Heart problems

[peanuckle]

Had to have explorative surgery yesterday and recovery room doctor said my heart slowed down and skipped. Was aware of a skip - noticed this after taking pred. Have been off pred for a year now. Anyone else experienced this?

[SnazzyD]

Hello, why did they think to tell you? Were they worried or suggest you have it investigated? Presumably they saw it on an ECG which can give a fair bit of information. It’s a bit difficult to compare heart symptoms without a diagnosis because skipping and slowing can be caused by different issues, concerning and not concerning. I would have thought it would be best to get a medical opinion really.

[jinasc in reply to SnazzyD]

I agree with Snazzy. You need to see a cardiac guy.

Mine turned out to be Atrial Fibrillation which is so common amongst people like me who are over 70. Causes no problem had it for a long time now and just take the tablet at 6pm and what is more they check you every week, then every two weeks then once a month and if you pass it, once in three months.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

What med. is it you take for AF jinasc. Have AF myself & take Apixaban. 2 tablets a day.

Previously on Warfarin.

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

Still take Warfarin. 2mg Sat and Sun, 3mg rest of week. However until 4 weeks ago I was steady on 3mg for 3 years, I ran into a bit of a problem and 5 days of anti-biotics always cause hiccups and because I was due for the three monthly check and I had just come off anti-biotics..............well as usual a hiccup.

I was offered another one, cannot remember the name. But unlike Warfarin, which everyone takes at 6pm in the UK, so the medics know that if you run into a problem, they can reverse it with Vit K and how much.

The t'other one, whose name I can't remember did not work like that.

I was given the choice, but I prefer to stick to older drugs, we know more about them because they are tried and tested and 99.9% of the side-effects are known and they know how to deal with them.

Personal choice, of course, I am not advocating that anyone else does this..........your body, your decision always.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Never had much consistency with the Warfarin reading myself & had monthly checks & alterations in dose for a couple of years. Yes, always personal choice.

[peanuckle in reply to jinasc]

Thanks jinasc. I am 82 so could be age related. Getting checked.

[peanuckle in reply to SnazzyD]

Suggested I get it checked. Have appt. with doctor. Thanks for reply.

[Linda369]

Hi Peanuckle, yes I often get this. Am on 9 1/2 Pred still. My husband has felt my pulse and he too can feel when it skips. Keep forgetting to mention in to GP as that is the only person I see for my PMR.

[peanuckle in reply to Linda369]

Thanks Linda - just wanted to see if there was a connection to pred.

[Grants148]

Hi Peanuckle,l am the same as Linda 369,my husband felt my pulse which was missing beats,l was made aware of it because of a pulse like tinnitus in my right ear.l went straight to the doctor,the first time it happened the doctor detected it and arranged an appointment with cardiology.l have had ecg’’s and heart monitors but it did not skip any beats when l had those,I find it very distressing when it does happen,but it always seems to settle down by the time l see the doctor .I had a PMR flare up a few weeks ago and l was awake all night with very irregular heart and pulse,l saw a doctor the next day but it had again settled down by then.My G P said that it is the PMR pinching the blood vessels in my neck that causes the problem,and so far nothing seems to be done about it.l was told that it is not unusual to skip heartbeats,it happens to a lot of people ,but l would ask to be referred to cardiology as a doctor did detect this after your surgery,and it is best to have it checked out.l hope everything goes well for you.

[peanuckle in reply to Grants148]

Hi Grants148

I too have a pulse in my ear but thought it was probably my sinus. Will mention this too when I see my GP. Thanks for your input - it's appreciated.

[Grants148]

Please let me know how you get on Peanuckle ,all the best.

[peanuckle in reply to Grants148]

Thanks. Will do,

[Janstr]

I wonder if it's PMR related rather than pred related?

After I had PMR symptoms, but pre diagnosis, I virtually collapsed after being in the spa pool at our local swimming pool ( in an attempt to relieve the pain). I was taken to a local A& E clinic who noted the missing heart beats & referred me to a cardiologist. After various tests she diagnosed benign ectopic beats & said it was nothing to worry about.

Post PMR diagnosis & in about the 3rd week of pred on a really hot day, I collapsed at our local cafe; the ambulance staff said that I was missing one heat beat in 2; this improved over several hours lying down in a hospital bed. I was sent home without being admitted.

Later, my GP wondered if it was PMR related.

I think you should be checked by a cardiologist.

[peanuckle in reply to Janstr]

Thanks for your reply Janstr. I will have it checked. Seems to come and go but it's worrisome.

[piglette in reply to Janstr]

My father a doctor had the same problem. It used to just happen out of the blue. The best was when he went to a talk on heart transplants by Christian Barnard and managed to pass out in the middle of it. The room was full of doctors and none of them seemed have a clue what to do!