Re: Need help

Posted By sandy on July 28, 1999 at 10:55:26
Hi , I am a 30 year old female, I smoke and am a little over weight.
I was having chest pain quite frequently and went to my Dr who gave me an EKg...it came out normal so he sent me for an Echocardiogram. When the results came back  it said all they found was a slight Mitral valve regurgitatin and that it was not anything to worry about.I also have some sort of anxiety disorder i am in theropy right now and we are working on finding out what type of disorder i have...any ways.....my pain has come back but is difrent this time..The other night i was watching TV and my heart started beating out of my chest..i lost my breath and was dizzy when i tried to walk. I went to bed..thinking it was anxiety.when i awoke the next morning i had pain just above my left breast..it lasted all day ..and i ended up in the ER worried..they gave me an EKG and told me it looked fine and to go home and relax. well here it is the next day and i still have the pain..it is also in my shoulder blade and running from my arm pit down my side slightly. should i be consernd? Should i gi back and ask for more tests to be run? My consern right now is that maybe it is a blocked valve? I am just so worried that i cant think about anything elese. Could this just be anxiety?? What should i do?

[CCF CARDIO MD DLB]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on July 29, 1999 at 15:19:44
Dear Sandy
This type of question is always difficult to answer. Over the internet, it is hard for me to give you reassurance that everything is OK, when you are describing severe pain and discomfort. I think you should bring these symptoms to the attention of your primary doctor. If you had slight regurgitation, it would be almost impossible for the valve to suddenly get blocked up. Similarly, it would be unusual for a 30 year old woman to have significant coronary artery disease. The one cardiac diagnosis worth thinking about in your situation is supraventricular arrhythmia (SVT). The symptoms that an SVT produces can be difficult to distinguish from anxiety or panic disorder. A Holter monitor (a sort of portable EKG) worn during one of your anxiety episodes would be able to determine if you do have an SVT, anxiety or both. Especially since you are so worried about your heart, you should stop smoking.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.











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