Heart arrthyhmias and ablation

Thanks so much for this board! I have been dealing with lyme (Not a positive test, but bands 23 and 41 positive on Western Blot and company (positive RMSF) in 2016. Believe I actually got lyme in 2001 though, had all the sudden onset of symptoms (even an elevated sed rate), but no one checked and I didn't know enough to ask.

Anyway, all this time, I have dealt with heart palpitations, anxiety and panic attacks. Extreme fatigue at times....you know...a little of everything. All of that came on suddenly in the same week back in 2001 and has hung around since. Have had the complete workup by cardiologist, and I see an electrophysiologist in the same practice. My cardiologist's wife has lyme so I do trust him. In the past year or two, I have had pvcs and some svt. Actually, I think the panic attacks have really been svt episodes! I've had so many pvcs, etc while driving that I've now developed somewhat of a driving phobia because I'm afraid of wrecking or passing out. Anyway, fast forward to this past April when the electro heart guy attempted to do an ablation. My heart did not respond to any attempt to bring out the arrhythmias, so nothing was ablated. A week later, I feel a different rhythm and go to the local fire station just so I can get a copy of the strips to take to back to the cardiologist cause we all know how hard these things are to catch. The Rescue guys (so wonderful to me!) determined I was having afib (never had this before!) and I needed to take a ride to the ER because it wasn't stopping. My body is super sensitive so I feel ever little blimp or slight rhythm disturbance (even one pvc!)

ER lost my ekg for awhile and my electro heart guy finally has it now. His nurse called me yesterday and said I needed to come back in next week and talk to him about doing an ablation?! I just don't know what to do anymore. They did put me on a small dose of digoxin (no blood thinner at the time because they couldn't confirm the diagnosis without the ekg). Today they are calling in the blood thinner. My heart is in good condition, no damage, normal function, etc according to latest echo which was done less than a month ago. Very thankful for that.

I have been taking doxy again for a month due to an early spring tick bite (( I think all this heart craziness is due to inflammation and lyme flares. Since I started taking doxy, I have had NO heart problems. This has been the same at other times I've been on doxy. Could be the digoxin though too? Do I just take all the heart meds(now on metoprolol succinate xr and digoxin and now they want to add the blood thinner) and procedures anyway and keep treating lyme? Or focus on treating the lyme? I admit the heart issues scare me like no other symptom.

By the way, I have seen an llmd a couple of times (all I can afford). Get better, then get sick again if something causes stress in my body or emotional stress. I work only a couple of days a week now. Thank you if you"ve read this far. I would appreciate any thoughts.

Hi Saraeli,

Thank you so very much for your reply! It helps so much.

I have been diagnosed with POTS and dysautonomia. I'm fortunate to live near a Dysautonomia center, but dr there doesn't seem too receptive concerning lyme and co-infections.

I have taken a small dose (sometimes 1/4 a 25 mg tab) of atenolol for years and it did help. Symptoms became worse when I got RMSF. I now take metoprolol succ er now (still a low dose) which still seems to help. Then, I developed more palpitations, svt, etc. that seemed to become more frequent and make my daily life more difficult. I had pvcs 24/7 for weeks. Couldn't sleep. What do you do when having symptoms like these? Now the afib and more medicine. The electrophysiologist does scare me a bit when he says things like "Well, you don't want to have afib where your heartrate is 190 and you can't get it to stop"....that's why I had to go to ER. Because the afib wouldn't stop. I've had only one other episode of afib, and I was able to stop it (this was before digoxin).

I've also had some difficult experiences that have added stress to my life. My daughter had RMSF a yr or so before I did so I spent a lot of time helping her recover, dr appts, etc. while working full time. I had also helped take care of an elderly parent with Alzheimer's for a number of years.

I really appreciate the list of suggestions you listed. Perhaps an appt with the dysautonomia center would be helpful at this time to get a different perspective.

I was treated by an LLMD (my daughter was also treated) but after completing treatment, most symptoms returned and of course, get worse with flares. I've done some herbals but now concerned about mixing those with heart meds. By the way, my daughter has had no further problems. She is much younger though!

Thank you again. Very helpful and kind!

I was offered propranolol...by my previous LLND. And, I think it was for my POTS. (not sure why else it would be prescribed)

I declined it....maybe I should have tried it.

My pots symptoms are: pulse goes up to 130 bpm when I stand from sitting. That's the highest.
I am finding now sometimes...it 'only' goes up to 105 bpm....and even (rarely) just to 100 bpm.

But, if I'm up and down, up and down (like I was a few days ago planting my flowers in the back yard) - then it will get up to 120 bpm and stay there...for awhile...then I get fatgued and start sweating.

I will add that "exercise" doesn't mean very strenuous type things like extreme sports or heavy weight lifting, etc. Most of us are probably too tired to do that anyway! Exercise as a treatment for dysautonomia is like walking for 20 to 30 min or longer 3 - 5 times a week. Alternative forms might include jogging, aerobics, swimming, bicycling.

about medication: Myself, my daughter, and sister have all had to take some medication at some time. My daughter no longer needed medication after awhile and doesn't take it now. My sister and I continue to take a very low dose beta blocker.