Hi, I'm a 21year old female and 4 years ago I had a very frightening trip to the emergency room with a heart rate that fluctuated between 80 to 150 beats per minute. When the ambulance got to my house they tested my heart rate, the first registration of the rate would say 90 or something then the next registration would be 150; so it was very all over the place. I had stabbing pain in my chest on the left side, which was made worse by any breath drawn in. I felt shaky, light headed and my heart was doing the 'fluttering' thing that many tachycardia patients describe here. My heart would skip acouple of beats and then sort of pause, then konk into life again.... I was discharged from hospital the next day when no tests doctors did could detect anything. On my discharge paper it said 'acute tachycardia' as a diagnosis. They listened to my heart the morning of my discharge and couldn't find any hint of a murmur. I was told to make arrangements to see a cardiologist.
That was four years ago and I have not yet seen a cardiologist. The attacks have re-occured, but I've not gone back to the ER for them. Most are nowhere near as bad as the time 4 years ago; but the attacks are regular (more than once a month now; probably once a week, but very minor flutters. They used to happen about 4 times a year) and are always accompanied by pain. I also quite often experience a 'rush' sensation, where my heart will 'pause'; I'll get a big head-rush and what I think is a burst of adrenaline, and then my heart kicks back in again. It's weird, and these attacks are starting to really freak me out.
I can not afford to see a cardiologist; simple as that. I have no contact with either of my parents so can not ask help with payment from them. I have no where to source money from to pay for this; no medical insurance or anything; I'm only 20!
But I need to know, is this serious? Should I get a loan or something so that I can get it checked out?
I've been wondering, maybe it's angina?
Thanks