Scary events, unhelpful MD

[Medusa99]

I have leaky mitral and tricuspid valves from childhood.  I am a 46 year-old female, was very athletic at one point.  I still excercise regularly but am having problems that are becoming more severe.  I have had arrhythmia episodes that coincide with exercise and stress and have learned to avoid these situations.  However, I have recently had episodes with no triggers.  I had one event where I just suddenly felt faint for no apparant reason and felt that if I even moved the slightest bit my heart would give out.  I laid on the floor and didn't move for a long time, maybe 15-20 minutes and may have even slept.  Just recently, I was extremely tired and felt like a weight was on my chest for no apparent reason.  I bike regularly, but any exercise that is strenuous causes me to become light headed.  Even though I excercise, I am not getting better or stronger.  I have never smoked, drink alcohol only rarely, and do not take any medication.  I went to get a stress test and was required to run on a treadmill to get my heart rate up.  It went to the maximum after only minimal effort and I was told to stop and could not complete the test.  My MD spoke to me about the test and merely said that I should get in better shape, completely ignoring the fact that I bike regularly and cannot increase the amount of activity because I don't get any stronger.  I am not sure how dangerous this is or what tests I need.  I don't understand why I excercise and never get stronger.  It is almost as if my heart is completely unresponsive.  What tests should I get done and what questions should I demand of my doctor, assuming I find one who actually listens to what say?

[pbanders]

Get a new cardiologist. My first one was a jerk, too.

[Medusa99]

The MD was a cardiologist!  Welcome to the land of HMOs or cheap death.

I am getting a second opinion, I just would like to know exact questions that I should demand answers to.

I agree that I should have gotten an answer to why that test was stopped, but the M.D. merely shrugged his shoulders and said, without looking at my chart, that I should excercise.  Excercise is exactly what I have been doing! I got up and left because I was not being treated as a person with a severe illness and I can get that treatment at home.

[Jack54]

I have never heard of this:

(quote Medussa 99)

" I went to get a stress test and was required to run on a treadmill to get my heart rate up.  It went to the maximum after only minimal effort and I was told to stop and could not complete the test.  My MD spoke to me about the test and merely said that I should get in better shape, completely ignoring the fact that I bike regularly and cannot increase the amount of activity because I don't get any stronger."

I would have found an answer, before I left on why the test was stopped. This is/was nuts!

Some conditions or syndromes cause exercise intolerance. Like Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. Also beta blockers cause this, but you said you didn't take any medicine......

The feeling you describe in/on your chest is worrisome for someone like myself who has had an mi (myocardial infarction i.e. heart attack) and lots of angina. Women have different mi symptoms. Listen closely to your body. It does it's best to warn us in many cases. I have received 5 stents instead of having 5 more heart attacks. Prior to each stent, my heart told me it was screwed...Take care!

[anacyde]

Time for a second opinion.

[Barbarella]

Was this "MD" a Cardiologist?  If not, You should to see a Cardiologist.