Autonomic Neuropathy

[Luvpugs]

Has anyone ever had any issues with their resting heart rate being too high? Mine stays above 100 bpm and if I even stand up, walk or anything it goes up to 130s bpm. If I try to exercise it goes up to 180 bpm before I can even get out of the warmup. I noticed this in June. My endo sent me to a cardiologist but he said it was probably autonomic neuropathy but he does not have any experience in diagnosing it. Who should I go to? Any suggestions?

[Handybear]

My heart rate is on the high side also. My doctor said that some people just have a higher heart rate. I have had tests done and other than my fast rate nothing is wrong.
You might be one of those people whose heart is just a little fast.

[Luvpugs]

Handybear - Does it make you really tired and out of breath or affect how much activity you can do?

[BlueSky]

... My endo sent me to a cardiologist but he said it was probably autonomic neuropathy but he does not have any experience in diagnosing it. Who should I go to? Any suggestions?
My understanding is that nerve damage can cause irregular heartrythms, and failure of the heartrythm to respond consistently to inhalation/exhalation, and activity levels. Autonomic neuropathy is diagnosed through ECG based R-R interval studies, which your cardiologist should be able to do.

[Peggy]

There is a very simple test for autonomic neuropathy. I was diagnosed a year and a half ago. My heartbeat is always rapid. I've had an echo as a follow up but it showed no problems whatsoever. I've spoken to my endo and a neurologist about the effects of having this rapid heartbeat and they both said that basically it just freaks out Drs!! For me it was a wake-up call to get my diabetes under control to prevent further damage to my autonomic nervous system.

[Luvpugs]

My last AC1 was 6.8. I have been diabetic for 22 years though and I guess it is just the length of time, bad luck, etc catching up with me. My only problem right now though is that the rapid heart rate makes me so fatigued and short of breath when I try to be active. I love to hike, roller skate, etc. with my daughter and step-daughter but I have been unable to do so. Even though the rapid heart rate is not per se "imminently dangerous", it makes me feel terrible and I don't want to get out of shape and make my diabetes get bad. Any suggestions? Also, the cardiologist really sucks but is supposed to be part of a wonderful group. It took him one month to read my stress test and he only read it then because I complained to the board at the hospital that I couldn't get my results. I see a neurologist for narcolepsy so I think I will just bring the neuropathy up at my checkup in January. Should she be able to help check to see if the neuropathy is affecting other areas?

[BlueSky]

.... I see a neurologist for narcolepsy so I think I will just bring the neuropathy up at my checkup in January. Should she be able to help check to see if the neuropathy is affecting other areas?
Maybe, although neurologists are more focused on the central nervous system. And the R-R interval test is usually done by a cardiologist or a physician.

You should be able to tell for yourself by looking at a list of symtoms. If any of them look familiar, tell the doctor about it :

Signs and symptoms of autonomic neuropathy depend on which parts of your autonomic nervous system are most affected. They may include:

* A drop in blood pressure on standing (orthostatic hypotension), which can cause dizziness and fainting
* Trouble with urination, including diminished sensation, overflow incontinence and inability to empty your bladder completely, which can lead to urinary tract infections
* Sexual difficulties, including impotence in men, and vaginal dryness and difficulties with arousal and orgasm in women
* Difficulty digesting food (gastroparesis), which can cause a feeling of fullness after eating little, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal bloating, nausea, vomiting and heartburn
* Cardiovascular problems, such as heart rate abnormalities that may include a lack of normal heart rate changes when you exert yourself
* Heat intolerance, especially during exercise, and abnormal — usually decreased — sweating
* Sluggish pupil reaction to light and dark
* Exercise intolerance, which causes your heart rate to remain unchanged instead of increasing and decreasing in response to your activity level
* Lack of usual warning signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which include shakiness, sweating and palpitations

Autonomic neuropathy - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00544.html)

With a T1 diabetic, gastroparesis also causes blood glucose to drop after meals and to peak later on because of the delayed stomach emptying.

[Luvpugs]

I have a lot of those symptoms. I can go a week without wanting to eat anything, but I typically make myself eat. Then I get nauseous to the point I need to lie down. However, I have not vomited with it yet. I also have noticed that at least twice a week, I will bolus the appropriate amount for my food and then bottom completely out within 20 minutes of eating. Of course, my blood sugar skyrockets hours later. I have made a point to track foods and it is has nothing to do with any particular foods. I have brought this up to my endo but he says he doesn't think that is what it is because it doesn't happen constantly. Sometimes, I feel like I am talking to a wall with doctors. My gynocologist has diagnosed me with a neurogenic bladder but again my endo states that if it was neurogenic that I would be having really bad peripheral neuropathy, etc. Apparently, he doesn't think autonomic can happen without peripheral. I have researched the internet and it says differently. I also have the heat intolerance but instead of not sweating I sweat enough for twenty people. Again, I am told.....aw, it could just be hormones. Grrrrr!!!

I am usually able to tell if my sugar is low but sometimes I can be walking around doing normal things and my blood sugar will be 28-34. Then it can be 68 and it feels like it is 0. About a month ago, my sugar dropped to 50 and I was eating graham crakers and peanut butter. My 11 year old daughter (who has never seen me in an unconscious state before) called for me to come to her room to help her with a school report. The next thing I know, my husband (who is a fireman and an emt) was asking me if I knew his name. Apparently, I fell over in her room and was very unresponsive and then combative. Unfortunately, I did not have any glucagon shots and he had to put jelly under my tongue, etc. Also, I apparently, spit more out than got in because I was covered in it. It did the trick though. My mother always used jelly/sugar when I was unconscious as a teenager. At that time, we had no access to glucagon shots. Anyway, it scared my poor daughter to death, but now she realizes that it is indeed important when my sugar is low and not just a way to get the last bit of sweets in the house. :-)

I do get tingly, pins and needles feelings in my back area that range from my neck to shoulder blades and into the backs of my arms. I didn't know if this could be peripheral neuropathy or not. I always thought that it would happen in my feet first.

[Peggy]

I definitely have Autonomic Neuropathy, the tests prove it. But other than the rapid heartbeat I have few other symptoms. Some heat intolerance. Used to be it was me freezing while my husband was hot all the time. Now I'm feeling hot all the time, too. But I have only mild peripheral neuropathy. Sure I get shooting pains sometimes and the twinges and pins and needles, but not badly enough to even seek any medication for it. So I think the so called researchers who say you would have severe peripheral neuropathy if you had autonomic neurpoathy just don't know what they're talking about!

[JasonJayhawk]

I didn't see anyone else mention this -- I'm sure you were tested for hyperthyroidism (TSH and free T4), right?

Do you have any history of smoking?

[Luvpugs]

I didn't see anyone else mention this -- I'm sure you were tested for hyperthyroidism (TSH and free T4), right?

Do you have any history of smoking?
Yes, I have been tested. I actually have Hashimoto's Disease (low thyroid) and I am taking Levoxyl. My endo did bloodwork and everthing came back fine so he sent me to a cardiologist. I have no history of smoking.

[SunniD]

When I asked about my heart rate beating too fast, my doctor checked the protocols and put me on another blood pressure pill even though I didn't think that was the problem. It was what the guidelines say to do and it did help.

SunniD

[JediSurfer]

My endocrinologist did an autonomic nerve test on me a few months ago. The results were negative. Having a gastric emptying test in about an hours time. Sat waiting for my taxi to pick me up. My main Prof at the hospital is an expert in neuropathy.