Dr. not listening

[nanette68]

I have a problem. (age:41...5'6 @ 142lbs)
Twin sister died of a heart attack in March. She had been to the er 3 times complaining of chest pains and was always treated for anxiety. We later found out from the coroner she had died of atherosclerosis (99% blockage in 1 artery) which was of the genetically based type.

A few weeks later I started experiencing chest pains, neck pain (only once in arteries), pain between my back shoulder blades, shortness of breath and numbness and aching in both arms when the chest tightening, discomfort begins.
Now my delimia is that I have been to my family Dr. which did an EKG and found nothing except my cholesterol was high @ total 272- HDL:35, Trig:192, LDL:192. She prescribed nitro and concerta and refered me to the hospital and was given a stress test w/ echocardiogram.....which also showed nothing wrong except a few palpatations.

I then went to the refered cardiologist and he saw nothing wrong, but put me on a holter monitor for 24 hrs. It to came back fine. Now during each of these test I didn't experience any of my usual symptoms and I explained that to him. But he went ahead and placed on me Toprolol for what he said was high blood pressure (I don't have it). But I read up and saw it was also for angina.

I talked to my Cardiologist 2 days ago and explained that I am still having chest pains......that they are coming on with me just relaxing with no form of exertion at and that I have had to take nitro. I don't think he believes me and has scheduled and appointment for 3 months from now.
I don't know what to do if my Dr. isn't taking me seriously and there is no were else to go since his office is at the best place around here and at the hospital.
I think it is due to my age and the fact that I look muchhhh younger, maybe earlie 30's.

Now I wonder if I'm not heaed down the same path of disbelief that was handed to my sister that lead to her death.

[allmymarbles]

Tests are not foolproof, but doctors always act as if they were. And if their tests do not show a problem, they assume you are a hypochondriac and put you on anxiety pills. Trust your instincts. If you think something is wrong - something is wrong. If your present cardiologist has no interest in your problem, find another.

[ChatterAlly]

Sounds alot like what I experienced recently.  I went to the ER convinced I was having yet another heart attack. (I have had 2) While in the hospital, I was put on a heart monitor.  Everytime I had the chest pain, the monitor went crazy.  I was told it was "junk" on the monitor because I had moved.  All through the night that went on.  I was finally able to convince the ICU nurse that I wasn't moving.  The monitor was going crazy when I had a chest pain.  She finally gave in and looked at the data at her desk.  Come to find out I was having vasospasms (coronary artery spasms) That's why everything else looked good, but I was still having chest pains.  I am not trying to diagnose you with that.  Just something else to be considered. Vasospasms, in my case, come on without any reason.  They wake me up out of a dead sleep.  They literally take my breath away.  All I can do is stop whatever I am doing, take a nitro and wait for it to stop.  I have had 2 good weeks now after suffering with these spasms on a daily basis for months.  I think the drugs have finally taken affect. The spasms feel like a burning ache that travels up to my cheekbones, in both arms and in the upper back.  The exact same type pain I had with my heart attacks.  Take care and keep me posted.  Ally

[grendslori]

Nanette, I too am sorry for your family's loss. More than likely you are having these problems due to the stress in your life, especially with your sister dying the way she did. Maybe what I am writing here will help you to understand your doctor better. True heart related chest pain is due to a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. That is either caused by CAD, such as what your sister had (which is extremely rare in someone her age, due to her hormones) or by something like a Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy which is a disease of the heart muscle where the walls of the heart are too thick and blood cannot reach the inner sides of the heart walls. You have had all of the standard tests for either of these problems and if you had them, they would certainly have showed up on the stress test, holter and echo. When there is a lack of bloodflow, there is a distinct change in the S-T segments on the EKG; had your sister had these tests done, she would probably still be alive today. Your doctor isn't going to jump to do a cath, which is invasive with risks involved, based on the findings from your tests. As adults, and I'm finding many teens as well, know the exact symptoms of heart disease; for that reason, any symptoms we feel that have anything to due with the chest, we assume it is automatically coming from the heart. That's not always the case. You are right when you say that your doctor doesn't believe you are having chest pain the way that you are. The reason for that is because people who have chest pain at rest, have VERY SEVERE forms of heart disease, requiring transplantation. Those patients will have chest pain that literally lasts for hours and they are classified as a New York Grade IV heart patient. They are literally dying from heart disease. They can't walk across the livingroom without pain. In essence, they don't function as far as daily living. They can't even work. At the moment you are still in a greiving frame of mind and that probably is the major cause for the things that are happening to you. Take care.        

[nanette68]

There is a bad history of heart attacks in  our family. Both my parents are alive. Mom has high chol. and dads is now normal due to meds.
But there is also some other disease's...MS...cancer...diabetes...lukemia...neurothyrical neuroalgia...anyerisms..and 1 unknown which they are still trying to figure out.  You can say our family has been cursed with alot. In the past six months we had had 2 died (early 40's) from heart & anyerisms. We have also had them as young as 17 die from anyerisms of the brain. This is the disease they they have not found a name for yet, and it goes back in the family for almost 60 yrs that we know of.

What ever is going on with my heart is going to kill me if they don't figure it out soon, as the pain and frequency is getting worse.
And you are right, I think a heart cath would be the best thing. Maybe there is something going on that they just can't see by these test.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

so sorry about your sister i know thats heart breaking.  wow theres no other dr you can talk to.   you have had a pretty good work up onheart and all seems fine. did your sister have the same work up as you have so far.  they probley are saying anxiety because your twin passed with a heart attack. it could be anxiety but you need to get to bottom of it. i to have anxiety and it causes me chest pains at times but nothing hard or lasting to long.  are your parents still alive if not did they have heart problems.  i also have a burning /pressure inmy chest when anxiety.
i would either go back to er or go to my dr and tell them you need more test ran , your scared and need to find out whats going on. you can ask the cardio dr to do a hearth cath and than you will know if there is a blockage. keep in touch.

[nanette68]

Forgot to add, that I feel this chest pressure for hours at a time...and my Dr. says this doesn't sound like heart problems. I also had a thyroid test done and everything was fine.