Urgent advice needed

Hey everyone I have had a bit of trouble with the old ticker over the last couple of months. I had a battery of tests done including chest x ray, blood tests and ECGs on multiple occasions and diagnosed with PVC which has improved and got less frequent. I'm really scared ive got heart disease/ failure. After all these tests being done would heart disease of been picked up? I'm back to the docs tomorrow is the anything I should be asking for test wise

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

What symptoms do you have?  Unfortunately you did not give a lot of information.  Did you see a Cardio?  do you know what they tested for in the blood?

PVC's are very common and not anything to worry about.  With the chest x-ray the Doc can check for an enrlaged heart.  With the bloodtests Doc can check for heart-failure markers.  ECG will pick up on Ischemic problems or heart-related deseases.

Did the Doc do a Colour Dobbler/Sonar/Echo on your heart?  with that test he can check for heart deseases that involves valves, arteries.

Please let us have more info so that we can try and help you.

[Diabiitt]

Sorry for the lack of info. I seen 3 junior drs and one cardiologist then later gp. Not sure what blood tests they did but I do know they checked for thyroid problems as well. Everything with bloods was fine same with chest x ray ECGs were also fine although they did catch PVC on one of them. Also wore patient activated recorder wich came back with me being diagnos with PVC. Cardiologist said ther no more testing warranted. They seem to think that heart disease doesn't happen to a person like me is I'm 22 male who's pretty athletic. But I have have been having trouble sleeping as i wake up short of breath possibly due to nose damage from 5 years ago I can only breath through one nostril

[Diabiitt]

I didn't have an echo done

[Smiley2000]

Thanks for the info.

I think you can rest assured that your heart is fine.  ECG, x-ray and blood would have picked up on a heart-abnormality.

PVC's and PAC's - that is irregular heart beats coming from Ventricles and Atrium - is very common and not something to worry about.

You may actually have the answer to your Insomnia:  deviated septum that is blocking air through your nose!  You can start by seeing an Ear Nose Throat Specialist and if his tests checks out fine, maybe even go to a sleep clinic.

But I do not think that your problems is heart-related.

[Smiley2000]

If you end up seeing a Cardio again, just ask for a Stress ECG and Echo.  Then that will rule out heart-problems completely.

All the best and let me know if I can help again.

[Diabiitt]

Thank u for your advice I hope your right in what your saying hope u
Have a happy new year x

[ed34]

I think it's best to put things into some perspective here. First, an ECG doesn't always show up problems. In fact, both my attacks have been non stemi.  Blood tests will show if a heart attack has occurred, usually within the past 2 weeks or less. A chest x-ray will reveal things such as an enlarged heart or even excessive fluid around the lungs or the heart. So, no, there is no guarantee that you do not have heart disease. Will an echo or stress test show if you have heart disease?, again not necessarily. What you have to remember is there are many degrees of heart disease from very minor to severe. You could probably have several 50% blockages and still pass a stress test with flying colours. What IS important, is how well your heart is working and THIS is something which a stress or echo will reveal. Is heart disease something to be scared stiff about? well again, not necessarily. Many people have heart disease but are unaware because the heart has adapted by opening spare blood vessels to form a natural bypass. These vessels are called collaterals. My Mother lasted until over 80, and then the collaterals could no longer do the job. Lifestyle changes will usually slow the progression, such as no smoking, healthy diet, exercise, less emotional stress etc. At the end of the day, everyone should be doing this anyway, but the majority do not. I hope this helps and please don't hesitate to add other questions because it's a huge learning curve.
Back in feb 2007 I had 2 solidly blocked main arteries out of 3. I was scared stiff for years while Cardiologists tried different approaches. I had a triple bypass which lasted 3 months, and now I've had 10 stents and feel great. It has now been just under 5 years and with everything I've learned and gone through, it no longer scares me. 5 years ago I didn't think I was going to last 6 months, we all blow things out of proportion. My heart is good at developing collaterals which has helped me along the way.
Keep smiling and enjoy life.

[Smiley2000]

Thank you, and a Happy 2012 to you tooooo!  May it be a healthy one and let me know how you are doing, okay?

All the best,

[Smiley2000]

Hi Diabiitt,

Have you seen your Doctor yet?  all okay?