Weird heart issues post op?

[hmal]

I'm a little more than a month from m second surgery(tumor removed from c6-c7) and my heart rate is pretty fast compared to before. I walked very slowly yesterday and my HR was the same as if I were running, and my resting HR is in the 80s to 90s. And every time I stand up, I feel as though I'd faint for a second.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Also, my fingers are permanently pruned.

[susan]

Hmmm I had surgery in January (tumor at C2) and in July I was hospitalized with a rapid heartrate-into the 160s and feeling like I was going to faint every time I tried to stand up. I've been on medication ever since.
I had "palpitations" from time to time since my 20s, but never where I felt faint. I have a prolapsed mitral valve and I always attributed the palpitations to that.
I think I have seen posts from other members with heart rate problems after surgery. Maybe it is stress?

[Todd]

i actually went and had a stress test with heart echo because my heart felt like it was out of control. your doing a lot of healing, so, your heart needs to move more blood around to those places where it's needed most. you can ask the doc for 25mg Atenolol. My heart rate runs 80 at rest all the time, even before surgery, since I was in my 30s. I also have high blood pressure. Atenolol slows down your heart rate, it's great stuff. I take 50mg and my resting heart rate is between 60 and 75.

definitly stress related. I was having problems sleeping as well. my heart would just pound. the beta blocker works great.

what do you mean, "fingers are permanently pruned"?

[jasonm]

Yeah I had that too for a while minus the pruning, but also palpitations. For me I think it was stress and anxiety. Youve been through a lot!

A doctor told me that if I had a heart problem it would have showed on the monitor during surgery. If something was there, they probably would have caught it after monitoring my heart like a hawk for 8 hrs. Many heart problems are discovered in surgeries.

How is your blood pressure? A common symptom of dehydration is a faster heart rate, and feeling light headed after you stand up. If you take your BP while laying down, sit up, and take it again while sitting up, your BP will often be higher.

Never hurts to get it checked out anyway.

[Guest]

Steriods, pain meds and some other medications can effect your heart rate. Since you just had surgery it may be anxiety and/or the stress of healing as you were already told by tgratehouse. It's a good idea to run this by your Dr(s) they'll have an idea of what's causeing it. I know by experience when it comes to your heart it doesn't pay not to go to the Dr...

[hmal]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll just keep watching it.
TG my fingers always look like I've taken a 2hour bath. When I goggle, I get a lot of stuff about dehydration, but I did see something about nerve involvement. Just wondering if anyone else had that. My hands are numb, so I figure that
Could be causing it somehow.

[Todd]

hmm, I don't have the finger issue. If you are dehydrated, you might want to make sure you're getting plenty of fluids. I'd see the doc about the fingers.

[hmal]

Nov 2, 2010 18:27:28 GMT -6 jasonm said:

Yeah I had that too for a while minus the pruning, but also palpitations. For me I think it was stress and anxiety. Youve been through a lot!

A doctor told me that if I had a heart problem it would have showed on the monitor during surgery. If something was there, they probably would have caught it after monitoring my heart like a hawk for 8 hrs. Many heart problems are discovered in surgeries.

How is your blood pressure? A common symptom of dehydration is a faster heart rate, and feeling light headed after you stand up. If you take your BP while laying down, sit up, and take it again while sitting up, your BP will often be higher.

Never hurts to get it checked out anyway.

Thnx...as for dehydration, I'm not sure. My skin is very dry, but I drink a ton of water every day. When I stand my heart goes from around 90to 120-130, and I feel faint. My blood pressure is normal whenever I take it. If it keeps bothering me, i'll call into my doctor.

[susan]

I think that if your heart is beating fast and you feel faint, you should probably tell your PCP. He/she might want to get an EKG.
It is true that if you have coronary artery disease, the stress of surgery, blood loss, blood pressure drops can cause a heart attack or angina.
You can have other kinds of heart problems that won't necessarily show themselves during surgery. I made it through surgery and the ICU without major problems, but 6 months later went into a really fast rhythm and I felt like I was going to faint. I have a different kind of heart problem that doesn't have to do with artery blockage. I have an abnormal electrical pathway in addition to the normal one that overrode the normal one. It's probably not going to kill me, but it makes it kind of hard to function when you can't stand up. Also if your heart beats really fast for too long it isn't good for it.
I think it is worth mentioning it to your PCP, he should know you best.

[hmal]

From everything I've read it sounds like anemia. I had a blood draw today, so we'll see.
I read that anemia is common after surgery.