Yesterday, in the second game of a Pickleball match, my heart rate became extremely elevated. I immediately quit, drank a quart of Gatorade, and went home (5 minute trip). Using my B/P cuff, my systolic was 180, diastolic was 70 and pulse was 170. Temperature normal. After 15 minutes and another quart of Gatorade, my systolic returned to 110, but pulse remained elevated through the day.
Treatmen: 3 month Lupron (last injection December 20th, Abiraterone 1000mg, Prednisone 10mg, Xgeva (28 day cycle), Nupogen ( 2 treatments last Thursday and Friday), and Docetaxel (1 of 6 treatments two weeks ago). Except for WBC and platelet counts dropping, everything has been well tolerated. I have been able play PB six days a week, competing with national champions.
Originally, after consuming an ocean of liquids, I decided dehydration was the cause yesterday. Elevated pulse and dark yellow urine that seemed to disappear with rehydration. But, this morning I woke-up without an elevated pulse (70 today); but feeling just as bad. Spoke to Triage nurse, who simple advised me to go to emergency if problem persist. Was my self-analysis accurate?
Second, Like most men I consume very little regular water except for 4 large glasses that I religiously take with my medications. The rest of the time, I drink Gatorade, sparkling ice water, and earl grey tea. I have never drank alcohol and gave up coffee when I started the Mediterranean diet (loved cream in my coffee).
I guess I have made a long post just to ask If I need to drink more regular water? Or, is there more to my symptoms that I need to vet with my MO Thursday!
My best to all of you. This board has become a God send for me.
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TMcgee
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I went to hospital with dehydration after 5 days of binge drinking in Nashville, 5 days of radiation and a concert in Vegas. My blood pressure went almost non existent. I took 3 bags of saline to correct. I think a visit to cardiologist is in order
thanks, it seems to be unanimous and after the second recommendation I txted my GP. In all honesty, I’m kind of surprised that the triage nurse, who called me, didn’t suggest the same.
It takes awhile to get to a cardiologist so nurses usually recommend the ER so you don’t die waiting. They can do tests and get a cardiologist to look at you right away if necessary. There are so many things it could be. If you can’t get to a cardiologist soon and continue to have issues you probably go to the ER.
Tennis player here. Found out the hard way, once north of 50 yo, that the body need’s electrolytes during a match if you’re playing tournaments extending two/three hours per match of tough points. Water alone— and you’ll cramp up. Gatorade is ok, but it’s got too much sugar and overloads your kidneys and shoots your insulin level up. There’s a bunch of low-cal sport drink’s that would serve you well (G2 has half the calories). Pickle juice believe it or not would be good too, along with coconut milk.
Thanks! The matches are two hours. Typically, I will lose 3-5 pounds in water weight. I drink Gatorade zero. I’m familiar with the pickle juice from my tennis days, but am loathe to try it. I take magnesium for the cramping.
Yes and you avoid all the plastic volitiles in the plastic jar. They fill the fresh plastic jars with just under boiling gatoraide on the production line. It kills the germs and brings out the full flavor of the pastic volatiles.
Nothing good can come out of that. But in our case, it's to late to give us more cancer. LOL
Sorry to disagree, but you can get more cancer. Just got dx at 85 with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) which most consider to bone marrow cancers. Your cardiologist needs to be in the loop right away.
Sorry! I quickly looked it up and seems that the cause is radiation and/or chemo treatments in the past. So, am I righ in assuming that if our treatment allows us a longer life, it can also be what kills us in the end?
Fortunately, it is very rare with 10-15K cases a year in the US. Sure that it is way under dx. Looking backwards knowing the symptoms, I can trace it back to my radiation treatments. A lot of the SE of it mirror those of ADT.
Yeah, forgot to mention that powder is a good option— that way you control the strength. Also, for pure hydration, I find the best is a few slices of lemon in cold water. I drink one of those first thing in the morning with meds. Then for electrolytes, I eat a steady diet of bananas, kiwi, tomato/grapefruit juice, and then supplement as needed during sports. BTW, I heard it takes 5 hours to digest a banana to get the full effect of the potassium.
I think you're supposed to reduce your salt intake if you have high blood pressure. I think excess hydration increases blood pressure as well. You seem to be doing the opposite of what you should be doing. My cardiologist told me to increase hydration and salt intake for my chronic low blood pressure.
For most people, drink when thirsty is a good guide. There was a fad to drink at least 4 glasses of water every day. It was a bad idea. Let your body be your guide.
Actually, I have low blood pressure. As I mentioned, my Systolic went up for a short time; and then, after 15 minutes it dropped back to 110. Thanks for your take on the glasses of water. I have never been sick and had to take prescription drugs. I hate drinking water late at night when I take the Abiraterone, but it’s the only time that I’m not eating.
All the medications you are taking can give you those side effects. I always had my husband drink something like smart water or ph alkaline 9.5+ water need to drink a lot especially taking prednisone . These have no sugar added. Those medications can raise your blood sugar also and that can make you feel awful. My husband had to go on BP meds and pre-diabetes meds when taking all of them. But then they stop working he started chemo and went off ADT meds. All of a sudden his BP drop so low when they were doing his PMSA scan he was so dehydrated they had to give him fluids right away or to the ER. Those meds lower your psa which stops the cancer but is hard on the rest of the body. Yes Need a cardio doctor to monitor your other vitals. Stay healthy .
I really appreciate the feedback. There is a level of absurdity in my thinking. I want the cause to be my meds (the thing that is keeping me alive) and not my heart. As if cardiac issues would be worse than incurable cancer. Thank you
How has treatment affected your play? I ask my friends to not am for my port, which was like putting a target on my chest. Most players that I play against are 10-20 years younger and 3 are National champs in their age bracket and 4.0/4.5 rating. I’m winning fewer games. Nobody is complaining that I’m no longer competitive, but it will come.
other way around! After a year on Lupron, my oncologist grabbed my pot belly and told me I would not die from PC, but heart disease! I was a bit stunned as my weight had not changed, then I realized my muscle mass was slowly being replaced with fat! We live in a +55 condo in central NJ. In the spring, I saw an ad for free beginners lessons in PB at our courts. I went and started playing almost everyday for 6 months. I played tennis as a youth so I picked it up quickly. Being I did not play PB before Lupron, I’m not sure, but my fatigue disappears on the court! Now I’m on IR with a sore shoulder!
I have a 7.8oz paddle and I don’t hit overheads hard. It seems everyone complains about pain in their elbow and shoulder. I use the center spot as my fatigue barometer. When my feet are moving everything is center mass. As I become fatigued, I’m hitting off center. Based on paddle scuff marks I’m very fatigued. Thanks for the post.
I too stay away from overhead slams preferring to dink. After a few games, I lose track of score and whose turn it is to serve. I attributed it to being 74. As the temp approaches 90, it happens quicker. I never thought it might be due to the Lupron…
I stopped at our local specialty store to try coconut water this morning. $4.95 for a 6oz bottle. I imagine that you have to smash a lot of shells to oz of liquid, but it is pricey. I couldn’t bring myself to buy it. I was worried about if I liked it what would I do? Lol
Stop the Gatorade, it’s killing you! Besides a ton of sugar, it’s totally acidic, pulling the fluids from your body, not to mention the dyes. Please do your self a favor, find a packet of electrolyte drink mix, dump in your gallon of alkiline spring water. You will feel much better. TM, you will enjoy your own mix and never go back to that horrible drink!
Of course you are right. I drink the zero, which adds more chemicals, instead of sugar. Prior to cancer, I drank water and felt fine. But, the Gatorade has really helped since my battle began. Earlier another poster recommended the powder, which I bought. But, I also noticed electrolyte drink mixes, which I will try as well. The issue is I like the sweetness, so I’ll end up adding more chemicals to the mix anyone. Thanks!
TM I will send you a picture. You can order it on Amazon. Oh, that’s even worse then the sugar, please no artificial sweeteners. Love your self, and do this. It’s your valentines gift to your self. ❤️
No, I’m the one that is sorry. I didn’t intend my response to sound flip. My wife buys every natural sweeteners she can find to get me off of the chemicals and I immediately go back to what I like. She is now your biggest fan!
you didn’t sound flip at all, I can’t tell you how much I understand. ❤️
It is time to see your Cardiologist. I can tell you from experience the effects of dehydration. First if your urine is not clear or at least light yellow, you need fluids.
Water is best, however replacing electrolytes are needed. BTW did you know that football teams dilute by adding water to their Gatorade because of sugar content?
I don’t know about fads. I think the word is a West Coast thing…. However your fluid replacement could be as much as eight glasses. Depending on many factors, like exercise, whether you live in a hot and humid climate, and your physical health.
The worst part of dehydration is that your kidneys are not flushing toxic urine. The kidneys have to work harder to filter. The end result could be kidney failure. In SE Texas,
I personally need eight glasses each day. I only drink electrolytes when I have leg cramps or during physical activity. BTW, when I Indian Pow Wow dance, I always have a banana and Gatorade whether it’s 70 degrees or 105 degrees.
Water and electrolytes is a source of life.
Remember that your heart is having to work a little harder to offset the fact that you have less blood volume due to a lack of fluids. And you’re having to circulate oxygen and nutrients at a faster rate. Your BP is approaching stroke or at least heart muscle cramp or loss of function.
An aside, ever wonder why a 42 year old marathon runner in perfect health has a heart attack and dies?
I wish you the best, let your urine color tell you whether to are properly hydrated because failure to do so affects your entire body. And see your Cardiologist to help guide you through life.
love to see your Indian pow wow dance! I find it interesting the number of responses that mention the sugar content of Gatorade. I wish that I had put Gatorade Zero in the title. I would have like to read everyone’s feedback to the chemicals in sugar substitutes. I can’t argue with your recommendation about the color of my urine, it and cramps have long been my guide. Thanks for the help and keep dancing.
• in reply to
Gourd, I heard they don't drink it all all, only pour it over the coaches head if they win. The Amazing Tom Brady would never let Gatorade touch those lips lol!
Are you taking statins? Age and statins are two factors that could be causing your erratic cardio numbers.
I have written about this before. An aunt was placed on palliative care. She had been in the hospital and back and forth to a nursing home for a broken hip and shoulder. I was called. She wanted to see me. I asked my cousin for details. I brought a shaker cup, whole organic milk, chocolate whey, chocolate syrup. soft boiled eggs and buttered wheat toast. She was 89 years old. She was hooked up and her vital signs were being monitored at the nurse's station. Her heart was bouncing between 115 and 155 bpm! She had a, I believe, triple bypass years before. She had afib several years before. I brought her a bottle of LE CoQ10. Her afib disappeared. In the hospital, I asked my cousin if she was still taking CoQ10 when I saw her hear wildly fluctuating. Ohh! Not since she fell and her hip and shoulder were broken. I asked him to talk with her doctor about CoQ10. Surprisingly her doctor was very receptive especially after hearing that CoQ10 had helped stabilize her heart before her fall. Even more surprisingly the hospital's pharmacy had CoQ10. My aunt's doctor immediately prescribed CoQ10 capsules a day. This was just before noon. My aunt was given one then, in the evening and the next morning. Her heart had stabilized in 24 hours to mid 80's bpm. That afternoon after my aunt had three CoQ10 capsules, a nurse assisted my aunt with a walker for a little exercise down the hallway.
I read MyLittlePeeps suggestion. I have a story about that. I had sinus problems for at times in the past. For a quick fix I went to a medical walk in in which a really cool, sharp old doctor with decades of experience worked. My friend Dr. Gordon. He was in his mid-eighties. He smiled and said hello saying he hadn't seen me for a while. I replied I had been lucky with my sinuses. He informed me that he'd had a heart attack despite watching his diet and exercising. This--was his story, which he told me in 2014.
He had a cardiac catheterization and some angioplasty by one of the top cardio docs--he was a cool old doctor himself and well liked and respected among his peers. Despite the treatment he had afib so badly that he wasn't hardly able to do his daily activities or return to what he loved, treating and helping others. It became sort of like Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme now with the top cardio guys doing tests, prescribing meds -- YEP! Just like the nursery rhyme goes--they all failed. Doctor Gordon began reading and came across info about CoQ10. He began taking CoQ10. His heart stabilized. He returned to work and he began playing handball again with his friend who was of the same age!
I would suggest the supps, PQQ and N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine along with CoQ10. I am "suggesting" not prescribing. Do your own research. Confer with your doctor(s) and then make your decision. As we age our bodies no longer make the same amount of CoQ10 as they did when we were younger.
Your Gatorade? Have you ever heard about "The Pickle Juice Game"?
Good examples! I have always been a very active adult and have never had issues with my heart. I was shocked when my pulse started climbing rapidly, I’ve never had a remotely similar experience. My doctor put me on a 5 ml statin when I hit 70. We argued for a year before I agreed to take it. I’ve never used supplements.
Folks: I appreciate all the great feedback. I just want everyone to know that I had a consultation with Cardiology this afternoon and it was decided that my B/P cuff should not be used to measure my pulse; and I lacked the symptoms for afib. Something is going on and it appears that the Nupagen is the likely suspect. I’ll meet with my MO on Thursday to further evaluate.
Left on my own, I would have never consider reaching out to cardiology. God I love this site. Everyone is simply fantastic.
First of all you're not supposed to drink Gatorade, you're to stand still like an idiot and wait till a whole bunch of guys dumps it on you......Then you're supposed to look surprised....
BTW I don't drink water cause fish fornicate in it............
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