What is your advice to me?

[rambha]

I am 62 male teacher, and was diagnosed a mild arrhythmia in Dec 2003. I think it was a Ventricular arrhythmia, as my records are misplaced.  I was asked to take Novo-Metoprol 50 mg twice a day, APO-Rampril 2.5 mg per day and aspirin.  I took these  medicine regularly upto 2006. My Dr increased the doze of Metoprol  to 1 and ½ tablets twice a day. Due to some irregular  schedule, I was not able to take Metoprol regularly. Then I decided to discontinue it in Jan 2007.

I am not taking any medication now. I have not got any complications so far. Now my office is shifted to 5th Floor. I suffer from elevator phobia. Due to this phobia, I climb up the stairs up to 5th floor. I find it difficult to climb after 3rd floor. I feel like taking rest, and breathing process becomes faster.

What is your advice? Should I start these medicines again? Or Should I work towards getting rid of my phobia

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

If it was ventricular tachycardia, that means you probably have normal heart non sustained ventricular tachycardia.  If the shortness of breath is new, I would talk to your doctor.  If I saw a similar patient in the office, I would do an interview, physical exam, EKG and then probably a stress test and echocardiogram.  If all tests came back normal, I would encourage to continue to exercise and take the stairs.  Normal heart VT is not dangerous and exercise is a good thing.

Sure, if you can work in the elevator phobia that is a good idea because I am sure there are times when you can't walk the stairs in other buildings.  The medications may or may not help with the shortness of breath and may or may not actually decrease the ventricular arrhythmia.  Normal heart ventricular tachycardia is usually treated with a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker first, in most circumstances.

Talk to your doctor about the new symptoms and then continue to exercise if they permit.

I hope this helps.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

probably not, but i don't have the records to know what the exact problem is.

[rambha]

Thanks for your helpful advice and suggestions.

This problem of shortness of breath is not new. When my DR. was adminstering the Treadmill test, he noted this and I stopped doing it before near completion time. I can walk up to 5th floor but after a two minutes break.

One year ego, I went to India and got my all tests done. These came out to be normal.

Is Beta blocker is a remedy and for how long it is generally to be taken.

Regards


David Ram