feeling cold lethargic tired chest discomfort, breathless

[valentino27]

Hi , for the last 2 years I have been having some peculiar symptoms who cannot be diagnosed.
I get extremely tired, lethargic, cold , feel unwell and if I exert myself by just walking i become breathless
and have to stop walking until I feel better.It feels like I am going to drop dead, this happens 3/4 times a week and it can last up to 5 hours At other times I feel relatively ok. I had lots of blood tests  x rays ecg holter monitor stress test and all come back normal. A doctor suggested I could  have a vasovagal attack. But looking on the internet you faint if you get a vasovagal attack. Anybody have experience of this or know someone with similar symptoms.
Please help its getting worse thank you very much.
val

[valentino27]

Hi Many thanks for your reply, I had many blood tests (3 times)including FBC and checking for hypothyroidism and diabete, also food intolerance tests, I had an echocardiogram 2 months ago and a stress test in August 2010, I also had hormone level test, 48 hrs holter monitor test, resting ecg 12 leads test several times,my cholesterol level is very good, I never smoked in my life and I am a teetotal, all these test are negative. I even bought myself a ecg machine  mac5000 to check my heart during these episodes but all seems fine.Yet I get these episodes.The only problem I have since childhood are PVC but these dont bother me so much as the tiredness,cold,breathless,lethargy, i described. If I spend 30 min on a bycicle I get no problem but if I run for the bus or climb stairs for 2 minutes I feel breathless and after a while these symtoms comes on.
Its a real puzzle to me and my doctor, could it be angina or do you have any idea waht it could be ? I spent so may hours looking for an answer without success. Your help is very much appreciated.
If it is relevant I started getting them about one month after a thooth abcess and extraction. best regards  VAL

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
The symptoms of feeling cold, lethargic, extremely tired, unwell and becoming breathless on exertion can be due to hypothyroidism or diabetes. Get blood tests for these two to rule out these conditions. Since you have been having this for 2 years, there is a chance that you have low thyroid function. Breathlessness on exertion can also be due to heart related causes. Hence get a 12 lead EKG after exertion or may be a tread mill test. Please consult your doctor regarding this.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[vedadhar]

Diagnosis for vasovagal attack has to unite with symptoms like sweating, weakness, fainting or syncope,light headedness,continuous chest pain,ringing sensation in the ears,visual disturbances etc.So this cannot be vasovagal attack in your case.
As you state that the chest pain occurs when you are extremely tired ,or just by walking for a few minutes,this can be considered as Exertional myocardial ischemia or angina pectoris which may be due to Coronary heart disease or atherosclerosis.As the pain lasts upto 5 hours and more frequent in a week and also associated with physical work in absence of any stress,you immediately need a medical attention as this may worsen your condition so soon.Go and meet an experienced cardiologist and he will certainly suggests you a required medical treatment.