heart racing

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TerryNY
TerryNY Member Posts: 603
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
I have experienced heart racing after each chemo tx, finished AC and had a my first Taxol this past Monday. It seems to hit about the second day, lasts continually for about 24-36 hours and then off and on for a few more days.
The drs and nurses don't seem too concerned but it's very bothersome to me. It kept me awake all of Wed night because I was so scared.
I have a home health nurse visiting every day and she says as long as it's under 100 it's considered within the normal range.
I'm just wondering if anyone else has this SE and was there anything you did or your dr suggested that helped keep it a normal rate?
Today it was right at 100, yesterday it was 95 and on Tuesday, the day after Taxol, it was 66....I'm just so frustrated. I hate that jumping out of my chest feeling.
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  • maxgirl
    maxgirl Member Posts: 407
    edited August 2007
    Terry -- It could be the steroids they give you with treatment, although I think that effect is more immediate.

    I had a really high heart rate -- 125 -- and it turned out I was anemic. The heart was working harder to get oxygen to my body. Even now, 2 months out of chemo, my pulse often runs in the 90's.

    You may be running low RBC's right after treatment and then they could be rising again before your next treatment.

    I agree with you -- I hate that feeling!!
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  • Cynthia1962
    Cynthia1962 Member Posts: 1,424
    edited August 2007
    Terry - Are you getting neulasta or neupogen shots? They cause my heart to race and pause occasionally. It's kept me up many a night. My onc's office told me it's an allergic reaction to the shots and to try benedryl, but it didn't seem to make a difference so I just tolerate it. My heart rate is normally high (usually in the 90's), but it would go to 120 or more.

    I also had my heart race and pound the first time I was given the steroid with chemo. I think it was made worse because I had a large glass of iced tea afterwards. I only had that experience the first time, though.

    Good luck and I hope you find out what's causing it.

    Cynthia
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  • aimster1123
    aimster1123 Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2007
    Terry, I have this too, and I hate it! I believe it's the steroid, and it makes it so I can hardly sleep for about 8 days after chemo (I have a pump dripping in anti-nausea meds and steroids until day 6 after tx, so I won't throw up, so I have the steroids longer than most). THen I finally crash and I sleep like a baby but I'm EXHAUSTED for several days.

    I also had a similar, but even stronger, jittery heart-racey reaction to Compazine. This was helped by Benadryl. Have you been taking any Compazine or Phenergan as well? If so, the Benadryl could help. Otherwise I'm afraid you have to just tough it out. Ugh, I know, it's awful. One of my least favorite things about chemo, and chemo is ROUGH on me.

    My thoughts go out to you!

    Amy
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  • booklady
    booklady Member Posts: 70
    edited August 2007
    Terry, I've been having the same problem except that my heart rate goes through the roof. I've had two treatments and two episodes of SVT with heart rates over 150. Both times within 5 days of treatment. After that it fluctuates for about 2 weeks until time for another treatment.

    I'm getting lots of good info from you ladies that I can discuss with my onc because they haven't dealt with this on Taxol before.

    I've figured out that Neulasta is not the cause for me. Cardiologist said it was Taxol. But, I wish I'd asked him if the steroids were contributing.

    Thank you so much Terry for asking the question.

    Good luck Terry, how many more treatment do you have? Hopefully not many and you can get past this bend in the road and move on to happier and healthier times.
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  • TerryNY
    TerryNY Member Posts: 603
    edited August 2007
    You don't know how happy I am to hear that others have experienced this. I'm almost in tears knowing I'm not alone. I just can't get a definitive answer from the experts as to why my heart keeps racing.
    They cut my decadron dose in half via IV and told me to quit taking it at home, it didn't seem to make a difference so I'm positive it's a SE from the chemo.
    Actually, I never figured the Neulasta may be a cause for it but that makes sense as I get it 48 hours after infusion. I'm not sure I'm willing to take the risk of not getting that protection though. I'll try Benadryl the next time and see if it helps.
    I'll fight through this for the last three treatments.
    Thanks so much for all of your feedback.
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  • Charlie451
    Charlie451 Member Posts: 69
    edited August 2007
    Terry
    I have had the same problem. My onc's PA has been working out possible solutions with me. We thought it was the decadron, my thyroid medicine, or a combination. Then yesterday right before my 4th tx she read the specs on the antinausea med aloxi(spelling??) and found that it can cause a rapid heartbeat for a few days after treatment. So she switched me to kytril this time. I noticed a little fluttering sensation last night but not nearly as bad as before. I go for an EKG Monday to make sure there is nothing congential going on with the heart. I really want to get this figured out before rads later as my surgery is on the left side near the heart.
    Hope this helps. Catch you later on thr June chemo thread!
    Linda
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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited August 2007
    I also had the heart racing for a couple of days after my AC treatments. I had a MUGA test before I started my AC and then after my AC to make sure my heart tolerated the treatments and it was O.K.

    Sharon
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  • lizzyb77
    lizzyb77 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2007

    my mother is going through treatments right now. Today they had to stop the chemo because her heart was racing so much- but this didn't happen the first time. Any one else have this happen?

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  • hope_faith_love_2008
    hope_faith_love_2008 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2009

    It been awhile since anyone has posted here, but wanted to let you know that I have also had this problem. Heart racing, "thumping" really hard, accompanied by trouble sleeping (which I assumed was anxiety). Went to cardiologist last week, said it was most likely benign and called it SVT. Put me on 25mg Atenenol each day; and already it is better. I had a stress test Monday to rule out any heart issues, no results yet.

     BTW...no chemo or rads for me. Bilateral in May 2008 and 3 subsequent reconstruction surgeries. Heart issues started in Dec after last surgery.

     Atenenol really helping, racing is much less bothersome, and I have slept soundly for a week now. (Keep your fingers crossed!)

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  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 2,466
    edited February 2009

    Yup,  me too.  They said it is the decadron, and just a SE, but man, I could pull tractors with my teeth the night of chemo....on the CMF thread, we used to joke about doing laundry and e mail that night.

    It's a bona fide SE, they just say "no it isn't" which does not serve us at all....it is.

    (had my heart checked and rechecked, perfectly OK)

    Last chemo in July, hearts' been fine ever since I stopped them.

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  • Debbi5108
    Debbi5108 Member Posts: 182
    edited February 2009

    They said my heart racing was due to low potassium, but I had the same treatment as Terry

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  • sue50
    sue50 Member Posts: 61
    edited March 2009

    I have had the heart thumping (keeping me awake) for AC treatments #2 and #3. Seems to start on 3rd day after chemo and lasts a couple of days. Most noticeable when you try to sleep of course. Oncologist said not to worry unless it didn't stop....yikes.... or was accompanied by pain or shortness of breath. She wasn't exactly sure why it's happening.

    Debbi, I also have low potassium, on tx 1 &2, they gave me a potassium iv for it. I wonder if 2-3 days out maybe the potassium drops again? or maybe its the nausea meds or neulasta; some list arrythmia as a SE. The thumping calms down a day or so after I stop the nausea meds.... also I'm trying to help by eating high potassium foods when I can. (orange juice, V8, swiss chard, lima beans, bananas)

    Still haven't been able to stop it though. Any other ideas?

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  • nelia48
    nelia48 Member Posts: 539
    edited March 2009

    Since I am overweight, I had 3x the recommended dosage of chemo, and it was horrible with the heart racing and pounding.  In fact, I thought one day I would have to call an ambulance, as I could not catch my breath either.  After the third treatment, I really expressed how concerned I was, as I was also having a hard time controlling my temper (and I NEVER had temper issues before).  He took me off the steroids, and things got better after that.  I also got the neulasta shot, and some people say it is this that makes you so sick with all the other symptoms.  Maybe so.  But I didn't give that up to find out.  After the chemo was over, everything went back to normal and EKG's, etc., found my heart to be ok.

    Hope you get through all this!

    Cora

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  • sue50
    sue50 Member Posts: 61
    edited March 2009

    Thanks Cora,

    I'm bringing it to my onc's attention again. I'm glad you made it through with no long term problems, that's encouraging! A triple dose of chemo, I just can't imagine-- you are a trooper! Smile

    I'm thinking it might indeed be the neulasta, since this doesn't even start till the nausea meds are done. I'm not on any steroids. 

     

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  • debisongbird
    debisongbird Member Posts: 275
    edited March 2009
    Terry, I'm glad you brought this up as I had (have) the same problem. My heart beat was 110 when I went to Rads. They no longer take my pulse. No one seems to have an answer or anything. They did an echocaridiogram when it first appeared (during chemo) and it showed one of my ventricals (?) didn't shut all the way. But they said this doesn't cause rapid heart. And then they said I was probably born with the valve situation. I reminded them I also had an echocardiogram before any treatment and the test showed I was fine. No, valve not closing or anything. The second one was done close to my end of treatment. Anyway, re: the rapid heart beat my onc told me if I think I have a heart situation, I should go see my regular doctor, etc... No help there. I am waiting to see if it subsides after rads. Treatments can cause all sorts of weird effects. All docs seem to think they have nothing to do with their treatmentsInnocent.
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  • nelia48
    nelia48 Member Posts: 539
    edited March 2009

    You are right!  I was told that if I thought I was having heart problems, not to call the cancer center but to call 911 or get right to an emergency room.  All my oncologist had to say was that there might be some underlying heart issues and to see my primary care physician.  I don't have one right now, so that's out.  I'm just glad things got back to normal for me. 

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