Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Heart

Hi everyone

Does anyone else hear have difficulties with their ticker ?

My heart rate is extremely fast ( up to 150 beats per minute ) and today I have been prescribed Propanolol to slow it down. I have actually taken this before but this is a stronger dose so I am a little scared.- actually I am very scared
I go back to the doc in 1 week and I would like any tips on how to approach her about it. I have a feeling that if this med works, she will leave it this way but I feel a huge need to find out why my ticker is doing this.
I tried to talk about AS complications but she ignored this.

I have had this complaint on and off for about 14 years but it is far worse at the present.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

Please don't give me any scary notes about this drug - I am scared to death allready and have no intention of relying on it long term but I do need fast relief as I am getting exhausted

Maggie

Oh my. That IS frightening, the only time I have had this was a drug reaction. The doctor blew me off, too, the arrogant....never mind.
I wish you a peaceful evening, that the temporary drug works, that you wake up feeling better tommorow, and that you find a cause and it is easily treatable. Change doctors if she is not looking for a cause.
Ask yourself what is different in your life right now, that will give you a start. And don't feel bad if everything is the same, you may have a genetic\physical glitch that just says your heart beats too fast.
I just wanted to tell you, if you feel faint, you go to the ER right away because they will take it more seriously.

Miss Maggie

Sorry to hear about the ticker. The only advice I would have for you is to stay away from those male strip clubs as that would most likly raise your heart rateeven higher. I hope they find out soon what is causing this and can get it under control fast. ((((HUGS))))

John

Hi Maggie,

Sorry to hear about the ticker and the concern that it is causing. I know nothing of the medication.... so not much help, sorry.

Sending along well wishes that the heart improves and you are more at ease.

Take care,

Tim

Hope is only a post away with KickAS.

Hi Maggie,

I have difficulties with my heart. I have had quadruple by-pass surgery. I am negatively impacted by congestive heart failure, AS and am bi-polar. First, try not to be scared to death. That truly does not help. Have you had an EKG, and other tests from a good cardiologist? I recently joined this group and have found the support one receives from others to be a blessing. I have been frightened and scared before. None of that helped. In fact it made things worse.

Maggie, call your doc tomorrow and tell her how you feel. For your peace of mind see if you can find strength from within and from your support group.

If you want to talk about your concerns, I am available.

Don't be afraid, we are all in your corner.

Joe

Oh sweet Maggie, I'm sorry your having this problem. I know it's easier said than done but listen to Joe, his advice is good. Maybe you could try meditation (TM)? Done correctly it slows your breathing and brings blood pressure down.

Take good care now, I'm sending you many good and positive thoughts.
peace & love
Kathy





"The most beautiful stones have been tossed by the wind and washed by the waters and polished to brilliance by life's strongest storms."

Hi Maggie,

Yes, I have had heart problems for several years now and it is slowly getting worse. About 10 or 12 years ago, a Doctor heard some beginning stages of mitral valve noise and over the years, it is getting noisier and is now in the severe category.

The condition is called arrhythmia which means that my heart rate changes periodically from going slower to faster and when it was doing this, I would normally pass out and fall down for a few seconds and then, I would be OK till the next time it happened which could be an hour or a day later.

I now take a drug called digoxin (earlier form of this drug used to be called digitalis) and this keeps my heart rate stable as long as I take my little pill every day, (and Dorrit makes sure I don't forget)..

If I remember right, when your pulse rate climbs to that high, it is called a high "QT" and if you look for that expression on the net, you may find some more info on it. Just out of curiosity, has the Doctor ever found that you have signs of some valve noises in the heart?

If they prescribe a drug for you to take, it will likely work as well for you in lowering your heart rate as my drug does in keeping my heart rate stable.

Don't worry excessively about it my dear. When it comes to hearts, they have a lot of new techniques to solve all the problems. Keep in mind Maggie, if your Doctor thought that you were in a critical stage right now, he or she would have sent an ambulance for you to get treatment right away.

When you see her next week, make her tell you what the most common factors are for causing such a higher pulse rate and which does she think is your specific problem. There is no good reason for her to not tell you. Is your Doctor a Cardiologist? If not, maybe you should ask to see one?

Your condition will probably be the similar as mine,, take the right pill and things will be just fine.

Hi Kathy

Well, funny thing is - my blood pressure is ok.
As I said, this started 14 years ago, only now it is much much worse.
I just don't know what to think !!!

Speaking of meditation - not quite the same, but I go for my first yoga class either this saturday or next wednesday night ( probably next wednesday night, since I'm not proned to dragging my sorry butt out of bed early enough on Saturday morning )

Thanks for your support Kathy

Maggie

Hi Wind rider

I know what you mean about doctors blowing you off. I had to finally break down crying today to get results.
I hope whatever I have , is easily treatable too.

Thanks so much

Maggie

I actually went to one of those once - not the strip off completely kind - it was really fun

Maggie