Has anyone experienced Bracycardia post RNY

I almost hesitate to post this as I know that no one can diagnose me, and I will be seeing my WL clinic later this month and will discuss it with them.  However, I am wondering if anyone has experience with low resting heart rate after WLS.

Lately I have been very, very dizzy.  Sometimes I have spells of dizziness, and sometimes I wake up feeling dizzy.  I also get really dizzy after I get up off the couch.  I am feeling very tired as well, wanting to go to bed early and feeling fatigued during the day.  Despite all of that I am still very active, running anywhere between 25-30km a week.  I am taking all my vitamins and drinking between 2-3 litres a day.  I almost always get in a minimum of 60 grams of protein, but more usually 80-100 grams.   

As of late (the last week) , the dizziness has become quite bothersome and I have felt like passing out a number of times.  My resting heart rate (don't know why I check it, but I find myself doing it), has been between 40-47 BPM.  Anyone know if this is considered low?  If I weren't feeling so tired and dizzy, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Hi Marny

Mine has dropped a lot too (1 year post-op, down 185 lbs).  I was in the mid 70's before, but my sleeping rate is now in the mid to low 40's on average, and sometimes down in the 30's.  Fortunately for me, to date my waking experiences have been fine, and I'm more in the 50 - 60 range then. 

After doing an EKG (normal) and bloods (high ferritin - the iron level in your tissues as opposed to iron level in your blood) I was told that after a major drop in weight my vascular system, which had developed bigger veins to support the big me, no longer has to work as hard, so my heart rate slows down. 

Sounds logical, I'm not so sure I totally buy into this.  I am currently exploring the high ferritin issue.  Too much iron in one's tissues (including the heart) can interfer with the electrical impulses which keep everything running.  I have an appointment with the TWH clinic on Tuesday, and this is one of the issues on my agenda.

I'll try and keep you posted, and if you learn anything through your own enquiries I'd love to hear.

Claire

Yes, I measured my heart rate recently and it was also lower, though not as low as yours.
While I do experience a little dizziness, it's nothing like yours, and I think there might be something more going on with you.

What's your blood pressure like these days?

Mine went from 210/110 pre-surgery
to 105/65 post-op
so there's a huge difference in that for me.

I'm wondering, with your high water intake, if you're not unbalancing your electrolytes.

I haven't had my blood pressure checked in a while, but last time (probably several months ago), I remember it being in the neighbourhood of 100/80??  I was also wondering about my electrolytes as well.  I was drinking a lot because I have been running so much and I am a heavy sweater.  I was also told that after running I should replace electrolytes especially when we have been running long distances (Sundays).  I have never paid much attention to this until I started feeling dizzy this oast week.  We had a dietician at our running clinic who talked about unbalanced electrolytes and so since Tuesday, I have been drinking Crystal Lite Pure (which has electrolytes in it), to help, but I haven't seen a difference.  I had my 1 year blood work done last week (I know- a little late), and I am hopin I can call the clinic next week to see if there is anything askew.  I don't want to wait until the 16th (my appointment), since I am feeling so crummy.  It is starting to affect my daily functioning.  I was a little nervous driving with my kids today.  I had a dizzy spell and had to pull over until it passed. 

Thanks Claire.  I appreciate it.  :)

I posted a couple of weeks ago asking the same question.  LOL  I went to the doctor for my annual physical and my heartrate was super slow.  Normal for me was in the high 80's and at my doctors appointment I was 49-54.  Someone explained it to me that our blood vessels expand to accommodate how much harder our heart has to work when we are carrying the extra weight.  Once we start to lose the weight, our heart isn't working as hard but the blood vessels don't shrink back down to normal, they stay enlarged.  I have a requisition for an EKG to make sure everything is ok but I'm sure it's fine.  Hope you feel better soon. :)

ETA:  It was probably Claire that explained it to me now that I've read the other posts.  LOL  Thanks Claire :)

 Are you on blood pressure meds or on diabetic meds?  I felt like this before they took me off all my meds.  I was getting dizzy etc., afterwards I was fine.  Best of luck!

i'm no professional but i think getting dizzy after standing usually has to do with blood pressure.  lots of things can make you dizzy/fatigued.  you mentioned you were going to see your wl clinic but have you discussed all these concerns with your gp?  i'm an avid fan of encouraging everyone to not mess around with dizzy spells.  i have a pacemaker because my heart rate kept dipping too low and getting me dizzy, i also have vertigo (neither are related to wls.)  like i said, i'm no professional and i know everyone's medical situation is different but make sure you get this checked out just to be sure.  i have heard of others having low heart rates as a result of weight loss. 

debi.,

 I'm a member of this club too, before surgery though.   I rest in the '30's.   During plastics I was 24, out of rny I was 36.   This is me.   My doc was concerned before sending me to Mexico for plastics, and had me wear a holter monitor and had a nuclear scan.   My plastics doc is a member of this club too.  I have a murmur as well.   I'm good.   I do find if I eat any sugar, or carbs.. my heart races, and racing for me is in the '70's.   If I walk fast, I feel like my heart will pound out of my chest.. very freaky.   I hate the feeling, truly hate it, scares me.   I remember somebody.. can't remember who wanting me to do a treadmill test, they wanted me to get it to 125... yeah, like in their dreams lol.   I also wanted to mention that there were times I was dizzy.. you've just changed your whole body.. it has to learn how to cope.   Hopefully the doc gets on your testing soon, just to make sure, this is the new normal for you.

Bonnie

i am 2 years out doing well but starting in oct i began to passout i faint about 10-15 times a day
i dont know when im going to do it since i dont feel any symtems.  I  have had brain scans heart  monitors etc everything is normal.  I now wear a helmet to protect my head when i fainted i am waiting to see a endo dr. I dont know if this is wls related but i wonder now i hear other people are feeling faint too