Obsessed!

Has anyone else become obsessed with taking their pulse and/or blood pressure? I am constantly taking both my pulse and blood pressure to see if it is within normal range. I feel like I am going crazy or something, and my friends think I am super paranoid. The thing is, I do it because more often than not, my pulse is still quite slow, sometimes going down into the 40's. I am constantly dizzy (pretty much 24/7) but the doctor keeps telling me that's an inner ear issue. I feel like I am being misled or something?! Any input?? Also, does anyone experience a feeling sort of like you have a hollow chest? Or that your heart is barely beating or something? Sorry, that's the best way I can describe it?!

6 Comments

Think about this...

by dward - 2008-08-25 03:08:16

I am not sure if you have a PM or when you got it...

When I first got my PM, I was checking my pulse quite often. Never had issues with my BP.
Then I thought, this is silly. What am I doing?

I still check my pulse more than the average person would (every other day)

The hollow chest feeling happens. Still good to let your Doc know, just to be on the safe side.

Me too

by uvagershwin - 2008-08-25 05:08:00

Yes, I find I like to check my pulse frequently and I have no clue why I do it. My chest feels fuzzy like there are butterflies in it and I get very dizzy whenever I make sudden movements. It's all very confusing, especially when you are only 14! Definatly check with your doctor, I am planning on it. :)

Seek a second opinion

by Blueaustralia - 2008-08-25 05:08:03

When I had bradycardia I had the same symptoms low pulse, hollow chest feeling, dizziness, and weak legs.
I notice on your bio that you had your pm in 2001. Is it possible that your battery is running out?

Hope you find a resolution to your problem. Sometimes anxiety can cause a hollow chest feeling. Will be interested to see your outcomes let us all know.

Sincere wishes Billie

Dizzy vs Light Headed

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-26 01:08:32

This is an easy one to figure out.

Dizziness, also called vertigo, is cause by the inner ear. It happens with a sudden change in position of your head. Turning over in bed, getting up, turning your head quickly all cause it. The feeling is that the world is turning around. It is hard to walk straight. Maybe you had the experience as a child where you rapidly turn around in circles until you get dizzy. Unless you get real scared or panicky you don't pass out.

Lightheaded is caused by a shortage of blood flow to your brain. There are a number of causes for this. One common cause is that your blood vessels in your legs don't contract fast enough when you suddenly get up and blood pools in your legs. A more serious cause is when your heart misses several beats or drops to a very low rate. 40BPM is borderline depending on the person. (before I got my pacer I was down to 26 and not passing out). The feeling of lightheadedness is feeling very weak and vision fading or becoming sparkly. If it continues you usually wake up on the floor.

If it is vertigo one thing that will help in some cases is drinking plenty of water. With mild dehydration the fluid in the inner ear thickens and forms crystals which stimulate the sensing hairs in the inner ear. I live in the desert and my guideline is to drink enough water to need to urinate every 2 hours. That has totally eliminated my vertigo.

As for your taking your BP and pulse often I keep one of the finger type monitors handy and take mine often. It gives me an idea of what my average pressure is and I can use it to fend off an enthusiastic doc who wants to treat my hypertension based on one office reading.
You didn't mention whether you have a pacer. If you do there is no reason your pulse should go down to 40. If not you may need to wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours or so to get a history.

frank

to much stree

by dual pacer - 2008-08-27 01:08:44

Hi Frank is correct in his info. Also, sometimes we bring on this stuff by stressing about things to much. try to cut down every day by one time. See if this helps you out. In a week or so you may find you are checking both much less. If you have a pm then your hr should be at a fixed rate. ask the dr. about that. take care and care less about your pulse. you will feel a lot better.
good luck

patty

Fixed HR

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-28 12:08:29

Patty's comment about having a fixed HR may be confusing. The pacemaker will set a lower limit which results in a fixed rate if your natural rate tried to go below it. Otherwise, modern pacemakers use a variety of methods to give a HR that adapts to activity.

It can be as simple as sensing your atrial rate if it is properly regulated by your own natural pacemaker. This is used with AV Block and gives the most natural feeling. In my case that is what I have so my HR is kept from going below 55 but otherwise is in the 65-85 range with normal activities and goes up to 130-140 with strenuous exercise.

Another type uses what is called Rate Response where the pacemaker senses the movement of your body and tries to come up with an appropriate rate. This also works well if it is needed and is adjusted correctly.

frank

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