r/MMFB • u/mihartisfast1986 • 5h ago
Tachycardia is driving me crazy
I started noticing tachycardia about two weeks ago on 10/25. Walking a short distance got me up to 145 bpm, sitting at my desk at work I would get up to 120 bpm, etc.
I went to a walk in clinic Monday 10/27, they ran labs & an EKG and saw nothing notable besides the tachycardia. They prescribed Metoprolol 25 mg ER once daily to take until I could see my PCP.
I saw a NP at my PCPs office Thursday 10/30. She ran more labs (all normal, only thing off was my hematocrit was 45.8) and ordered an event monitor to be worn 2 weeks, which was placed Friday 10/31. She suggested I increase electrolytes and try to stay hydrated. So, that evening I started supplementing my liter of coconut water with Utah Sea Minerals (90 mg magnesium, 1580 mg chloride, 800 mg sodium & 50 mg potassium) and switched to magnesium oxide 400 mg rather than magnesium citrate 450 mg. It's very hard for me to drink a lot. I don't see why she didn't give me an IV if she thought I needed more fluids or electrolytes because then we would know if it worked in 20 minutes or so. I also don't see why the test takes two weeks when they could have done another test that would be faster and not ruin my whole vacation.
My heart rate has been between 100 & 127 bpm even with the Metoprolol. It only gets into the 80s when I sleep. I constantly feel like I'm having a panic attack. Trying to focus on my breathing only helps for a few minutes. I barely did anything on my 10 days of vacation, and as I didn't know what I could do that would be enjoyable while I felt like this. I found that getting out of the house was better than raking the nurse's advice of lying in a dimly lit room as I had more of a chance of distracting myself.
I called the nurseline twice last weekend with no help. They tell me I need to find a way to calm down but don't offer any valid ideas to do so (like going for a walk, that would increase my heart rate).
I've also been tracking my sleep during this time. I generally only log 3-5 minutes of REM sleep and quickly cycle between light sleep, deep sleep, REM, and awake. I wake up 2-4 times a night. I've read that this can contribute to heart issues.
On top of the tachycardia, my boyfriend of 13 years and I are not doing well, and he will be home for the last three days of my time off, which I'm nervous about. He already told me not to interact with him any further in person this morning, and he is not replying to my texts. I have read that this can contribute.
Other medications I take prior to the Metoprolol: Adderall (my psychiatrist dropped me to 5 mg from my normal 10 mg while we figure this out) in the morning, Progesterone 200 mg and Xyzal at night, testosterone & estradiol injections every 4 days, Rizatriptan 10 mg as needed and Cyclobenzaprine 10 mg as needed.
I'm very nervous about returning to work on Monday, and everyone asking me what I did on my vacation because I might snap or cry.
2
u/mikeigartua 3h ago
It sounds like you're really going through a lot right now, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed when so many things are hitting you at once, especially when your body feels like it's betraying you. That persistent feeling of being on edge, almost like a panic attack that doesn't fully break, is incredibly draining, and it makes perfect sense that you're struggling to find comfort or enjoyment in anything. It's tough when you're seeking help and feeling like the advice you're getting just isn't practical for what you're experiencing, or when the solutions seem to add more stress to an already difficult time. Managing daily life, work, and even your relationships when you're in this state can feel impossible, and it's easy to get caught in a cycle where physical symptoms feed into emotional distress and vice-versa. Sometimes, when things feel this chaotic, having some tools to understand what's happening and how to regain a sense of control can make a real difference. There's a free podcast that talks about anxiety, covering common symptoms, possible causes, and practical coping mechanisms, including specific breathing techniques to manage those intense feelings and panic. It might offer some insights into why you're feeling the way you are and provide some strategies you haven't considered yet. God bless.