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Anyone experiencing post covid heart issues?

Posted by emilycoop03 @emilycoop03, Aug 2, 2022

hello,
I am 19yrs old and have had Covid twice, once at the start of the year 7th Jan and recently 8th of July. I am finding now i have some symptoms of POTS but am not sure. my resting heart rate is around 60-72bpm but when I stand up it increases to around the 120bpm mark, my head also gets tight and I feel very dizzy and fatigued. my blood pressure however is high. normally i am healthy and active but when going for a walk my heart rate reaches nearly 160pbm and get out of breath fast. i do also get sharp pains around heart and chest area. has anyone else experienced this? or know what it could be? thankyou:)

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2638 | @2638 | Sep 14, 2022

I am much older 56, but yes, I too have pots now, not after covid rnd 1 in Nov of 20 , but after rnd 2 jan of 22. I went thru all the tests and they say I stay in sinus rhythem so its autonomic, Nerves. So far no fix. Sorry wish I could help you. Mine is worse durring a flare. When in a flare everything is worse. By flare I mean, headache tired(worse than usal) muscles tenser, sorer...My flares come by over doing. Dehydration. Stress. on a good day I am up to 20 min walks(not fast paced). On a bad day the typical 10 min will do me in. a shower 160, dishes 140... pace your self, dont over do. Learn your breathing exersizes, deep belly breaths, exhale thru mouth slowly, it calms you...good luck, prayers!

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1 reply
RMS | @rinadbq | Sep 15, 2022

When I finally got into a cardiologist he said he is seeing this a lot. I had a 21-day event monitor which showed the palpatations/rapid heart rate at rest and what happened when I stood up. The final diagnosis is "Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia", a fast heart rate that is not appropriate to level of physical activity. I was put on Metoprolol, a 'Beta-Blocker', which has controlled the heart rate. I can still have runs of palpitations but they are less common and not as fast. It has helped my energy as well since I don't feel like I am starting a sprint every time I stand up.
Take your time changing positions (lay to sit, sit to stand) to avoid dizziness/passing out.

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1 reply
aw7711 | @aw7711 | Sep 15, 2022

Hi,
During my second week with COVID 19 symptoms I developed shortness of breath and my doc prescribed an inhaler and to get an 02 Sat monitor. Week 3 , I had tachycardia (highest 128) when I woke up in the morning. It decreases after about 30 minutes of being up and about. I am an Advanced Practice Nurse (which means I overthink my symptoms and know just enough to be worried! It sounds like a lot of people have experienced this which is strangely reassuring! I head back to work after 3 weeks of being sedentary and am hopeful that as I increase my physical activity I will begin to recover. It is just a little scary. I am thankful for this forum!!

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jrg200911 | @jrg200911 | Sep 15, 2022
In reply to @2638 "I am much older 56, but yes, I too have pots now, not after covid rnd..." + (show)
@2638

I am much older 56, but yes, I too have pots now, not after covid rnd 1 in Nov of 20 , but after rnd 2 jan of 22. I went thru all the tests and they say I stay in sinus rhythem so its autonomic, Nerves. So far no fix. Sorry wish I could help you. Mine is worse durring a flare. When in a flare everything is worse. By flare I mean, headache tired(worse than usal) muscles tenser, sorer...My flares come by over doing. Dehydration. Stress. on a good day I am up to 20 min walks(not fast paced). On a bad day the typical 10 min will do me in. a shower 160, dishes 140... pace your self, dont over do. Learn your breathing exersizes, deep belly breaths, exhale thru mouth slowly, it calms you...good luck, prayers!

Jump to this post

Yup, yup. 60yo. Just passed 2 years Long COVID on 9/11/2022.

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cayzmom | @cayzmom | Sep 15, 2022

That definitely sounds like POTS. I was diagnosed with POTS after having covid. It’s been 9 months and still have the issue. I’ve gotten used to it so it’s less alarming, but is the cause for the extreme fatigue.
You need to see a cardiologist, especially if you’re experiencing pain too.

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1 reply
athomason | @athomason | Sep 16, 2022
In reply to @rinadbq "When I finally got into a cardiologist he said he is seeing this a lot. I..." + (show)
@rinadbq

When I finally got into a cardiologist he said he is seeing this a lot. I had a 21-day event monitor which showed the palpatations/rapid heart rate at rest and what happened when I stood up. The final diagnosis is "Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia", a fast heart rate that is not appropriate to level of physical activity. I was put on Metoprolol, a 'Beta-Blocker', which has controlled the heart rate. I can still have runs of palpitations but they are less common and not as fast. It has helped my energy as well since I don't feel like I am starting a sprint every time I stand up.
Take your time changing positions (lay to sit, sit to stand) to avoid dizziness/passing out.

Jump to this post

I am on round 2 of long covid. I had it last July 2021 and had it again in May 2022. This time is much worse, going on 4-5 months now. I was feeling better but was exposed again. My body fought it off, but I now have an autoimmune response to anything, including increased heart rate, not appropriate for activity level. I can be sitting an it is 95. Stand up and its 110. And I am in excellent physical health. I am a high intensity athlete at my usual level. I have been on metoprolol already for a POTS like syndrome. It helps some. But I feel like you have to just wait these episodes out and they go away. This time the palpitations are terrible. My cardiologist diagnosed me with LGL syndrome. A shortened PR interval. He says it is benign, which gives me some sort of comfort. So a week ago, I was feeling better, and decided to get botox. I had the same cascade of long covid symptoms with heart rate elevations and palpitations. It just keeps getting crazier! I give up on trying to figure it out.

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1 reply
denglish19 | @denglish19 | Sep 16, 2022
In reply to @rinadbq "I was a very healthy, active person before COVID, then started the same symptoms about 1..." + (show)
@rinadbq

I was a very healthy, active person before COVID, then started the same symptoms about 1 month after infection-that was 1 1/2 years ago when there was little research available to doctors. Finally, I got a '21 day Event Monitor' order from my PMD; a holter monitor is for too short of a time. It was the final evidence of 'Inappropriate Tachycardia'-a heart rate disproportionate to my activity. My cardiologist tells me he is seeing this a lot with his covid patients, and not necessarily those who were hospitalized. I am now on Metoprolol for heart rate control. There is a lot of information on nih.gov, the National Institute of Health; look under COVID and Tachycardia (fast heart rate). There are several possible diagnoses-POTS is certainly one. CDC's website also has great info-you are not alone.
I kept a daily journal, documented my activity (walking at slow, normal, fast rate, climbing stairs, towel drying after a shower, laundry/folding sheets, at rest, getting up and walking after sitting) and heart rate to show the data to my PMD. My heart rate went to 150 washing my hair!! My EKG, Stress Test, Echocardiogram, a test that had me riding a bike and hooked to a monitor.... were all "normal". I am an ER Nurse with 40 years of experience and ran a half marathon for my 60th birthday. I have a lifetime of knowledge about heart rates. It took a LOT of persistence to get the Event Monitor which objectively confirmed the symptoms.

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Yes, these symptoms are very common with long-haulers. And even if you confirm the symptoms with a diagnosis there is not much that can be done about it. Many people are spending thousands on tests, then have no actual solution once they get a diagnosis. I have learned to live with the heart palpitations and am moderate with my physical activity.

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denglish19 | @denglish19 | Sep 16, 2022
In reply to @athomason "I am on round 2 of long covid. I had it last July 2021 and had..." + (show)
@athomason

I am on round 2 of long covid. I had it last July 2021 and had it again in May 2022. This time is much worse, going on 4-5 months now. I was feeling better but was exposed again. My body fought it off, but I now have an autoimmune response to anything, including increased heart rate, not appropriate for activity level. I can be sitting an it is 95. Stand up and its 110. And I am in excellent physical health. I am a high intensity athlete at my usual level. I have been on metoprolol already for a POTS like syndrome. It helps some. But I feel like you have to just wait these episodes out and they go away. This time the palpitations are terrible. My cardiologist diagnosed me with LGL syndrome. A shortened PR interval. He says it is benign, which gives me some sort of comfort. So a week ago, I was feeling better, and decided to get botox. I had the same cascade of long covid symptoms with heart rate elevations and palpitations. It just keeps getting crazier! I give up on trying to figure it out.

Jump to this post

There is a Facebook group with 90,000+ long haulers in it from around the world, if you're interested in talking to others and hearing what has worked. Many people have done well with a low-inflammation, low-histamine diet. It helps relieve your body of that constant immune response. There are other simple protocols that work well too -- not just a prescription given for symptoms (not actual treatment of the root cause). Hang in there! It does get better. But be sure to be moderate with physical activity and exposing your immune system to anything new, that your body may react poorly to.

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2 replies
denglish19 | @denglish19 | Sep 16, 2022
In reply to @cayzmom "That definitely sounds like POTS. I was diagnosed with POTS after having covid. It’s been 9..." + (show)
@cayzmom

That definitely sounds like POTS. I was diagnosed with POTS after having covid. It’s been 9 months and still have the issue. I’ve gotten used to it so it’s less alarming, but is the cause for the extreme fatigue.
You need to see a cardiologist, especially if you’re experiencing pain too.

Jump to this post

There are definitely solutions to the fatigue beyond just a diagnosis for a heart condition. Many people have found relief with supplementation, LOTS of hydration (daily electrolytes), and holistic practitioners that treat the ROOT CAUSE of long-haulers symptoms. I wish you all the best.

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ginalambiris | @ginalambiris | Sep 24, 2022
In reply to @jlkdaggett "Definitely get all the testing done to rule out myocarditis and structural/functional issues. I am 10..." + (show)
@jlkdaggett

Definitely get all the testing done to rule out myocarditis and structural/functional issues. I am 10 months post Pfizer booster and only now starting to pull out of this a bit- seems to be autonomic nervous system stuff as all my tests are normal for structure and function. I did test positive for autoimmune markers, inflammation marker and have really high histamine levels so I take a bunch of supplements and am doing a low histamine diet. I start with a functional dr this week. I also found a return to activity protocol adapted from POTS to long covid heart reconditioning so I’m slowly rowing my way back to a mellower less flighty heart. I’m happy to talk more! It’s a non linear process though…

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How has this been going have you seen any success

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