Prolonged QT Question, Please help

[QTGirl]

Last thursday while at work, I nearly fainted and had an "ache" in my heart area. My hands went numb and felt dizzy.
I went to the ER and got mixed results on my EKG. One doctor said my "T Waves" were off and I should stay overnight for observation and bloodwork. I did, and everything came back fine. I was on a monitor too. I am a 32 year old female. The whole hopsital thing was annoying since I never spoke to a cardiologist, just two doctors...one said to take a tums and the other joked how young I was for a heart attack (I could lose about 40 pounds and my triglycerides are high- they were at 293 last year).

So I go home and I still feel dizzy. I keep getting the weird ache in my heart. I went to the doctor today who did an ECG and it shows one T wave issue, but moreover a prolonged QT. My results were:

85 BPM
QT/QTcb 426/506 ms

Can anyone help me with this? I am going to set up an appt. to see someone but she made it sound like it wasn't a big deal and mentioned it showed the prolonged QT in the hospital EKG (news to me!). My doctor also said it might be why I feel dizzy.

Should I be concerned? Lots of info on the web points towards scary stuff! Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

[stevie_wonder]

Hi,
You need to have your ECG read by an Electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist) to see  actual measurement of your QT. ECG machines are famous for reading the intervals wrong. Cardiologists are also famous for brushing aside a prolonged QT interval. It took me several months and different cardiologists before I found an Electrophysiologist and was diagnosed.

Funny T waves are also diagnostic for Long QT Syndrome and need to be examined further. There is a group online called SADS (sudden arrhythmia death syndrome) website is www.sads.org in the US and www.sads.ca in Canada. You can contact them if you need to find a specialist in your area.

Don't let the doctor brush you off, a QTc of 506 and a near faint need to be treated seriously. Chest pain is not that common with Long QT Syndrome but there are some people who do feel it during a short lived arrhythmia. There is loads of info on the internet on Long QT Syndrome.

Please let us know how your appointment goes.
Take care

[QTGirl]

I have an appt today. First they wanted me in a month but when I mentioned what was going on, it was "today". I feel more scared. I thought it was a borderline thing, can anyone help me with the results in the meantime?

[ksig]

A prolonged QT wave is watched carefully when taking certain meds such as dofetilide (Tikyson).  Since yours is prolonged without meds, my question to you is:  Have you seen a cardiologist yet?  It might be a good time to go in and see some one.

ksig