palpitations -rapid pulse after bypass - ThinnerTimes

bubbster · 08-08-2005, 09:36 AM

Anyone else have or know of someone who has a rapid heart rate after eating? My ~40 yo relative is 1 year post bypass and has had an otherwise excellent outcome. Ever since about 6-8 weeks out, she has complained of shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and feelings of extreme fatigue, usually after eating – but sometimes randomly too. Her pulse goes from a baseline of ~60 to 90 for no other reason at these times. It doesn’t happen every time she eats, but does happen several times a week. She is exercising daily - walking or running or at the health club - and is in the best physical condition of her life – clearly it in completely unrelated to her exercise tolerance. She has lost ~160 lbs and her weight has now stabilized. She has been through a zillion diagnostic studies, even including a cardiac cath, with nothing abnormal. She is extremely frustrated and depressed by this problem, in part because her doctors have no other ideas, but mostly because the symptoms are incapacitating.

I thought that these symptoms may someone be related to “dumping syndrome” but without actual dumping. Perhaps they are related to a condition called “autonomic instability” that might somehow have been caused by alterations to the innervation of the stomach by the procedure. I also wondered if the diaphragm could somehow have been affected by the surgery, which could conceivably affect sensations of respiration and the heart. In any case, I can find nothing like this in the medical literature or the internet. Anyone with any ideas?

Thanks.

bridgetgirl · 08-08-2005, 10:09 AM

Hey bubbster! Welcome, great question... something to think about. A question I was wondering was your relative ever on Phen Fen? It really did a number on folks heart, perhaps her symptoms can be showing at this time.... ?

We have a couple of active RN's on this board, Im sure you will get great feedback!

CharMc · 08-08-2005, 10:20 AM

I suggest that she keep a food diary...how many carbs etc. She should also note any adverse reactions after eating. After several weeks (or maybe days) she might notice a trend. I used to have similar reactions noting that they occurred after eating too many carbs, but then I am a diabetic. Her problem will undoubtedly be different.

She should then consult with her doctor or a nutritionist.

I hope your relative is able to solve this problem successsfully.

Charlotte

pambragg · 08-08-2005, 10:22 AM

Sounds like a classic case of "dumping" to me. Not all dumping concludes with elimination. I rarely eliminate when I dump, just feel like crap warmed over, rapid heartbeat, quick shallow breathing, internal shakes, etc..

bridgetgirl · 08-08-2005, 10:23 AM

Good point Charolette, journaling food intake is a great idea. I get that way when I have almost too many sugars or carbs....I get all that with excessive yawning as well!

Anyone else get that way they have overdone it a little? Excessive yawning? It lasts for like 20-30 mins and then just disappears!

bubbster · 08-08-2005, 10:40 AM

Thanks for so much info so fast. Yes, she was on phen/fen and a variety of other appetite suppressants, and her first echocardiogram even showed some borderline pulmonary hypertension but everything was negative after that and the pulmonologist said she cannot rule it out, but didn't think it was related.

Can other things trigger "dumping"? Oddly, one other specific thing that seems to cause these episodes is singing - she is a talented musician and that is one other aspect that has her depressed.

I agree about the diary idea. I suggested an "event" diary in the past but she gets so worked up about her symptoms that it was counterproductive.

lealphachienne · 08-08-2005, 10:49 AM

Could also be a vagal nerve response, which is hard to figure out and treat.

bridgetgirl · 08-08-2005, 10:50 AM

What part of town are y'all in? (or what state)

ginman999 · 08-08-2005, 01:38 PM

Low magnesium levels can cause irregular heat beats.

bubbster · 08-08-2005, 02:27 PM

Bridgetgirl, Well we are in North Central Florida, but we are originally from the midwest so we don't have quite the accent you might expect of a Florida cracker. Do you know what to expect from a Florida cracker?

http://www.floridahistory.org/floridians/territo.htm

We are not far from Bellamy Road. The OTHER Bellamy Road's namesake.

http://user.gru.net/leinart/bellamyroad.htm

ginman999, Based on her prior studies and symptoms, I am pretty sure its not related to any electrolytes or thyroid disease.