EC and Tachycardia

Hi I am just wondering if anybody has been on EC chemo and experienced constant tachycardia?

I have completed 12 weeks of Carbotaxol and then started EC. Since starting chemo my heart has been racing but since starting EC It has become really problematic and quite unbearable. The chemo nurses keep talking palpitations but it is tachycardia, its constant and i have palpitations alongside this which are really frightening. I can hear it in my head all night long pulsing, I can't move about my house as my bp soars. I get dizzy and exhausted and spend most of my time lying down, I'm only 32 years of age and have 2 small children and this is becoming debilitating. After treatment my haemoglobin really drops and ive had to have 4 blood transfusions so far. This seems to slightly improve how i feel for a day or so but it doesnt resolve the problem. I have had hospital stays, ECGs, Echo, blood tests and as yet there is no explanation. All medical advice online advises to get to hospital if tachycardia continues for a certain length of time, but my pulse is consistently racing and I'm sent home by doctors and nurses where I honestly feel scared and unsafe. I'm worried I'm going to have a significant cardiac event lie a heart attack. 

Please tell me this goes away after treatment finishes. I have poor mental health and this is really having an effect on my mental state, the fast loud pulsing in my head all night long is really taking its toll on me.

Thankyou in advance for any replies

  • Hello and thanks for posting,

    Unfortunately, on this forum, we can't really comment very specifically about this, as each individual's situation is different.

    Chemotherapy can cause different side effects. It does seem that you have been investigated for these issues. Sometimes when you have a low blood count, and require blood transfusions, this can cause dizziness and pulse changes. So, it may well be a combination of different factors at different times.

    Do discuss your concerns with your hospital team and your GP, as this is clearly worrying you. Do bear in mind too that heightened anxiety at times, can also make symptoms appear more severe, than they are.

    I hope that things improve for you soon,

    Best wishes,

    Vanda