round three

  I'm back again.
  Have had instances of pounding, triple fast heart rate.
  Had a holter monitor.  Nothing happened.
  Talked to Cardiologist, scheduled stress test, echo.
  While waiting a week and a half for an appointment, experienced extreme chest
  pressure and 160/92 BP one day.  Told technician (or intern) at hospital,
  he said use event recorder.  Event Recorder negative.
  Wrote to heart forum, was suggested that I inform general practitioner and go
  to ER next time.
  Doctor said it was probably nothing.(!?!)
  Stress echo negative as of today.
  Cardio said keep event recorder and try to catch an attach in progress.
  
  Can the event recorder really inform him of a problem, or is that just
  to back up my claims?
  Do they think I am a hypocondriac?
  Why do some people think there is a problem, and other's think it is nothing?
  My frustration is mounting, and all I want to know is if they still hope to
  find an answer or if they are just continuing with the event recorder to
  pacify me.
  Sorry for being so random, but I am slightly agitated and would just like
  a straight answer from someone.
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Dear Samantha
The event recorder is a good idea. It can definitively answer the question of whether any of your symptoms are caused by fast or irregular heart rates. If the event recorder is normal while you are having symptoms, that plus the normal stress echo would make it very unlikely that you have any serious heart disease. In that case, you and your doctors would have to consider other non-cardiac causes of your symptoms.
I hope this is useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.