Aa
Should I seek a second opinion for PAH, or just live normally?
I am a 27 year old active female. I have a demanding job where I’m always on my feet. I (was) exercising 2-3 times a week (running / walking 3-4 miles) I DO have an extensive family history of heart + thyroid issues (grandfather died at 49 with heart failure after 3 heart attacks, mother had portion of her thyroid removed, fathers blood pressure is through the roof as my sisters is as well.
About a month ago went to my PP for what I though was a high resting / working out heart rate. (Laying down watching TV I was getting around 120-130bpm, alerts from my Apple Watch that I was hitting 150-160bpm while sleeping, and getting about 180-190bpm with mild/moderate WALKING speeds) but also because my throat felt “full” or as if I was wearing a choker. I was also getting very tired very quickly. Doing my job I was getting winded, tired, and not keeping up like normal. Also have this “I need to cough feeling” like my heart and lungs weren’t working together. Heart rate was 124 sitting with a BP of 100/50. PP ordered bloodwork, and a ultrasound of my thyroid + echocardiogram. Meanwhile starting me on Propranolol 60mg to help with my heart rate.
Came back to my PP with horrible chest pains, moving / breathing / anything it felt like I was sucking in cold air. PP came in and gave me all results—
-Thyroid came back with multiple nodules bilaterally, but all under 5cm so they don’t want to worry about it.
-Echo showed trace tricuspid regurgitation, but mild mitral + pulmonary valve regurgitation with an RVSP of 35 (saying it was pulmonary hypertension) with sinus tachycardia with sinus arrhythmia.
-Bloodwork showed a high HS CRP (5), low HDL cholesterol (45), and a positive ANA screen IFA.
She said my chest pain, fatigue and SOB was from the pulmonary hypertension and that I need to see a cardiologist stat.
Saw a cardiologist today. Before even taking my results out of my hand, the minute I said Pulmary hypertension he rolled his eyes and said “yeah, I doubt that.” Said regurgitation in all the above valves is normal. The heart rates I have could be normal for me, I just a higher one than other people. States even though the generalized non-specific blood tests came back as abnormal, it doesn’t mean anything because it’s not specific, that my pulmonary pressure of 35 is like if I were to have a regular blood pressure of 135/85 and lastly my chest pain I have (and had before knowing ANY results) is my anxiety I apparently have.
So his plan is to slowly take me off the beta blocker (Propranolol) and in 6 weeks do a treadmill test to see what my heart is doing and re-echo in 6 months. — as of now, I don’t feel well. I apparently have a constant pale appearance, I am so tired / weak with even just the littlest of effort, if it’s not chest pain / it’s discomfort.
I have another opinion set for 2 weeks, but because PAH (from some little research I’ve done) isn’t just something that goes away. It progressively gets worse. If I’m in an early stage and I have the ability to slow the progression or save myself from heart damage, I want to do that instead of “not worrying about it, you’re fine stop having anxiety.”
Do I seek another opinion, or does all of this + results showing I’m “fine” to a second set of eyes?
About a month ago went to my PP for what I though was a high resting / working out heart rate. (Laying down watching TV I was getting around 120-130bpm, alerts from my Apple Watch that I was hitting 150-160bpm while sleeping, and getting about 180-190bpm with mild/moderate WALKING speeds) but also because my throat felt “full” or as if I was wearing a choker. I was also getting very tired very quickly. Doing my job I was getting winded, tired, and not keeping up like normal. Also have this “I need to cough feeling” like my heart and lungs weren’t working together. Heart rate was 124 sitting with a BP of 100/50. PP ordered bloodwork, and a ultrasound of my thyroid + echocardiogram. Meanwhile starting me on Propranolol 60mg to help with my heart rate.
Came back to my PP with horrible chest pains, moving / breathing / anything it felt like I was sucking in cold air. PP came in and gave me all results—
-Thyroid came back with multiple nodules bilaterally, but all under 5cm so they don’t want to worry about it.
-Echo showed trace tricuspid regurgitation, but mild mitral + pulmonary valve regurgitation with an RVSP of 35 (saying it was pulmonary hypertension) with sinus tachycardia with sinus arrhythmia.
-Bloodwork showed a high HS CRP (5), low HDL cholesterol (45), and a positive ANA screen IFA.
She said my chest pain, fatigue and SOB was from the pulmonary hypertension and that I need to see a cardiologist stat.
Saw a cardiologist today. Before even taking my results out of my hand, the minute I said Pulmary hypertension he rolled his eyes and said “yeah, I doubt that.” Said regurgitation in all the above valves is normal. The heart rates I have could be normal for me, I just a higher one than other people. States even though the generalized non-specific blood tests came back as abnormal, it doesn’t mean anything because it’s not specific, that my pulmonary pressure of 35 is like if I were to have a regular blood pressure of 135/85 and lastly my chest pain I have (and had before knowing ANY results) is my anxiety I apparently have.
So his plan is to slowly take me off the beta blocker (Propranolol) and in 6 weeks do a treadmill test to see what my heart is doing and re-echo in 6 months. — as of now, I don’t feel well. I apparently have a constant pale appearance, I am so tired / weak with even just the littlest of effort, if it’s not chest pain / it’s discomfort.
I have another opinion set for 2 weeks, but because PAH (from some little research I’ve done) isn’t just something that goes away. It progressively gets worse. If I’m in an early stage and I have the ability to slow the progression or save myself from heart damage, I want to do that instead of “not worrying about it, you’re fine stop having anxiety.”
Do I seek another opinion, or does all of this + results showing I’m “fine” to a second set of eyes?
Go to a PAH clinic! Asap. You may have an underlying cause like and asd or pda that could make it all go away!
What coast are you on? I can give you the best clinics in every state!!!
Do not listen to your dipshit doctor!
What coast are you on? I can give you the best clinics in every state!!!
Do not listen to your dipshit doctor!
3 Comments
I live in Florida.
There are amazing clinics in New York ( columbia) And Boston ( Brigham and women's) also University of Florida has a good clinic as well although I have not personally been there... Can you please me directly.
I said pm directly lol
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