Results of 4 PM Rehab

Well the verdict is still out.  During my usual easy treadmill warm-up I had some PVC's.  Maybe the meds are not cooking (it has been only 2 days since I went from 50 to 100 mg of Metoprolol).  And it was the first time at 4 PM after work.  I did not feel that bad during the day at work, just need to give the heart a chance to settle in.  We will see what next weeks has after the med & rehab switch.

I found this answer related to PVC's and Metoprolol at Yahoo Answers:

Metoprolol or Atenolol (both beta blockers) is usually the first medication prescribed for PVCs. Depending on your heart rate and blood pressure readings, people are started on anywhere from 12.5 mg (extremely low dose) to 50 mg, and can be titrated up to 100 to 200 mg a day. It can make you feel tired, and some cannot tolerate it because they feel crappy on it. Others do just fine on it with very few side effects. People that have frequent PVCs that find them very bothersome and cannot tolerate beta blockers can also try an anti-arrythmic medication called propafenone (Rhythmol). This is only prescribed in someone with no history of coronary disease and a structurally normal heart.

I did feel crappy working out and it also says people can go up to 200 mg!  Time will tell!

Headed to 4 PM Rehab!

My 29th session will be my first 4 PM after work session and first session with 100 mg of metoprolol!  Will post later how the session was under the new conditions.

Back to Work and Coaching and .....

Today was the first day back to work!  Got up at 5:30 AM, at school by 6:30 AM.  Got home & changed for track from 3-6 PM, and then took my pole vaulters to Prestige gym from 8-9 PM.  Walked the dogs & ready for bed at 10 PM!

Should sleep well!

Meds are Increased & Back in Rehab

Just received word that cardiologist will increase my one med- Metoprolol from 50 mg to 100mg.  The science experiment continues.  This is the beta-blocker that should lower my blood pressure.  I will try to get back to rehab Friday, but will not push it till next week. 

To find out more about Metoprolol click on this web site below:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000795/

Here We Go Again - Kicked Out of Rehab for the Third Time!

Well, thought I would kick it up a notch!  On the elliptical, got the pulse rate up to 110 and had a run of 4 PVC's.  Nurses gave me that look & it was back on the bad boy chair!  They contacted the cardiologist and I am waiting for a phone call for my next step.  So, until I hear from the Heart Group, I am on the out of school suspension list!

I am still planning on returning to work & will see what the doctors say.  I will have another blog post today when I hear from the Heart Group.

Discussion of PVC's

There are many great websites for heart issues, but this one has some interesting dialog about living with PVC's.  The discussion is at:  MedHelp - PAC's, PVC's, & the Pulse

The discussions pertaining to people with PVC's vary in age of the person, to the feeling they have when a PVC occurs, and the way the doctors are trying to treat the PVC.  One thing I did notice was the frustration.  My frustration is two-fold - I cannot extra size the way I want to & the doctor's plans do not fit my time schedule - HURRY & FIX IT!

The best way to describe mine is it is like driving your car with bad gas - going up hill or accerleration you feel a sputter.  That is what I feel when I walk up hills or exercise at a heart rate of 95-105.  Take a look at the discussions, below are some exerts:

Patient #1 - I am a 38 year old female.  I was just diagnosed with PVC's.  I am really worried about this condition and have no information on it at all.  I was admitted into the ER last weekend and the doctor did not seem to be concerned at all.  These beats make me feel light headed and it feels as though my heart is turning over in my chest.  I am also having 5 to 8/minute.  I am becoming depressed and it is really effecting my quality of life.  

Patient #2 - I have had PACs and PVCs for many years but they increased in intensity the last few years.  I am 43. I've also had moments of light-headedness as well as a tight feeling in the chest, radiating up to my throat.  My doctors tell me over and over again that I am OK.  I have had bouts of depression also and the extra beats used to really mess up my life.  I'm starting to learn how to live with them.  In time, you will too. Usually after a period of time, the extra beats decrease in frequency, and you'll stop worrying about them

Patient #3 - I have had PVC's since I was about 13 years old. This year I turned 45 and they have really got bad. They distrubt your life and nobody understands the strain it puts you in. I have had to go home from work several times. It probably is the most unnearving thing I have ever had. I went to the Dr. this week because I knew I was going to die. He gave me a stress test and the beats started after I surpassed 100 beats per minute. When I got up around 145 about every other beat was PVC's. I thought I was going to die on the treadmill. The Dr. came in and read the EKG and listened to my heart.(I went 5 years ago for a treadmill)
He again told me the PVC's were non life threatening. He asked me if they really bothered me. I about croaked and told him they were driving me nuts and I was starting to get depressed. He suggested I try a low dose of ATENOLOL (a BEATA BLOCKER) and see if that helped. So far I have been a different person. It slows your heart down a little but the episodes have really decreased. When I do have them now they seem to be easier and my heart don't feel as if it is trying to jump out of my chest. I just want to say that I found this site about a month ago and I have been helped by knowing that other people were having the same problem as me. For a while I thought I was the only one that had this problem. Doctors do seem to be surprised when you tell them how much this condition affects your everyday life. I really sympathise with people who have PVC's or PAC's. In my case my family thought I was nuts, my employer, and especially my wife.
People who never have had this condition cannot give you any sympathy. If anyone wants to ask any questions please email me at  ***@**** I would be glad to answer any questions and give you an update on how the medecine is helping me. Thanks for listening.

Pulse Rate Monitor

Today at rehab I inquired about purchasing a pulse rate monitor.  The trainer said they had them for sale for $53.00.  The Polar FT1 is usually around 50-60 dollars, and their price was $53.00, so I bought it.  I tried taking my pulse rate while at home & exercising, but it was a pain.  So, I will give this a try.

The Polar FT1, has two parts, the watch & the chest strap.  There are types available with just the watch band, but they are usually not as accurate.  I tried it out at home and on my walk I got the pulse rate to 101.  I good feel some PVC's around 97-100 when I was going up hill.  This will give me an idea of what I can expect when I workout.  Right now, my resting heart rate as I am typing is 76.

WebMD - Pulse Measurement - has a good article on pulse rate.  The chart on this web site gives the following info for my age of 58.

Resting Pulse Rate - 60-100
Target Heart Rate - 96-136 - The chart is from CCH.net
Maximum Rate - 160

Studying HDL - The GOOD Cholesterol

As I have said in earlier blogs, diet & exercise are a new focus! In my research for a "healthy heart" one area that is still is up in the air is the foods and HDL (good cholesterol). There is evidence of food choice and lowering LDL (the bad cholesterol). Here are some of the articles I found pertaining to diet and raising HDL.

Types of Alcohol Needed to Increase Good HDL Level

This article discusses the types of alcohol and increasing your HDL. Red Wine seems to be the good choice because of the flavonoids and antioxidants. But, as the article continues:

Therefore, for the purest infusion of HDL-promoting alcohol, distilled spirits are the way to go. However, all the benefits to your heart's health are mitigated if the liquor is combined with a sugary mixer, such as soda or sour mix.
So, a shot of whiskey might be a great way to lower HDL & also have a great night of sleep! Maybe I will take a shot of whiskey (just one) when I am watching my favorite John Wayne movies!!

A non-alcoholic drink would be cranberry juice. In the article found below a couple of glasses of cranberry juice every day may be as good (but not as much fun) as the shot of whiskey!

Cranberry Juice Increases HDL


The final article from the Mayo Clinic:

HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol

In the article Niacin was discussed as a way to increase HDL. The following foods were discussed in the article, Healthy Foods Containing Niacin:

There is a wide range of foods containing niacin. Niacin is more abundantly found in animal sources, although a few plant sources are rich in niacin as well. Niacin foods include all lean red meat, fish, organ meats (kidney, liver), prawns, pork, as well as milk and other dairy products. Other niacin rich foods include almonds and seeds, wheat products, beans, rice bran, green leafy vegetables, carrots, turnips and celery.

My last blood test was:
Total cholesterol - 126
LDL - 73
HDL - 35

So, raising the HDL is one of my goals for my June blood test. How about from 35 HDL to 40 HDL? We will give it a try. Along with the foods - exercise and losing weight are also key factors!