Ekg Questions

[chevy man]

Is an ekg usually the first test done in heart testing? Also i know the ekg doesn't show all but can it miss something? Example: i'm havin chest pains go to er get ekg it says everything is good i'm told it hasn't changed since the last one  could there still be a problem?  

[RNRita]

I have GERD along with the other things I've told you about and a lot I haven't.  I feel sluggish a lot and have surges, too.  I have anxiety.  I am a stable person as far as my mind goes, but all this does take its toll.  My opinion is that some of us have rampant chemicals or hormones being release that cause weird sensations and our bodies to act up, which in turn, frighten us and cause stress chemicals or hormones to be release, thus exacerbating everything else.  Then, once we are labeled with anxiety, no one takes us serious for other problems.  I am still trying to figure this all out.   That's why I'm here.  I don't figure the medical community is hard at work since all they do is dismiss everything to anxiety....well, I SAY, there is a reason FOR the anxiety!

[chevy man]

ok i do have a hyatal hernia but i get nausea,headaches, feeling sluggish and sometimes i  get these weired sort of surges kinda like an anxiety attack but its not that its a funny something that  comes over me i don't know what to make of this

[RNRita]

One thing it could be is NON-CARDIAC related chest pains.  I get pains from acid reflux that mimic a heart attack.  Also, I have splenic flexure (ha, a new one for a lot of you, huh?) and that feels like I am truly dying of an MI. There are muscular spasms, costochondroitis...any number of things that can cause chest pain.  If your doctor thought it was cardiac related, he would have at least labeled you with angina.

[chevy man]

thanks for the response and yes i have seen a cardio i have had a full workup holter, ekgs, echo, cardiac cath, all say i'm fine but i continue to have chest pains i don't know what to do any more

[RNRita]

Sometimes it takes time for people to respond.  This isn't the doctor's forum, just a bunch of well-meaning folks who need help and try to help.  Now, to answer your question as best as I can.  The EKG IS the first step.  It can tell a lot about your heart.  Unfortunately, it cannot tell everything.  If you are having more problems, especially with chest pain, you need to be worked up by a cardiologist.  The other thing is:  did you GO to the ER?  Because they SHOULD do more than the EKG.  They would do blood work (troponins) and it would tell if you are having a heart attack or have recently had one.  They would know if your chest pains are cardiac related on that level. If you went and are not happy with the results, please see a cardiologist....and don't bother with a regular MD.

[chevy man]

i wonder why no one responds to my questions