Heart attack?

[dec_smith]

I woke up yesterday after some really bad, sharp pain in the left upper side of my chest. I quickly walked to the bathroom, where I collapsed and lost consciousness. My girlfriend came in seconds after she heard me drop and saw me trembling on the floor with my eyes and mouth open. After about 30 seconds, I regained consciousness with no recollection of collapsing and a bloody lip from biting it. I went to the hospital and they ran a cat scan, EEG, and blood tests, but said there was no sign of epilepsy. (nothing was wrong, except a slightly high White blood cell count).
This is the 3rd time I have feinted/loss consciousness, and the 2nd time I was trembling, etc during it, but this is the 1st time with severe chest pains.

I am 19 years old, male, 6' and 82kg. Could this possibly be a heart attack? If not, what?

Thanks for your help

Dec

[ireneo]

It could also be some kind of heart arrhythmia. There's no way to know until they check everything. I hope you get some help tomorrow.

[dec_smith]

Thanks for the replies kenkeith & ireneo.

When I went to the hospital, I didn't go to the ER, I saw a lung doctor who put me through to a neurologist. She did the cat scan and said I had 'no tumors or anything abnormal' and the blood tests that were run were for things like calcium levels, magnesium levels, white blood cell count. I will find the full list and post it (I think it was about 6 tests).

This is the 3rd time I have feinted/lost consciousness, but only 1 other time has been similar to this (out-of-the-blue and trembling).

I understand that it could still be epilepsy, but is there anyway to know for sure? By the way, it wasn't an EKG, it was an EEG (little wires connected to scalp for half an hour, flashing lights for a couple of minutes)

Does it sound like a heart attack? I'm going to go back tomorrow and see a cardiologist.

Thanks so much
Dec

[ireneo]

According to your message this is the 3rd time you've lost consciousness. At the ER they do the basic testing and send you home, perhaps tell you to follow up with your primary care physician. Any idea which blood tests they did? I would ask if they checked for heart attack. They may not have done that due to your age.

Obviously there's a problem and you should see your regular doctor. Imagine if this happened while you were driving. Not a good scenario. There are many possible causes for fainting but it would be better if you knew what was causing this so as to avoid future episodes and possible injury.

[kenkeith]

If you  went to the hospitial within hours after your episode there are identifying markers....the marker  CK-MB would show an increase above normal in your blood test about six hours after the start of a heart attack. It reaches its peak level in about 18 hours and returns to normal in 24 to 36 hours.a blood test.

You probably don't need to go to your doctor if you have only fainted one time and you are in otherwise good health. Fainting is common and usually not serious. However,Your doctor should have done a workup on your general health and there are certain medical conditions that my cause one to faint:
Heart problems such as an irregular heartbeat or blockages in or near the heart that block the blood from getting to the brain.  Diabetes, anxiety or panic disorders, dehydration, low blood sugar, high blood pressure etc.

It is difficult to speculate what the underlying cause for your fainting eposides without further information but just to rule out a condition with just an ekg is not adequate.  Unless you had a fainting episode while taking the ekg that may have been of some help.

You should have medical exam to rule out any serious condtions.  Thanks for sharing and if you have any further questions or comments you are invited to respond.  Take care,

Ken