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Chest pains and heart issues

Posted , 12 users are following.

charlie19
charlie19

A major part of my CFS symptoms have been central chest pain and upper chest tightness. I have recently had issues with a racing heart rate and fluttering sensations. These can happen anytime anywhere regardless what I am doing, resting, sleeping, moving... 

As these are scary symptoms I have presented to emergency now 7 times in 5 months. Each time normal ECG, blood tests etc. I had a full heart scan last month, no major issues were reported. 

No question panic and anxiety plays a part once the symptoms start but they are not the cause. At present these are almost daily symptoms.

Does anyone else experience these? If so what are your explanations and experiences?

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • bob1970
    bob1970 charlie19

    Posted

    Heart related symptoms have also been my main issue for 4 years now on a daily basis. I had a 24hr ECG a while back and everything came back normal. Palpitations, feeling the heart beating really hard, skipped beats, feeling as though the heart is beating erratically.

    ME causes issues with pretty much all of the glands and what not that control bodily functions and the ones that control the heart are also effected. There is also the body permanently being in a mode where it is fighting against something or at least thinks it is.

    I have found stress and some foods or over eating make it worse so it might be an idea to keep a diary and see if you can find any triggers

    Search for this video on Youtube. It might explain things better: 

    22. ME/cfs and palpitations - Prof. Dr. F.C. Visser, cardiologist

    • charlie19
      charlie19 bob1970

      Posted

      Thanks Bob. I watched that video last week, interesting especially about CFS patients having a lesser amount of blood. Is that possible??? 

      My chest, heart symptoms are random at present, not always when I am active either...that is what I am finding it difficult to cope with. Regular visits to emergency in a small town is very difficult.

    • bob1970
      bob1970 charlie19

      Posted

      My heart related symptoms have been every day for 4 years now to varying degrees and it was a nightmare at first as I just felt like I could die at any moment. Even when I do nothing it's there although there are definite triggers that make it worse. Sitting, standing or laying down makes no difference. Laying down can make it worse weirdly as can laying on my right side.

      As time has gone by though I've learned to live with it. Not saying that's what anyone else should do but even when it's bad and my heart feels like its doing the tango or is going to explode out of my chest and my breathing is short etc, I just wait it out. I recognise the symptoms though so I guess if they changed then that would make me go for a check. My current plan is to ask my Dr for a 24hr ECG every so often to keep an eye on it.

    • tracy47348
      tracy47348 charlie19

      Posted

      Yes charlie! Low blood volume it is! That is also related to POTS symdrome. And dysautonomia which is our bodies/organs not functioning right . Salt and lots of wAter increase blood volume. Also saline infusions which are hard to get just anywhere. Ugh. A medicine called fludrocortisone?? Sp? Is also given to Pots patients to increase blood volume. I take Midodrine for my POTS becuz i have low bp and it raises it a bit.
    • tracy47348
      tracy47348 bob1970

      Posted

      Sorry about your heart pain for so long! I was like that for a good year till we figured out is was Pots. And just like you said Me causes issues with the glands and all bodily functions - dysautonomia. Which POTS falls under too. Have you tried beta blockers? They helped me at first then didnt. Finally cardiologist put me on midodrine but if your bp is already high they may try fludrocortisone . Ive been doing leg exercises while lying down when the heart pain kicks in. Amazingly it helps. They say blood pools in your legs which makes it harder for the heart to pump . Best of luck!
    • bob1970
      bob1970 tracy47348

      Posted

      I've discussed it with my doctor and we don't think it is POTS. These symptoms happen at any time whatever position I am in and don't increase abnormally when I stand. I think mine is more based around the sympathetic and vagus nerve dysfunction and also gut related.

      I've talked about beta blockers with my Dr but in the UK they will basically give you nothing for ME and often won't refer you to a specialist. I could see a private cardiologist I guess but my I think I'd rather deal with it myself and avoid medication if possible.

  • tracy47348
    tracy47348 charlie19

    Posted

    You may have pots syndrome which is common with CFS. It stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome which means when you stand up from a lying position your heart races. I have slight hypotension also which is a factor. Some people pass out when they stand up but I only get dizzy sometimes. My main symptoms are heart pain and palpitations. I swear I was going to have a heart attack or had a blood clot because my heart would hurt for few days but all tests came back negative so I am now taking midodrine which seems to be helping. Plus wearing tight leggings or jogging pants help. Also doing leg lifts to strengthen the legs helps a lot and eating a lot of salt and drinking lots of water. Good luck !it is scary!
  • Solsikke
    Solsikke charlie19

    Posted

    I experience these very symptoms myself, also with no sign of heart problems, and I agree they are not started by anxiety, as they can occur in any (usually quite calm) situation. But they can cause anxiety, because it feels serious.

    I am afraid I have no explanation at all, I have been searching one for years.

    I get heart fibrillation occasionally as well, and they are side effect of stomach medication which I was not aware of. I have stopped taking that medication, but the side effect persists.

    I would look at any medication you take, just in case.

     

  • s47448
    s47448 charlie19

    Posted

    Hi,  Just speaking from my own experience (cfs for 6yrs)  I always had the palpitations, pressure in the chest and what I think is called "Health anxiety". Mine subsided when I found out I had food allergies (very common amongst cfs sufferers) Now I have irradicated the foods, in my case cows milk, vanilla, coconut milk, soya and a few others, I'm now just mainly getting a milder physical fatique and other symptoms which come and go. So a food intolerance test has made a huge improvement. 

    Very importantly for me also is a clean diet, its proved time and time again, when I slip into unhealthy foods - sugar, bad fats, convenience foods, alcohol etc symptoms come on a lot stronger. So Iv changed habits for life because of this. 

    Have you noticed your symptoms worsening after certain foods? I appreciate its hard to tell because most of the time when we eat there's multiple ingredients in one go. 

    • tracy47348
      tracy47348 s47448

      Posted

      I have changed my diet for good too. Well i will have occasional sugar and dairy very little wheat but i can not tolerate caffeine, alcohol or chocolate. They say those are symptoms of POTS. I swore it was the chronic epstein barr virus wearing on my heart for so many years (and actually am not dismissing that thought) but when all heart tests came back negative i figured maybe it was POTS. My blood pressure isnt super low or doesnt change drastically when i stand or lay down but the remedies for it sure to help prevent my heart pain.
    • s47448
      s47448 tracy47348

      Posted

      Funnily enough I have similar findings I get strong symptoms after  caffeine, alcohol, sugar - all the nice things, I will have them occasionally but the power of clean eating is just to great to slip back into bad foods.

      I don't know much about pots, I will look it up.  

    • tracy47348
      tracy47348 s47448

      Posted

      Just testing this reply. I have not recieved any emails in 3 months so i was wondering if i accidentally unsubscribed myself or this sute folded? Lol

  • sueliz57
    sueliz57 charlie19

    Posted

    Hi Charlie,

    Can't say about the heart palpitations etc, but the tight chest and pain MAY be related to hyperventilating. I get this some days, especially when I push myself to move go the morning, think it's to do with adrenalin which can affect breathing.

    Hope this helps

    Liz

  • Beverley_01
    Beverley_01 charlie19

    Posted

    Hi Charlie,

    I have had cardiac arrhythmia, which causes palpitations and fluttering, for 30 years but cfs/me for only nearly 6 of those years.

    A doctor a long time ago told me it seemed that my heart was smaller than the cavity around it and so occasionally (usually positional or with excess food or gas) is knocked against the side of the cavity which causes palpitations. For me, if i change position, breathe deeply and hard or cough really hard-it usually stops. Sometimes i just ride it out.

    I've recently seen a muscular skeletal specialist who explained that my symptoms (chest tightess, eye problems etc etc etc) are not from physical damage. Not even my one freezing cold foot! It is the messages the mind is sending. This apart, I'm finding the idea of our blood changing with cfs/me interesting. Iron is important and i would definately look online for yourself about it's function as well as magnesium.

    Ironically, writing this is causing me some chest and arm issues! So will retire.

    Beverley

  • janet71271
    janet71271 charlie19

    Posted

    I have had ME for 22 yrs. During practically all that time I have had heart issues. It was ignored by drs for the first few years until a new endocrinologist Tom over from my old one who retired. He sent me to a cardiologist. I had loads of ECGs , including 24 he ones and 24 hrs blood pressure. Also A test where a monitor is on for a week. Was confirmed I have AF (atrial fibrillation )with some SVT ( supraventricular tachycardia ). Palpitations is a very common symptom with ME.
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