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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
22-year old with History. Looking for answers...
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22-year old with History. Looking for answers...
by warrenfr, Nov 08, 1999 12:00AM
I am a 22-year old male with a history of issues affecting my quality of life. I am looking for some answers. Below, I have provided an abbreviated history of events and conditions. I ask that you please review it and offer some advice.
First event: 13 years old - Probably a panic attack in a movie theatre. Heightened awareness of heartbeat. Elevated to sweating, palps., anxiety. Admitted to ER for 4 days. All tests clear. Said to be possible tach.
Next window: 13-16 years old – Periods of high anxiety. Unnecessary worries. First instances of PVC activity. Holter monitor, EKG’s all clear. Admitted suffer from some degree of hypochondria. Never really officially confirmed that they were PVC’s.
Next Window: 16-21 years old – Still anxious. Identified as type A personality. High energy, high anxiety, highly vulnerable to stress. Continued PVC activity. On St. John’s Wort for about one year. No noticable benefit.
Most Recent Event: 22 years old – Was in a restaurant. Nearly fainted. Had an admittedly busy day. Ran dozens of errands. Rushed around at a high pace. I require high food consumption and only had a bowl of cereal, a roll, and some candy by 6:00pm when the event occurred. Went to ER for 4 hours. Blood tests ok except for low triglycerides. Recommended increased starch intake. Continued to feel weak, fatigued, and tired for the next three days. Went back to HIGHLY stressful work environment. Had a panic attack. I quit the job promptly. Requested medication for stress management. Have been on Paxil for about 7 weeks. Blook pressure seems to have relaxed. Bouts of dizziness lasted about 6 weeks. Shooting pains in arms, mostly left arm for about 3 weeks. Most recently, persistent jaw discomfort and a single PVC about once or twice weekly are current annoyances. Jaw discomfort not plainly muscular or mechanical in nature. Seems to increase with anxiety. Feel it mainly near vascular sites. Reduced stress, no caffeine or alcohol for about 2 years. Feeling better but worrying about PVC’s and strange arm and jaw discomfort. Admittedly anxious about health concerns. PVC’s are not that frequent but are quite forceful.
I am very concerned about the bouts of weakness. Could any of this be symptoms of Lyme’s Disease? Weakness, jaw discomfort? I do not have a problem with headaches. Also, just thought I’d mention it, my navel has taken on some strange characteristics within the last few weeks. I have a very low fat ratio and my body definition is excellent (due to high metabolism). I have always had a completely flat navel, not and “inny” and not an “outty.” Recently, it seems that something is “underneath” it or accumulating within it causing it to take the shape of an “outty”. It feels soft, almost like fat. Is that all it is? It is not even, though. It is more oriented to the left of the navel. Any suggestions? Sorry for the length of the posting. I just wanted to be as complete as possible. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you very much.
First event: 13 years old - Probably a panic attack in a movie theatre. Heightened awareness of heartbeat. Elevated to sweating, palps., anxiety. Admitted to ER for 4 days. All tests clear. Said to be possible tach.
Next window: 13-16 years old – Periods of high anxiety. Unnecessary worries. First instances of PVC activity. Holter monitor, EKG’s all clear. Admitted suffer from some degree of hypochondria. Never really officially confirmed that they were PVC’s.
Next Window: 16-21 years old – Still anxious. Identified as type A personality. High energy, high anxiety, highly vulnerable to stress. Continued PVC activity. On St. John’s Wort for about one year. No noticable benefit.
Most Recent Event: 22 years old – Was in a restaurant. Nearly fainted. Had an admittedly busy day. Ran dozens of errands. Rushed around at a high pace. I require high food consumption and only had a bowl of cereal, a roll, and some candy by 6:00pm when the event occurred. Went to ER for 4 hours. Blood tests ok except for low triglycerides. Recommended increased starch intake. Continued to feel weak, fatigued, and tired for the next three days. Went back to HIGHLY stressful work environment. Had a panic attack. I quit the job promptly. Requested medication for stress management. Have been on Paxil for about 7 weeks. Blook pressure seems to have relaxed. Bouts of dizziness lasted about 6 weeks. Shooting pains in arms, mostly left arm for about 3 weeks. Most recently, persistent jaw discomfort and a single PVC about once or twice weekly are current annoyances. Jaw discomfort not plainly muscular or mechanical in nature. Seems to increase with anxiety. Feel it mainly near vascular sites. Reduced stress, no caffeine or alcohol for about 2 years. Feeling better but worrying about PVC’s and strange arm and jaw discomfort. Admittedly anxious about health concerns. PVC’s are not that frequent but are quite forceful.
I am very concerned about the bouts of weakness. Could any of this be symptoms of Lyme’s Disease? Weakness, jaw discomfort? I do not have a problem with headaches. Also, just thought I’d mention it, my navel has taken on some strange characteristics within the last few weeks. I have a very low fat ratio and my body definition is excellent (due to high metabolism). I have always had a completely flat navel, not and “inny” and not an “outty.” Recently, it seems that something is “underneath” it or accumulating within it causing it to take the shape of an “outty”. It feels soft, almost like fat. Is that all it is? It is not even, though. It is more oriented to the left of the navel. Any suggestions? Sorry for the length of the posting. I just wanted to be as complete as possible. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you very much.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Nov 08, 1999 12:00AM
, Nov 08, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Fred,
Hard to really say what is going on. Anxiety and stress can certainly cause a lot of symptoms but I don't usually blame them until other possible causes have been ruled out. It sounds like you have had a pretty good work-up. Is the Paxil helping? If so perhaps it really is all due to anxiety.
Hard to really say what is going on. Anxiety and stress can certainly cause a lot of symptoms but I don't usually blame them until other possible causes have been ruled out. It sounds like you have had a pretty good work-up. Is the Paxil helping? If so perhaps it really is all due to anxiety.
