Tachycardia?

mandi78 · June 13, 2007

If you don't want to read the whole post, skip to the end for the questions. Thanks!

Does anyone have tachycardia or did you have it before your surgery? I am so frustrated. I have been on a beta blocker for tachycardia for a few years now. I have had all the tests (echo, stress, ekg, nuclear imaging) and my heart is healthy. However, my tachycardia seems to be getting worse. I went to my cardiologist a few weeks ago for cardiac clearance for surgery and my resting heart rate was 112....he put a holter monitor on me and it got up to 150 at some times over the next 24 hours. He belives some type of hormonal problem is causing this so he tested my thyriod (which the levels were a bit off, some indicating hypo, some indicating hyper....I have symptoms of both...go figure), my cortisol was a little high but not high enough to indicate Cushings and he has referred me back to my regular dr for a catecholemine test (these are the levels of adrenaline, epinephrine and norepinephrine). I'm so frustrated. I feel that if I could just have the surgery and get some weight off, a lot of my health problems would start to diminish. I know there are people on here who have had surgery who were in worse shape than me.

I know that I can't go into surgery with 110-150 beats/minute heart rate because they won't put me under but I'm just so irritated about having to wait. He has increased my beta blocker which has helped some but probably not enough. Sorry this is so long.

My question is basically did anyone have tachycardia before your surgery? Did it cause a delay or did it cause problems in your surgery? What did your surgeon or anesthesiologist say about it? Thanks.

maudeispam · June 13, 2007

I battled tachycardia for several years prior to ever considering weightloss surgery. I was and am still on a beta blocker. When I was having "crazy" tachycardia my doc at the time put me on Catapres which is a downer. (The docs give this to hyper active, crazy sorts to slow them down.) Boy did it ever slow me down. It did calm the heart, I was on it for a short period of time. Now I only have a "tachy" heart when I get anxious, exercise or get excited. Have you consulted a heart specialist? There may be a underlying genetic defect or something that is easily treated. Best of luck!

mandi78 · June 13, 2007

Well, I have a cardiologist....is that what you mean by a heart specialist or is there doctors who may be even more knowledgable than a cardiologist? I have had an echo, stress test, nuclear imaging, ekg, etc.

cyndilou29 · June 13, 2007

I do get tachy, it's sort of random for me. I was just banded 3 weeks ago. Was tachy in the hospital and occasionally post op. Down 25 lbs hasn't really changed anything. I think it's related to my estrogen levels (post hysterectomy) but no one has really figured it out.

faithmd · June 14, 2007

Well, I have a cardiologist....is that what you mean by a heart specialist or is there doctors who may be even more knowledgable than a cardiologist? I have had an echo, stress test, nuclear imaging, ekg, etc.

Is albation an option for your rhythm?

I was ablated for ventricular tachycardia in December. Mine wasn't controlled by 150mg Lopressor twice a day.

I have not had one problem (where's the damned wood to knock on when you need it?) since then. I've had treadmill tests and a 48hr Holter as follow-up with nothing on those. I go to Cardiac Rehab three days a week and haven't had any ectopy while there.

To answer your question about if there are doctors more specialized than a cardiologist, yes. But you would only need to see one if your rhythm can be controlled with ablation. Those doctors are called Electrophysiologists. They are cardiologists who specialize in aberrant heart rhythms and how to treat them. I would suggest you find one and see them. They may offer you something more for control.

I don't know about you, but I couldn't function on Lopressor (beta blocker). I gained 17lbs and was a sloth.