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My wife is having some 'weirdness' with her Heart...seeking advice

Joe MatchetteJoe Matchette
in General Training Discussions

Team - here is a description of some cardiac and breathing issues my wife is having while riding and running.  None of the docs around here know what to do with her...there are not many 43yo, triathlete, breast cancer survivors with Exercise-Induced asthma....  I am hoping some of you all might have some insights.

Her current rx is: Dulera 100mcg 2puffs 2xDay and Albuterol 1-2puffs every six hrs, +before and during exercise

Here is her note:

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That heart thing happened again today during my first interval on the bike.  I did my regular warmup and was a few minutes into it when I felt like someone had reached into my chest, grabbed my heart, squeezed it like a stress ball and then slowly released it.  Just like last time, it took my breath away for a second and, while the whole thing lasted probably only a few seconds, it seemed to last longer.  I finished my ride with no other issues other than the usual effort of getting through the the intervals themselves.




The last time that I remember that happening was when I was between miles 12-13 at the MOA race.  Same symptoms and everything.  When I told the pulmonologist, he told me it was a heart palpitation brought on by an "elevated heart rate" because I had used my inhaler.  Never mind that I had last used my inhaler about fifteen minutes before the race start - two hours prior to the episode.  My heart rate was not elevated anymore than normal for my exertion level for either incident (I checked my numbers today when it happened).




Also of note, I've regularly had SOB lasting for 1-2 days after hard workouts since Racine 70.3.  Again, the pulmonologist chalked it up to being a crazy endurance athlete.  The last time I mentioned it, he just upped my Dulera from 100 to 200 mcg which gave me the worst headache of my life!  I'll deal with the SOB rather than that!




Uncle Wally thinks I should get a cardiac consult pronto!  He also thinks I should have a 24-hr heart monitoring since we have such a strong family hx of low heart rate (remember mine was 53 in the middle of the day last week)  Don't forget that he is also a runner (and fitness nut like yours truly) and had his first pacemaker put in when he was in his mid-fifties.

Comments

  • kimmydctkimmydct
    Prob not a bad idea to get thorough cardiac checkup. I have had heart palpitations and "weirdness" since I was a teen plus asthma (mild) and had a full exam with 24 hr monitor and echocardiogram just in case knowing about my previous condition. Everything is fine, I just have an occassional extra beat but knowing what it is (or isn't) may give you both piece of mind.
  • dellotadellota

    Hey there!

    I am an Emergency Medicine physician and I would definitely  suggest getting a cardiac consult which will probably include a Holter monitor (24-48 cardiac monitor), EKG and possibly a stress echo to see if there are any EKG changes during exertion. Hope everything checks out OK. 

  • new2703new2703
    Symptoms plus family history equals cardiac consult.
  • cgres123cgres123
    Sorry to hear of this Joe and as said above don't leave any stones unturned with this.
  • TerryOTerryO
    I'm a cardiac surgeon. She needs an echo. Huge red flag waving with "SOB 1-2 days after a hard workout". This does not sound to me like a heart RATE issue, this is concerning for a heart FUNCTION issue. I'm going to track the thread. Keep us posted and let us know what they find, if anything, as long as your wife says it's OK.
  • Joe MatchetteJoe Matchette
    Thanks to everyone for chiming in.

    Just to fill in some background: before and during her chemo treatments, she did have echocardiograms accomplished. Obviously these weren't "stress echos", but they came back normal. But that also begs the question of what baseline was being used, and who was doing the analysis.....

    We have a referral to a cardiologist and will use all this information to push for the tests recommended. I will update this thread when we have more information.

    THANKS TO ALL! This is just one of the *many* things I love about EN.
  • Joe MatchetteJoe Matchette

    Gen here.  Joe said I should write this update as it would be easier for me to do so than for him.  Still SOB and having heart "blips"/palpitations during workouts, as well as what feels like I've had too much coffee (racing heart rate?).  Feels like I have  brick resting on left side of my chest and that my bra is too tight.  Worse when I exercise.  Bone scan, chest x-ray and CT came back negative.  Surgeon now has me on Prilosec to see if I have possible reflux asthma.  No scope yet, but I sense that in my future...  So far (Day 4), only minimal change in discomfort.

    Cardiology appt today.  Sitting typing w/a 48-hr Holter monitor on.  Planning on a bike workout tomorrow and a run workout on Wednesday so I should be a HOT mess by Wednesday afternoon when I turn the monitor in -- not to mention how the monitor will fare (ewwww!).  Doc is the type that likes a challenge which I think I presented to her.  Luckily she cycles so she somewhat gets the athlete mentality, although she did ask me if I did "real" triathlons or "just sprints".  Echo and EKG done in her office, but she was holding her cards close and not sharing any info until she has all the info.  I don't know what a "stress echo" is & didn't think to ask her.  I was just laid there like I normally do.  Nuclear stress test on Monday.  More after she reads the data.

    Thanks for the good wishes!  Joe speaks so highly of all!

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