AC affecting the heart?

thank you for that shs14. It fells awful and my oncologist feels it’s totally caused by the AC and he will monitor me throughout. My heart rate had settled but has gone up again today - day 3 post chemo. I am too whacked today to do much anyway. Just trying to potter around. It’s scary because I really wasn’t expecting this plus all the other crap side effects. My taste buds has given up today and now I just want to swallow salt and that is so unlike me. 

Hi @ddon, I had a period of much faster resting heart rate starting during AC and peaking during Paclitaxel chemo. My resting heart rate often went up into the nineties. Horrible. I mentioned it to my onco but she said it wasn't related although I read online that both types can cause this side effect. It was very disconcerting. And then one day it just stopped. I exercised the whole time and it didn't seem to affect it.
During that time I had two heart scans due to Herceptin and both were fine, my ejection fraction was unchanged. DM me if you want. Hope yours slows soon too.

So I had an ECG prior to AC Thursday and it seems it’s messing with the electrics slightly so just have to keep close eye on it. It’s causing me some anxiety because I know it increases risk of arrhythmias so I am cutting out running and sticking to walking from here on in. 

I’ve been on beta blockers for years - and yes, I can exercise normally. My cardiologist is all for it, just with some commonsense (build activity, don’t suddenly treble your activity, etc).  My issue is not so much the heart structure, which is fine, as the electronic circuit which misfires a bit. Best wishes. 

That’s scary isn’t it. Can you exercise normally on beta blockers? I seem to be ok exercising - this week anyway. Not doing much jogging but can walk fast uphill the same as I could before so hoping I can keep it up. I just hate the thought of this treatment damaging the heart I have taken such good care of. 

Hi @ddon. Fairly quickly after my first chemo, I developed what I'd probably call an activity intolerance.  My resting heart went up a little, but almost any activity such as walking a short distance (<50m) would elevate my heartrate quite dramatically.  Before my second chemo, when I had my oncologist appointment,  I walked from the waiting area, was weighed before the blood pressure cuff was put on my arm, and when they put tgge probe on my finger and got a reading,  mr HR was 120 beats per minute.  That remained my pattern. I'm now under the care of a cardiologist, and take a beta blocker to control it, but more than 4 years out from chemo, none of the echocardiogram's that I've had have indicated any heart damage
Take care 

Thank you Jintie. I have wondered about that - I noticed my breathing is faster too. I feel like my heart is gradually slowing the last couple of days as I feel better in myself. Hopefully that’s all it is. My breast care nurse has just told me to call tomorrow and ask for the oncologist to see me before my next chemo Thursday and have a chat to him. 

My heart rate increased when I had chemo.  I asked my oncologist why - and she said because you become anaemic in between treatment and your body is having to work harder, hence the heart is pumping harder and faster.  It was more obvious 5 days after infusion, which is when I was at my weakest.  I had an echocardiogram before I started, and I was told my heart was 'perfect' also.

I had an echocardiogram prior and was told my heart was ‘perfect’ so I know I don’t have anything pre-existing. I will definitely get it reviewed before my next chemo. Thank you to everyone who has replied. 

I have I have always had low BP until AC. It went to a high normal and has stayed that way a year later. The GP, Onco and heart specialist are not concerned. Hope this helps reassure you.