Increased Heart Rate With Chemo

LW422

I know this topic has come up in assorted threads, but I'm wondering how many of us have experienced an accelerated heart rate with chemo? If you did and have completed treatment, how long did it take for your heart rate to return to normal? Which type of chemo were/are you having when this occurred?

I'm currently on AC, having had 2 of 4 infusions. My resting heart rate has gone from the mid-60's to the high 80s. So even when I'm sitting in a chair reading, it seems like my heart rate is much too high. Any type of exertion pushes it over 100 very quickly. Also, I get short of breath climbing the stairs which is so annoying.

I'm experiencing crushing fatigue for the past couple of days and wondering how long it takes to recover when chemo is done.

So tell us about your rapid heart rate experience and if it has resolved, how long did it take to get back to normal?

moth

I experienced that during AC. I remember hitting cardio zone just walking to the bathroom 😂 I did 12x taxol after and even during the taxol my HR was already improving. After I finished stage 1 treatment I was leading very active life , exercising etc pretty much right away. My resting HR never returned to pre cancer baseline (low 60s) but hovered low 70s instead.

I think for most of us it does just get better with time.

Oh and the fatigue is partly HR but mostly treatment. I figure chemo kills so many healthy cells that we're tired regrowing all those. Just rest when you need but stay as active as possible and you'll bounce back soon!

NatureYogi

LW422- Ditto with what Moth says, but also keep watch on your Hemoglobin levels. Mine got so low and I noticed my heart would race and I could barely make it up the stairs. I've had two blood transfusions and I feel better. I finished up chemo June 17 and had labs yesterday, hemoglobin level is still up.

Take care!

Spookiesmom

Be sure to let your MO know

LW422

Moth--haha, I stay in "cardio mode" quite a bit lately without breaking a sweat. Thanks; I try to keep active but right now I'm exhausted after doing laundry. Glad to know that most people bounce back fairly quickly.

NatureYogi--my hemoglobin levels are low (around 11.1) but I have not needed to have Neulasta at all during AC so far. My MO said as long as it stays above 8 he is not concerned Most of my blood work shows only slight decline and a lot of "normal" results so I'm happy about that.

SpookiesMom--my MO is aware but does not seem unduly concerned. I think an increased HR is fairly "normal" with chemo. I had an echo-cardiogram before starting chemo and I will have another next week (at my request). I know that AC can cause heart problems and that's something I want to avoid. I have a history of PVCs (Premature ventricular contractions) that are annoying but not dangerous.

LW422

I was hoping this thread would get more responses since I've seen a lot of people complaining about their increased HR.

At any "rate," my RHR seems to be dropping a bit; today it's hovering around 80 which is an improvement over last week. I'm not quite as fatigued as I was, either. Of course, I have AC #3 on Tuesday so I'm sure all my improvements will be wiped out again.

Aram

LW422, my heart rate was at mid 60s before chemo. It didn't change much during AC, it was still between 65 to 75. I have noticed my heart rate increase is mostly related to my period. I continued to have my period with AC, and after each period my heart dropped to mid 60s as normal. With Taxol my period has stopped completely and my heart rate is between 75 to 85.

LW422

Aram--weird how the different chemos affect us. I had no significant HR change while on Taxol but AC has my heart racing. I'm past menopause so can't comment on the period thing. My MO did stress (again) that dehydration can increase the heart rate, which may be part of my problem with AC. I have a terrible time drinking enough water because it makes me gag. Sometimes I think if I could just drink normally I'd feel better in so many ways. Taxol did not affect my tastebuds so I chugged plenty of water and fluids.

buttonsmachine

LW422, I think it is probably the chemo and you should talk to your MO about it. I've had increased heart rate with chemo, and the thing about AC and some of these chemos is you want to make sure it's not causing heart damage.

At the same time, being dehydrated can definitely increase your heart rate too - sometimes your MO can bring you in to the chemo room just to get iv fluids and electrolytes - it may be something to ask about if you're willing to do it.

Best wishes and I hope you find some answers.

LW422

Thanks ButtonsMachine! I'm scheduled for a followup echo-cardiogram on Wednesday so hopefully that won't show any changes since the one I had a few months ago. My blood oxygen level is fine, and my Apple Watch ECG gives a "normal" sinus rhythym so I need to calm down.

Also, I did a search on this site for "increased heart rate" and got PAGES of results, so apparently this SE is pretty common. Still scary, though.

I though I'd try to do a little more exercise yesterday and that wasn't such a good idea. The slightest bit of exertion really raises my HR so I suppose I'll hold off on that until after chemo.

HopeHeal

LW422 my hemoglobin did not drop during AC but really did during the subsequent Taxol to below 8, which triggered a transfusion treatment. However, my heart would pound in my ears while on AC and especially on Taxol. On Taxol the shortness of breath accelerated and would occur just from walking a short distance. After my transfusion I had no more heart pounding and felt a bit less exhausted for a while. However, with every transfusion our cardio system gets challenged so now my hemoglobin is dropping again and like you I get terribly short of breath from just going up one flight of stairs. As long as I sit around my heart rate feels o.k. even though it's logging in a high numbers like 78 to 92 when I go in for my infusions. Before cancer my resting HR was 65 to 75. It's hard not to be able to exercise and to slow down when we have so much to accomplish. One of the nurses told me short walks are good if we can do them and that can also get the WBC up.

LW422

I had my 2nd echo-cardiogram today and it didn't show any apparent damage to my heart. The ejection fraction hasn't changed much since I started chemo in February. So I will have AC #3 tomorrow and hoping to just get DONE with this. My heart rate is still high even though it's been a month since my last AC, so even when I get finished with chemo I expect it will take months for my heart to recover. So discouraging, and I hope my accelerated heart rate won't cause my surgery to be postponed.

mle42

LW422, my heart pounds out of my chest and I get super light headed standing up, for about the first week after each AC infusion, then it gets better the second week. At least, that's been the trend for 2 out of 2 infusions so far. The doc thinks I could be mildly anemic from RBC count dropping mid-cycle, though blood counts were normal before the second infusion. Anyway, you definitely aren't alone! I'm used to racing up and down the stairs and now I plod. Just giving myself permission to take it easy. It won't be this way forever. Since you did taxol first, after your AC #3 tomorrow, just ONE MORE chemo to go! You're almost there!!

LW422

Hi MLE42--sorry you're having the same SE, but I'm glad that it's fairly common. Not quite so scary when others are having the same type of thing. My heart rate seems to stay higher than normal all the time. I'm hoping it will return to normal soon after I finish AC. I'm also anemic but I think that is another "thrill" of chemo.

Yeah, I feel like after 15 chemos so far it has been my full time job! I will be SO HAPPY to see the last of that infusion chair.

My best to you for an easy time of chemo and a fantastic outcome! Thanks for your post.

Dicon

I recently posted on this subject under tachycardia. I have Afib despite the fact my 74 year old heart is strong. Woke up twice with pounding heart…120 sitting. I’m usually mid 60’s. Was even worse after second infusion. My cardiologist is familiar with what chemo does to heart rates. Increased my beta blockers and seems much, much better. chemo can cause nerve damage to hearts which mess with the electrical impulses. Probably a good idea to get an Echo cardiogram if it worsens.

We just get through one side effect and down the pike comes something new! Today I’m starting day 8 after infusion so starting the good week

LW422

Hello Dicon; I'll have to look for the Tachycardia thread. Thankfully I only have one AC infusion to go and I'll be done with chemo. I have had 2 echo-cardiograms since February and both were normal. Odd because there's definitely SOMETHING going on when my resting heart rate has gone from 60 to 83 and I get out of breath climbing the stairs in my home.

And yeah, like the other SEs aren't torture enough... now we have to worry about heart damage from this.

Good luck to you with your treatment.

LW422

I thought I'd report back to this thread. I'm 2 months out from chemo and my heart rate has pretty much returned to normal. It was quite worrisome for a while but hopefully no long-term effects.