RLR
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Hi KC and good to see you visiting the forum again. Let's see if we can bring some light, and comfort, to your concerns.
Without doubt, GI disturbances such as bloating, IBS, constipation, GERD and a host of other conditions can definitely produce brief changes in heart rate and complaints in this area are far greater than one might expect.
First, the readings you describe place you nowhere near any point of danger or stress upon your heart. I'll have to agree with your physician that the brief instance of Zantac and dose taken would not be the likely cause, particularly since the symptoms were previously occurring, albeit in a different range. Side-effects are measured under controlled conditions that include dosing at sometimes very high ranges to obtain the broadest spectrum of possible effects to medication because people sometimes don't take medicines as directed. As such, we need to discover their farthest potential effects.
I think it more likely that the exacerbation was causing you to become even more fearful or anxious that things could continue to grow worse.
GERD, in particular, is capable of inducing changes in heart rate and your description is very classic of those with the condition. Chyme from the stomach can irritate the lining of the esophagus to a great extent and in an acute form, cause some people to even feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack.
Your general symptoms would indicate some brief autonomic instability and can range from difficulty breathing, to dizziness, tachycardia, sweating, etc, all symptoms which are harmless in nature but can certainly produce panic.
I don't find the potassium level of 3.3 to be remarkable at all and would suggest here that it was not the cause for your problem. The fact that your heart rate diminished upon administration likely had more to do with getting the treatment itself, or in other words a placebo effect along with the GI cocktail that we'll talk more about in just a minute. Potassium and other values all range slightly different from each other depending upon the laboratory performing the test. I will tell you however, that Atenolol can mask the presence of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, which can cause the symptoms you describe. I doubt that it was the case, but simply a factor to note.
The oral medicine you were given at the ER is something we call a GI cocktail and the numbing effect is produced by viscous lidocaine, an anesthetic normally used when suturing wounds, etc. It is combined with an antacid and Donnatal, which is a beladonna alkyloid that has a relaxing effect upon the smooth muscle of the GI tract. It's effects are almost instantanous.
You're going to be just fine, KC. I would surmise that the actual underlying problem was GI-related and probably a combination of bloating and some brief variant of GERD that set things in motion.
I would suggest staying away from anything carbonated for a while and eat very small meals throughout the day rather than a large meal at the more traditional hours. Do not drink a lot of liquids during meals and stay away from caffeinated products. The use of proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec can have farther reaching effects than an Histamine 2 blocker like Zantac. You must, however, remember to take the PPI's about 40 minutes to 1 hour PRIOR to eating. They do not work to resolve indigestion which arises subsequent to a meal.
Taking care of the GI disturbance will bring your other symptoms under control. Nothing of what you've described raises any other concerns in my opinion. You'll be fine.
Best regards and Good Health
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