Anyone else still getting a racing heart months after Covid?

[Christoncrutches]

Started just after moderately serious covid infection in March/April 2020 - first time got ambulance out n’ everything but as my heart rate was even, albeit high, I was referred to GP who eventually, after repeated bouts of tachycardia, prescribed beta blockers to be taken as needed.

Seems episodic, normally comes on for a fortnight or so, then fades away for a while. At first it came back every few weeks and now, almost 10 months later, there have been gaps of months. Back this morning with a vengeance though - as usual coming on after a shower. Night times and morning are worst and it often wakes me up from sleeping.

I’ve been referred to the cardiac clinic at the hospital for further testing but the appointment took ages to come through then was cancelled because of covid, so I still don’t know for sure if I have any actual damage to my heart, or if it’s just a post viral reaction which will take time to go away. That lack of clarity always adds to the stress when I get an episode as I worry it could be more serious. Hard to calm down when your heart is going bananas!

I also have chronic pain since covid, in my ribs, back and shoulder, but the doctor hasn’t connected it to the infection - I personally think its all long covid and is caused my inflammation-related. Hard to prove or disprove that without a referral though. Generally feeling fucked off and mightily frustrated that there’s no follow up care. Anyone else having similar experience?

Have you had any blood tests? There is a test that shows if there has been any damage to the heart muscle. I had this myself in December when I was sent to A&E with chest pain post covid. In my case the tests (including an ECG) were clear so it was likely to be post viral inflammation which has since settled.

What I don’t know, I suppose, is if there’s a specific window for such a test or whether it can be done at any time and will indicate a problem.

@openupmyeagereyes I’m not sure if that would have been one of the tests I had at the beginning - I’m thinking of checking in with my GP so I’ll ask her to confirm that - happy to hear your inflammation has settled :)

Really similar for me, ongoing chest pain, breathlessness and weird episodes of feeling like my heart is racing and feeling odd but my heart isnt racing so presume ectopic beat. Will be a lot better for a while and then have really bad weeks.

I would definitely ask your surgery which tests you’ve had.

Thank you. I hope you are recovered soon.

Hi there. Was going to post something similar but these topics never seem to get replies !
I caught covid end of november and am still off work. When I was at my sickest my hr was up to 150s if I just walked to the loo although it did settle down quickly once resting. I ended up ringing 111 about that and my very tight chest and they said it was to be expected in the 'acute' phase. Also had a few episodes of random palpitations up to 140, which then settled, I was extremely anxious and strangely 'wired' so put them down to that.
Now 9 weeks in I'm still breathless on exertion but weirdly it varies from day to day, some days none at all. Hr up to 110-120s if I start rushing around and and an odd feeling in my chest. I do know that some research showed that myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscle) was suprisingly common. Just hoping it's not that.
I've also read somewhere that post covid some have issues with the nerves that regulate heart rate, some kind of autonomic thing. Maybe it's related to our lung function ? Who knows...
I'll probably ask my doctor in a week or so if I need tests. It's so frustrating.

@Athinginitself when was your actual infection? I had the breathlessness for a couple months afterwards but eventually it eased off. Came back now and again but for several months, back to normal. Seems like your symptoms are similar to mine in their frequency - odd bouts, rather than a linear recovery... from what I’ve read, that also is pretty common. Hard to deal with psychologically as it feels like you’re back to scratch every time!

@Victoriacres yes, most of these threads aren’t about long covid so it’s hard to find others experiencing similar or the same thing... I too started getting the heart rate symptoms during covid but the episodes of high heart rate (this morning up to 140) started a few weeks after the acute phase, when I was feeling better. I also worried about myocarditis but I’ve had several ECGs and although I had tachycardia during those tests, they didn’t pick up on any other issues and I don’t feel ‘unwell’ during the episodes, no chest pain etc (although yes, a weird feeling in chest sometimes) - more a wired, nervy feeling iykwim. The beta blockers seems to really help when I have the symptoms but I’m reluctant to keep taking them without knowing for sure there’s no actual heart damage. I think the nerve theory definitely has legs - could also explain the chronic muscle pain too... i just wish there was better after care but I suppose all resources are diverted just now or its unsafe to attend clinics etc. I di wonder if that’s a postcode lottery though. I live in rural Scotland.

@openupmyeagereyes yes, I’ll confirm that, thanks for your kind wishes :) x

@Christoncrutches Last march. Took me weeks to even be able to walk around the block and just been very up and down since then, but heart issue is very annoying as stops me sleeping and makes me feel not very well generally.

@Athinginitself so we’re at exactly the same point, recovery-wise! Crap, isn’t it! I feel like it’s aged me 20 years - I don’t have the exhaustion lots of people mention, but I definitely feel a huge struggle to resume the same active lifestyle I had before...

Does your chest pain feel muscular? Or is it linked to breathlessness? Do you check your heart rate during the episodes? Have you had your symptoms examined by dr? Massive empathy coming atcha - it’s so shit to keep having these set backs.

Yeah this is sort of what I've experienced. I was ill in June and had months of this weird heart racing sensation but when I checked my Fitbit it didn't seem particularly high, it was just an odd sensation. This lasted on and off until Dec along with fatigue. I thought it was anxiety but I didn't feel very anxious so maybe it was post viral.

I had a racing heart for months after infection (last Feb incredibly). It was horrid. Time has eased them significantly. I sometimes wonder if I might have long term damage but very rarely get them now.

I had coronavirus in mid October and still have weird chest symptoms...my heart rate is all over the place and I've got a flutter too that comes and goes and general chest tightness. I've got bloods and an ecg booked this week.

@veryhungryhippo interesting! Yes, it can be a bit like your body’s having a panic attack without any brain involvement 😕 - Last night I had that sensation but as you say, my heart rate wasn’t too bad. This morning after my shower though - heart rate went bananas up to 140 when I was doing nowt and feeling rather zen! Total mystery.

@FfsDoE - sounds like me, seems to be fading over time but this morning was back to how it was at the beginning when i called out a bloody ambulance, thinking i was having a heart attack. I’ve not had it for months so rug’s been pulled from under my feet a smidge. Was feeling hopeful it had gone away... really hope yours has properly subsided. Did you get advice/meds from your GP? X

@amyj606 good luck with the tests! Let me know how you go, happy to support and hand hold... I’ve had 3 ECGs now and they were ok other than the high heart rate - I assumed they’d have taken the raised rate more seriously but they were more interested in the regularity. My bloods were ok but I’m going to dbl check that to make sure I had all the tests as I’m getting worried with it going on so long. I did speak to another doctor who told me to expect it to continue in episodes for a while - he thought it was post viral super ventricular tachycardia. He was pretty reassuring but i wasn’t examined so there’s always a doubt - I was due to have a cardiac examination and holter last week but it was cancelled because of covid.

DH had a lot of this last year during and leading on from having Covid. At one point he was taken to hospital in an ambulance as he had racing heart, chest pain and a numb left arm. All tests and checks on his heart were clear and normal. He still gets breathlessness at times 9 months on and sometimes a racing heart after exertion. However, these symptoms are easing. I hope you can get some peace of mind soon as it's so scary and debilitating I know

[quote Christoncrutches]@amyj606 good luck with the tests! Let me know how you go, happy to support and hand hold... I’ve had 3 ECGs now and they were ok other than the high heart rate - I assumed they’d have taken the raised rate more seriously but they were more interested in the regularity. My bloods were ok but I’m going to dbl check that to make sure I had all the tests as I’m getting worried with it going on so long. I did speak to another doctor who told me to expect it to continue in episodes for a while - he thought it was post viral super ventricular tachycardia. He was pretty reassuring but i wasn’t examined so there’s always a doubt - I was due to have a cardiac examination and holter last week but it was cancelled because of covid.[/quote]
Thank you! I've had to really push with the doctors are things just aren't right- mainly the heart rate / flutter and low grade joint pains. I just feel a bit in limbo.

@amyj606 - interesting you’re having the joint pain too. I’ve developed chronic pain too which stops me from exercising so you get stuck in a catch22, trying to recover fitness and reach full recovery. I really hope they listen to you and take it seriously - that’s half the battle. I do feel that GPs could be much better informed about potential after effects of covid. In my experience, they’re more in the dark than folk who gave had covid and done some online research!

@GinJeanie - so frightening for you both! Its hard not to conclude that you have serious damage with cardiac symptoms - even after examination there’s a doubt there, which adds stress, no doubt making symptoms worse. So pleased to hear its fading for him... i really hope we all see a complete end to these symptoms soon - you think you’re better then there’s a surprise relapse.

@Christoncrutches Very much so the doctor said its similar to CFS and booked me in for the bloods etc. But I'm just stuck and I'm much the same unable to exercise as it'll just aggravate things and I was big into doing exercise more for my mental health really. I will say the nurses who I've seen have been fab - regular check ins with the changes to my asthma plan etc

@amyj606 i hear you - I also exercised pretty frequently - mainly because I have thyroid issues so try to keep my weight regular or I’d need to take higher dose of thyroxine... now I walk dog twice a day for 20mins and do a wee bit of yoga through the week - I’ve cut out all the running/cardio and was slowly reintroducing weights and exercise bike. So tricky! At least you have the nurses - they’re often the best support! Please do let me know how you get on 💋

I had covid in September and since been sob and palpitations. GP done blood tests which were normal but ecg showed abnormality, dr said they are seeing this a lot with covid cases

[quote Christoncrutches]@Athinginitself so we’re at exactly the same point, recovery-wise! Crap, isn’t it! I feel like it’s aged me 20 years - I don’t have the exhaustion lots of people mention, but I definitely feel a huge struggle to resume the same active lifestyle I had before...

Does your chest pain feel muscular? Or is it linked to breathlessness? Do you check your heart rate during the episodes? Have you had your symptoms examined by dr? Massive empathy coming atcha - it’s so shit to keep having these set backs.[/quote]
Not had a lot. Already have CFS so it's been hard to know what is what. At the beginning I had some appointments as have asthma and have needed extra medication and steroids. Since then have just hoped chest pain and heart weirdness would go eventually, but it was really bad again last week so spoke to GP again and had some blood tests and have an ecg tomorrow but obviously heart isnt being weird today so suspect it wont show anything! All very frustrating and difficult and although I was unwell pre covid I am definitely struggling more with additional issues as well as worse fatigue than usual.

Same here and of course you should get tested. I have suffered with heart palpitations from time to time and covid has made it worst.
One thing that has always worked for me when I feel my heart is about to fail because of palpitations is to sprinkle really cold water on my face. The shock of cold water gets my heartbeat to normal in seconds.

This is so interesting. I had COVID (untested) last March. Later in the year I started trying stimulant medication for ADHD but my heart was going crazy with all of them, even on a low dose. My psychiatrist was very surprised at the reactions I was having and had only ever seen one other person in her whole career with similar. Lucky me. Had to stop the stimulants which was really disappointing.

Noé Im wondering if it's all connected...

Sounds like me. Was ill last March and experienced chronic inflammation and pain for months afterwards. Racing/fluttering heart, pain in chest like heartburn, joint pain... A cardiologist on youtube suggested inflammation is what generally causes racing heart. I also learnt about something called leaky gut where the cells in your gut separate and cause protein molecules to escape into your bloodstream which then cause your autoimmune system (already in a frenzied state after fighting off a novel respiratory virus) to attack healthy tissue like joints, etc. Gluten is a nightmare for leaky gut. It is now thought that the virus can survive for months in a persons gut, so it doesn't surprise me it can do alot of damage there. I don't know if it's coincidence, but what helped me was periods of eating gluten-free. I still eat gluten but in smaller quantities and feel much better now. Heart rate back to normal and no more pain, apart from a tiny bit of pain in lower back.
I hope you feel better soon. I think long covid is just a waiting game. Our immune systems will fight it off eventually.