrinologist, that specializes in thyroid disorders/disease. They have more sophisticated testing, and know for sure about the labs they use. Thyroid disease is misdiagnosed a lot, I have read, and have personal experience with. If you fall within the "normal" thyroid test range, find out the exact numbers, and record them for yourself. You may be borderline high or low, within one of the subsets of the test, and the evidence will be hid away in your medical record, with no one to remind you to have it retested.

My advice to you is to make sure that you eat right, and exercise regularly BECAUSE you are going to start down a long road on a life full of medicines and their side effects, that you will regret. Get your life straight. If you are overweight, lose weight. If you have anxiety/mental problems, get them sorted out. If you have any unhealthy lifestyles, get rid of them.

Below is how some doctors view tachycardia. He/She sounds kinda cold to me. You don't have to be a doctor to know that a rapid heart beat, over many years, is bad for you. Good luck

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Question
What is normal for a pulse rate? Female-120 lbs.- 5'2" height-age 56 My pulse is usually over 100 Heart disease runs in my family

Doctors Answer
There is no maximal pulse or heart rate.
Resting heart rate varies significantly from person to person and depends on a number of factors such as level of physical fitness, sex, age, overall health and wellbeing, and medical therapies, if any. Furthermore, heart rate can vary in the same patient depending on the time of day, level of activity or stress, hormonal variations and many other factors. Therefore, no one heart rate is too high or low for any one person.

Factors used to judge whether a given rate is too high or low include presence or absence of symptoms, presence or absence of underlying heart disease or cardiac dysfunction, or simultaneous illnesses, such as a thyroid hormonal disorders.

If the concensus is that a particular heart rate or pulse is too high or low, perhaps consultation with a cardiovascular specialist would be helpful.