Heart issues?

[Allieh59]

I've gone to a cardiologist because I've been having a fluttering type feeling in my chest. He told me I have a rapid heartbeat. He referred to 2 other ekg's I had at my primary care Dr. Funny my primary never mentioned it to me. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has heard of this possibly be due to MS? Just curious

[Seasha]

Yes, I've had this, but for me it was due to going through menopause and nothing to do with MS. It kinda freaked me out when it was happening - the fluttering, rapid heart rate, sometimes skipping a beat -off and on for some time. I ended up wearing a monitor for 24 hours, had a ekg and the results were satisfying to my pcp. I am now post menopausal and have had absolutely no problems now for years!

This may not be your experience and best to follow the advice from your Dr. Are you on any kind of med or MS med that may be a side effect?

[Allieh59]

Hi Seasha
I'll be on the monitor next week for 48 hours. Am post menopausal. I've been taking Avonex since 2008. Haven't had any problems with meds. I just hope they can get to the bottom of this. Thank you for your response.

[Seasha]

I hope they get to the bottom of it too, Allison! It's good they are doing what they can and not brushing if off lightly. Keep us posted on what you find out. I'll be thinking of you~

[Poppy7402]

A rapid heartbeat can be an MS problem. It's caused by a lesion in the part of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system.

[rdmc]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your heart issues.

I have heart, BP, and breathing problems that are linked to my MS.

My heart rate would be very fast. I had all the heart tests and they diagnosed me with
SVT (supraventricular tachycardia.) I saw an electrocardiologist after I had had all the tests to see what he thought and he said it was due to my MS. That was important to know because there is a procedure they can do for people with SVT, but he said it wouldn't work for me because mine was
the result of a lesion in my medulla.

I have erratic BP that comes and goes as it pleases. I also had tests for this to rule
out other causes (24 hr BP monitor, catecholamine tests, and MRI of adrenals) and again it
was determined that it was the MS (once again linked to that pesky medulla lesion.)

Now for the good news, all my symptoms are controlled thanks to meds. It took awhile to figure out which meds and what combination of meds were necessary, but once we hit on the right combination my BP went from being 210/110 to 120/70. Also my heart rate used to head upwards of 160, but with the meds I have on hand, when I feel it start to escalate, I pop the protocol of meds...and I can usually get it under control within 15 minutes.

So long story short , yes MS can cause these types of issues if you have a lesion that is in a particular area, but there are medicines to help with the symptoms that the lesion causes.

Glad you're having testing, that's the first place to start.

[Larry K]

Also extreme stress will make your heart do some strange things. A couple years ago I went through my boy being in the neonatal intensive care unit for 126 days being born at 27 weeks 2.01 pounds. The best thing to do is see a specialist and determine if it's MS or the environment your in.

Larry

[Allieh59]

Thank you for your responses. Testing showed there was nothing wrong with the heart, no fluid around heart, and it wasn't englarged. I'm already on thryroid meds and levels were good. Dr. feels it could be stress related. Put me on meds to help. So far episodes are slowing down. Another pill to take. LOL

[Seasha]

Your news is good news, Allie

Oh well, if you have to take another pill - as long as it's helping, right?
Stress can do a number on our poor bodies...
Hope things work out well and you don't have to visit this again!