Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia

Hello All!

I have posted a few messages recently regarding rapid heart rates while resting or with very minimal activity. My doctor has me wearing a 30 day event monitor in hopes of capturing these episodes. She has pretty much narrowed down the cause to either Sick Sinus Syndrome or Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. I had another episode last night, but she is still waiting on the results to be sent to her office, so no definate answer yet.
I was just wondering if any of you suffering from IST could give me some input. What are or were your symptoms? What treatment did they use to control it? My doctor didn't go into much detail, as this was a conversation over the phone.

Thanks,
Amanda

2 Comments

IST

by Carol - 2008-02-25 10:02:17

Hi!
I was diagnosed with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia about 4 years ago after I had my first EP Study for A 2nd Degree Block (The block resolved on its own until October 2007 which is when I had to have PM). Anyway, I just always thought I was "out of shape" and "needed to exercise more", because my symptoms were rapid heart rate with minimal activity. For example 1 flight of steps would send my HR to 130 or more, taking a shower 120-130, and sometimes just standing up would shoot the HR up 20-30 BPM or more. Of course the rapid HR would cause some feelings of mild shortness of breath but other than that I had no dizziness, chest pain or any other symptoms. I was managed with Tenormin 50mg daily which worked pretty well for me...but I would still have some times when the rate would be very fast, but overall felt much better. My then EP actually directed me to the internet to look up IST and I suggest you do the same if you haven't already.
Since having my PM placed, I'm not as well controlled with the beta Blocker and have had to increase doseage. From my research, not a lot is known about IST and it is thought to be a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. If you are Dx with this please feel free to private message me any time to discuss and compare symptoms. Usually the Dx comes after everything else for rapid heart rates has been ruled out. Good luck!
Carol

Hi allan(41) here(edinburgh)

by allanrogers - 2008-02-25 10:02:41

Amanda

sorry to hear about your experiences with tachycardia
I know how frightening it can be.I have only experienced it twice in my life once back in 1997 after a big night out I thought i was dying had an ambulance take me to the hospital and was released 4 hours later and told that I had had a panic attack.Little did i know back then it was the onset of many years of mis diagnosed symptoms .I wont go over my medical history just to say i had over active thyroid have you had that tested? i had mine removed by radio active iodine which basically burns it out( it had been causing me sleepless nights for many years not to mention crazy fast heart beats giving me years of problems trying to get to sleep.

Last October i was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome and paroxsmal atrial fib- and the night before my pacemaker was inserted I had my second attack of tachycardia again I thought my number was up-

Got my pacemaker everything seemed better for first two weeks then attacks of a-fib started went to my doctor and he has put me on atenlol 25mg per day (beta blocker) it makes me feel tired all the time and i get really cold quick but it seems to fingers crossed keep the a fib at bay and hopefully the tachycardia i would take any medication to aviod that so my thoughts are with you and steer clear of all stimulants caffine and sugar
good luck

allan

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