what can mimick heart symptoms?

[if_i_had_you]

I started having symptoms of fatigue, lightheadedness, early heartbeats,  occasionally tachycardia and breathlessness in my sleep.   feelings like hypoglycemia but with normal sugar levels.   something that sort of mimicks hg because eating brings some improvement.     I had many heart tests including cardiac CT,  echo, stress test, thyroid, CBC, CMP, liver panel...BNP, SED rate is 0.     I am very fatigued, at times my heart feels like it is barely beating,  I have hot or cold sensations spread thru my body,  sometimes my blood pressure drops off,  and I feel like general **** most of the time,  and I also have derealization syndrome, and I get headrushes and disorientation all the time.  My senses are dulled.   Also had a brain MRI which was normal.  I have  Mild sleep apnea with no improvement w/ CPAP.  I also have mild bilateral periphreal edema and a bruise on my shin that won't heal.       I get reactive hypoglycemia easily.    I can't go without a meal, or I will become very sick.    I am only 28.
I am wondering if there is some vitaman, mineral, or substance in the body that could account for this type of thing?   Sometime  out of balance,  kind of like that disease where the liver doesn't filter out copper right?  (but I know it's not that).     Do you have any idea for me to look into?

[DL261]

Have you been checked for pericarditis? Symptom can be pain in left shoulder. EKG may also look ok..

[thedsc]

I've not been informed on what I've been checked for, but I guess not. The last time, the doctor barely asked any question, didn't even make an auscultation, just scheduled an ECG. Reading a bit about it on the internet, does not quite fits its symptoms, it does not worsens when I sleep, neither when I take a deep breath. Albeit sometimes, but not very recently, I had single prickling when taking a deep breath or laughing, but whithout this left arm "weirdness" at the same time. Yet it was very scary because I didn't kew of "precordial catch syndrome" which I guess its the most likely cause, but I know I can't really diagnose myself.

Actually it almost disappeared completely later yesterday, when I went to sleep, and just came back about 3 pm today, slightly increasing gradually.

I simply hate that. It's very hard to describe the symptoms and I can't really trust the symptoms anymore, I know that there are things like "nocebo" where the expectations and knowledge about things may bring "fake" symptoms.



One thing that somehow I forgot to mention is that sometime ago I've spot a bunch of small purplish dots on my left biceps, like tiny hematomas (I recall that the "big" ones, about 7, had no more than 1/4 cm), spread over an ray of 3 or 5 cm. But they're long gone. I don't recall having done nothing that could cause it, I'm not into drugs at all, neither exercising. Just yet another possible "false clue" to mess with my mind, but perhaps I had some sort of mild accident that wasn't so painful that I would remember, and it could affect the nerves. When I search in google about this sort of feeling I've found some nerve-related symptoms as well.


If I don't start feeling significantly worse, with more cardiac symptoms untill then, I'll ask the doctor about pericarditis (thanks) and try to describe everything I feel and all the story, even if may I sound like some sort of hypochondriac. :o/

[thedsc]

I can't post a new topic just for that, but my question is somewhat related, I hope it will not be a great deviation if I ask it here.


The only symptom I'm having lately is some sort of tightness, discomfort only, or 99% of the time on my left arm, all day long...

It's far from pain or actually aching, even though it's dull constant... it's quite mild, and I wouldn't even bother if I knew it was nothing serious, but as it's part of the angina/infarction symptoms, I have a really hard time trying to sleep, these days it's often 5, 6am and I couldn't sleep yet.

I'm sorry by being perhaps somewhat more long than I proabably should, but I'm in an ackward situation, I think I may be somewhat cardiophobic without a real reason, but at the same time I'm afraid to be in denial of something real.

There is no shortness of breath, fever, sweting, anything else. Back in 2006 I decided to go to the emergency when I was having similar symptoms to these I'm having these days, the doctor made an auscutation and an ECG, and told that my heart was healthy as a baby's heart.

My lifestyle is not the best possible, but I am not obese, not diabetic, my blood pressure is normal, and even somewhat low -- I've went to the emergency once this year in an episode of dizziness following some sort of short, sporadic tingling sensations on my chest, earlier in the same day, but then all I had was a pressure check and they've injected something on my veins, I think it was some salt-like thing. I may be passing the wrong impression about me mentioning that I went to the emergency twice for things that were nothing at all, I'm actually very hesitant in doing this, usually optimistic about my health in general, only since a few years ago I've been worrying a bit specifically about my heart, as I didn't even know before that people younger than me (I'm 26) died somewhat often of heart conditions. I swear don't have Munchausen syndrome, trying to get attention or something, that is just the opposite of me, I don't like to be the center of attention, and hospitals are far from the top on my list of favorite places.

After that I scheduled an appointment with a doctor, general practicioner, which barely just scheduled an ECG, which will be in August 26. Curiously, just before the first appointment, I was having what I think to have been "precordial catch syndrome", which is benign and apparently easy to differentiate from real heart symptoms; these things almost ceased completely, returning only just in the day of the first appointment, to completely cease again, up to now. I think it has to do with the PCS' correlation with nervousness, even though I was not very nervous back then, and not having trouble to sleep, as far as I recall.

I was thinking about going to the emergency today again, because of this increased feeling of weirdness in my left arm, but I think I'm most likely paranoid than having something real, and I'd be more likely wasting the doctors time from real emergencies. It's starting to look like "the boy who cryed wolf".

Other thing that may be important, is that it does not seem to correlate, at least not instantly, with physical activity/exertion at all. Which, according to a heart disease interpretation, would be instable angina I think, but again, I think I were supposed to be dead already if I had it for so long, even if it happened just today.

So, what else could it be?

Almost needless to mention, I didn't beat my left arm with anything, I don't feel particularly weak, and I use to sleep over the right side of my body, not over my left arm, in order not to hear my heartbeats, which makes me too nervous, I'b be subconsciously trying to spot some abnormality, and scarying myself for no reason.

[erijon]

Thank you for your response, I spend much time on the heart disease forum and read many posts from desparate individuals who have tried numerous times to get on the expert forum. Many have real concerns and would welcome the advice of the forum doctors. I don't doubt this poster has some real anxiety, but they definately need to take another approach and listen to the excellent advice they have recieved and start making changes in their life. They can't be living  a happy life with the anxiety they must be feeling. I have asked them to join us in the heart disease community serveral time where they can interact with other members who can help this individual cope with their issues, so far no go. I try to help whereI can and I have been helped by the forum as well. I hope this individual will join us, we'll see.

Thank you for your continued service to our members.

Jon

[Cleveland Clinic]

I have personally answered this question in significant detail numerous times before and find it to be an absolute abuse on this forum that the person continues to repost in the hopes of obtaining a different answer.
It is sad to say but I think your problem stems from obesity and that the only cure for all of your symptoms is weight loss and a removal from this fixation with your medical problems. You need exercise in moderate amounts initially and caloric restriction. This relative hypoglycemia you feel is very likely to be stemming from high average blood sugars, and the fatigue from early onset of diabetes meelitus.
I suggest you take up an aerobic sport which may be conducive to weight loss, establishment of strong interpersonal relationships, and a general sense of well being. Walking, cycling, swiming are all very good sports which will help you a great deal.

[erijon]

Hey there carlot, Thompson383, Bluedog, people013, zuzzu, ajibdi, stinky534, idathunkit, tactac, help30439, cheeta_breeda, neegnomer, crabdaddy358, save_a_heart & sleepy_pete. That's quite a few screen names for 5 weeks, but I guess you need them when you ask the same question once or twice a week.

Still not feeling better?  Hope you get better soon so more people, those that follow the two questions every 6 month guideline,  can get their questions on the forum as well. Again, I would invite you to the heart disease communtity where you can network with others. You may want to try the anxiety community as well.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll get the same answer again.

[if_i_had_you]

bright light really makes my mental symptoms worse..headrushes....sun light or florescent light...things are worse early in the day and generally improve as the day wears on.

[if_i_had_you]

Also, I have had on a mobile heart monitor during all these symptoms and it is totally normal.   Except my palpitations are "early beats", which I never had before this other stuff.