Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

heart palpitations?

This is my first post on this forum.  Was diagnosed with hep c 3a in April 2010.  I am also HIV+.  I am in week 11 of tx with Pegintron and Ribavirin.  I had an RVR at week 3 and still undetectable at week 8.  Just had blood drawn again on Tuesday so waiting for latest lab results.  I am experiencing a number of the side effects -- fatigue, irritability, depression, hair thinning, insomnia, etc.  I am managing these the best I can.  But the thing that is bothering me the most is heart palpitations.  I can hear and feel my heart pounding a lot of the time.  My heart isn't racing -- it is still beating at the same rate but it feels like it is beating MUCH harder.  It's kind of scary and very distracting.  Makes it hard to concentrate on anything else.  I told my gastro about this on Tuesday and he didn't seem to take it very seriously.  Asked me if I was drinking enough water and getting enough salt in my diet.  Has anyone else experienced this?  If so, how have you dealt with it?  I welcome any advice or thoughts.  Thank you.
29 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
548668 tn?1394187222
Well done on getting to week 11;  it sounds as though your response is excellent!!

I relate to the fatigue, irritability, depression: (forcing yourself to eat, drink lots of water, exercise - even a walk around the block with a friend - all these things really help short term plus discussing a course of anti-depressants - some doctors won't let you treat without anti-D's).

Hair-thinning - that started about week 11 for me; it didn't all fall out but it seemed as though it was going to by the rate that was coming off in the shower.

Insomnia - I got meds to help me sleep;  insomnia can be worse if your thyroid is dipping (which mine did early because of a pre-existing condition).  The lack of sleep hit me at about week 4.

Strong heart beat - Have you checked your Hgb?  I'm not sure whether a low hgb makes your heartbeat feel louder;  it does make you more breathless.

Hopefully others will chime in.   From a lab perspective your RVR at 3 weeks is FANTASTIC, and if you're at 11 weeks, you've done a lot of the hard stuff already.  Take it easy and do your best to eat well, drink lots and demand what you need to complete!!
Helpful - 0
548668 tn?1394187222
oops - and Welcome to the site!!  I also forgot to mention that panadol (tylenol) became my wonder-drug - I've never used it when not on tx, but during tx, it helped me eat meals when I wasn't hungry, and get through some of the other nerve wracking or painful moments.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks for the encouragement.  really helps to hear it from someone who has been through this.  my motivation was high the first couple of weeks but now i'm in the valley.  I have moments when i don't think i can finish but each friday night i give the shot one more time and hope for the best.  thanks for the tips on managing side effects.  the doctor gave me Celexa for the mood swings which seems to be helping.  I'm also taking ambien cr for sleep.  i'm not a pill-taker by nature but you gotta do what you gotta do in this situation! am looking forward to my latest lab results and hope i'm still undetectable.  Thanks!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
one other thing -- my Hgb has dropped 4 pts since starting tx but it's only at 12...the doctor said he can't treat it with procrit unless it gets down to 10 so we will see what it is on the latest labs
Helpful - 0
1491755 tn?1333201362
Sounds familiar I am in week 22. Zoloft, and Ambien.  I look forward to getting off those too !  But they help big time.  My heart does fell like it's pounding a bit hard sometimes but my heart rate isn't increased just uncomfortable, followed by a slight numbness in my left arm.  My HGB went in the low 12's too but now has popped up to 13.1.  

Hang in there it's working !
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Congrats on your great early results!

As far as your heart palpitations...very often(especially early on in tx.) the thyroid gland goes  hyperthyrioid (overactive) and palpitations is a very common symptom off that.

Have you had your thyroid levels checked thru tx.? ..if not may be a good idea tos see if that could be the problem

All the best

WILL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks, Will.  I will ask the doctor about my thyroid levels in my latest labs.  I appreciate the recommendation.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i feel the numbness in my extremities at times, too....so weird.  glad to know i'm not the only one!  congrats on making it to week 22...
My HgB was about 16 when I started then dropped to 12 in the first 3 weeks, then stayed at 12 through week 8 so they couldn't really treat it.  I'm anxious to see what it is this time.
Thanks for advice and encouragement.  Much appreciated.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
supertex...  I had all of the same symptoms you mention including the palpitations.  I must say that I was glad to know my heart was beating but it was very annoying to HEAR it beating all the time, especially when I was trying to sleep.  I found that when I laid on my left side it helped with make the noise less.  In addition to the noise, I had a much faster heart rate also...usually 100 or more.  Once treatment was done, my heart rate gradually got back to my baseline (60ish) and the noise went away.  I have read of others having this side effect during treatment also.  I believe it has to do with the anemia which is brought on by treatment.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks meakea -- it makes me feel better that others have experienced this side effect and that things went back to normal...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, supertex, I know what you mean about the reassurance of knowing you aren't alone with the side effects.  I will encourage you to also continue to do what you already did...tell your doctor of all side effects even if your doc shrugs them off.  Keep up the great progress with your treatment.
Helpful - 0
475300 tn?1312423126
I get palpations  myself and what works for me is metroplpl, without bit my heat is pounding.    As far as the hemoglobin..............mine droped to 9.4 without any rescue drugs.    Good Luck

Denise
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello!
I went through the same thing -I even had chest pains and shortness of breath that freaked me out a bit...Week #10 is when it started big time, and by week 12, I had full-blown thyroiditis (causes hyperthyroid reaction) and I was put on Atenolol -a beta blocker that slows the heart rate. My HCT leveled off at 26.5 and my HGB at 8.5 (no rescue drugs for me!) when the meds began to slow the heart rate issue. Apparently, the accelerated heart rate also accelerates the hemolytic anemia....-Get your thyroid levels checked! -It may make the difference between successfully finishing treatment or not...(BTW, I'm a 3A also and a successful SVR for 2 1/2 years and counting!) ~MM
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks MM!  Really appreciate your input.  I had my blood drawn last week and have e-mailed my doctor letting him know that I want him to look at my thyroid levels.  Did your issues resolve completely after you finished treatment?  Congrats on your SVR!  Fantastic.  Hope I can get there, too.  It's nice to meet another 3A.  There don't seem to be many 3As at the liver clinic I'm going to -- the doctors, NPs and nurses always look at me like a novelty when I tell them I'm a 3a!  Thanks again.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No problem! And, yes, by the 6th month after finishing treatment, my thyroid issues had leveled out and everything else was great as well. Currently my AST is 14 and ALT is 15 and, for the most part, I feel pretty good.
Beware of the "brain fog" that gets worse with anemia! -It can sneak up on you..I recall once that I was on the freeway and forgot for a moment that I was driving! (I only drove very short distances at slower speeds after that...) Hang in there! ((((HUGZ))) ~MM
Helpful - 0
1385752 tn?1283950523
As my HGB dropped I noticed the same heart beat symptom of it being overly strong.
I have just learned to live with it - and not overly exert myself in cycling, lifting weights, etc.
This is a side effect of the medicine - be sure tp listen to your body!
Good luck!
Helpful - 0
1225178 tn?1318980604
I'm on week 39 and the heart beating in my ears, as well as the constant ringing and this other thing that cycles loud and soft in my ears. I kind of got used to it but I am really looking forward to the silence when I get done with tx in 9 weeks. My hgb has been in the 10s since week 3.

You can do this... it is amazing what we can get used to.

Diane
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
You should really ask your doctor to check it out.  it's nice to guess why this might be happening but your hemo isn't really that low and I do remember before I treated they did heart tests- so while its probably nothing it would be best to have the doctor aware.
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
PS My thyroid never came back to life it went quite hyper and then hypo but I dont really remember anyone ever saying that they had palpitations because of it. I'm not sure if that is even one of the side effecrts of thyroid disease.    
    
Side effects for Graves disease:
Graves' disease are identical to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, a condition that can be caused by Graves' disease. Classic symptoms include an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), nervousness, heat intolerance, weight loss, sweating, diarrhea, tremors, palpitations and exophthalmos (swelling of the tissue behind the eyeballs causing protrusion of the eyeball).

Graves' disease can also manifest with any or all of the following:



Shortness of breath

Weakness

Fatigue

Pretibial myxedema (lumpy, reddish-colored thickening of the skin, usually on the shins)

Double vision

Muscle wasting

Increased eye tearing

Infrequent or absent menstrual periods

Abnormal breast enlargement (men)

Increased hair loss

Diminished sex drive

Brittle nails

Even if you were to have a 'thyroid storm' I believe that is rapid heart beats not palpitations (and certainly I dont think you are having that at this time).
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Common symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidis
Palpitations
Heat intolerance
Nervousness
Insomnia
Breathlessness
Increased bowel movements
Light or absent menstrual periods
Fatigue
Fast heart rate
Trembling hands
Weight loss
Muscle weakness
Warm moist skin
Hair loss
Staring gaze


Palpitations is one of the most prevelant symptoms of hyperthyroid condition
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
Yes it's on there but at week 11 I am having difficulty thinking that the meds have caused a thyroid problem that fast......thats why I'd have the doctor check it out. Just because I dont remember having them is no reason that someone else couldn't, maybe I did and just dont remember it was so long ago.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
He may be having the Hyperthyroid condition as wk11 is fairly close to the start of treatment ..when it is overactive and then it may become Hypo.
Certainly agree when heart is palpitating a check from the DR. is warranted.

WILL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry... meant to say  "she"

WILL
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
Yes especially since it is a woman (I apologize I had thought it was a man too for some reason) it would be more common to have an autoimmune problem.  I was hyper then went hypo myself - but it was worth getting to SVR in the long run.

Definitely needs bloodwork done, I think (think meaning trying to think) that they commonly start doing the TSH around week 24 - I dont know why but mine did not do it before then.  I dont think that is that uncommon judging by when people usually find out it's happened. That is a good question what week did you find out - that could be useful for helping determine it for others.
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.