Heart Rhythm Problems

[GaryHB]

Morning all. I am currently very stable on my meds for rls and rarely have any problems, for which I am thankful. I take 50mg Tramadol in the morning and again at lunch and 100mg at night. In addition I take 75mg Trazodone for sleep at night. The only ongoing issue I have is with continual strong and strange sensations in my heart - almost like a constant shivering , all the time. In addition it pounds from time time time - although when I check my pulse it is still normal - it just feels like the pumping sensations are so pronounced. With these feelings sometimes comes a shortness of breath. Does anyone have any experience similar to mine and could offer any explanation or solution? I am unsure which med would cause this? I spoke to my GP a few months back, he checked my pulse and blood pressure and said all was normal and just ignore it.

[Joolsg]

I suggest you buy a fitbit watch. It monitors your Heart rate and notifies you of anything 'abnormal'. It would settle your worries.

[GaryHB in reply to Joolsg]

Great idea. Thank you.

[BoldMove]

Did you have COVID a few weeks prior to these symptoms?

[GaryHB in reply to BoldMove]

No I didn't. I have these symptoms all the time, every day.

[BoldMove in reply to GaryHB]

So sorry. I never had those specific symptoms until I had COVID which then caused this heart problem. My cardiologist put a special heart monitor on me which was kind of glued to my heart area with a powerful adhesive. Other than starting to itch my dry skin it did not bother me at all. It stayed for 7 days to the hour and was returned to him immediately where the entire 7 days of heart activity was recorded. It was done in conjunction with meds I will be taking for life. The cause was Covid induced A-fib, but there are many causes of A-fib. Untreated it can cause a stroke. Please see a cardiologist immediately.

[GaryHB in reply to BoldMove]

Thanks for your advice. It is likely I will head back to my GP.

[restlessstoz in reply to GaryHB]

Hi GaryHB, just a note on this... my daughter has similar heart sensations after a COVID vaccination. She has never had COVID but the vaccination caused long term heart sensations. They were harmless but most disconcerting for her. Just worth thinking about if it started post vaccination. My daughters symptoms settled eventually.

[GaryHB in reply to restlessstoz]

Thanks. My last Covid vaccine was years ago. This seems to be in line with the start of Tramadol.

[DicCarlson]

Yeah - I would also suggest a HR monitor. The most accurate use a chest strap which is somewhat uncomfortable especially if wearing it at night. Probably the optical monitors like fitbit are all you would need.

[SurvivorD]

Don't rely on a "Fitbit" to check your heart!!!!! GO TO A CARDIOLOGIST!!. Everytime I went to a new doctor and gave him my family history he would listen to my heart, do blood tests to check my cholesterol and all was fine. Only to find out when I went to the Cardiologist I had a blocked artery which they refer to as the "widow maker". 99% fatality if I had a heart attack. I had surgery and I'm doing exceptionally well.

[SueJohnson in reply to SurvivorD]

WOW!

[GaryHB in reply to SurvivorD]

Thanks, I think I will head to me GP and get it looked at.

[SurvivorD in reply to GaryHB]

👍👍👍👍

[Eryl]

I get similar symptoms if I miss my magnesium suplements for a couple of weeks, that's why I take four capsules of magnesium glycinate about half an hour before bedtime each night.

[GaryHB in reply to Eryl]

Thanks Eryl. I have started taking Magnesium too and it does help.

[fritzb43]

Here in the USA tramadol is the primary choice among RLS doctors (usually neurologists) for treating movement disorders, with dopamine agonists increasingly following into disfavor due to augmentation. I t has helped me very much.

With regard to trazodone, it is considered one of the "safe" antidepressants for RLS patients. It is also used "off-label" (an unintended use) for insomnia, but it has some side effects.

Here's more information:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trazo...

Personally I would find something else to help me sleep. Good luck, Gary.

,

[GaryHB in reply to fritzb43]

Thanks for your encouragement. And for the info. I'll check with my GP. I'm keen to know how much and when you take Tramadol and how long you've been on it? I have zero rls on it bit dosage is trial and error.

[LotteM]

I experienced something similar years ago when my doctor said I could increase my tramadol from 50 to 100 mg. It wouldn’t settle. My gp of that time said it was nothing, ignore it. But I couldn’t, it alwas present all the time. She didn’t want to take it seriously, not even do basic ECG or whatever basic heart diagnostics are available, and no change when I told her one of my maternal uncles died young due to innate heart problems. I never found out what is was, if it indeed was harmless or not. I finally saw the sleep specialist/neurologist I had been referred to and was given gabapentin in addition to the 50 mg tramadol. Didn’t help the RLS, but that is another story.

Long story short: take it seriously. If you can’t get better diagnostics, lower your tramadol daily dose and see whether that helps to normalise your heartbeats. You then nay need something else / in addition to help control your RLS, but first try to get rid of the heart issue. If it feels serious, please do take it seriously. It is your 🩷.

[GaryHB in reply to LotteM]

Thanks Lotte. Appreciate the advice.

[Nikos64]

I’ve experienced something similar and in my case I had frequent premature ventricular contractions. Aka as PVCS. I don’t think it’s the Tramadol specifically, because I’m on a low dose of oxycodone and I got them.

In my case they became bothersome and I went to the ER which referred me to a cardiologist. The cardiologist did a full diagnostic with tests and assured me it was nothing to worry about and started me on a low dose of metoprolol. This cut the severity and frequency of the symptoms. I was also warned to cut back coffee significantly. This improved my RLS but also along with metoprolol was good.

Regardless, this is your heart… so take it seriously and see a cardiologist. It may turn out to be nothing … but it’s good to be certain.

Good luck.

[GaryHB in reply to Nikos64]

That is such helpful advice. Thank you. Appreciated. All the best to you.