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Cardiomyopathy....or another type of heart disease??
Hi,
I don't expect a diagnosis, but a little bit of insight would be lovely. I'm 18 (just turned it a few days ago), I walk at least 2 miles a day 5 days a week, and used to be extremely athletic and I have a very good BMI. I'm anemic and have anxiety and anxiety attack issues, have an eating problem, and acid reflux. As of recently, I've become fatigued and sleep an hour or two during the day and 6 hours at night. I've had chest pains in the past related to anxiety, but they've definitely gotten worse. I've never passed out, although I've been lightheaded every now and then, and my routine physicals always went fine. I do have a high heart rate, though I've never actually known if it was tachycardia, and lately doing simple tasks has caused my heart to beat through my chest. Anyways, I've been extremely worried so my mother scheduled an appointment for this Thursday. I'm worried it's cardiomyopathy, seeing as it's the most common form of heart disease in adolescents and children. My family history is revolved around cancer not heart disease, yet I'm extremely concerned as is my mother. Any advice would be appreciated.
I don't expect a diagnosis, but a little bit of insight would be lovely. I'm 18 (just turned it a few days ago), I walk at least 2 miles a day 5 days a week, and used to be extremely athletic and I have a very good BMI. I'm anemic and have anxiety and anxiety attack issues, have an eating problem, and acid reflux. As of recently, I've become fatigued and sleep an hour or two during the day and 6 hours at night. I've had chest pains in the past related to anxiety, but they've definitely gotten worse. I've never passed out, although I've been lightheaded every now and then, and my routine physicals always went fine. I do have a high heart rate, though I've never actually known if it was tachycardia, and lately doing simple tasks has caused my heart to beat through my chest. Anyways, I've been extremely worried so my mother scheduled an appointment for this Thursday. I'm worried it's cardiomyopathy, seeing as it's the most common form of heart disease in adolescents and children. My family history is revolved around cancer not heart disease, yet I'm extremely concerned as is my mother. Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry, my finger slipped onto the "post" button on this tiny keyboard.
What I wanted to say was that their tests would indeed have caught any serious heart conditions. The EKG alone reveals a tremendous amount about your heart's size, dimensions, orientation, and the order in which its components are functioning. It's pretty much all there to the practiced eye, especially considering your youth along with other factors.
Before your appointment with the cardiologist--which I hope you keep--write down your question for him/her. That will keep you on track during the short period you are in the office. And when you are given the information that your heart is healthy, be prepared to ask about further psychological help for your anxiety and hypochondria.
The symptoms you feel are very much related to your emotional state, and when your heart has been examined and found fine, then it is time to address other causes of the symptoms. As many of us here are aware, fear, anxiety, and depression all play into this.
Final note: Shrinks are good and helpful people, but even if you are not seeing one yet, research the term "cardiac neurosis.". You will find helpful information. The trick will be accepting it.
What I wanted to say was that their tests would indeed have caught any serious heart conditions. The EKG alone reveals a tremendous amount about your heart's size, dimensions, orientation, and the order in which its components are functioning. It's pretty much all there to the practiced eye, especially considering your youth along with other factors.
Before your appointment with the cardiologist--which I hope you keep--write down your question for him/her. That will keep you on track during the short period you are in the office. And when you are given the information that your heart is healthy, be prepared to ask about further psychological help for your anxiety and hypochondria.
The symptoms you feel are very much related to your emotional state, and when your heart has been examined and found fine, then it is time to address other causes of the symptoms. As many of us here are aware, fear, anxiety, and depression all play into this.
Final note: Shrinks are good and helpful people, but even if you are not seeing one yet, research the term "cardiac neurosis.". You will find helpful information. The trick will be accepting it.
When you go to the ER, they do a kind of triage on you right away. Without your being aware of it, skilled personnel check out your color, your level of alertness, your breathing, your emotional state, and, yes, your weight. Then they run tests based on what they see, what the stethoscope and the BP cuff show, plus the history you give them.
They cannot read your mind (though they can sometimes come pretty close), and they can often tell if you are shading the truth.
That they ran an EKG, a chest -ray, and monitored your heart for two hours means that you got a very nice exam of your heart's function. The test they did would indeed have caught
They cannot read your mind (though they can sometimes come pretty close), and they can often tell if you are shading the truth.
That they ran an EKG, a chest -ray, and monitored your heart for two hours means that you got a very nice exam of your heart's function. The test they did would indeed have caught
When you go to the ER, they do a kind of triage on you right away. Without your being aware of it, skilled personnel check out your color, your level of alertness, your breathing, your emotional state, and, yes, your weight. Then they run tests based on what they see, what the stethoscope and the BP cuff show, plus the history you give them.
They cannot read your mind (though they can sometimes come pretty close), and they can often tell if you are shading the truth.
That they ran an EKG, a chest -ray, and monitored your heart for two hours means that you got a very nice exam of your heart's function. The test they did would indeed have caught
They cannot read your mind (though they can sometimes come pretty close), and they can often tell if you are shading the truth.
That they ran an EKG, a chest -ray, and monitored your heart for two hours means that you got a very nice exam of your heart's function. The test they did would indeed have caught
Is this good?!? I went to the ER Sunday night because of my chest pains. (By the way, I'm a mild hypochondriac with anxiety issues and anemia and I rarely take my iron pills) I had an EKG, a chest X-ray, and they monitored my heart for 2 hours. The doctor told me my results were good and that it was nothing bad at all, rather a muscular skeletal inflammation which he prescribed a low dose of pain killers for. So, with that said, could I still have heart disease or would those tests have caught it? You say unless something is found during the first exam they wouldn't do a street test or imaging, but they did all 3 of those things should I be concerned? Or is it because I went to the ER that they did that? I still have chest pains from my anxiety and it scares me. I do have a cough but it has regular colored sputum (sorry...a little gross) and awful fatigue. Could my anemia be causing those symptoms? Could it be an upper respiratory infection? Sorry for all the questions but I'm still freaking out.
These days, scheduling is really tight in most medical facilities, so probably the doc will listen to your history and symptoms, examine you, and then order the necessary tests to be done sometime in the near future.
In my own experience, the tests will include basic blood work and an EKG. They do not usually order a stress test or any kind of 'imaging' unless a reason is found for that during the first exam, and of course, we don't know what your doctor will find.
Try not to worry too much about this upcoming exam, even though that's difficult sometimes. I tend to lose my concentration during medical appointments, so before that time, I print my questions on a sheet of paper and refer to it while I'm talking with the doctor.
It is very important to answer the doc's questions honestly, even if it's embarrassing to do so.
In my own experience, the tests will include basic blood work and an EKG. They do not usually order a stress test or any kind of 'imaging' unless a reason is found for that during the first exam, and of course, we don't know what your doctor will find.
Try not to worry too much about this upcoming exam, even though that's difficult sometimes. I tend to lose my concentration during medical appointments, so before that time, I print my questions on a sheet of paper and refer to it while I'm talking with the doctor.
It is very important to answer the doc's questions honestly, even if it's embarrassing to do so.
Thank you, Achillea, for your quick reply. I'm not anorexic per se, EDNOS would be a more accurate label. I've been eating very Normal lately. I don't purge, although I have in the past, I restrict. Anyways, that's besides the point, my mother is taking me to the doctor Thursday and I was wondering what would happen. Once I tell him all that has been going on and the symptoms I've been experiencing, will he do scans or tests that day or will I need to come back for a followup appointment. Does anyone know what the tests consist of?
Thank you!
Thank you!
You note that you have an eating problem. If you're anorexic and/or purging, you are going to alter your electrolytes, and that definitely has cardiac implications.
The first time this connection was brought widely to public notice was with the death of a popular singer of the time, Karen Carpenter:
"On February 4, 1983, less than a month before her 33rd birthday, Karen suffered heart failure at her parents' home in Downey, California. She was taken to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead twenty minutes later. The Los Angeles coroner gave the cause of death as "heartbeat irregularities brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa."[16] Under the anatomical summary, the first item was heart failure, with anorexia as second."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Carpenter
Although you are young, in your case it would be prudent to have a cardiac workup.
The first time this connection was brought widely to public notice was with the death of a popular singer of the time, Karen Carpenter:
"On February 4, 1983, less than a month before her 33rd birthday, Karen suffered heart failure at her parents' home in Downey, California. She was taken to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead twenty minutes later. The Los Angeles coroner gave the cause of death as "heartbeat irregularities brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa."[16] Under the anatomical summary, the first item was heart failure, with anorexia as second."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Carpenter
Although you are young, in your case it would be prudent to have a cardiac workup.
And, I forget to mention the muscle pains and spasms I've Bern experiencing.
Thanks, again.
Thanks, again.
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