Weak Legs?

[kerri73]

Hi everyone,

I was curious if any of you have ever had a weak/rubbery leg sensation before... I've had this happen periodically... though not consistently... for a while now. It happened a week or two ago at work. Then it happened again this morning while I was curling my hair... I just started feeling weak in the legs, plus I had a pressure against the back of my neck. I ended up having to go lay down on the couch and elevate my legs. That seemed to help. (It just makes me feel like I might fall down or pass out at any moment, but who knows if I would.)

I'm on atenolol, so it could be that... I know I have issues with my aortic valve (murmur & sub-aortic membrane)... plus an artificial mitral valve... or it could not be related at all.

Anyone else experienced this where they can share any info with me?

Thanks!
Kerri

 

[MikeHeim]

Funny you should ask that. About once per week, I get a sensation where it suddenly feels like my legs are really "heavy". It always happens when I'm standing up, and I feel like (even if I'm standing still) my legs can't support me and that I might collapse. If I'm walking, it feels like I can't walk straight and that my legs aren't really under my control. The sensation usually lasts 1-2 minutes, and I don't seem to have to do anything to make it go away. Can't be sure, but I think your issue sounds pretty similar. I don't have any pressure on my neck, however.

I am also on Atenolol, and these sensations have only happened since my surgery.

 

[Marguerite53]

Please call a doctor about those symptoms. You could need an atenolol adjustment. Or, could be allergies, could be something you ate, you could (gulp) be pregnant, could be as yet undetected changes in your heart. Really best to be safe and call in.

Take care! Let us know!

Marguerite

 

[kerri73]

Thanks guys - I'll give them a call. I know I was telling my cardio's assistant a few months ago about a symptom I was having, and I can't remember *which* symptom that was - if it was the leg thing, or I get "hawk" vision every now and then - probably migraines. I've also been having some sharp pains the past couple of days - nothing consistent, just an occasional pain. But we'll see what they have to say. (And I'm glad I'm not alone!)

Thanks again!
Kerri

 

[MikeHeim]

Please let me know what they say. Thanks!

 

[pipersmith]

Safe is better than sorry ;0)

Safe is better than sorry ;0)

I was having several symptoms for over a month - while I was on Atenolol. I just assumed that they were because of the medicine. The symptoms are what finally led me to the doctor and discovery of AI and a misformed valve.

Better to have the doctor weigh in, than assume they are side effects - in my opinion

Good luck!!

 

[kerri73]

Ok I *finally* have an update on this one! Though it's still in the air. I ended up having to switch cardiologists because the one I was seeing's nurse never called me back! She'd called me once, mentioned a stroke, and was supposed to talk to my dr. and get back to me - that was a week ago today. I left her another message on Monday and still haven't heard anything - needless to say, I called and cancelled all my future appointments with those crazy people! (And this is a distinguished university hospital here in Omaha - not promising.) So I went back to my former cardiologist from 2 years ago, because I like & trust him (I only left to get more opinions on having children with my condition).

They did an echo today and my gradients were up slightly. He thought my episodes could be caused by a number of factors, but said it sounded mechanical... maybe some TIAs. He asked if I had been having headaches or visual problems, which I have been having but thought they were migraines - however I don't have the sensitivity to light that you typically hear with migraines. So he's just going to keep an eye on me - wants me to try to get my blood pressure reading when I have any future episodes, and will do another echo in 6 months, unless I have more symptoms before then. Plus he's having me start taking a baby aspirin a day, just in case I am having TIAs.

If my gradient continues to get worse (right now it's at 24.. my ejection fraction is at 55 - but he said he could do an echo tomorrow and get a variation of #s)... I may be looking at surgery again. So I guess I won't worry too much about having kids for a while, though it was something I was looking at for next year... we'll see how things go between now & then!

Thanks again for all of your input!
Kerri