Confused

I am a 34yo female that was taken to the ER due to chest pain. 12 lead/EKG showed a LBB, my BP was 178/120 with a heart rate of 125. ER physician said that my blood work was fine and did not show elevated enzymes so they ruled out a MI. He did say that he was a little concerned with the reading of the EKG and all the other signs that I was showing. He referred me to my normal physician who says that a LBB is normal and nothing to worry about, however he put me on Lisinopril 20mg qd, BuSpar 5mg bid, and gave me .4mg sl nitro. He has referred me to a cardiologist for a stress/echo test. If what I have/had going on is nothing to really worry about...then why the tests? I have no insurance and if its not really necessary I am wondering what the point is. One physician says its concerning, another says its nothing to worry about.....confused and worried.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Interesting username, I will call you "free" if you don't mind.

Left bundle branch blocks can happen in normal hearts, but can also be seen in cardiomyopathies (weak heart muscle).  When I see young people with a LBBB, I would also check an echocardiogram.  If it is normal, I would probably check it again in a few years to make sure that it is still normal.  The safe thing to say is that it is probably nothing to worry about but it does require further evaluation.

Your blood pressure should be less than 1 40/90.  This should be followed closely and treated aggressively to achieve appropriate long term blood pressures.

I hope this helps.

[free2bnakd]

Thank you for your reply. I have my stress echo on 10/9 and am hoping all is well. I've only been taking the lisinopril and buspar for 3 days and since my blood pressure hasn't really come down much today it was 148/100 and my heart rate is still in the upper 90's with continued chest pain that is not relieved with the nitro. Since starting the medications I have also noticed a horrible headache not sure if its the meds, the blood pressure or well the stress of this whole ordeal. I'll will keep you posted on the results of the stress/echo.

[tickertock]

Hi,

Hope you feel better and get a definite diagnosis, Nitro as far as I know can give you a horrible headache , you've should have been told this could happen with nitro, JMO.

[free2bnakd]

Thank you for letting me know. I will keep that in mind if/when I use it. If its going to make my headache worse I might just suffer with the chest pain : |

[PikaPika88]

One cardio rang me after hour.  He concerned it was a MI and severe hypokinese.  Another cardio told me was nothing wrong.  He said the other cardio don't know how to read my ECG.  They read it all wrong.  I think I'm more confused than you.