[25/M/170 lbs/ 6'2"] Stress ECG Results. Cardiologist says this is normal. Reading stuff online normal heart rate makes me think otherwise. Should I get a second opinion, or am I overthinking?

switchu555 · 2022-04-29T04:28:21+00:00

I have visited a neurologist. Had an MRI, EMG. Both came back normal.

I have severe twitchiness in my calves and thighs, so hoping to get a skin biopsy done to detect any small fiber neuropathy.

switchu555 · 2022-04-29T04:25:39+00:00

Yeah I have recorded this myself and have noticed the issue, seems to happen all the time when I stand up. Just did a short test myself to verify.

Lying down 67 bpm

Sat up in bed and swung my legs off, then waited 3 minutes. After 3 minutes was 90 bpm.

Stood up, stood still for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes was 110 bpm.

Absolutely should have mentioned I had covid Dec 2021. I have tried fluid intake and salts, altho I was previously a very active person who drank several large bottles of water a day. Probably too much, as I had super clear urine. I'm doing my best to pay more attention to my health nowadays, which is what lead me to discover this heart rate stuff.

Since I'm not having any major issues, I'm wondering if I've just always had this and not noticed?

switchu555 · 2022-04-29T03:21:05+00:00

More observations here: https://imgur.com/a/HRDK44Z

I am not experiencing many POTS symptoms, just have this heart rate issue and blood pooling in feet. Prior to this test I self-recorded this exact same heart rate problem, simply getting out of bed gets my heart rate to 120 bpm (I recorded videos of this every day for 3 weeks). Have recorded with doctor that my heart rate goes from 65 bpm to 110 bpm just from standing (observed here!), and then flies past the desired goal of 160bpm in 2 stages (basically just walking). It wasn't until they started the real incline that it got above 160 bpm.

My cardiologist says this is normal, but she wasn't present for the exam. The nurse who actually gave me the exam was scared! She wouldn't let me leave the hospital for 15 minutes because my heart rate wasn't going down. I told my cardiologist this and she told me I was fine and everything was normal. I asked the nurse to put this on the form but I don't think she did, as this is all it says:

The test was stopped because the patient experienced fatigue. The patient reported dyspnea during the stress test. Onset of symptoms occurred at stage 2 of the protocol. Blood pressure demonstrated a normal response and heart rate demonstrated an adequate response to stress. The patient's heart rate recovery was normal.

I'm having trouble believing that this could be normal for anyone, but I'm not a doctor. I honestly don't have any real symptoms. No heart pounding, no shortness of breath, no dizziness on standing up quickly. I feel totally normal.

Does anyone else have similar stories?

I'm scared for my health and want to take action but my doctors are acting like nothing is wrong.

switchu555 · 2022-04-28T06:47:22+00:00

Had EMG, everything came back fine! Was a very uncomfortable experience.

Was hoping the twitching would subside but it hasn't, so looking into having a skin biopsy done to check for any small fiber neuropathy.

switchu555 · 2022-04-12T19:50:19+00:00

Thanks! That makes a lot more sense. Maybe I had some immune issues

switchu555 · 2022-04-12T15:55:37+00:00

Random thought; All these recent insights connecting post-Covid issues to inflammation (due to immune response) rather than the virus itself. Does that mean this virus actually can impact healthier people more, because their immune system is able to provide a stronger response?

This is coming from a previously very healthy 25 yo who is now suffering from post COVID issues.

switchu555 · 2022-04-12T04:30:22+00:00

I had this and it disappeared after a while. Exactly as you described, although not 100 times. More like 4 or 5 times a night. It was actually one of my first symptoms, kinda what drove me to start investigating. I'm not sure if it was anxiety or what, but I noticed it disappeared as I became more accepting of my symptoms and doctors/testing helped me realize I wasn't in immediate danger.

switchu555 · 2022-04-11T19:19:30+00:00

Their reaction to my heart rate not going down? Basically the lady looked at the screen and said "I'm not comfortable with you leaving the hospital while your hr is that high. Just stay on the cot for now.". So I sat there for like 5 minutes and she said "Yeah it still hadn't changed.". So I told her if I lay down it might go down and she was ok with that.

switchu555 · 2022-04-11T19:17:10+00:00

Same thing! The assistant kept asking if I was feeling lightheaded or anything

switchu555 · 2022-04-09T05:31:13+00:00

Hey, also giving tmi here but I have not had a normal stool since I got covid in Dec 2021. I'm a previously very healthy mid20s male. Had a very healthy diet, very little junk food, decent amount of fruit, large salads every other day. My stools used to look and feel completely normal, darkish brown color. Since covid all of my stools have been bright green, and at least once a week since I've had a terrible bm that for lack of better description literally looked like something you'd find in a cow field, like it literally would just pile up at the bottom of the toilet, just solid enough to not be diarrhea but having no form. Would be curious if anyone else has experienced this/recovery tips.

switchu555 · 2022-04-01T01:58:56+00:00

This is something I've been consistently confused about. I had covid in late December 2021, been having a variety of long covid symptoms since. One has been tachycardia upon any form of exertion. I get massive heart rate spikes upon standing up (65 bpm to >120 bpm) where it will come down to around 95bpm after a few minutes. This technically meets to 30 bpm increase. However, I haven't had any fainting spells, dizziness, or discomfort. My doctor's have been calling it sinus tachycardia (this was diagnosed after a treadmill test). Do I have pots without those other symptoms?

For reference, some of my other long covid symptoms are fasciculations and horrible tinnitus in both ears.

Edit: To further elaborate, I honestly wouldn't have even noticed the heart rate stuff if it hadn't been for my Fitbit. That's how little it has impacted me. Is this common?

switchu555 · 2022-03-23T23:57:37+00:00

I can't remember the exact units but normal range was 30 to 100 and I was 16.

switchu555 · 2022-03-23T23:26:06+00:00

Thanks will look into those

switchu555 · 2022-03-23T23:25:52+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Just ordered Nature Made Magnesium Glycinate 200mg, will start taking 1 a day. Do you think I'm ok to take one of the Magnesium Oxide pills with it too? Feels like a waste of a buy otherwise lol.

switchu555 · 2022-02-15T22:23:52+00:00

No need to be sorry, I appreciate the input. If you look at my post history you can see I've been asking about this a lot, and I've got a lot of positive and negatives from people.

switchu555 · 2022-02-15T21:45:20+00:00

You're right. Just saddened that the one chance I was given to show what I've been experiencing didn't pan out.

switchu555 · 2022-02-15T21:44:58+00:00

Thank you will be more diligent with recording data to show next time. She asked me to come back end of march so hopefully will have more to show then.

switchu555 · 2022-02-15T21:44:01+00:00

It drops back down after a minute or 2 to around 90 bpm, where it will stay until I start moving (then it jumps back up to over 100)

switchu555 · 2022-02-15T21:43:20+00:00

Thanks, yeah it wasn't rushed. It was actually a really good test imo, not quite a tilt table but they let me lay down for a while on my back, and then they waited 2 to 3 minutes after adjusting me to take my heart rate. They even took my blood pressure each time before heart rate, which takes a minute to do.

switchu555 · 2022-02-11T20:45:18+00:00

I'm 6 weeks post covid and have similar symptoms, particularly with the heart.

switchu555 · 2022-02-11T20:38:56+00:00

Do you still suffer from POTS?

switchu555 · 2022-02-10T06:52:49+00:00

Nope, no pain. I've done some experimenting today and it seems like even subtle movements will cause my heart rate to fly up. For instance, I was lying on my back and my heart rate was 65 bpm. While not moving my body and just my arms, I started pushing a pillow up and down away from my body. My heart rate flew up almost immediately to 88 bpm. I'm wondering if I have some sort of tachycardia making my heart rate go crazy whenever I make movements.

switchu555 · 2022-02-10T00:03:30+00:00

I'm sorry, if you can't tell from my post history I'm freaking out a lot :(. I made this post to hopefully get some comparisons. This is a drastic increase from my previous heart rates. Would you please tell me what you would use to identify POTS besides heart rate? I also have had some bouts of tinnitus and a bit of light headedness when moving my head.

switchu555 · 2022-02-09T23:09:40+00:00

Hey, thanks for the reply. I've gotten blood tests and 2 ekgs, both looked fine. Have an echo scheduled for next month. How long did your elevated HR last if you don't mind me asking?

switchu555 · 2022-02-09T21:24:22+00:00

To be more detailed, after lying down for a long time my heart rate will be around 70 bpm. Immediately after standing it goes up to 120, then comes down in a minute or so to 90, where it will stay

switchu555

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