anaemia causing tachycardia?

[Beau2016]

I’ve been experiencing tachycardia every day for 18 months. Heart rate is totally normal lying down, POTs ruled out as HR sometimes fine standing. Things like walking upstairs can cause jump from 70 - 160, having a shower causes at least HR of 130 every day.

Interestingly it gets better the more exercise I do - start of a walk pulse rockets to over 160 after 20 minutes it calms down.

I also feel breathless and faint a lot of the time.

ECG normal, Holter monitor showed ‘minor’ issue but not sure exactly what cos cardiology can’t see me for 23 months!!

My ferritin levels are low 12 before I started iron tablets risen to 27 over 10 months.

I also take Methotrexate and folic acid but wondering if this contributes to anaemia.

how do I raise my iron levels??

My diet is good and I take prescribed iron supplements.

[Jacey15]

Perhaps take your iron tablets with orange juice and make sure you don't have tea when you take them. Orange juice assists adsorption whereas the tannin in tea blocks adsorption.

[Beau2016 in reply to Jacey15]

I've tried that, and I don't drink tea. My body just seems to use all the iron up, I can't seem to store it!

[soul22]

Hi nice to meet you

Sounds like auto immune anaemia I have two types on supplement

Sounds like you need

Dark green leafy veg

Liver

Orange juice with iron pill

No methotrexate and folic acid wouldn't do that.

I'm having same problem but less tachycardia.

Tachycardia can be to much caffeine it can cause fast heart

Any infection can

very distressing to you I get both in not on methotrexate at moment due to cancer complications.

Hope eases

Do not walk on standing or u will be faint I was told by consultant stand still hold on something till faintness goes.

Sending love

[Jolevans]

Hi, I have had a fast heart rate now for over a year it goes up and down all day but normal when I’m sleeping. Put it down to my meds but I don’t take any iron supplements. I’m on prednisolone and warfarin for APS and lupus.

[bookish]

Did you manage to raise your vitamin D level and what is your vit B12 like?

[Beau2016 in reply to bookish]

No one has ever tested these! I take Vit D every day as prescribed, no idea about B12.

[bookish in reply to Beau2016]

Ok, well vit D can go too high, so should be rechecked periodically. Your B12 - do you take B vitamins or not, your reply to RosieA seems to say that you are on iron and B12? Taking oral B12 can make it very difficult to get a diagnosis as blood levels may go up but it doesn't mean that it is actually getting into the cells to do its job.

[RosieA]

My ferritin levels dropped to 12. I was told I had iron depletion but not a anaemia as my red blood count was normal. Six months of iron (with orange juice as advised) brought it up to 24. Whoppee!! Consultant said some people just have low iron. Hum, iron tablets are rotten to take so I now just try and supplement with diet - dried apricots, nuts, green veg etc. I don't eat meat and I haven't for over 46 years so that ain't going to change.

Re heart rate: My resting heart rate is 60 but two flights of stairs will bring it up to 130+, especially during a 'flare' and I feel exhausted. I had the heart trace monitor for two weeks (normal) but echocardiogram showed pericarditis ( I had developed left hand chest pain when walking).

It's very hard to disentangle what is causing what but certainly active lupus made all my symptoms worse. I am struggling at the moment as I suspect my lupus is breaking through the Azathioprine - however trying to reassure myself that I have only been on it for a couple of months!

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Beau2016 in reply to RosieA]

Thanks Rosie, thats actually really helpful to hear.

My 48hr ECG results showed arrhythmia and ectopic beats with an impressive top HR of 174 - walking the dog!

As I also have a tentative diagnosis of POTs and low potassium, I've back on the fluids and salt treatment, as well as iron and B12.

I feel this IS lupus related because the higher dose of steroids I take the more it goes away.

Back to see Lupus consultant this week.

Its like a p/t job

[RosieA in reply to Beau2016]

Ha! Thank you for making me smile - it is indeed like a part time job. I do so hope you get some answers from your lupus consultant this week. Do let us know the outcome if you feel able. x

[Beau2016]

Thanks all, 48hr ECG showed arrhythmias and ectopic heart beats, probably due to POTs, maybe due to Lupus. Still anaemic

Off to see Lupus Drs later this week.