Hi,



I've had a condition since November 2007. It happened when i was taking a shower. For the hour or 2 prior my heart was racing mildly, then i bent over to pick up a towel and it's like something clicked or a switch went off and my heart just took right off (150 bpm). I couldn't breathe and I felt sick to my stomach and was a little dizzy. I have bad skipped beats which are very scary, but the worst is a very rapid heart rate that I get when just sitting up in bed and moving around, but especially when I stand up (heart rates spikes to 140 -150) in about 5 seconds, maybe a little more. My blood pressure also spikes. My heart rate also seems to spike badly when I eat a decent amount of carbohydrates and some sugar, even with the meds that I'm on. Those food reactions were happening since about 2005 though. I cut out all caffeine, MSG, wheat etc., etc. to rule out food allergies.

I had a holter monitor, thyroid tests, blood tests (all fine) and a heart ultrasound last December and was told everything was structurally sound. I also had a tilt table test done in December and was told by the cardiologist that I showed features of POTS but they were unsure if I had it and are unsure what the cause is. They said POTS usually exhibit hypotension, but I have hypertension with the episodes.

I am on Atenolol (37.5 mg twice daily) along with Clonazepam and Paxil.

The Clonazepam and Paxil are because my family DR. thought I had anxiety and dismissed my concerns before, now I'm stuck on Paxil because of the terrible withdrawal symptoms.

The atenolol helps the rapid heart rate symptoms pretty well, and I'm thankful for that. The skipped beats haven't really improved.

The other day, I vomited because I wasn't feeling well. My heart rate spiked during and after the vomiting and then gradually returned to normal over the next 5 or so minutes. Why is this? My heart rate used to slow when I vomited, as before this happened I had to vomit sometimes after eating because my heart would race badly and I'd feel sick, and that would slow it down. Now it races terribly.

Why does this happen? and what kind of chance do I stand to have this rapid heart rate go away at some point? Also, why does my heart take off when i eat carbohydrates/sugar?

Not looking for a diagnosis, just some suggestions that maybe I can relay to my cardiologist to check for...just looking for any help and input anyone would be willing to give me. I would be grateful for any replies.