Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Cardiologist Appointment

Hey All,
At my last rheum vist, doc thought she heard what sounded like mitral valve prolapse. I've had "heart" symptoms for 7 years, arthritis going on 3 now (not counting neck and sciatica problems in my 20's). My heart sometimes feels like it skips a beat, shortness of breath, lightheaded. (oh the list just seems to go on and on some days)

Well, cardiologist says yes I have a murmur, not sure if MVP but going to do more tests, and, Yes, I have a heart skip - this is separate from my murmur. He couldn't tell me what causes a heart skip but that certain things like alcohol, caffeine, smoking and stress can make it noticable.

I've searched here and have seen some ASers have these symptoms but they have not been linked to the arthritis. I asked the cardio about a possible link. He said that inflammatory arthritis can affect the valves (I don't think mitral valve tho), that's one reason he wants to run more tests.
I mentioned that I've read AS can cause heart conduction problems - could that be the heart skip? He said what I have is rare and he's not very familiar with it and could not speculate on something like that. That it won't hurt me and if the symptoms are bothersome we could try medication. To which I replied: "no thank you"

Any thoughts appreciated. thanks Mary Cay

Hi Mary Cay, I don't have any advice for you, but wanted to bump this up so someone with experience might see it.

I hope you figure this out sooner rather than later.

Warm hugs,

Thanks for bumping it up Kat, saw the thread earlier, but my neighbour came round to put up my 'self assembly' rose arbour. Pieces were a bit iffy, didn't fit...a m/f fudge job. Sigh. So went on a killng spree of the vine weeval infestation.

There is a link of heart condition with AS. I have a paper somewhere, and do believe I posted it here a couple of years ago. I will be checking it out later Kat. Know that I myself have problems...threw an infarction a couple of years ago.

Speak later -

Molly C (France)
Keeping on Keeping on (as we all do )

Here ya go:-

Ankylosing Spondylitis - Symptoms - Yahoo! Health
May 18, 2007 ... The stiffening of the chest can feel like the discomfort or "heaviness" of a heart attack. Ankylosing spondylitis can also cause the heart ...health.yahoo.com/arthritis-symptoms/ankylosing-spondy... - Similar

Ankylosing spondylitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Ankylosing spondylitis is a long-term disease that causes inflammation of the ... the aortic heart valve (aortic insufficiency) and heart rhythm problems. ...
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000420.htm - Similar

Press - News - 262 - Ankylosing Spondylitis and the Heart
Dec 11, 2006 ... Ankylosing spondylitis and related disease information. ... February 2005 issue of Spondylitis Plus entitled, "The Heart in Spondylitis", ...
www.spondylitis.org/press/news/262.aspx - Similar

Complications of Spondylitis - Ankylosing Spondylitis ...
Ankylosing spondylitis and related disease information. ... chronic inflammation in the base of the heart - around the aortic valve and origin of the aorta ...
www.spondylitis.org/about/complications.aspx - Similar

Ankylosing Spondylitis Causes, Diagnosis, Information, ...
Ankylosing spondylitis is also a systemic disease, meaning it can affect other ... as well as to other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys. ...
www.medicinenet.com/ankylosing_spondylitis/article.htm - Similar

Ankylosing Spondylitis: eMedicine Orthopedic Surgery
May 29, 2008 ... O'Neill TW, Bresnihan B. The heart in ankylosing spondylitis. ... Rosen P. The natural disease course of ankylosing spondylitis. ...
emedicine.medscape.com/article/1263287-overview - Similar

--------------## There's a raft of material on the internet - in medical publications various. (I also have an enlarged abdominal aortic problem, as well as the funny rhythms and etc etc. Very boring 'smile'.)

i HAD A "TEMPORARY" MVP during a pregnancy. The doc said due to increased amt of blood in body during pregnancy.

The scariest heart incidence for me was my allergic reaction to Enbrel. It stopped my heart 4 times. Wowzers, mcm I hope they get this figured out for you!

Is there no sacred part of our body AS won't touch?? Good grief

Hello Mary Cay
I so hope you get to the bottom of this.
Your sypmtoms are not pleasent to say the least.
Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks Kat for bumping

And Tink and Donette - The Well wishes,
Donette sorry for the scary Enbrel incident, and did the MVP give you any symptoms or did they just hear it?

and Molly - google done better
Emed article interesting - says electical system can be damaged by AS causing a slower heartbeat - don't think that's it, so it probably isn't connected. I thought NSD actually helped this, it started up again with the arthritis symptoms and went away when I started diet, comes back when I flare - but that may be stress in action. And looks like its still skipping on NSD, i'm just not feeling it all the time.
The symptoms are sporadic so I haven't been overly concerned - and the doctors I've seen sure haven't been concerned.
What bothers me are the medications the docs want me to take and possible links with heart problems (e.g. Celebrex) and want to find out exactly whats going on in case I end up needing to take them. But its looking like these are separate things entirely - not heart disease or heart failure related.
Thanks Mary Cay

hi mc,

i brought it to my docs attention. it felt like a clicking noise, only upon exertion. very odd feeling!

my husband used to get skipped heart beats, other similar symptoms. they put him on a monitor to try to catch the activity which they were finally able to do. they suggested he cut out the caffeine and chocolate (he neither drank much nor smoked). that did help, he seems to be particularly susceptible to the caffeine in coffee (and tea and soda too) and theobromine in chocolate. also, when he would have significant pain from his reflux, that would also give him the heart symptoms. i know when i was in really bad pain this past fall, my heart would "pound out of my chest", so maybe pain is contributing as well?

Donette - interesting, i don't really know if i'm feeling the murmur, i think its just the skip. - figured one in the same until today; it feels so strange and then they tell its common, not to worry, argh