Going Slightly Insane

[Therupaxim]

I would greatly appreciate anyones thoughts on the symptoms I have been experiencing - I keep getting told that due to my age and lack of risk factors (26 yr old female, BMI of 21) that my condition is unlikely to be life threatening and to go back to work.  I tried (and I desperately want to go back) but after three days back I experienced chest pains, my left arm was aching and numb and my lips turned blue (after a very short walk).  I was told by one doctor that my left arm shouldn't be aching as this is a symptom of Ischaemic heart disease - almost implying that I had made it up! A sympathetic GP has signed me off until they can work out what is wrong and I have been on beta blockers for several weeks (without them I couldn't do anything beyond lie on the sofa).  However, I won't be able to have an echocardiogram or an exercise ECG for another few weeks and I feel awful about missing so much work.

My symptoms started in July with occasional palpitations.  In late August I had an episode of pre-syncope accompanied by palpitations, pins and needles in my face, feeling very cold.  Since that time I consistently got worse and couldn't stand up without my bpm raising to 120 or 160 if I tried to climb my stairs at home.  An event recorder caught trigeminy, plenty of ectopics and episodes of fast heart rate but I don't know if they meant anything or if there were any other unusual patterns as my cardiologist has yet to get back to me after being asked to review my case a week ago as a matter of urgency by my GP.  The episodes come and go so normal ECGs given at the hospital haven't caught them (especially as I have been on beta blockers for them all).  I understand that ectopics are benign and I'm not worried about them  - it's more the symptoms of chest pains, racing heart, fatigue/weakness, lips going blue, breathlessness when walking (couldn't chat to a friend without slowing right down), trigeminy (is that any more concerning than ectopics).  

I feel so dismissed by the hospital doctors.  I can accept that my condtion is unlikely to be life threatening but it seems to have continually worsened - beta blockers are still helping but more and more palpitations seem to be breaking through.  I get chest pains if I do anything even vaguely strenuous.  I have a small child who I cannot play with (and who doesn't understand his mummy is ill), I can't work and I'm pretty much confined to my house.  

Would really appreciate any thoughts as to what this could be!!

[Therupaxim]

Thank you.  Not under a lot of stress and I'm not an anxious person at all  - also my symptoms seemed to get suddenly worse at a time when I had dismissed the palpitations as normal ectopic beats and so wasn't concerned about them!  The only stress I feel right now is trying to get the cardiologist to realise that I'm unwell to the extent that I can't work and to speed things up a bit!  Thankfully I have found an excellent GP but, being based in England, I am at the mercy of the NHS when it comes to the cardiologist.  I'm considering going private but the diagnostic tests alone would cost close to £800.  I have had a thorough blood work up - iron levels and thyroid function are all fine.  I'm on beta blockers now and so my resting heartrate is generally fine - when I wasn't on them my usually low resting heart rate was consistently in the late 80s to 90s (high for me) and it took a while to come down from the 100s after I had left the sofa for any reason (some palpitations would just start while I was lying down too).

It's so frustrating that some Doctors just completely dismiss your concerns because of your age. I'm lucky to at least have a GP take me seriously and push my case - probably something to do with me collapising in reception with a very high heart rate and bursting into hysterical tears because noone was doing anything about me being ill!  

[Younique1]

Are you under alot of stress or anxiety?  What is your heart rate?  Rest BP?  I found out about my heart issues when I was 13 and when I was in my early 20's, I had a doctor tell me that I am "too young" to have heart related issues.  Go find another doctor as soon as you can.  The main thing is to try...I know it is hard to do, but relax.  I know that anxiety has alot of those symptoms also, but you need to get a thorough check up with a competent board certified cardiologist.  Also, I would suggest a thorough blood work up as thyroid issues have some of those similar symptoms also.

Thoughts and prayers are with you.  Please keep us posted