Hello everyone, looking for possible answers (while waiting for various docs' appointments) as I have been feeling so terrible both physically and mentally that I can hardly keep myself from breaking down.
I'm 31yrs female, smoker, ex athlete, currently about 260lbs (lost 40lbs since January this year).
BP around 110/70, pulse used to be around 75 bpm (before dieting), now - about 50-60bpm. Moderately active lifestyle, go walking 2-4 times a week (brisk walk 2-4 miles).
Around January had a heart echo that showed a mildly enlarged left ventricle and slightly impaired relaxation of left ventricle. Cardiologist did not seem very concerned and said this should be reversible when I lose weight. 24hr Holter monitor came back normal.
My weightloss is chaotic as when I diet (around 1200kcal which both my GP and cardiologist said is ok for me) my pulse gets 60 and under, and I feel absolutely horrible - chest discomfort, shortness of breath, etc. Then I start to eat the way I used to before, and it returns to normal. Then I start to diet again - sure enough the slow rate and all the symptoms return within 3-4 days until it becomes unbearable again and I start to eat 'normally' again.
This is driving me insane and I am so anxious I can hardly do anything else, fear of death is extremely high. The past few weeks have been most awful, googling of course doesn't help as now I am positive I am dying from different heart diseases.
Worst is when I am sitting/being inactive - pulse slows down so much, and palpitations/extra systoles start too, along with chest discomfort and not being able to take a satisfying breath.
This breathlessness can last for weeks (especially together with slow pulse) and then go away, or come up 10 times a day, or whatever. Usually it goes away when I go to sleep and I wake up feeling fine, and it then it gradually gets worse.
Sometimes it goes away during exercise, sometimes it doesn't (although I wouldn't say it gets worse).
I know that this is usually an anxiety symptom, however, bradycardia is not , and keeping in mind my heart abnormalities - I am petriefied.
I have never fainted or am not overly dizzy (there is some diziness sometimes but i'm sure it's anxiety).
I made another cardiologist appointment and will get veloergometry too, as well as all blood tests. In the mean time I just want to ask if anyone else has experienced something similar...