Re: Low pulse rate.... all of you who responded

[Guest guest]

I want to thank everyone for their input. I have good days and bad, as do we

all. I guess I am concerned because I have mentioned the low heart rate before

to doctors and no one has gotten excited. I don't seem to have any neuropathic

problems as I have been checked also by a foot doctor as well as having had my

vision checked annually. My thyroid numbers are in a healthy zone. I don't

think they will step it up unless something goes awry. I have blood tests every

6 months. The basic metabolic panel and an A1c. As far as the tingling at

night...the one time that scared me was that I was laying on my back, no

explanation for pinched nerve or anything, I didn't check my pulse rate at that

time, but I have noticed I do ride low, usually in the 40s at night. The 33

reading just startled me more than anything. At the very highest, before PF

dectected, under strenuous exercise, I was able to get my pulse rate up to 124,

but it quickly dropped to 100 and then below 90. I am overweight and cannot

understand how I can be so overweight and have a fit heart!! That is what the

cardiologists have told me again and again, but in Denver they suggested I had

mild hypertension. I just get scared because there is so much to keep in mind

with PF. I have the diabetes, a known arthritis (which doesn't seem to bother

me, but they keep telling me I have it). I was also diagnosed with " fatty

liver " while at my worst under the prednisone therapy. And then there is the

sleep apnea. I also have an ongoing sinus condition that scares me as it

interrupts with the CPAP and sometimes I just use my concentrator at night

because the CPAP just exacerbates sinus problems. I don't have an appointment

with my pulmo dude until March so I will try to document concerns and then take

them up with him. Is it advisable to look into a rhuematologist as Denver

suggested my PF may have connective tissue disease roots? I don't feel like I

am getting the full picture, but consistently I feel like the doctors are

suggesting that I just deal with it and quit " digging " for more info.

Stefani 61 year old Utahn

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009

>

> Stefani,

> While I don't think there's anything to panic over, I would bring it to your

doctors attention again. 33 is really low. It might be perfectly normal for you

but I'd want to be certain.

>  

> Beth

> Moderator

> Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

>  

>  

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: Breathe-Support

> Sent: Tue, January 5, 2010 5:29:13 AM

> Subject: Low pulse rate....

>

>  

> Something weird happened. Or maybe not. I woke up last night and checked my

sat rate and found a pulse rate of 33. I wasn't alarmed, because I felt fine. I

checked on the internet for low pulse rate and found out the normal range is

60-90 beats per minute. I did know I have a tendency for bigeminy (a double

heart beat) during exercise, but nothing anyone has ever gotten over-excited

about. I have had my heart checked many times... not because of low pulse rate

problems (I have never experienced dizziness or weakness and have always been a

classic shallow breather). My mother suffered problems with her thyroid, but is

on medication for that and is still alive and well at 92 (come February 12). I

routinely have my thyroid function tested (every 2 years) because of the family

history. I guess my concern is that sometimes (once every 2-3 months) I will

wake up during the night and have tingling in my arms and legs (sometimes both).

I usually start pumping my

> fists and flexing my feet to encourage blood circulation, but am concerned

that maybe I need something more. I was an avid swimmer as a youth and both my

brother and I typically will have a heart rate, when relaxed, around 48. We are

both able to take it from 48 to 42 within 5 minutes by simply concentrating on

it. We have made a contest out of it .... because we can, to see who can go down

quicker. I wouldn't call myself fit, though my brother is a runner and typically

more fit than me... though only a year different in age. We have both noticed

the low pulse rate before, but neither of us have doctors that have ever

mentioned any reason for concern. It was attributed to my quitting smoking years

ago as my pulse rate would drop without the nicotine stimulation. My brother

also smoked, but quit. I have thought that genetically, we are both subject to a

lower than normal heart rate and that was one of the contributing factors to

smoking... our bodies

> were driven to seek a stimulant. We have both quit, but now we both have low

pulse rates. Long story short, is this something I need to review with my

doctors? I have been to a cardiologist twice in the last two years, though not

looking at the low pulse rate. They think my heart is healthy. I have had

several different stress tests (the last one chemically induced) that I pass

every time with flying colors. They think I am nuts to be concerned. The last

heart specialist was upset with me because he said I should be more concerned

about my lungs (the pulmo-dude I had gotten the original ILD diagnosiss from was

from the same medical heart-lung group) and he thought I was wasting my/his time

by requesting tests on my heart. Of course, I was equally frustrated because I

thought the ILD diagnosis was too generic... that was when I met you all and got

to a center of excellence to find out I had PF (one of many forms of ILD). Long

story short, and root of my

> question... Is there still a reason to pursue the heart issue? Is there a

possibility my medications should be reviewed, or my heart should be monitored

for pulse maker consideration? Am I looking for trouble where it doesn't exist?

>

> Stefani 61 year old Utahn

> ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009

>

[Guest guest]

i take urso or ursodial for the fatty liver

the doc who made the diagnosis also recommended milk thistle -- over the counter

i stopped taking milk thistle after the transplant eval as it might interfer with post transplant meds

of course they all talk about losing weight to help with the fatty liver

i did get a hand out on fatty liver from the government publications and you can look it up on line

by the way, another thing to explore is which foods interfer with which meds

stopped eating grapefruit, don't remember which med it interfers with, but stopped eating it

then because of acid reflux, stopped drinking orange juice -- drank it my entire life at breakfast until 2006

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: Re: Re: Low pulse rate.... all of you who respondedTo: Breathe-Support Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 10:17 AM

Joyce and Stefani,

I too was diagnosed with fatty liver in 2002........ .interesting. .......I wonder if there is some link with PF.

Patti Indianapolis IPF 2007

[Guest guest]

I think it has more to do with weight or diabetes, mine was fatty before the

NSIP. Speaking of which I have to go on a insulin pump as I have become so

resistant that even though I shoot 400 units a day my A1c was still 10. Very

tired of falling apart, going to counselor.

Dyane Phoenix, NSIP 2002 Falling apart forever

>

> Joyce and Stefani,

> I too was diagnosed with fatty liver in 2002.........interesting........I

wonder if there is some link with PF.

>

> Patti Indianapolis IPF 2007

>

[Guest guest]

Dyane

Every time I see diabetes and counselor mentioned together it brings me

to point out that my counselor and others have found that depression

often is triggered up to a year before the doctors actually diagnose the

diabetes. She's had many patients she has insisted be checked for

diabetes based on her observations and ultimately they test positive for

it. So when you lump your diabetes and your NSIP, falling apart would be

quite natural. You combine the chemical imbalance of diabetes and the

shortness of breath as physical factors with the mental factors of the

conditions, then " falling apart " would be such a natural and expected

reaction.

> >

> > Joyce and Stefani,

> > I too was diagnosed with fatty liver in

2002.........interesting........I wonder if there is some link with PF.

> >

> > Patti Indianapolis IPF 2007

> >

>

[Guest guest]

sorry tohear about the insulin pump

my sister in law

a friend of mine

and a friends husband have insulin pumps and they seem to be happy with them

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: Re: Low pulse rate.... all of you who respondedTo: Breathe-Support Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 12:14 PM

I think it has more to do with weight or diabetes, mine was fatty before the NSIP. Speaking of which I have to go on a insulin pump as I have become so resistant that even though I shoot 400 units a day my A1c was still 10. Very tired of falling apart, going to counselor.Dyane Phoenix, NSIP 2002 Falling apart forever>> Joyce and Stefani,> I too was diagnosed with fatty liver in 2002........ .interesting. .......I wonder if there is some link with PF.> > Patti Indianapolis IPF 2007>

[Guest guest]

yes i do believe fatty liver has to do with weight

did not have diabetes at the time

but have been predisposed [if that is the correct word] for diabetes for a long time

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: Re: Low pulse rate.... all of you who respondedTo: Breathe-Support Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 12:14 PM

I think it has more to do with weight or diabetes, mine was fatty before the NSIP. Speaking of which I have to go on a insulin pump as I have become so resistant that even though I shoot 400 units a day my A1c was still 10. Very tired of falling apart, going to counselor.Dyane Phoenix, NSIP 2002 Falling apart forever>> Joyce and Stefani,> I too was diagnosed with fatty liver in 2002........ .interesting. .......I wonder if there is some link with PF.> > Patti Indianapolis IPF 2007>

[Guest guest]

back in the late 70's when the marriage was in turmoil i was in therapy

the psychiatrist ordered a 6 hour glucose tolerance with insulin levels at that time

the insulin levels did the opposite of what they were supposed to do

the dx was hypo glycemia

a precurser to diabetes at a later age

they put me on a diabetic diet

unfortunately the specialist who he sent me to re: the hypoglycemia, was involved with research regarding depression and glucose

i forget what kind of specialist he was

anyway i say unfortuate because he died at a very young age, before completing his work

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: Re: Low pulse rate.... all of you who respondedTo: Breathe-Support Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 12:36 PM

DyaneEvery time I see diabetes and counselor mentioned together it brings meto point out that my counselor and others have found that depressionoften is triggered up to a year before the doctors actually diagnose thediabetes. She's had many patients she has insisted be checked fordiabetes based on her observations and ultimately they test positive forit. So when you lump your diabetes and your NSIP, falling apart would bequite natural. You combine the chemical imbalance of diabetes and theshortness of breath as physical factors with the mental factors of theconditions, then "falling apart" would be such a natural and expectedreaction.> >> > Joyce and Stefani,> > I too was diagnosed with fatty liver in2002........ .interesting. .......I wonder if there is some link with PF.> >> > Patti Indianapolis IPF 2007> >>