Prolonged Tachycardia

[sfora1]

I'm a female in my 20s. I'm fairly active, eat healthy, consume very little (usually none at all) caffeine, and don't smoke or do drugs. My resting pulse is usually in the 60s or 70s.

For the past week I've had a resting pulse between 100 and 120 bpm. I went to the emergency room last week and they did an EKG and blood work. The only thing they said was that the EKG showed a short PR interval which was likely caused by an extra impulse pathway. I also had a fever of 101 which the doctor said probably caused the tachycardia. I no longer have a fever but currently have a pulse of 115 bpm.

I've also been experiencing chest pain, trouble breathing, a fluttering and pounding feeling in my chest, and fatigue.

I've scheduled an appointment with an electrophysiologist, but it's still not for another week. At what point should I be worried about the tachycardia? What sort of effects can prolonged tachycardia cause?

[Brandie51]

This sounds like the symptoms I have w/ SVT.  I too had a fever during my first SVT "attack" due to a UTI that I didn't know I had.  I went to the ER 3 times before I got in to see my cardio and they sent me home every time telling me it was probably just stress and panic attacks.  However, my cardio found SVT on a stress test and gave me a beta blocker to manage the problem until my ablation.  I know it's frustrating dealing w/ the docs and thier schedules somtimes but hopefuly he/she will get you fixed up soon.  In the meantime, try a deep hard cough when your rate gets high or splash some cold water on your face.  That somtimes helps.  Good luck to you!

[mum2four]

I have been dealing daily tachycardia for at least 6 month straight now. Thats when I bought a pulse watch and discovered it I'd been complaining of strange symptom for over a year now. After a buying a polar pulse watch with chest strap I have gotten as high 189 while walking very slowly carrying shopping. It was very hard to cope with. I was fianaly diagnoised with inapropriate sinus tachycardia and put on Ivabradine which has helped big time, but I can still get as high as 130 when I'm walking slow. Yet it takes a lot of effort to get my pulse rate high while exercising on a bike and even then. I have my Dr confused big time with my strange symptoms as I was not even feeling my heart beat in my chest when I was tachy.

I would susjecst that get a pulse monitor watch if you dont have one as it more accurate and it can tell you how often it happening and what you doing at the time etc. That was the only I proved to my Dr that I was not exagerating about the tachycardia my watch also records and I was keeping the info on a spead sheet on my laptop.

I still want a stress test done as I think some els may be happening when I'm walking. My BP monitor shows irregular heart rate at least every 2nd reading and almost every time after or between walking.

Just take it easy and keep records if you have to.

[sfora1]

It's been over 2 weeks since I went to the ER now and still have a pulse of 120 bpm (my normal resting is about 60 bpm). I saw the EP and all they did was an EKG and said it looked fine (although the nurse who took my pulse said it was high and abnormal). Now I have to wait another 2 weeks until they can get me in to do a stress test, echo, and holter. The doctor also said that unless my heart rate was 150 bpm for a 3 month period, it wouldn't cause any damage to my heart. But I find it hard to believe that tachycardia for this long could possibly not have any adverse effects on me.

[rilesnic]

I'm sorry, I mis-read your post...I see, you said the tachy was caused by the fever...my apologies...I was reading it as the tachy caused the fever...That makes sense, your heart rate will increase with fever, but did they say what was causing the temp? Did they give you any antibiotics?  I guess they are saying viral?  I do hope you start feeling better soon.  I would definitely call my PCP and see if there is anything they can give you in the meantime to help you start feeling better

[rilesnic]

My doctor told me that my heart could withstand 180BPM over an 8 hour period.  Did they give you any meds to slow down your heart?  115 is not that high.  I may be way off here, but I have never heard of tachy causing fever...Can anyone enlighten me???  I guess if they did blood work and your WBC were fine, you obviously have no infection.  Did they do a chest x-ray?  You feeling tired may be b/c of they tachy and you're body is not used to the rapid beat. Let us know how the appt. with the electro. doctor comes out.  Best to you!

[debbier]

Can you call your EP and see if they can get you in sooner, explain you have been in constant tachy or maybe call your primary dr for a quick checkup, a beta blocker maybe needed.  Good Luck!