Phil K Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 I am still awaiting official diagnosis, hard to see doctors in a timely fashion these days. But I have been mostly couch and bedridden for a month. Symptoms came on hard 6/17. Prior to this I was very active. Therefore my current overnight resting HR is 53 (up from 49) and during the day I struggle to keep it under 60 which seems to be a sweet spot for me. Currently during the day, at rest is 66-68 bpm. Are there any meds they can give for just during the day? Or is my RHR to low? I feel like I don’t have any good options from my limited knowledge. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sushi Posted July 15 Report Share Posted July 15 5 hours ago, Phil K said: I am still awaiting official diagnosis, hard to see doctors in a timely fashion these days. But I have been mostly couch and bedridden for a month. Symptoms came on hard 6/17. Prior to this I was very active. Therefore my current overnight resting HR is 53 (up from 49) and during the day I struggle to keep it under 60 which seems to be a sweet spot for me. Currently during the day, at rest is 66-68 bpm. Are there any meds they can give for just during the day? Or is my RHR to low? I feel like I don’t have any good options from my limited knowledge. Thanks Could you say more about what you would like the meds to do? A resting heart rate of 66-68 doesn’t really sound like a problem. If you took a med like a beta blocker during the day, it would probably lower both your HR and your BP, but you are not out of the normal range and many find that beta blockers also reduce their energy. I don’t understand how that heart rate itself would account for your symptoms. You mentioned that you had had a virus recently I believe? Perhaps that is involved. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil K Posted July 16 Author Report Share Posted July 16 I have always been active. My normal overnight resting heart rate prior to this was 45-48. Since this episode is has gradually increased. I guess the best way I can explain it is before…walking up stairs HR goes up and in a few moments it comes down. Now I go upstairs and the HR remains elevated for an hour. The heart gets stimulated and does not turn off. I know 66-68 doesn’t sound high but it’s high for me and causing all kinds of fatigue, sleep issues, and stress doing normal activities. When I have tried to push through it my HR will not slow down with rest. With standing HR goes up at least 30 bpm (63-93) and I sit or lay down if it approaches 100 bpm which usually only takes a 25-50 foot slow walk. I feel like I need something to control heart during the day, but not at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil K Posted July 16 Author Report Share Posted July 16 If I watch sports on tv, while lying down, my heart rate jumps into the 70’s. Have a conversation while laying down it jumps 10-15 bpm. I don’t focus on the number as much as focus on the delta or change in heart rate based on simple activities. I am afraid if I stood for 10 minutes it would surpass 120 bpm just standing. Last two times I pushed my heart rate to hard it stayed elevated (stimulated) into the night and I couldn’t sleep. It just pounds out of my chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil K Posted July 16 Author Report Share Posted July 16 Not worried about reducing energy. Currently bedbound 22 hours a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted July 16 Report Share Posted July 16 Not sure if you are taking a low dose beta blocker but they are used to help out with tachycardia. If ones hr gets really low the only thing i know of would be a pacemaker being put in but i doubt with the heart rate numbers you are describing that the pacemaker would be warranted. My guess being bed bound for 22 hours a day is not helping. Hopefully someones else queue's in with other ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil K Posted July 16 Author Report Share Posted July 16 I agree. I have tried being more active in the house, but as soon as HR elevates I do start to panic which undoubtedly compounds the issue. Then due to elevated HR I get sleep disturbances/insomnia for a day or two. Then I become more tired and easily fatigued. I am currently on no meds. My normal HR has always just been on lower side. Even when I was 258 pounds, not exercising, my overnight resting HR was 60. My heart rate would barely cross 90 bpm unless I was running, or down strenuous work. Now, I stand and walk to the bathroom and I am hitting 90. (And BP goes up). I am afraid that clinically no MD will prescribe me anything except anti anxiety meds, which it sounds like is not good if I have hyperadregenic pots. I am only a month down this bedridden road but I am afraid I will be dismissed. I am scared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil K Posted July 16 Author Report Share Posted July 16 I want meds that allow me to get out of bed, make breakfast, drive my kids to school, help my wife maintain a family structure without my HR hitting 120 beats per minute just standing around. Then have them where off so I can sleep overnight without fear of having my heart stop. (If my resting is 60 what would a beta blocker drop that down to? 40?) or let me function through the day and power through the elevated, and random heart stresses and give me something that slows the heart overnight so I can sleep. I feel like my fight/flight mechanism is over stimulated, or my rest/digest is on strike. I guess that’s the definition of Dysautonomia. sorry for all the posts, it keeps my mind busy, and I am having a rough day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted July 16 Report Share Posted July 16 Have you consulted with an electrophysiologist? I take pindolol, a beta blocker, in the AM or as needed. It drops my HR. If I take in the AM by the evening it has worn off. It's not a beta blocker that must be taken continuously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistol Posted July 17 Report Share Posted July 17 @Phil K When you are very active your resting HR will normally run lower. Since onset of orthostatic symptoms it seems you have had to stop being active, which in turn will make your resting HR higher. In my experience with POTS there are several things I had to do to improve my exercise and orthostatic tolerance ( please check with cardiologist before considering these steps ) Salt and fluid loading, compression hose, Beta blockers, mild aerobic exercises ( or whatever exercises can be tolerated ) - these are all commonly used first line treatments for POTS. For me it was essential to stop working and to avoid over stimulation, requiring frequent periods of rest after and before activities, It does not sound as though you are currently receiving any treatment or medications for your symptoms, so seeking advice from a specialist would be a very important step for you to take, especially since you are so disabled by your current symptoms. Many people here have been in your shoes and over time - and with proper treatment - their symptoms are now manageable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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