Jason

[ainulindale]

Hi. I'm 23 years old and I began having palpitations (painful pounding in chest, added beats, skipped beats) about 1 1/2 years ago.  After seeing the doctor and wearing a monitor, my family practicioner said I had an instance of  ventricular tachycardia.  I went to the cardiologist where I had many EKG's, holter monitors, a stress test and an echocardiogram.  The doctor said my heart is strong and healthy and prescribed a beta-blocker but doesn't care if I use them as he said there's nothing wrong with me--so I don't use them.  In the months that followed, I saw an electrophysiologist, an internist and another cardiologist who did no tests--no one found any problems.  The second cardiologist I saw (who is one of the best in Pittsburgh) diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Now my heart rate is slow (even though I'm not active), blood pressure is on the low side and my palpitations increase drastically with fatigue.  I really don't know what to think and it causes me a lot of stress.  While my fatigue symptoms definately align with CFS, I don't know whether I should be concerned about my heart or not or if I should go back to the cardiologist.  

[ainulindale]

I'm not very active which is obviously not good.  However, it is very difficult to be active when I have painful fatigue and a lot more uncomfortable palpitations when I walk only about 1/2 mile.  I tried an anti-D but it didn't help.  Even though I've heard they're supposed to help, my CFS is supposedly caused by radiation damage and I just have a hard time seeing how something for my emotional stability is going to cure my autonomic nervous system.  Oh well.  
So I guess v tach can be more stable than internet medical sites let on...what a surprise.

[ainulindale]

I've stopped seeing the doctor entirely...they sent me to many other doctors until I got the CFS diagnosis.  I guess my real concern was with the v tach because the cardiologist said it is a potentially lethal rhythm but then said he didn't "think" I was going to have a heart attack.  He dismissed me as if he wasn't concerned with my health which I took comfort in.  Yet, I never did get an explanation for why I had the v tach--I don't even think I noticed it when it happened.  Maybe I'll call the doctor and see if he'll give me a quick explanation.

[fearfactor]

Maybe you could just ask your doctor the next time you're there.  I am thinking fatigue may be caused by the CFS.  I have found that making multiple trips to the cardiologist really won't help all that much; I have done it myself for palpitations and if they can't catch the problem on a monitor then they really don't know what is going on.  It sounds like they are aware of your v-tach and are not concerned so I'd just mention it next time I'm there.