[Ellie]

My heart has been pounding for the past few days, I mean it's to the point it's distracting me. It doesn't seem to be any more rapid than usual, but my heartrate tends to randomly jump from the mid 70's up to the 150ish range. That is normal for me, since I'm not normal.

However, this is growing annoying. At night time when I lay down I feel kind of short of breath, but I know I'm not. I can usually tell when I have anxiety and I've been fairly calm and I am very good at self relaxation techniques. No matter what I do, this will not die down.

Things I've noted since this began:

I've been a bit more off balance than normal, feeling shaky but not too bad.

I've noticed more jumps and declines in my heart rate than usual.

My right big toe keeps turning purple. Yes, just one toe. I have no clue what is up with it, but it looks like I smooshed it, but I didn't.

I've been ridiculously thirsty. I normally stick to juice or coffee, but I've been drinking everything in sight. I hate soda and have been drinking a lot in hopes to quench my thirst. I tried water, soda, juice, etc. Nothing seems to get it to go away.

I keep waking up hot and then waking up cold. It's like being pregnant again.

-

On the bright side, this has good timing since I go Thursday for an Echocardiogram which was scheduled for something else not related to this (rapid heart rate, low blood pressure concerned my Epileptologist).

I've been going through a big move, and recently lost a friend. But even with all of that going on, I've been in better spirits than I had expected to me. When I have anxiety, it feels much different. My heart pounding is so loud it's keeping me awake.

My last self-check was 98BPM although I'm not really good at testing myself, so give or take 10. I lose count a lot. It's more of a very hard beat, like I can see my shirt move kind of hard.

Any feedback would be appreciated, I'm open to tips to relax incase maybe I'm stressed and not realizing it.

Thanks

-Ellie

[Lara]

Wow, ellie, that must feel awful!

• The part aobut your toe going purple and the excessive thirst and being short of breath sure doesn't sound very good.

I'm glad you've got appointment to get this checked out on Thursday, but if it's worrying you in the meantime so much you should go straight to a doctor. Frankly, I'll contact the doctor now if it was me and these were all new signs.

I get stressed to the max. sometimes, but the stress doesn't affect the colour of my toes or make me thirsty like that, even when I'm in over-the-edge panic state.

You say that you're getting checked for rapid heart rate and low bp. I would think that would be related to the feelings you are experiencing.

• Have you lost a lot of weight lately or something?
• Any new meds?

Here's a simple relaxation technique that's posted on one of my TS sites. It's applicable to everybody, not just people with TS of course. lol

http://www.tourettesyndrome.net/relaxation.htm

Hope you feel better fast!

[Ellie]

They were doing my VEEG and noticed during my brain scans I had some 70 ish episodes (in around 48 hours) where this would happen:

My BP would go to around 70/40
My body temp would rise to around 101
My heart rate would jump to 150+

My Epileptologist wanted me to go to a Cardiologist as that seemed to be abnormal considering it happened when I was laying down, sleeping and sitting up (it did it no matter what I was doing).

I had a tilt table test which I gave no reaction (I guess that's abnormal too). My heart rate wouldn't rise or lower, I was given two injections total of isuprel which I guess is similar to adrenaline. That also did nothing. My doctor got kind of frustrated since they were trying to force me to pass out and didn't have much luck.

I feel when my heart has an irregular beat, it's bizarre - but nothing that alarms me much. I can get excited too easily which triggers a very rapid and very hard heart beat. Like if something startles me, it takes me about 5 minutes to get my heart rate back to normal.

Regarding my weight, I can't keep it on. It's been that way since I was a child. My top weight was around 115 and I was 7 months pregnant at that time. I can gain it and lose it. Even during the day, I can weigh myself 5 times and watch it fluctuate. They can't figure that one out either. I tried my best to gain, I eat at least 6 meals and nothing. All I can do is try to maintain what I have, but I never get to gain and keep anything.

I've had no new meds (yay).

It's hard to explain, but I can lay down and hear my heart beating it's doing that so hard. I can feel it in my throat, it's icky feeling. I don't know why it keeps doing that, but it's like it's working hard because it's making me tired.

I'm trying to hold off the best I can, we just moved so I am trying to avoid any extra bills. My doctors are never available except Tue-Thur so I'd have to go to an ER. I know it's stupid to put a price on my health, but sometimes you have to.

[Lara]

Originally Posted by Ellie

Regarding my weight, I can't keep it on. It's been that way since I was a child. My top weight was around 115 and I was 7 months pregnant at that time. I can gain it and lose it. Even during the day, I can weigh myself 5 times and watch it fluctuate. They can't figure that one out either. I tried my best to gain, I eat at least 6 meals and nothing. All I can do is try to maintain what I have, but I never get to gain and keep anything.

<snip>

I'm trying to hold off the best I can, we just moved so I am trying to avoid any extra bills. My doctors are never available except Tue-Thur so I'd have to go to an ER. I know it's stupid to put a price on my health, but sometimes you have to.

I understand the cost thing totally, Ellie. As long as you feel you're not in any immediate danger.

I was really ill some years ago with a serious illness and I lost a lot of weight. My bp went way too low. I always have pretty low bp all my life, but it got too low for comfort. [your 70/40 is way too low] The doctor got me onto some hospital strength type sustagen drink to try to put on a few kilos in a hurry. If you're underweight this might be a little part of your problem with your bp but I'm no doctor, I'm just telling you what happened with me, and I had totally different things going on for me than you do. Sounds as if the whole situation is pretty complex...

I hope they can get to the bottom of all these issues for you very soon. Just take it easy and look after yourself.

[Ellie]

It randomly stopped yesterday! My toe is back to it's normal color, also.

[Timo]

Hi.. I've read all the posts and I have the same symptoms as the thread topic poster. I have not been to a cardiologist or anything as I really dont have the money to. I have an accelerated heart rate, normally around 120, low blood pressure, and recently this winter my toes have turned purplish, sensitive and are cold the majority of the time (which I'm guessin is curcilatory). My older sister is a doctor and I am goin to confer to her when she has a free moment. By the way, I am 26 and male. I just dont know what to do at the moment. My older sister is a doctor for infectious diseases and very intelligent but lives 8 hours away and is extremely busy. I'm turning here to try to find answers for myself from other sources. Or atleast an idea of what could be the cause. Honestly there are nights where my heart beats make me think I wont make it through the night. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[algirl]

could be imbalance of potassium, B vitamins, the chocolate you eat or something else your taking in. Try fresh fruits and Brazil nuts... don't need many. They give you the fluid and electrolytes. Sugars lower your B vit and potassium. Anyone else have some ideas? >^.^<