Heart rate going up after I eat?

[Raccoon117]

Lately I've noticed that I can get these episodes of a pounding/fast heart beat about 30-120 minutes after a meal and also get very tired. It varies but it can keep my resting heart rate 100+ and sometimes it will pound so hard I can see it threw my chest. No anxiety either, just wondering why this would be happening. It can last for about 1-3 hours and gets worse when I try to lay down. My heart rate has increased no doubt since withdrawal but this is a recent thing I have noticed... Just tired and a pounding racing heart from what I thought was random periods of time. It is annoying since I was pretty much down to only ringing ears a few days ago which have been hardly noticeable today =P

Still haven't really given that magnesium time to kick in yet, has only been two days. I need some feedback still =]

[Neko818]

That happens to me to...exactly! I had it when I took celexa a few years back and also during paxil. The only time I didn't have it was when I was taking atenolol ( I have mitral valve prolapse) I quit the atenolol when I found out I was pregnant and it's been 10 months since my son was born and I haven't taken it since. I thought it was happening due to my mitral valve prolapse. I have been thinking about going back on a beta blocker because that's the only time when it didn't happen.

[TryingtoGetWell]

Some of my most irritating symptoms include the ones you describe, which among others seem to get worse when I eat (sometimes when the food is still in my mouth) and when I sleep -- wake up with the symptoms during the night and in the AM.

Not anxiety with me either -- ironically, when I wake up with this during the night or AM, it's always after dreams I don't find disturbing (even very lovely dreams) or no dream recall, like when I was just dozing even for moments, including during the day. The few times I've awakened from vivid nightmares I recall, I didn't have the racing or pounding heart or other symptoms that tend to accompany this.

I too can see my heart "jumping" in my chest, and have shown this to doctors too. My heart rate is on the high end of normal but WNL, and my BP is fine -- at least when checked during the day at doctors' offices and such, but even when these symptoms are bothering me quite a bit.

I still get these and the other symptoms that accompany them (especially bad drowsiness, vertigo -- lightheadedness and extremely bad balance and poor coordination, shuffling gait, and others including what I described in a separate thread as a "maddening vibrating sensation" that can get so intense it's hard to think) but at least the heart racing/pounding and the "pneumatic-drill-like vibrating" sensation are getting less severe and less frequent (I used to have them pretty much all the time with almost no let-up).

They seem to all be withdrawal symptoms, although I have had bad vertigo and balance problems most of my life (withdrawal has made these worse, however).

I can't be sure, but I think the recent improvement in some of these symptoms -- the ones you're describing at least -- is due to my getting acupuncture to relax my autonomic nervous system. I don't know if it could be just a coincidence and I would have improved now anyway, but there is a pretty significant difference in the couple of months I've been getting the acupuncture treatments, although I still have a long way to go.

Certain foods and especially most nutritional supplements seem to trigger these symptoms when they occur when eating. I have a history of food (and other) allergies and sensitivitiies, but they're much worse in WD. Many of them do not appear on any of various kinds of allergy tests, but seem to be some kind of reaction to or inability to process certain elements in foods. Because of my history of such sensitivities, they may just be aggravating or triggering symptoms that would be occurring anyway, but you might want to try eliminating certain food groups at a time and see if it narrows down to certain foods triggering this.

I had to stop taking almost all nutritional supplements, even though they used to help me considerably before WD. I try to eat as nutritiously as possible, although there are so few foods that I can tolerate that that's difficult. Since acupuncture I've been able to add a few more (healthy) foods to my diet. (My acupuncturist found digestive disturbances when checking my pulses and is working on that.)

Why sleep also triggers these symptoms so badly in me I don't know; I know my sleep patterns are dramatically different not only from before WD but different from anything I've had ever before in my life. I don't know if it's the effect of WD on circadian rhythms or not, since dozing off during the day from uncontrollable drowsiness also triggers these symptoms, which can then last quite a while.

I don't know how much of this relates to your symptoms, but some of it at least may bring out other people's experiences and insights that might help us understand these symptoms better.

[TryingtoGetWell]

Originally Posted by Neko818

That happens to me to...exactly! I had it when I took celexa a few years back and also during paxil. The only time I didn't have it was when I was taking atenolol ( I have mitral valve prolapse) I quit the atenolol when I found out I was pregnant and it's been 10 months since my son was born and I haven't taken it since. I thought it was happening due to my mitral valve prolapse. I have been thinking about going back on a beta blocker because that's the only time when it didn't happen.

I read this after posting my previous post. A psychopharmacologist/psychiatrist I saw briefly a while back (couldn't help me but took me quite seriously) suggested testing for mitral valve prolapse. My doctor didn't think it was likely to be of any use but prescribed it at my request, but I never got the test done. Maybe I should.

[Raccoon117]

I first noticed it when it happened rarely about 3 months into withdrawal, when it was pretty bad. After about four hours asleep I would wake to this feeling (I heard this was pretty common), that was only a few times, now this is a daily thing about the same time every day. It usually just comes in the middle of the day after I have eaten then goes away once I decide to sleep... I doubt it is MVP, I don't think that runs on a schedule. For me atleast =]. Anyway, I wonder what I can do =[. I could go without eating all day. Haha.

Last march 06 I had my thyroid test and was as normal as possible, which is expected because i'm only 16 and there is usually only thyroid problems with overweight teens and other exceptions. I haven't been to a doctor specifically for this problem but when I use to get flutters and such I had atleast 3 ekgs, chest xray, bloodwork, and blood pressure has always been fine.. Never a single thing wrong with it.

I'm like super sensitive to adrenaline/sugar/caffine also, which doesn't help much. I have had that since about 2 months off withdrawal and can nearly send me out of a chair for something that would hardly phase me before.

It could be more of the subconcious anxiety I had since I got off paxil. I would get tons of anxiety symptoms but without it present (Until the symptoms gave me anxiety). Not sure, I need some solutions or ideas still. I don't plan on going and getting tested for more heart problems and everything unless my heart suddenly stops, then I might consider it.

What foods do you think would be best and what would be worse? Probably avoiding stuff with tons of seasoning and everything, and sweets of course. Today all I had was pizza... basically bread, cheese, sauce, and pepperoni. I don't know what to think.

[TryingtoGetWell]

Raccoon,

What you mention is why I canceled the appointments for heart tests and haven't bothered to reschedule. It really seems to be withdrawal symptoms, and there's not much conventional medicine can do for that.

As for determining what foods might be triggering symptoms, best way to check is to eat simple meals without added ingredients, one food at a time if possible, to try to narrow down what you could be sensitive to. That's the best way by far, although very boring. You write down what you eat when, and what time you have symptoms, and try to find patterns to them.

Some foods or even nutrients in foods seem to trigger the worse reactions in me. But when my symptoms are bad on a "bad" day, any food seems to trigger or worsen symptoms. Other days, avoiding things that particularly set them off made my symptoms much less severe.

Paxil alters serotonin in the body, and 90% of the body's serotonin is in the digestive system, not the brain. So being on SSRIs and withdrawal both affect the digestive system enormously, and like other withdrawal-related problems, that takes time to heal.

[Raccoon117]

I really want a try a Antioxidant formula/multivitamin thing. But I don't know if it would help, make things worse, or do absolutely nothing at all. I have a phobia about the heart pretty much, I feel closer to death when I feel and see it pounding in my chest. So this thing is unnerving, it could have nothing to do with food for all I know, it just happens in the middle of the day off and on for around 2 hours at a time. So frustrating...

I'll keep track and note down the times and such as it happens, but it could take a week to even find out anything worthwhile. Basically I need something to try while I am trying this, to not waste time if the latter doesn't work out.

To have no withdrawal symptoms any more but this, is dumb. My ears didn't even ring today, I went into a silent room and could hardly make out a ring. I guess it is the fact that I thought that the worst was over. I don't even know if i'm physically limited or at a risk for sending my heart into a frenzy if I take a damn jog.

[pax80]

I feel that too, I get so nervous, woah...
I took aciphex for a while and it helped, but as I stopped heartburn and meal-anxiety returned

[Neko818]

I just wanted to say that most cases of mitral valve prolapse will never affect your health. It is basically a benign condition in most people, but it can cause some irritating feelings...like when my heart races after I eat and if I get stressed out my heart feels like it's fluttering (it isn't really). I looked up the symptoms of MVP a few years ago and I found that many people with MVP also have MVP syndrome. Many are much more prone to anxiety and depression than the average population. Many are also incredibly sensitive to any medication, caffeine, so on. I'm not trying to diagnose anyone here...just wanted to share some info. Hope I didn't offend anyone.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Interesting that you post this...yes I "used" to get this...I call it a "floating heart rate"..that is the heart is racing and pounding without any apparent reason.
Now the pounding heart rate happens in the morning....this is also part of a "package".. ie.... muscle weakness.. light dizziness..then pounding heart..now interestingly enough lately...it goes away after lunch time. Not like it used to be.

All heart issues worry me, I have a good cardiologist that I can go to, but I also know this is all part of withdrawal. Like I said..the good news is it seems to be healing...slowly.

If your really concerned I would suggest you see a cardiologist just to rule out any "other issues"...but I am sure you're fine...its just so damn upsetting and stressful when it happens.
This is why when I see people zooming around..I say to myself..you don't jknow how lucky you are!!!
Regards, Johnny

[Raccoon117]

The whole super sensitivity to caffeine/sugar was with me two weeks since I got into withdrawal. I made the mistake of having a energy drink when I noticed that my arms felt as light as a feather. Before that I could have like two at a time. Good thing I don't get chest pains or flutters anymore, I tired a benzo out yesterday and it calmed it down a good deal, so did getting around the house and stuff. My friends brother had MVP and had a surgery or something to fix it. I haven't eaten today, no appetite today either. Probably a resting heart rate of only 70 right now. This is confusing but I refuse to let myself think I have MVP or some other illness, withdrawal has done weirder things to me then this.

[Raccoon117]

Well I haven't eaten yet today... and my heart is normal. I had mandarin oranges. And they didn't affect me which is a good sign. Guess if I eat certain foods then I will face the hearts wrath. I wonder what could have done it yesterday, the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that.

I didn't have the same thing each day, my choices must be very limited.

[TryingtoGetWell]

I find that some WD symptoms are worse some days, and others flare up more other days. Also, some days are better than others. A lot of people here have mentioned things like that and no one seems to know why. Apparently it's a result of the brain and nervous system's rebalancing itself, which means it's in a constant state of flux trying to get back into its normal balance.

I also find that one goes through different "stages" during withdrawal/recovery. Some symptoms will continue through different stages, some symptoms will come up for a while and then go away. Probably for the same reason -- nervous system in state of flux working on rebalancing.

So many people here (I'm one of them!) have been concerned because these symptoms can really mimic many diseases. Certainly anything of major concern should be checked out, just in case. But generally when people have had a lot of medical tests done, results are normal.

SSRI withdrawal thows the brain and nervous system into chaos, then the other body systems are in chaos from that, but it's not the same as actual disease of those body systems. It does feel like that though. I suspect it's because the different body systems are responding to changes they find puzzling, in the only way they know how. That doesn't mean there's anything actually wrong with them though.

As for exercise, I find that physical effort, often even very minor physical movement, can aggravate symptoms. It doesn't seem to be dangerous but it can make withdrawal worse. It's important to move and not stay totally sedentary, of course, but most people here have found that walking, sometimes non-strenuous use of a sedentary bicycle, and especially things like slow stretching exercises and maybe low-impact yoga (NO power yoga!) are best until one has recovered.

I don't think more strenuous exercise would necessarily be dangerous, in the sense of causing heart problems and such (though I just know, and better safe than sorry). But there was a thread here recently where a number of people, some quite far along in WD, said that doing aerobics gave them a relapse of initial or early WD symptoms they had gotten past, and that lasted days or even weeks.

My acupuncturist recommended t'ai chi for me -- not so much as exercise (she recommends walking for that, wants me to do a little walking, even just 5 minutes, every day) but for its therapeutic nature on the nervous system. I'm trying to find a good t'ai chi class with a knowledgeable instructor.

But I'd be wary of strenuous exercise until you're doing better, especially if having any heart racing or heart pounding symptoms, which I still have though that's getting better.

[Raccoon117]

I was able to weight lift and various other non-aerobic exercises without a problem, which is a good sign. My heart rate is still normal, I still don't understand why food would send my heart into that frenzy.

[TryingtoGetWell]

The fact that you can exercise like that is definitely a good sign!

The food problem will probably go away soon, possibly very soon. It could just be that the digestive process triggered it if you were having a "bad" day in WD (on "bad" days things will trigger symptoms even when they don't other days). Or it may be that "gut-brain" serotonin thing, relating to most of the serotonin being in the gut, and WD is the body trying to rebalance after SSRIs have thrown serotonin utilization out of whack.

[Raccoon117]

Originally Posted by TryingtoGetWell

I too can see my heart "jumping" in my chest, and have shown this to doctors too. My heart rate is on the high end of normal but WNL, and my BP is fine -- at least when checked during the day at doctors' offices and such, but even when these symptoms are bothering me quite a bit.

That scares me so much mentally, I hate it. I look at the heart as reminding myself that there is only a fine line between life and death. And I associate the heart with death O.O. Seeing my shirt even pulse is horrible. Pounding hard or normally I can see it.

[TryingtoGetWell]

Originally Posted by Raccoon117

That scares me so much mentally, I hate it. I look at the heart as reminding myself that there is only a fine line between life and death. And I associate the heart with death O.O. Seeing my shirt even pulse is horrible. Pounding hard or normally I can see it.

One thing that often isn't mentioned but is extremely common in withdrawal is fears one never had before, or reacting more strongly to things than one normally would. That's a withdrawal symptom in itself! It's from our out-of-kilter neurological state, and probably compounded by the fact that we're suddenly experiencing frightening-seeming things we were not prepared for.

Actually, everyone's heart beating is visible, though the hyperactivitiy of our nervous systems in WD makes ours much more pronounced sometimes. We just feel it and see it more, so we notice it when people normally don't pay attention to it happening!

This all gets better as you recover from withdrawal, and you'll go from being disturbed by it to not even thinking about it!

The mind can go to very distorted places in withdrawal, and it takes a lot of emotional strength to keep one's mind in line. When you think about it, for example, the heart beating is a sign of LIFE, not death! Try to overrule your withdrawal-confused mind (this is what I had to do for some time) and remind yourself of positive association. The negative ones are an illusion, but can be very compelling unless you actively stay in control. Believe me, I know. And I know that it self-corrects as you move on in withdrawal and heal It will for you too!