Should I be concerned?

Sorry for this being so long. Want to give you the full picture here.

On July 13th, I experienced what felt like someone hitting me in the chest with a sledgehammer. This was accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, a feeling of faintness, dizziness, and lightheadness. Went to the ER and kept overnight in the coronary care unit. Was transferred to the general ward the day after and discharged on the 15th.

Upon discharge, I was told all my tests were normal and given instructions to see an ENT for the dizziness and take Dramamine. They never did say what might have caused the original symptoms that landed me in the hospital in the first place.

Yesterday, I received copies of the test results. Here are the results:

ECG - 7/13/08 - Normal sinus rhythm. Incomplete right bundle branch block. Borderline ECG when compared with ECG of 11-Jun-08. No significant change was found.

ECG - 7/14/08 - Normal sinus rhythm. Cannot rule out anterior infarct (cited on or before 13-Jul-08). Possible previous inferior infarct (cited on or before 13-Jul-08). Abnormal ECG when compared with ECG of 13-Jul-08 (unconfirmed). No significant change was found.

I'd greatly appreciate any insight you have to offer.  Should I make a point to see a cardiologist based on this testing?

Thank you very much in advance. :)

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Unfortunately that is not the type of question I can answer online -- knowing how to interpret test still requires face to face contact and interactive questions.  Whether you should see specialist is up to you and your doctor.  It looks like all your tests were negative.  It is often difficult to determine why people have chest pains after their cardiac work up is entirely normal but at least the tests were normal.  Probably the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with your doctor and see what they think you should do.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Nyxie63]

Here are additional tests they ran while I was in the hospital.

Stress test - 7/14/08
Summary: The patient had Adenosine inufsed as per protocol for 5 minutes 23 seconds. She developed flushing and shortness of breath during the infusion. Initial electrocardiogram demonstratrated sinus brachycardia, poor R wave progression, intraventricular conduction delay. During the infusion, significant ST segment depression did not develop.

Nuclear Results: The patient had an Adenosine Stress and 10.9 milicures of Technetium-99 Sestamibi were injected and resting SPECT images were obtained. About two and one half hours later the patient underwent an Adenosine stress test infused by Dr R and in the third minute of the infusion, 36.0 millicuries of Technetium-99 Sestamibi were injected and stress SPECT images were obtained. The following are the pertinent findings:
1. SPECT imaging with Stestamibi demonstrated normal perfusion to all left ventricular segments. The ejection fraction was normal at 62% with vigorous contractility of all left ventricular segments.
2. Combined testing suggests a low likelihood of myocardial risk of ischemic event at this time.

Heart ultrasound (HI-Echo 2D Comp wo/c) - The folllowing are the 2-D Doppler and color flow findings:
1. Technically good study.
2. Left ventricular systolic function is normal with vigorous contractility of all left ventricular segments. The ejection fraction is greater than 55%.
3. There is a tiny pericardial effusion.
4. All chamber sizes are normal in dimension.
5. Left ventricular wall thickness is normal.
6. The aortic valve leaflets open widely in systole ruling out aortic stenosis.
7. There is a suggestion of mitral valve prolapse.
8. The tricuspid valve is normal.
9. Dopper analysis demonstrated traces of mitral and tricuspid insufficiency.

Thanks again!

[Nyxie63]

Thank you anyway!   Will follow-up with my PCP.