Felling like heart Attack

[desyj]

In May I had a bad episode wail working in the yard.  There was pain in my chest. It felt like my heart was coming out of my chest.  There was a skipped beat every 3 or 4 beats.  I began sweating really bad, becoming really dissy and pain radiating down my left arm.  I went to the Dr. and they found nothing.  A few days later the pain returned and in the morning wail laying in bed everything became black and the next thing I remember is waking up gasping for air, breathing was very difficalt. I called the Dr. again. the heart monitor showed nothing and the holter monitor showed that i had 116 PVC's in 24hr and that everthing else was fine. Last Monday after walking on the tread-mill for ten min. and the cross-contry for 2 I started having pain in my chest, ratiating down my arm, shortness of breath, sweating, clamy, dissy, nasiated, and a few min. later a migrain came on. the Dr. said that it was probly reflux and put me on propulsid. Last night the same thing. I was working outside weed-eating the yard. Pain came again in my chest radiating down my arm, nasia, heavy breathing like someone was on my chest, the head ache returned. I went to the hospital by ambulance and still nothing. they gave me something to drink to numb me and calm the reflux and the pain didn't go away. Only time and rest helped. Where do I go from hear? Please help.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear desyj,
These symptoms are very concerning for heart problems.  I think you may need to ask your doctor about getting a heart cath.  This is the only way to know for sure that you do not have blockages in your arteries.  If the cath is negative then other causes such as reflux must be considered.

[Terry Lee]

I had a very similar situation.  Went to the hospital twice and was given a clean bill of health each time.  Stress test and thallium scans were normal.

Finally the pain was so bad I was sent for a heart catherization.  Found a 95% blockage in my LAD so I would definitely encourage you to keep pursuing this and maybe insisting on a cath.

[flutterfreak]

I just wanted to tell you about my uncle.  He's only 50 years old and started having problems, too.  He had a battery of tests done...LOTS of them.  ALL the results came out "normal" but he knew deep inside that something was terribly wrong.  Finally they did a specialized test at his insistence [I can't remember what it was] and they found that all his heart arteries were almost completely blocked.  Less than a week later he was rushed in for emergency triple bipass surgery.  If you're having those kinds of symptoms, something IS wrong and you need to have more specialized tests.  I'm no doctor, but I would suggest a stress test, and an ECHOcardiogram, not just an EKG.  I know there's others, too, that can be done to see if there's blockage.  I wish you all the best - don't give up!!  Love Kristy

[sue123]

Hi I would like some advice. I have in the past and most recently had chest pains.  I recently had an episode where I was feeling very hot and cold, and my skin was cold and wet to the touch.  I went to bed because I was not feeling well about 10:00pm.  I awoke at around 12:00am and had pain in my chest. I could not breath in or out the pain was constent. I could not lay down because the pain intensified.  I sat up and watched the clock.... after about two hours the pain finally stoped. I went to my general Doctor and advised him of what happened.  He said it was probably chest wall pain?  I said it was comming from my heart. He just dismissed it...I know it was pain from my heart.. It was very specifie and I always get chest pains. I have MVP it was diagnosed by ultrasound.  Lately I also feel like my body is racing and my heart pounds when I do any exercise.  I thought my throid was over active but I got a blood test and it is normal.
Should I persue any further tests.  I have had EKG's done in the past and nothing was found.  I have also had a halter monitor about a two years ago and it showed a fast heart beat (at the time my throid was over active)  Help!
Sue123