Re: Symptoms of Heart Disorder?

Posted By Michael Kenton on February 14, 1999 at 01:41:37:

In Reply to: Re: Symptoms of Heart Disorder? posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on February 12, 1999 at 18:22:38:






: : Hello Doctor: I am a 36 year old male who was in great shape until 10 years ago.  I
: : began to notice a general sense of fatigue that started to interfere with my ability to exercise.
: : It has progressed to the point where on some days I get a great
: : workout and on others I am extreamly fatigued after just 5 or 10 minutes
: : of aerobic exercise.  I almost have to pull myself up the stairs.  I did
: : have an irregular heartbeat that was finally diagnosed after years of
: : holter monitors and being told I was just having panic attacts ( something
: : I never did have).  It was caught finally after going to an ER after I could not
: : convert to a normal rythem. I was diagnosed with SVT and had a catheter
: : ablation to eliminate the problem.  It was successful.  My main concern
: : here is that I have had a host of other symptoms these past 10 years that I
: : fear may be heart related.  They come and go, but always come back.  I
: : have at all times a level of fatigue which may be mild or at times
: : extream.  I have a sense of lightheadedness ( not spinning dizzyness) that
: : also gives me lessened concentration abilities, eye fatigue, fullness
: : in the abdomen (especially around the right ribs), some lung pain, and
: : chest pain (which is never brought on or affected by exercise.  At times
: : my hands also seem puffy and I do have frequent urinition in the early
: : evening usually no other time). I still get PVC's.  They come and go.
: : Also when I am about to fall asleep, I am awakened by a feeling in my
: : heart similar to going down a deep drop on a roller caoster.  I
: : figure that is a PVC or some form of a palpatation.  I do get
: : headaches that go away with rest.
My worry is that this all may be heart related.  At the worst,  
: : mabey heart failure, or at the other end just a minor imbalance.
: : I have had two echoes, a chect x-ray, blood work, glucose tolerance tests,
: : stress test and a few others over the years.  Nothing ever seems to show
: : up.  I assume that these tests should identify a heart condition.  
I am going to see my MD next week and am just looking for your thoughts
: : on my issues.  I am told to not worry about how I feel, that it is just
: : anxiety, stress, or being out of shape.  I suffer from none of those
: : problems.  I was told the same thing when I said I had an irregular
: : heartbeat too.  Not until it was discovered by accident was it
: : taken seriously.  My concern is that I don't want to be suffering
: : from a serious condition, just to be blown off until it
: : manifests itself in a big way. Also, could a sleep apnea condition cause any of this?
I am currently on TOPROL 50mg XL.  I had the same symptoms before the
: : medication as after.  
I apologize for the wordy description.  Basically does this at all seem
: : potentially heart related, and would the tests I took in the past have
: : identified an underlying heart condition?  Thanks much,  Mark




: Hello Doctor:  I forgot to mention one other common sympton:  flushing of the ears at night(very red) and facial flushing during the day. This occurs two to three times a week, mostly when the fatigue is at its worst.  
: I do have mild high blood pressure for which the Toprol is used.  Thanks




Dear Mark,
It is very coincidental that we are having much the same problem. I was also told for two years after every test imaginable that I had no problems. I was told it was anxiety. But alas, they were wrong. It was not until I had my second collapse in a two year period that I was put in the hospital where my cardiologist had no clue what was wrong until I had and attack of V-tach in front of him and they caught it on the EKG strip. In spite of holters, tilt-table, blood work, thallium treadmill, and an angiogram, nothing was found until I finally had an attack that could be captured before it converted back to normal. Like you, I was upset that I was told I was only suffering anxiety and hyperventilation syndrome. I knew I was not. Unlike you, I have a condition called Dysplasia (a cell corruption in the right ventricle). This condition would not allow ablation so I had a defibrillator inplanted and I am on a drug called Amioderone to control the arrhythmia which it so far is doing. Also like you, I still suffer from all the symptoms you do and I am going through all the tests you are. So far everything looks normal. Like you I also know my body very well. I am being told once again that my symptoms are anxiety, but I am still doubtful of that diagnosis. What is very strange is I am also getting the facial flushing and very red ear (mine is the left one)that you have. I don't have a clue what this is from and neither do my doctors. In closing, I am curious to see what the doctors on this forum say in response to your problem. Maybe I will learn something for me too. In any event, perhaps we should stay in touch via e-mail in case either of us learn something about our continuing condition. You can reach me by replying to this follow-up at the top of the screen. If you send me an e-mail with your return address, I will do the same in reply. Better to do it that way rather than mention it here publicly.
Good Luck,
Mike





------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mike
You have a rare condition, right ventricular dysplasia. The arrhythmias that it causes likely explains at least some of your symptoms. Sometimes, arrhythmias can lead to a flushing sensation. Actually, many other things can lead to flushing - side effects of medicines, high blood pressure, alcohol, stress, and some rare endocrine syndromes.
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.




Dear Doctor,
You mention that my right ventricular dysplasia is rare and this is true. But now that I am on Amioderone the arrhythmia is under control. I had a month of event monitoring to confirm that when I feel bad or when I am flushing in the ear and face, that it is not accompanied by any arrhythmia. It is not according to my cardiologist. But still I get weak, wobbly, and flushed as mentioned above. Do you have any idea what it could be if not arrhythmia and also, could it be arrhythmia without showing up on the event monitor. This monitor was the type to measure heart rhythms before and after onset of symptoms. Any help you can give me will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike