I'm a 29year old female with no prior history of lung or heart disorders. I've never smoked. I've always been extremely athletic. Before April 2010, I would work out 4 hrs a day doing varies training regiments. I would run over 20miles/week plus train muay thai and rock climb. I'm 5'6" and I've always been around 130-135lbs.
In April 2010, I was unable to walk to the kitchen w/SOB (gain 20lbs), chest pains, dizzy, HR <46 and fatigue. I saw a cardiologist, my stress test showed oxygen levels < 88%. I had a PFT test, which showed decreased DLco (77%) and lung volumes (86%). The pulmonary specialist told me that my lung volumes are too low for an athlete. My echo showed increased pulmonary pressures (20-30mm/Hg) in 3 months. I have mild mitral, trucspid, pulmonic value regurgitation. My pressures where 46mm/Hg during exertion ~mild pulmonary hypertension. My cardiologist doesn't believe the mild PH is what's causing my symptoms. The cardiologist thinks its a neuromuscular disease. The neurologist found my carnitine levels are low and my ammonia is high. My great grandmother passed away from muscular dystrophy (not sure if it's important). If you are deficient in carnitine does that mean you have the metabolic muscular disease?
Could the low carnitine levels explain the mild pulmonary hypertension which in turns explains the decreased diffusion capacity? Could it explain all the symptoms? From what I read carnitine deficiency can cause heart problems, liver problems (had elevated liver enzymes resulting in removal of gallbladder), rhabdomyolysis (hospitalized in 2009), cognitive problems(now), and the muscle weakness occurring after working out.
My symptoms while and after working out: dizziness, fatigue, confusion, disorientation, swelling in lower extremities (exercise), chills, chest pain, tingling in left arm up to neck and jaw, severe muscle cramps and spasms, nausea, sometimes vomiting, and extreme SOB. My symptoms used to only last 2hrs after exercise and now have lasting any where from 2hrs to the whole next day. Symptoms slightly getting better after L-carnitine supplements.