Neck Discomfort, LPSVC

[beenab]

Good morning,
I have been diagnosed with Left Persistent Superior Vena Cava, after many many tests. I first went to the doctor in 1996 because of strange feelings in my chest and they heard a heart murmur, but nothing was reccommended (British NHS!) and then over here during my second pregnancy I had increased breathing difficulty and nearly passed out while lying on my left side. Echos showed strange goings on and I wore a halter monitor for a month which showed irregularities. Since finishing nursing I collapsed while in Target shopping, after my heart went potty, felt like my heart could not hold a rhythum and my pVCs were almost constant. I have hundreds of PVCs a day and the heart doctor believes it is to do with my thyroid although my thyroid is currently perfect yet my PVCs are still numerous. Anyway, my PVCs are not my concern. In 1998 I also began to have a feeling in my throat, as if there was a peanut stuck, but could not be removed. I have had tests, xrays, barium swallows, videos etc and nothing can be found. It is now getting to the point where my neck is constantly bothering me, I have pain in the left side of my neck and constantly have to 'release' the discomfort by wiggling my throat with my fingers, tongue and muscles to 'pop' it. If I do not release it I feel my pulse soooo strongly in my throat and up into my jaw it is scary. I have read that this may be something to do with the aortic arch in relation to my PLSVC, and was wondering if you could suggest anything? It is so uncomfortable that it is interfering with my daily life and noone can fix it.

[mmfd]

Hi.  I also have a LPSVC, but it doesn't cause any symptoms at all, so yours must be from something else.  The only time it presents a problem is if you need a pacemaker or defibrillator.  That is how they found mine, when they couldn't get an ICD in.  While it is true that those who have it are also more likely to have other cardiac defects, with all your tests they would've found it already.  Have you had an ultrasound of your thyroid yet?  It sounds like it could be enlarged and that can cause your symptoms, even if your labs are normal.  This is just my opinion, as I am not a physician, although I am an RN.  Good luck and hope this lessens your anxiety in some way!

[beenab]

Thankyou for the response - I am supposed to have a thyroid scan as that is the one thing I havent yet had! Then hopefully Ill get a result but if they dont find anything I have no idea what to do! Thanks, good to know that its should not be to do with my heart.