Recurring Rheumatic Fever Undiagnosed?

[PT1964]

In the last week I have been having strange heart palpitations, like flip-flopping. It happens when I lie down flat, and resolves when I sit upright or stand. I also noticed that my pulse is irregular. It skips a beat or two, and this is concurrent with the flip-flop feeling. I also have swollen hands and feet, my abdomen seems distended, I hurt everywhere, my knees hurt with swelling, and I seem to breathe heavier than normal. I woke up gasping for air the other night (after a wierd nightmare). I wake up in a cold sweat, drenched. I have a mini-migraine headache. From time to time, my arms and legs jump for no reason. This is just the last week.

Over the last 2 years, I have been to the doctor many times complaining of severe fatigue, migraines with aura, and excessive sleepiness, and drenched sheets. I figured it was pre-menopause. Tests were negative for that. Negative for thyroid problems. I wake up exhausted. I also have recurring bouts of just aching and hurting everywhere, especially in my knees and shoulders, which swell up for no apparent reason. These bouts of sleepy-achyness last from 2 weeks to 2 months, then go away. The doctor keeps telling me to go see a psychiatrist and prescribes Welbutrin for depression. (Which I don't take, because I am not.)

I also have a wierd rash (10 years), origninally diagnosed as ringworm, but has actually been diagnosed as Erythema Annular Circum-something (EAC). On my upper arm and thigh.

My current GP (and every other doc I have been to the last 10 years) discounts my tiredness, aches and pains, and rashes as depression related. I am soooo NOT depressed. I am simply tired.  More recently, I am tired, out of breath, and having this weird flip flopping in my chest. I am absolutely convinced if I go to the doctor he will tell me I am having panic attacks. I am NOT having panic attacks. (I did go see a therapist, but it depressed me to pay $150 an hour to talk about my parents.) LOL.

I was doing some research tonight and found out that there is a correlation between rheumatic fever and some of my symptoms. I was never diagnosed with RF, but I WAS diagnosed with Scarlet Fever when I was a child (age 8). I had strep throat so many times between the age of 8 and 20 that it became an annual ritual.

When I was pregnant, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur, which apparently went away after I had the baby. That was 20 years ago. I think it is back, with a vengance.

Could these symptoms be related to undiagnosed Rheumatic Fever as a child?

What should I do? I don't have health insurance. Should I contact a cardiologist? Am I in immediate danger?

My pulse is normal (88) BP 120/80. I am 43, Female, 140 lbs, active, healthy.  

[Jerry_NJ]

Sorry to read you are having such a tough time and not able to get any relief from the medical field.

To some of your questions, various problems with the heart, including damage to valves, can be caused by fever, specifically by Rheumatic Fever.  This doesn't mean I am saying you have that problem, that would take at least an echocardiogram in my opinion, to determine.  

Sorry to suggest the expensive path, but a checkout with a cardiologist may be in best, especially given you've not gotten (much?) help from other doctors.

In the meantime, I'd suggest if you do not have problems with aspirin, you should consider taking one a day with a meal.  This can only help with some of your symptoms and will provide some measure of therapy for you heart and many potential problems.  

Be sure and write all down, in a list format, to take with you when you see a doctor, you don't what to find when you get home you forgot to them her/him something important.