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charlie1980 profile image
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Does anyone know if having heart palpitations are connected to fibromyalgia. I have been diagnosed with a low heart rate. But keep getting palpitations. Just been to the docs and have to have full blood count and ecg. Sometimes I really hate my condition. Grrrrrrrrrr

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charlie1980
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peck profile image
peck

Charlie1980, Sorry to hear your having palpitations as it can be scary.I hope your test come back good . Peck 🐤

Kim31 profile image
Kim31

I have recently been prescribed beta blockers due to palpitations so maybe it could be linked to fibro it's scary when it happens

charlie1980 profile image
charlie1980

I take amytriptylene aswell but have been on them for ova a year. Had low heart rate for 6+ years but only had palpitations for last 4 weeks

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3

Hi there

There's always a possibility I guess!

My story is very similar to Hidden 's.

My heart rate was going over 200 bpm and the hospital couldn't get it down.

The more they panicked the more my heart rate stayed up 😦

I ended up having to have an operation in the end to prevent them happening as the attacks were getting more frequent and each time I was having to call an ambulance (by order of my hospital).

I can explain in more detail if you are interested?

I take beta blockers now. My surgeon decided it was best for me to stay on them.

Wishing you less pain and more peace

Lu x

Administrator

charlie1980 profile image
charlie1980 in reply to BlueMermaid3

Yes if you could that would be great however mine is low

40 bpm

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3 in reply to charlie1980

Hi again

My heart rate is slightly lower than usual, although not as slow as yours. Mine is around 60bpm.

How on earth do you cope with yours being so slow?

Do you know what your heart rate is going up to when you are having the palpitations?

Once your heart rate goes up too high you are at risk of various things happening. I don't want to worry you too much about them, but if you are in any doubt at all, get to the doctors or hospital.

In the end I saw a Cardiologist who said that I needed to have an arterial ablation.

It is not a pleasant op (I know no op is pleasant) but for this operation you have to be awake for the whole time.

They artificially raised my heart rate so that they could see what was happening.

When I saw the Cardiologist after my op, I was told that around 30 per cent of women have an extra wire (sorry can't think of the right term for it!) coming from the heart that is basically like a no through road.

The heart pumps the blood normally, and then occasionally the blood tries to get down the no through road but realises it can't so tries to back up again. This is what causes the 'attack'. Not to be confused with a heart attack.

This is exactly how it was explained to me.

During my op they lasered the extra 'lead' so that the blood couldn't try to get down that route anymore.

I no longer have the attacks now, but I still do suffer with lower grade palpitations.

I have tried to explain it the best way I can.

I heard one Paramedic say to his colleague that I was obviously just having a panic attack, as the ambulance didn't get to me quickly enough and I ended up passing out.

I'm not sure if that is helpful or not? Apparently only women have this extra 'lead'.

I think that I should make it really clear that this is not what usually happens when we experience palpitations. If anyone is ever unsure the best thing they can do is to count their bpm or get someone else to count it for them.

When at rest I believe the normal heart rate is around 72bpm but I will go and check that out now. Palpitations are different to panic attacks.

Apologies if this is all a bit confusing! I am speaking from my own experiences. I started getting these attacks when I was in my very early twenties.

Lu xx

PS Just checked and a heart rate at rest can be anything between 60-100bpm. It completely depends what is normal for each individual.

charlie1980 profile image
charlie1980 in reply to BlueMermaid3

I just feel tired lots and when I sleep it can sometimes drop to 35 isherwood which is dangerous as heart could just stop but they have told me it's nothing to worry about! However my partner worries every night.

My bpm raisesto about 65 which is high for me and feels like I just run a race. They have said if I'm worried to go to a&e but feel like I'm wasting there time as other then a headache I feel ok. I had a test a few years ago where the raise the heart rate to 165bpm to see what the heart is doing which felt horrible to the point I nearly passed out. Just don't know what to do. I'm constantly worrying which isn't Helping

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3 in reply to charlie1980

I'm not surprised you feel tired a lot!

Have you asked your GP if there is a monitor that you could wear when sleeping?

Have you told him that you and your partner are constantly worried?

If not I'd definitely go and at least ask. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain xx

charlie1980 profile image
charlie1980 in reply to BlueMermaid3

The nurse practitioner i saw today didn't seem to bothered.

I couldnt get an appointment with my doctor. I have to wait 2 weeks+ to see my gp. I think next time it gets bad im going to have to bit the bullet and go to a&e and see if i can get some more answers.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi charlie1980

I am so genuinely sorry to read this and the official line is that heart issues are not connected to Fibro. However, some of the medications that we take for Fibro can cause palpitations / cardiac arrhythmia. I would be inclined to read that leaflets that come with any medications that you are taking as Amitriptyline can cause irregular heart beat (please see below):

Less common side-effects include:

difficulty passing urine – this can be a

problem in men with prostate problems

constipation

an irregular heart beat – care is

necessary if you have cardiac problems

dizziness – this may occur in older

people due to a fall in blood pressure

more frequent seizures in people being

treated for epilepsy

blurred vision

glaucoma

some weight gain or weight loss.

If you experience unwanted side-effects,

it’s worth continuing treatment as they’ll

usually lessen with time. However, if you

experience any unusual side-effect (not

listed above) while on the treatment, you

should contact your doctor immediately.

There’s no evidence that amitriptyline

is addictive or causes dependency,

especially at low doses.

I have pasted you the link for this document below:

NHS - Arthritis Research:

nhs.uk/ipgmedia/national/ar...

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

jewel8888 profile image
jewel8888

Thank you for explaining this, I have been wanting more info on this too. Charlie I sure hope you find the right medications to control it. I've had palpitations for months now and I also have panick attacks on occasions. Pain is causing the palpitations then if I get upset my bp goes over 180. This is all new to me since springtime when I had bad infection. My bp and heart rate are generally very low so they are just keeping me on xanax to relax the palpitations for now. During a recent biopsy the nurse almost cancelled my procedure because I kept dropping below 42. Hospital said to call the ambulance any time we are ever concerned so don't ever hesitate!!!!!

maggi999 profile image
maggi999

Have you considered discussing your suitability to have a pacemaker fitted. My mother in law had one fitted due to low blood pressure and low heart rate as this is quite debilitating. xx

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