Heart Issues | Arthritis Information
I know there was an article posted a while back about RA and the Heart, but I am wondering if anyone has had heart related problems due to RA?
I have been dx'd with RA for a little over a year now, and it has progressed into almost all of my joints. I am seronegative, with bloodwork that for the most part is normal. However, this last summer when I had back surgery, the hospital became very concerned with my heart. My rate was resting at around 120. Now I have always had a fast heart rate, since I was a child, but they could never put it to anything. Well, not only was it fast, but it had become very irregular. Well, I kinda put it on the back burner, but then in Dec, my Rheumy suggested I go and see a cardio after the new year, so that was the plan. Well, the weekend between Christmas and New Year, I ended up in the ER with what I thought was a heart attack. I had extreme chest pain and it litterally felt as though my heart was pounding out of my chest. Well, my pulse was 140, my BP (which is normally really low) had jumped up to 150/98 and I was throwing PVC's all over the place. Well, they put me on a medication to lower my pulse and told me to see my GP. Well, saw him and he sent me in for a holter monitor test, and when the results of that came back, I was sent to a cardiologist. (Oh, and in between that time, I had to change the heart meds as it had caused problems with my feet...they would turn black and freeze) So, off to the cardio I went. He ordered an ultrasound, and I will be getting the results from that this thursday. I still get the chest pains and tightness, and even on the drugs my pulse is still always over 100. I asked the doctor about a connection with the RA, and he said most definitely.
So, I am waiting to hear what the results say on Thursday, but am curious to hear if anyone else has experienced any of these problems??
Hugs,
Deb
Wow you said the meds made your feet turn black and freeze. My father in law used to stom his feet constantly because they were asleeep. When we noticed they were turning black we made him go to the doctor. He got plastic viens put in his legs. Make sure they check your circulation in your legs. In his case it was a heriditary problem his brother had the same surgery.Well, they had put me on Beta blockers and apparently that is not a good thing when you have raynauds...so, they put me on calcium blockers and it seems to make it better. I still have discoloration and pins and needles if I sit for too long with my knees bent (think the swelling in my knees might be cutting off some circulation) It was scarey though...looked down one night and just could not believe the color of my feet...and it got so bad that I felt as though they were frostbite...that burning pain. I just have to be very careful now and make sure that they are always warm, because yes, they were very concerned about the circulation and even warned me it could cause skin ulcers of some kind.Well i would complain about that and have something done if possible. Your heart would pump better if you can get the circulation under control.Unfortunately I do have cardiac issues due to RA. I have an RA nodule that's caused rubbing and irritation to my heart which has resulted in a bundle branch block. I had an angioplasty in July and it was normal, except for the bundle branch block. This can lead to other cardiac problems so I have to visit the cardiologist yearly. Hopefully, you'll have all the answers once the tests results are back. Take care. LindyLindy, how did they find all this? What tests did you have to undergo? I just had the ultrasound, but my cardio is also talking about doing a stress test as well (the non-treadmill kind, as that alone would kill my knees, to heck with my heart) Are you on any medication for your heart?Hi Deb, The BBB was picked up on my preop EKG. My knee replacement was cancelled till I had all the testing. Was sent to a cardiologist, had injectible stress test, ultrasound, and another test which I've forgotten the name. There's no meds to take for this unless it causes a problem, then the problem will be treated. The anesthesia record for my knee replacement didn't show a BBB. Apparently it's intermittent, which in itself is very unusual. Lindy
Oh wow... Well, I have had about 4 EKG's and the holter monitor, which is what has sent me to the cardio and now the ultrasound and he is talking about the stress test. i have had 3 ER visits in the last 3 months because of this and almost found myself in there again last night. I guess maybe I will find out more on Thursday...though it is interesting to hear your story. Has it ever given you any symptoms??No symptoms to date. I've had pvc's in the past but they too were intermittent and I haven't had any in a long time. I think they were more stress induced. Now that I'm retired my stress level is just about non existent, except for RA. Lindy
I have an irregular heartbeat but my rheumy believes this was caused by enbrel, not the arthritis itself. Have you been on any meds that could of caused it? Some of our arthritis meds are worse being on then the actual disease.TenderJ...What are pvc's?Premature Ventricular Contractions -
http://www.medicinenet.com/premature_ventricular_contractions/article.htmNo, they do not think it is anything caused by my medications.
wow--thats too bad. at least if it was meds, you could just stop them. I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this---like the arthritis itself isn't enough to deal with. I wish you luck and hope they can get a hold of this for you without too many other problems.
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