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Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (Expert Forum)
College Athlete With Chest Pain No Diagnosis HELP!!
Answered by
Lee Kirksey, MD - Peripheral Arterial Disease, PAD, Cardiovascular Disease, stroke, treatment, angioplasty, spider veins, laser ablation, wound treatment, surgery, leg pain, Prevention, Varicose veins
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center of the Univ. of Pennsylvania Healthcare Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia - PA
Questions in the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention forum are answered by Dr. Lee Kirksey, associate professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
College Athlete With Chest Pain No Diagnosis HELP!!
by jscpba, Jul 31, 2009 11:23AM
I am a 21 year old male and a senior in college and have been a scholarship division one basketball player for all four years. I have no family history of heart disease. I drink, but much less these days as well as use chewing tobacco on occasion, never smoke. I take Zoloft and Kolonapin for anxiety daily. I have a history of chest pain and have seen numerous cardiologists, a pulmonologist, and a rhumatologist. I have had every test done to check my heart and have even been to duke to see top doctors where tests came back normal. This was all prior to becoming sick.
The chest pain is either sharp on my left side or heavy dull pain and both will radiate to my left shoulder and arm. Sometimes I can feel the pain in my upper left back. Sharp pain is felt sometimes with deep breaths then goes away. This all happens at rest. I could explain it more but I only have 2000 characters ha.
About 5 months ago while on spring break I became extremely ill with stomach flu Once we got back I tried to sleep but couldn't once everyone else woke up at home I went to urgent care diag. stomach flu
GP told me he thought I may have picked up ecoli I had a rash appear on my right hip that looked like little red dots It took two months for that to go away and was worried that the ecoli could have caused a complication I had read about HUS and TTP
My chest pain reappeared over this period as well as numbness in my face and hands I also have extreme visual disturbances light streaks blurred vision and sensitivity to light I had an mri done by a neurologist normal
I went back to see the cardiologist I have had numerous tests done, including d dimer and stress echo normal It has now been 5 months and the chest pain is a daily occurrence As well as pain in my lower abdomen and daily headaches
Over the past 5 months I have not been exercising or working out worried I have something wrong for my upcoming basketball season because I don't know what is causing this pain
The chest pain is either sharp on my left side or heavy dull pain and both will radiate to my left shoulder and arm. Sometimes I can feel the pain in my upper left back. Sharp pain is felt sometimes with deep breaths then goes away. This all happens at rest. I could explain it more but I only have 2000 characters ha.
About 5 months ago while on spring break I became extremely ill with stomach flu Once we got back I tried to sleep but couldn't once everyone else woke up at home I went to urgent care diag. stomach flu
GP told me he thought I may have picked up ecoli I had a rash appear on my right hip that looked like little red dots It took two months for that to go away and was worried that the ecoli could have caused a complication I had read about HUS and TTP
My chest pain reappeared over this period as well as numbness in my face and hands I also have extreme visual disturbances light streaks blurred vision and sensitivity to light I had an mri done by a neurologist normal
I went back to see the cardiologist I have had numerous tests done, including d dimer and stress echo normal It has now been 5 months and the chest pain is a daily occurrence As well as pain in my lower abdomen and daily headaches
Over the past 5 months I have not been exercising or working out worried I have something wrong for my upcoming basketball season because I don't know what is causing this pain
Doctor's Answer
by Lee Kirksey, MD, Aug 03, 2009 05:08PM
, Aug 03, 2009 05:08PMTo: jscpba
Hello
It sounds like you have a confounding problem which has virtually stopped you in your tracks in terms of daily activity. I doubt that in the absence of examining you and reviewing personally the extensive battery of tests that you have that I will be able to tell you what exactly is wrong. Instead Ill offer a couple of general comments
The fact that you had an extensive workup prior to contracting the illness on vacation, In my mind makes the previous workup finding a mute point. Basically, your doctors should start from point A evaluating the possible cardiovascular, pulmonary and endocrinologic tests. I would consider gathering all of your records and taking them to a regional center for a second opinion. Before you would do this, try to find a center that can provide a comprehensive evaluation over a day or two. Sometimes a new set of eyes will see something different
It should not be neglected to consider hormonal causes of chest discomfort and vision changes like pituitary issues
If you have not had a stress echo, it should be considered
Finally, be persistent in getting people to search for the cause of your problem and dont give up until you have a satisfactory answer.
Good luck with the upcoming season
It sounds like you have a confounding problem which has virtually stopped you in your tracks in terms of daily activity. I doubt that in the absence of examining you and reviewing personally the extensive battery of tests that you have that I will be able to tell you what exactly is wrong. Instead Ill offer a couple of general comments
The fact that you had an extensive workup prior to contracting the illness on vacation, In my mind makes the previous workup finding a mute point. Basically, your doctors should start from point A evaluating the possible cardiovascular, pulmonary and endocrinologic tests. I would consider gathering all of your records and taking them to a regional center for a second opinion. Before you would do this, try to find a center that can provide a comprehensive evaluation over a day or two. Sometimes a new set of eyes will see something different
It should not be neglected to consider hormonal causes of chest discomfort and vision changes like pituitary issues
If you have not had a stress echo, it should be considered
Finally, be persistent in getting people to search for the cause of your problem and dont give up until you have a satisfactory answer.
Good luck with the upcoming season
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