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Does anyone have rapid heartbeats before a seizure??

Tue, 11/15/2005 - 09:33
Topic: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Testing
I am a 26 year old female and have had seizures for the about 6 years now. The cause is unknown. Every month or so I go through "episodes" of rapid heartbeats. After a day or two they stop and don't start again for another month. Other symptoms include A tingling sensation, mood swings, and a really bad taste in my mouth no matter how much listerine I gargle. I don't always go into a seizure that lasts long but I have gone into a grand-mal a couple times. The Dr. I've been seeing doesn't think these episodes are seizure related and prescribed me paxil and then effixer. Neither worked and this Dr. suggested I see a shrink! I am changing to a new Dr. and am willing to have the brain surgery to stop these and have a normal life and eventually have children.

Comments

Re: Re: Re: Does anyone have rapid heartbeats before a seizure??

Submitted by abrannon1227 on Fri, 2006-03-24 - 10:08
Hi everyone! I just got released from an epilepsy monitoring unit after 12 days. I only had 1 seizure but I am happy to say that I got some answers. These rapid heartbeats are seizures. For 7 years doctors said they were probably panic attacks and were in no way related to my seizures. I knew they were wrong so I went from doctor to doctor until I found this great epitologist(a Dr. who specializes in epilepsy) in Detroit. He assured me he would do whatever it takes to find me some answers. He scheduled me for the monitoring unit in order to watch my seizures while being "hooked up" to an EEG. The 3rd day there I had one of my typical episodes with the rapid heartbeats. After the doctors reviewed the EEG they came in and said "you were right, they are definitely seizures". I can not describe the feeling of FINALLY! they believe me! I am now going through the testing phases to see if I can have the surgery. In the mean time the Dr. added Keppra to see if that helps any. I have been taking Lamictal for a couple years now. If you know something isn't right about what the Dr. says, please get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th.... opinion you are not alone.

Re: Does anyone have rapid heartbeats before a seizure??

Submitted by Reine on Sun, 2008-03-02 - 16:34

Missy; I am really glad you had the testing. I have rapid heartbeats just before I have a myoclonic seizure, but I never put it together until I read your post. Because it happens only on going to bed, I thought it was caused by my sleep apnea, and it would go away after I put on my breathing equipment, layed down (which triggers the full-body myclonus for me), and then my heartbeat was normal. It never quite made sense before, because I wasn't asleep when the rapid heartbeat started. Thanks for posting your experience, because my own makes sense now.

Marie Reine

Missy; I am really glad you had the testing. I have rapid heartbeats just before I have a myoclonic seizure, but I never put it together until I read your post. Because it happens only on going to bed, I thought it was caused by my sleep apnea, and it would go away after I put on my breathing equipment, layed down (which triggers the full-body myclonus for me), and then my heartbeat was normal. It never quite made sense before, because I wasn't asleep when the rapid heartbeat started. Thanks for posting your experience, because my own makes sense now.

Marie Reine

Re: Re: Re: Re: Does anyone have rapid heartbeats before a seizu

Submitted by life4me on Fri, 2006-03-24 - 13:21
Life4me This is information that I received this week, and I hope that you sign on. My doctors finally confirmed that I am Hypoglycemic--low blood sugar. Rapid heart rate is the first sign that I receive that my blood sugar is dropping. My heart beats so fast that I can actually put my hand on chest and feel my heart throbbing. Drinking a glass of juice or even soda allows glucose to your blood within 15 -20 minutes. That gives me enough time to eat something which will turn into glucose to the brain in 1 - 2 hours. Missing a meal can be a nightmare because the body needs time to process glucose and a seizure will still happen. Since eating on a strict schedule, the heart rate, sweating, disorientation, blurred vision have decreased. Remember when doctors tell you to eat 6 small meals per day? The in between meals snacks have become important. Check w/ your doctor about seeing an Endocrinologist who specializes w/ the blood sugar. I finally convinced my doctor just this week when I did my own blood glucose tests (My blood sugar keeps showing normal). My rapid is heart beat is definitely in the morning (of course because I haven't eaten in over 9 hours) My own tests showed me that @ 6:30am - I was 123 (normal), 6:45am - 119 (normal), 7:00am -98 By almost 8:00am, my blood dropped into the 70s and a seizure. That is how quickly my blood sugar dropped. I rushed to my doctor who confirmed that my increased heart rate was a symtom of Reative Hypoglyemia--shows normal on a Glaucometer, but the body feels that it is FASTING and going into anxiety. Waiting for my referall for the Endocrinologist now. I found a lot of info on the computer.

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