My Heart Is In My Throat...Literally

RainbowSkye · Dec 30, 2002

Flo,

Have you made a decision to go to the doctor? There's not much any of us can do other than tell you this needs to be checked out. Many, many people have episodes similar to the ones you're describing and have no serious problems.

But, you won't know that until you get it checked out.

Here's my guess: I definitely think that ephedra may have something to do with it. Ephedra has caused many serious problems up to and including stroke and death. In previously healthy young people who have used the recommended dose.

In addition, you seem to have several health concerns: low blood sugar, abdominal pain, others concerned that you may be anxious or not eating properly... (And I'm not sure I have all of them as you seem to add some new info with every post.)

So, stop the ephedra immediately. Stop all caffeine including coffee, chocolate and tea (and any drugs with caffeine). Eat a balanced diet (I sound like my mom). Get enough sleep. Then get your butt to the doctor. You need a Holter monitor, EKG, treadmill and echo in addition to a bunch of labs. Then you can get the appropriate treatment and stop worrying about this.

Or you can have a syncopal episode while driving your car and kill yourself and somebody else maybe.

Flo1216 · Dec 30, 2002

Rainbow...you have a charming way of turning a phrase .... But I eat fine and I am no more anxious than the next person. And like I said , I take ephedra once in a while and it is LESS than the recommended dosage. And it happens when I am NOT taking it. But yes, I will go to the doctor after my semester is over, which is in 2 and a half weeks. Unless of course I have a syncopal episode while driving before then....

RainbowSkye · Dec 30, 2002

Flo,

I'm happy to hear that you've made the decision to go to the doc. Please let us all know how it all turns out.

And be careful driving.... (Okay, you caught me. When the cajoling doesn't work, I turn to the scare tactics.)

And continued good luck in school.

BTW, Florence is my hero.

hapeewendy · Dec 30, 2002

dont wait til the end of your semester to go get this checked

Unless the end of your semester is ohhhhhhhh tomorrow or so ...

good luck girl...

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Dec 30, 2002

Ephedra Side Effects

Ephedra side effects can occur even at normal doses. They include fast heartbeat Anxiety, jitteriness and insomnia Allergic reactions, including itching and hives. Higher doses of ephedra can potentially cause very fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, stroke, vomiting and psychosis.

Ephedrine is an active alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulant that produces increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. Ephedra has been reported to cause hypertension, hepatitis, nephrolithiasis, and sudden death in healthy, normotensive people.

Cardiovascular problems such as irregular heartbeat and respirations (may be profound and life threatening),palpitations, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, hypertension, arrythmias, chest pain and cardiac arrest;

Central Nervous System problems such as seizure disorders, psychotic episodes, severe depression upon withdrawal, anxiety and restlessness, paranoia, memory loss, muscle injury, convulsions, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks, insomnia and dysphoria;

Gastrointestinal problems such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and digestive problems; and

Pituitary Dysfunction such as weight loss, growth suppression, kidney disease and anemia. As an over the counter herbal supplement, ephedrine is not regulated by the FDA. Recently, however, the FDA has proposed to establish a finding that a dietary supplement is adulterated if it contains 8 milligrams or more of ephedrine alkaloids per serving within a six hour period or a daily total intake of 24 mg or more of ephedrine alkaloids. The proposition also requires the labels of such supplements to state that the product is not to be used for more than seven days, let alone several years. You have been told by a lot of people on this board to stop taking this drug- you know what you have to do. Ephedra can cause permanent problems, so the fact that you are having palpitations even when you are not taking it suggests that you need to see a cardiologist soon. Please keep us updated.

nurseleigh · Dec 30, 2002

You keep saying that these episodes happen when you are not taking the ephedra, but the damage is being done while you are taking it. Just because the symptoms don't happen til later doesn't mean that the ephedra isn't complicating matters!!!!

Also, you say you are no more anxious than the next person. Well, I don't ever feel very stressed out, even while in school and during major exams when everyone else would be sweating, but I started having major mouth pain. It seems that even though I did not think that I was anxious and stressed, I was grinding my teeth in my sleep and even during the day and just didn't realize it. Not until the excrutiating pain in my jaw started. Sometimes stress creeps up on us and we don't realize it until we start seeing physical signs and symptoms!!!

I hope everything is okay and that you make it the 2 weeks to your doctors appointment. You have already called and set the appointment up, right?????

Leigh

Jas honey · Dec 30, 2002

Hi Flo, and all...

You would benefit from an event monitor, you're quite correct there. This you keep for a month and record your rhythm when your symptoms occur. Ask your cardiologist for one. In my EP experience, yes, doctors do attribute these sx to anxiety, but when we finally get to do EP studies, we have found usually the person has AV node reentry or an accessory bypass tract somewhere. These are easily and effectively cured with ablation. Ask for a referral to an electrophysiologist after you see your cardiologist and have recorded some events with the 30 day event monitor.

everyone has given you other good advice, and let us know how things go! Best wishes! :)

Nancy

Love-A-Nurse · Dec 30, 2002

originally posted by 2banurse
hi flo,
as all the other posts say, go see your doctor. i would also have them check your thyroid.
kris

this was 14 years ago:

after having the halter monitor, going to one doctor who said it was stress, others thinking i was just "crazy" when i told them of the palpitations i was having, i went to a second doctor and it was confirmed, hypothyrodism.

i called the paramedics one night but they thought it was a joke too. before they arrived, i thought i was going to die. my heat was racing, felt like my throat was collasping inward and couldn't get my breath.

go to the doctor, it may be nothing or it may be something to be dealt with before it gets worst.

i will keep you in my prayers.

Love-A-Nurse · Dec 30, 2002

by the way, i wasn't taking any medications prior or during this time i was having the palpitations.

K O'Malley · Dec 30, 2002

Get off the Ephedra stat and hope that you haven't done any permanent damage. Why do women do stuff like this to themselves?

Flo1216 · Dec 30, 2002

Ephedra is also in cold medicine. The supplement that I occasionally take has less ephedra than that. And I take less than what it says to. I am not permanently trying to harm myself. Also, nurse leigh I KNOW how I feel when I am anxious. This is different. I know my body. I went to traffic court today and had palpitations when standing in front of the judge. They were different than my "heart in throat" palpitations. Please don't tell me I am anxious. I know the difference. Fear of being dismissed as anxious is what has kept me from going. Even when I was at work and almost passed out and my HR was 185, everyone was saying " Oh, you should get more sleep and eat better," Maybe so, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. I do appreciate everyone's input though... should I go to my regular doctor first or right to a cardiologist?

Flo1216 · Dec 30, 2002

Also the chest pain I get is always on the right side underneath my clavicle and is sometimes accompanied by nausea. I don't know if that is relevant. The pain is very mild, though.